View source for KPLZ-FM

{{short description|Classic country radio station in Seattle}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name                = KPLZ-FM
| logo                =
| logo_size           = 150px
| city                = [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]
| area                = [[Seattle metropolitan area|Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area]]
| branding            = 101.5 Hank FM
| frequency           = 101.5 [[MHz]] {{HD Radio}}
| airdate             = {{Start date and age|1959|9|1}} (as KETO-FM)
| format              = [[Country music|Country]]
| subchannels         = HD2: [[KNWN (AM)|KNWN]]<br>HD3: [[KVI (AM)|KVI]]
| erp                 = 99,000 [[watt]]s<br>100,000 with [[beam tilt]]
| haat                = 372 meters (1220 ft)
| class               = C0
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| facility_id         = 21663
| callsign_meaning    = "K-Plus" (former handle)
| former_callsigns    = KETO (1959–1976)<br>KVI-FM (1976–1981)
| affiliations        =
| owner               = [[Lotus Communications]]
| licensee            = Lotus Seattle Corp.
| sister_stations     = [[KNWN (AM)|KNWN]], [[KNWN-FM]], [[KVI]]
| webcast             = {{listenlive|https://www.crankthehankseattle.com}}
| website             = [https://www.crankthehankseattle.com/ crankthehankseattle.com]
}}
'''KPLZ-FM''' (101.5 [[Hertz|MHz]]) is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[radio station]] in [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]].  It is owned and operated by [[Lotus Communications]] and it airs a gold-based [[country music]] [[radio format]].  The [[radio studio|studio]]s and offices are co-located with former [[sister station]] [[KOMO-TV]] within KOMO Plaza (formerly Fisher Plaza) in the [[Lower Queen Anne, Seattle|Lower Queen Anne]] section of Seattle, directly across the street from the [[Space Needle]].
KPLZ has an [[effective radiated power]] (ERP) of 99,000 [[watt]]s (100,000 watts with [[beam tilt]]).  The [[transmitter]] is located on [[Cougar Mountain]] in [[Issaquah]].<ref>[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=kplz&x=0&y=0&sr=Y&s=C Raido-Locator.com/KPLZ]</ref>  KPLZ broadcasts using [[HD Radio]] technology.  Its HD2 [[digital subchannel]] [[simulcast]]s the [[all news radio|all-news]] format on [[KNWN (AM)|KNWN]], and the HD3 subchannel simulcasts the [[talk radio|talk]] format on [[KVI (AM)|KVI]].
==History==
===Easy listening (1959–1970)===
On {{Start date and age|1959|9|1}}, the station [[sign-on|signed on]] the air.  The original [[call sign]] was '''KETO-FM'''.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1960/B%202%20Radio%20Yearbook%201960.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1960] page A-248, [[Broadcasting & Cable]]</ref> It was owned by Chem-Air, Inc. and featured an [[easy listening]] format.  Its effective radiated power was 10,000 watts.
The 1960 edition of "[[Broadcasting (magazine)|Broadcasting Yearbook]]" showed an advertisement for KETO-FM as "Your key to good listening."  A sketch of a pelican was included in the ad, wearing headphones and holding a key (for KEY-to). However, in the 1960s, few people owned FM radios and the audience was limited.
=== Country (1974–1976) ===
By 1970, KETO-FM had increased its power to 100,000 watts.  It adopted a [[country music]] format in April 1974, competing against juggernaut KAYO (1150 AM, now [[KKNW]]) for country music listeners.
===Top 40 (1976–1981)===
In 1976, Seattle hosted a two-station [[contemporary hit radio|Top 40]] ratings battle between [[KPTR (AM)|KING]] and [[KJR (AM)|KJR]].  Golden West Broadcasters, owned by entertainer [[Gene Autry]], bought KETO-FM in 1976.  Golden West already owned [[KVI (AM)|KVI]], which had a popular [[middle of the road (music)|middle of the road]]/[[adult contemporary]] format.  Management decided to switch the FM station's [[call sign]] to '''KVI-FM''', calling it "The FM KVI," and wanted to give it a younger sound to complement the AM station.  KVI-FM flipped to a Top 40 format, becoming the company's first station with the format. The first song played under the new format was "[[Beginnings (Chicago song)|Beginnings]]" by [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]]. KVI-FM's first program director was Frank Colbourn, who relocated to Seattle from [[Monterey, California]], to sign-on the new format.
