KKDM
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| City | Des Moines, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greater Des Moines |
| Branding | 107.5 KISS FM |
| Slogan | All The Hits |
| Frequency | 107.5 MHz (also on HD Radio) 107.5-2 FM KKDM-HD2 Hip hop The Heat (HD Radio) 107.5-3 FM KKDM-HD3 Christian Contemporary K-Love (HD Radio) |
| Translator(s) | 95.3 K237GC (Des Moines, relays HD3) |
| First air date | 1995 |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 220 meters |
| Class | C1 |
| Facility ID | 42108 |
| Former callsigns | KACX (6/1993-7/1993, CP) |
| Owner |
iHeartMedia, Inc. (Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc.) |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 1075kissfm.com |
KKDM (107.5 FM, "107.5 KISS FM or Kiss 1075") is a Top 40 (CHR) radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc..
KKDM was established by local businessman Rich Eychaner as Midwest Radio, Inc.. Rich, better known in Des Moines as owner of a local video store and politician, chain spent several years in a bitter fight to win the 107.5 frequency with the FCC. When as the owner Rich brought longtime local talent J. Michael 'Mac' McKoy on as GM and the two of them set out to build a station from scratch.
While searching for talent J. Michael McKoy stumbled upon Sophia John while she worked for 'The Planet' in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mac had been driving through Omaha and heard Sophia's while she was on the air. After several calls Mac finally convinced Sophia into coming to Des Moines for an interview. So Sophia went to Des Moines to interview with the Rich and Mac but to be safe she brought along her friend Marc Lee Rahn. In a matter of 24 hours Rich and Mac went to having no employees to having two employees.
With the help of Sophia John, as Program Manager, Liz Janik came on board as a radio consultant to help start up the new radio station in Des Moines, IA.
The original staff included:
J. Michael McKoy - General Manager, Morning OnAir Talent
Sophia John - Program Manager, Late Afternoon OnAir Talent
Marc Lee Rahn a.k.a. 'Skyy' - Digital Production Director, Morning OnAir Talent Side Kick
Richard Whitney a.k.a. 'Bobby Hacker' - Evening OnAir Talent
Niccole 'Nicci' Ervin - OnAir Talent
Lee 'Konman' Konfrst - OnAir Talent
Stu Stevens - Overnight OnAir Talent
Eldon (Need last name) - Engineer
Staff added as the station grew.
Amy Sweet - Morning OnAir Talent
Danny Bishop - OnAir Talent
When KKDM originally signed on the air for the first time it broadcast from its equipment tower room in the middle of a 'corn' field with roughly 50 songs ranging from country to dance and a few station imaging tags using a Scott Studio computer and 2GB hard drive. The original 50 songs and imaging tags had nothing to do with what the format would actually become but the goal was to generate interest and confusion amongst the listeners and local radio stations while the new studio was being completed. An additional number of new tags and songs where added prior to the station going live from the studio.
When the station finally flipped the switch and signed on the air from its studios it became known as "Iowa's New Rock Alternative 107 DOT 5". The format shifted from the original 50 songs that had been playing in a random loop to dance, pop and alternative rock format. The original 50,000 watt signal soon increased to 100,000 watts in the spring of 1995. By the fall of that year, KKDM became popularly known as "The Dot" and eventually changed its moniker to "107 DOT 5".
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Wikipedia