page_title: Media in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
section_title: Radio
hierarchical_section_title: Media in Minneapolis–Saint Paul / Radio
caption_attribution_description: WFMP, FM 107 radio at the w:Minnesota State Fair
context_page_description: Minneapolis–Saint Paul, also known as the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, in the state of Minnesota, United States of America, has two major general-interest newspapers. The region is currently ranked as the 15th largest television market in the United States. The market officially includes 59 counties of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and extends far to the north and west. The radio market in the Twin Cities is estimated to be slightly smaller, ranked 16th in the nation.
context_section_description: For decades, WCCO radio was the best-known and most popular broadcaster in the region, with an all-day talk and news format.  It was eventually edged out of the top spot by KQRS, a classic rock station with a popular morning show, although in recent years KQRS has been overtaken by other stations in the market hierarchy. Locally owned KSTP-FM offers a pop music format known as "KS95" and a sports talk format on KSTP (AM) (1500 AM). KEEY-FM ("K102") and KMNB ("102.9 The Wolf") are the two major country music outlets. KDWB-FM is the market's legacy Top-40 station.
  Radio K, on the other hand, is still largely an "AM daytimer" and must shut down at night to make way for two other stations located in New York and New Mexico.  However, the station is also heard on three FM translators in the metro, and on the Internet. It is, by most accounts, the oldest in the state, receiving a license for the call sign WLB in January 1922.
  Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is also a major force in the state and across the country, best known across the U.S. for the variety show A Prairie Home Companion.  Based in St. Paul, MPR is reportedly the nation's second-most powerful public radio organization behind National Public Radio (of which MPR is an affiliate).
  KTCZ-FM ("Cities 97.1") is notable for its yearly compilation of live recordings, the Cities Sampler, which is now so popular that people camp out at local Target stores overnight when it is to be released.  The last few volumes of the CD have sold out within a few hours.
  Some area residents feel that the overall quality of radio in the region is poor, particularly considering the area's appetite for the arts.  Radio K and community radio station KFAI are often said by media and music critics to be the best area stations because these stations' focus on local music (Minnesota has a major local music scene, see music of Minnesota).  However, many listeners find the formats of these stations to be disjointed and difficult to listen to due to their relatively unpolished presentations.  Both are hampered by relatively weak signals, but attempt to compensate with Internet radio streaming.  MPR's KCMP, with a stronger signal, broadcasts as "89.3 The Current" and competes somewhat with KFAI and Radio K with its eclectic music format. Music aficionados in the northwestern suburbs sometimes tune into the St. Cloud State University station KVSC, which is also well-regarded.
  A few pirate radio stations have been found on the local dial from time to time.  The most famous of these was Beat Radio 97.7 in 1996, which was co-created by area programmer and DJ Alan Freed.  Freed went on to broadcast the Beat Radio dance music format from a number of different area stations (and nationally); he later programmed dance music channels on XM Satellite Radio.
  Most of the major TV and radio transmitters are located in Shoreview, Minnesota, and backup facilities for some are maintained atop the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis (though a few low-power broadcasters use the IDS as their primary transmitter location).
caption: Hubbard Broadcasting's FM 107 WFMP radio at the Minnesota State Fair
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