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{{about|the radio station|the airport with ICAO code KLOL|Derby Field}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name                = KLOL
| logo                = KLOL 2013.jpg
| image               = KMVK HD logo.png
| city                = [[Houston|Houston, Texas]]
| area                = [[Greater Houston]]
| branding            = Mega 101
| airdate             = {{start date|1947|6|30}}
| frequency           = {{frequency|101.1|[[Hertz#SI multiples|MHz]]}} {{HD Radio}}
| format              = [[Latin pop]]
| subchannels         = HD2: [[Tejano music]] ("Fierro")
| language            = [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| erp                 = {{ubl|{{val|96000|u=[[watt]]s|fmt=commas}}|({{val|100000|u=watts|fmt=commas}} with [[beam tilt]])}}
| haat                = {{convert|585|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class               = C
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| facility_id         = 35073
| callsign_meaning    = LOL in lower case resembles "101"
| former_callsigns    = KTRH-FM (1947–70)
| coordinates         = {{coord|29|34|34|N|95|30|38|W|region:US-TX_type:landmark}}
| affiliations        = {{ubl|[[Houston Texans]]|[[KTMD]]}}
| owner               = [[Audacy, Inc.]]
| licensee            = Audacy License, LLC
| sister_stations     = {{hlist|[[KHMX]]|[[KIKK]]|[[KILT (AM)|KILT]]|[[KILT-FM]]|[[KKHH]]}}
| webcast             = {{Audacy.com|klol}}<br />{{Audacy.com|fierrohd}} (HD2)
| website             = {{url|https://www.audacy.com/klol}}
}}
'''KLOL''' (101.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]] "Mega 101") is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[radio station]] in [[Houston|Houston, Texas]].  It is owned by [[Audacy, Inc.]] and airs a [[Spanish-language]] [[Latin pop]] [[radio format]].  KLOL serves as the Spanish-language [[flagship (radio)|flagship station]] for the [[Houston Texans]] [[NFL|football]] team.
The studios and offices are in [[Greenway Plaza]] in Houston.<ref>[https://klol.radio.com/contacto/contacto KLOL.radio.com/contacto]</ref>  The [[transmitter]] is located off McHard Road in [[Missouri City, Texas]].<ref>[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Klol&nav=&x=0&y=0 Radio-Locator.com/KLOL]</ref>
==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2011}}
{{original research|section|date=December 2011}}
===KTRH-FM===
For much of the early days of radio, [[KTRH]] had been one of Houston's top AM stations, co-owned with ''[[The Houston Chronicle]]''.  In 1947, an FM station was added, 101.1 KTRH-FM.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1960/B%202%20Radio%20Yearbook%201960.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1960 page A-236]</ref>  It was the third FM station in Houston (after the short-lived KOPY and KPRC-FM) and mostly [[simulcast]] KTRH's programming when few people had FM radios.  KTRH-AM-FM aired the [[CBS]] Radio Network line-up of dramas, comedies, news, sports, [[soap opera]]s, [[game show]]s and [[big band]] broadcasts during the "[[Golden Age of Radio]]."
In the 1950s, as network programming moved from radio to TV, KTRH-AM-FM switched to a [[full-service radio|full-service]] [[middle of the road (music)|middle of the road]] (MOR) format.  In 1965, KTRH-AM-FM were acquired by the Rusk Corporation. Under Rusk ownership, KTRH-FM experimented with [[progressive rock]] programs at night while simulcasting AM 740 in the daytime. In 1970, Rusk switched the station over to a full-time rock format as KLOL.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1971/B-2-Radio-YB-1971.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1971 page B-204]</ref>
===101 KLOL===
In 1970, "[[I'm Free (The Who song)|I'm Free]]" by [[The Who]] ushered in a new format and [[call sign]] to the 101.1 frequency, and "The KLOL Legend" was born. In the early days, KLOL was known as "Mother's Family" and later "K101" and utilized what would be termed a [[freeform radio]] format, where each [[disc jockey|DJ]] would choose which records he wanted to play. The "Mother's Family" name was a reference to KFMK-FM (97.9, now [[KBXX]]), Houston's original progressive rock radio station, known as "Mother Radio."
