KPLA
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| City | Columbia, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Columbia/Jefferson City, Missouri |
| Branding | Soft Rock 101.5 KPLA |
| Slogan | Real Music Variety |
| Frequency | 101.5 MHz |
| First air date | February 1983 (as KARO at 101.7) |
| Format |
Adult Contemporary Christmas music (Nov.-Dec.) |
| ERP | 41,000 watts |
| HAAT | 324 meters |
| Class | C1 |
| Facility ID | 12429 |
| Former callsigns | KARO (1982-1994) |
| Former frequencies | 101.7 MHz (1983-1994) |
| Owner |
Cumulus Broadcasting (Cumulus Licensing LLC) |
| Sister stations | KBBM, KBXR, KFRU, KJMO, KLIK, KOQL, KZJF |
| Webcast |
Listen Live Listen Live via iHeart |
| Website | kpla.com |
KPLA (101.5 FM) refers to a Cumulus radio station in Columbia, Missouri. KPLA first started out as 101.7 KARO-FM, an "easy listening" station in February 1983. In 1986, it became known as K102. Then in 1994, it became KPLA and has consistently been a Top 3 radio station in the market, playing "soft rock." KPLA broadcasts from the highest tower in Columbia, Missouri, reaching 70 miles (110 km) within Mid-Missouri. On a clear day, it is possible to hear the station on the Kansas Turnpike as far west as the Eastern Terminal Toll Plaza at milepost 217, which is 13 miles east of Lawrence.
Al Germond was responsible for engineering and applying for the 101.7 frequency for KARO-FM under the company name of Columbia FM.
In 1992, Al Germond and his business partners, John Ott and David Baugher, bought KFRU-AM under the company name of Columbia AM. Later came additional radio stations, including KBXR-FM 102.3, KOQL-FM 106.1, KJMO-FM, KLIK-AM, KBBM-FM and KZJF-FM, as well as ownership of the Columbia Business Times publishing products.
By February 2004, the company had become Premier Marketing Group and sold the radio stations to Cumulus Broadcasting for $38.75 million. Cumulus Broadcasting assumed operation on March 1, 2004.
Playing soft rock music from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2K, KPLA remains one of the top-three radio stations in Columbia after 25 years on-the-air.
Notable weekday programming on the station includes "Kellogg and Company" as hosted by 30-year radio veteran Chris Kellogg. On-air the show is referred to as "Chris & Emily" due to Emily Larkin being the second hostess of the show. Each weekday from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., Chris & Emily shares relateable experiences of his own life and provides the latest news. The show also features the daily "KPLA 5 Question Quiz, and the "KPLA Listener Talkback", where KPLA listeners are regularly featured on the show. The show was formerly called "Chris and Monica in the Morning", since it was co-hosted by Kellogg and Monica Senecal. On June 27, 2013, it was announced that Monica would be retiring from radio and that her last show would be July 5.
Other weekday programming includes Rachel Marisay (formerly Rick Dees) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; "Afternoons with Tim Thomas" from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m; and syndicated host John Tesh from 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (formerly Midnight to 6 a.m. before removal of Delilah). Syndicated host Delilah ran from 7:00 p.m. to Midnight until June 2010, when John Tesh was moved into the late evening timeframe. The 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. timeframe is now a dedicated music-only timeframe.
Weekend programming includes John Tesh episodes on Saturday mornings starting at 6 a.m. and going until 9 a.m. Saturday afternoons and evenings are dedicated music-only timeframes. Your Weekend with Jim Brickman airs Sunday Mornings from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The station computer treats this as a music-only timeframe--Brickman's own playlist airs during this time, sometimes stopping/starting selections mid-song should the selection be playing at 7 a.m. or 11 a.m. Rick Dees "Top 40", based on Casey Kasem's "American Top 40" formerly aired during this timeframe. From 11 a.m to 7 p.m., the station returns to a music-only status. At 7 p.m., John Tesh airs, starting the cycle over again.
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