A major contributor to the early and ongoing success of KLOL was the late laid-back DJ Maurice "Crash" Collins.  KLOL played cuts from mostly rock albums in the early years, but it was also possible to hear [[jazz]], [[blues]], [[folk music]] and [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]. In the mid-1970s the main rock competition to 101 KLOL was [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]-owned 96.5 KAUM. KAUM eventually switched to [[Contemporary hit radio|top 40]] hits. In addition, 100.3 [[KILT-FM]] was another competitor for KLOL also playing rock music,
===Moving to AOR===
By the late 1970s, KLOL had moved from progressive rock to an [[album-oriented rock]] sound, with a structured [[playlist]] of only the top tracks from the best selling albums. The station changed its moniker to "101 KLOL."  KLOL achieved victory in early 1981 against format rival KILT-FM, which soon changed its format to [[country music]]. Shortly thereafter, KLOL had another rival in 97ROCK (96.5 KSRR) and one of the fiercest AOR battles of the 1980s commenced. KLOL once again won the battle as KSRR flipped to top 40 as KKHT in 1986 (and is now [[KHMX]]).
KLOL mellowed somewhat in the 1980s, as did many AORs, but the playlist remained quite wide. The station's core artists were [[The Eagles]], [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Fleetwood Mac]], [[Van Halen]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Billy Joel]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Boston (band)|Boston]], [[The Police]] and [[Tom Petty]].
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, KLOL was one of the top-rated AOR stations in the [[United States]]. KLOL featured legendary morning hosts Mark Stevens and Jim Pruett and their cleverly titled "Stevens and Pruett Show," chalking up both high ratings and several fines from the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) for "offensive content." Dayna Steele anchored mid-days with her audience of "Steele Workers." In the evenings it was "Outlaw Radio", an [[active rock]] show with "a lot of attitude." KLOL was regularly in the top 3 in that time frame.
===Changes in ownership===
In 1993, Evergreen Media bought KTRH and KLOL for $49 million.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1995/B-Radio-NE-Ter-YB-1995.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995 page B-403]</ref>  Evergreen started to make changes to KLOL's sound. The station started relying heavily on either [[classic rock]] product (KLOL would be almost all classic rock from 1996 to 1998) or current product from "safe artists" who were often not that popular. KLOL virtually ignored the exploding [[grunge rock]] and [[alternative rock]] bands in the 1990s.
In late 1998, KLOL began playing more current material. Some thought active rock was finally coming to Houston on KLOL. Alternative rock-formatted [[KTBZ-FM]] had moved to a more pop-alternative sound to target listeners who had previously tuned in the now defunct 102.9 KKPN, a [[modern AC]] station that is now [[KLTN]]. So the opportunity for a harder-edged station was there. But the station stopped short of going to an active rock sound.
[[iHeartMedia|Clear Channel Communications]] became the owner of KLOL in 2000. For several years, Clear Channel retained the rock format. Many thought Clear Channel would bring back the classic sound of the station during the previous decades. Instead, KLOL carried on in the same vein for another four years.
===KLOL goes Spanish===
Rumors of a KLOL format change had been heard since at least 1989. Some had speculated on a switch to [[urban oldies]] or top 40 as "KISS 101." However, the November 10, 2004, edition of "the Walton & Johnson Show" on KLOL informed listeners that if they wanted to keep listening, they had better learn [[Spanish language|Spanish]].
On November 12, 2004, after a rerun of the "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXeC4l6ciQc Walton & Johnson Show]", KLOL segued into the "10 O'Clock Rock Block" as normal. Then, at 10:11&nbsp;a.m., the station changed its format to [[Hurban]] (Spanish-language [[hip hop music]]).<ref>Clifford Pugh, "KLOL suddenly speaking Spanish; Venerable rock station switches to a new format", ''The Houston Chronicle'', November 13, 2004.</ref><ref>Carol Christian, "The day a music icon died; Houstonians mourn the loss of KLOL and its 34 on-air years", ''The Houston Chronicle'', November 15, 2004.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=53662 |title=FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more! |access-date=2015-03-17 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402165443/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=53662 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-11-19.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> "I'm Free" by The Who would bookend the 34-year history of KLOL as a rock station.
In the fall of 2007, KLOL redesigned the station's entire look, changing the format to a more contemporary [[Latin pop]] sound under the direction of Clear Channel's Senior VP [[Alfredo Alonso]]. This design was made to better compete with other Spanish-language stations on the Houston radio dial. The name MEGA 101 was kept, while the [[logo]] was changed. The website was also redesigned. Dayna Steele began to learn Spanish while she prepared for a career in politics.
===CBS and Entercom acquisitions===
On December 15, 2008, Clear Channel and [[CBS Radio]] announced a multi-station swap: KLOL and co-owned 96.5 KHMX would go to CBS Radio, while CBS Radio-owned stations [[WQSR]] in [[Baltimore]], [[KBKS-FM]] in [[Seattle]], [[KLTH]] and [[KXJM]] in [[Portland, Oregon]], and [[KYRV|KQJK]] in [[Sacramento, California]], would go to Clear Channel. The sale was approved on March 31, 2009, and was consummated on April 1.
On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with [[Entercom]].<ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/116299/cbs-radio-to-merge-with-entercom/  CBS Radio to Merge with Entercom]</ref> The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on the November 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entercom.com/press/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-merger-cbs-radio/|title=Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio|work=Entercom|date=November 9, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121072/entercom-completes-cbs-radio-merger/|title=Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger|last=Venta|first=Lance|work=Radio Insight|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2017}}</ref>
===Partnership with KTMD===
On September 25, 2018, Entercom struck a new content deal with [[NBCUniversal Television Group]] station [[KTMD]] ([[Telemundo]] Channel 47). The TV station will provide news, weather and other content for KLOL programming.<ref>https://klol.radio.com/articles/entercom-y-telemundo-houston-sellan-sociedad-estrat-gica {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2022}}</ref>
===Online return of Rock 101===
On November 12, 2012, after eight years of absence, Rock 101 KLOL returned as an [[Internet radio]] format.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mikemcguff.blogspot.com/2012/07/rock-101-klol-back-on-air.html|title=Rock 101 KLOL back on air?|date=10 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2012/07/rock_101_klol.php |title=Rock 101 KLOL Comes Barreling Back as an Internet Station - Houston Music - Rocks Off |website=blogs.houstonpress.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726204245/http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2012/07/rock_101_klol.php |archive-date=2012-07-26}}</ref> The online-only version plays classic, progressive and some contemporary rock as well as blues-rock, often commercial-free. The Internet station is run by volunteers and uses a listener-supported business model. It is not owned by Audacy.
The station has several syndicated shows as well as original programming. Classic station imaging is played and old clips of Stevens & Pruett's "Uncle Waldo" are aired on Friday mornings. Former "on air" personalities such as the late Jim Pruett, Dayna Steele and Scotty Phillips have contributed with sweepers and station drops, along with other material.
==Current competitors==
*[[KAMA-FM]] ''104.9 Latino Mix''
*[[KOVE-FM]] ''Amor 106.5''
==Callsign and moniker history==
*KTRH-FM: June 30, 1947
*KLOL: August 1970 (Mother's Family, K101, 101 KLOL, Classic Rock 101 KLOL, Rock 101 KLOL, Rock 101, Mega 101 Latino & Proud!, Mega 101FM, Mega 101)
==Previous logos==
<!-- Commented out: [[Image:KLOL-LATINOandPROUD.png|KLOL{{deletable file-caption|Tuesday, 21 February 2023|PROD}}|center|thumb]] --> [[Image:KLOL-ROCK.PNG|thumb]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060118114307/http://www.richardsfault.com/KLOL1967/ Audio clips from KLOL's 1987 tribute to 1967]
*[http://www.rock101klol.com Rock 101 KLOL Online]
*[http://formatchange.com/klol-becomes-mega-101/ Rock 101 KLOL becomes Mega 101FM] (Audio from the [http://formatchange.com Format Change archive])
*[http://rock101movie.com "Runaway Radio" 101 KLOL documentary website]
==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.audacy.com/klol}}
{{FM station data|35073|KLOL}}
{{Houston Radio}}
{{Entercom}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in Houston]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Houston|LOL]]
[[Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Latin rhythmic radio stations]]
[[Category:Spanish-language radio stations in Texas|LOL]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1947]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Audacy, Inc. radio stations]]