The new format quickly became popular as AM music began to lose some of its audience to the FM band.  Colbourn earned the station twelve gold records from artists such as [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Exile (American band)|Exile]], and [[Donna Summer]]. However, there was some confusion between KVI (which had switched to a [[talk radio|talk]] format), and its Golden West [[sister station]], KVI-FM.  In 1978, KVI-FM became "K-Plus 101" and changed its call letters to '''KPLZ'''.
In the late 1970s, while KJR and KING maintained Mainstream Top-40 formats, "K-Plus" became the area's ''de facto'' [[disco]] music station for a couple of years, airing a higher percentage of dance hits than the AM Top 40 stations.
=== Adult contemporary (1981–1983) ===
The death of disco, combined with the 1981 sign-on of Top-40 upstart KBLE-FM, which later became [[KUBE (FM)|KUBE]], signaled a tough ratings environment for KPLZ in the early 1980s.
In response, KPLZ moved slightly towards an [[adult contemporary]] format, using the slogan "The Music Magazine" and branding as simply "KPLZ."  However, under the leadership of Program Director Jeff King, and later Casey Keating, the station was in a close race in the ratings with KUBE for Top 40 supremacy during the 1980s.
=== Top 40 (1983–1994) ===
The station moved back to Mainstream Top 40 on September 5, 1983, changing its slogan to "Hot Hits."  It began using a Hot Hits [[jingle]] package and formatics developed by [[Hot Hits|Mike Joseph]], who created the Hot Hits format, adopted by numerous radio stations in the early 1980s.  KPLZ later changed its moniker to "Z 101.5," before moving back to "101.5 KPLZ" in the late 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KPLZ|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpHYJ5k9lpQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/KpHYJ5k9lpQ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=1991 KPLZ 101.5 FM Promo|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J2bC1K3bWo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/5J2bC1K3bWo |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> During its "Z 101.5" days, KPLZ was an affiliate of [[Rick Dees Weekly Top 40]].
Meanwhile, KUBE struggled for a time, but ultimately adopted a [[Rhythmic CHR]] approach in early 1992. During this time, KPLZ's ratings dropped while KUBE ascended the ratings ladder.  KPLZ tried various angles of the format, such as counteracting KUBE's rhythmic direction with a more mainstream CHR direction, as well as emphasizing hits from the previous five years. When that strategy didn't work, KPLZ began playing more rhythmic titles by January 1993.
[[Fisher Communications]] bought the station in 1994.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1995/B-Radio-NE-Ter-YB-1995.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995 page B-443]</ref>
===Hot adult contemporary (1994–2024)===
[[File:KPLZ-FM.png|thumb|Final logo as Star, 2020-2024]]
On January 14, 1994, at 1 p.m., KPLZ finally gave up on Top 40 and flipped to [[Hot AC]] as "Star 101.5." The first song on "Star" was "[[Waiting for a Star to Fall]]" by Seattle duo [[Boy Meets Girl (band)|Boy Meets Girl]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19940114/1889602/pbs-broadcast-of-tales-brings-some-indignant-calls|title=PBS' Broadcast of 'Tales' Brings Some Indignant Calls}}</ref> Kent Phillips and Alan Budwill, who had hosted mornings on the station since 1986, remained after the flip to "Star" and continued until December 2018, when Budwill retired and Phillips moved to afternoons; mornings would then be hosted by Curt Kruse and Corine McKenzie and producer Leonard Barokas until they were let go from the station in March 2021.<ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/172814/kplz-shakes-up-mornings-afternoons-as-alan-budwill-retires/  KPLZ Shakes Up Mornings/Afternoons as Alan Budwill Retires]</ref><ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/205759/kplz-morning-show-exits-in-sinclair-layoffs/ KPLZ Morning Show Exits in Sinclair Layoffs]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KPLZ STAR 101.5 TV SPOT 2007 FALL|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGdakE8YErE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/MGdakE8YErE |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Star 101.5 Commercial|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRlpwnWLCmg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/vRlpwnWLCmg |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Star 101.5 • Today's Best Mix - :30|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT0bWhEldR4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/yT0bWhEldR4 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Star 101.5 • Today's Best Mix - :15|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huOUXU2eRAk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/huOUXU2eRAk |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
On April 11, 2013, Fisher Communications announced that it would sell its properties, including KPLZ-FM, to the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]].<ref name=b&c-saletosinclair>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Michael|title=Sinclair to Acquire Fisher Stations for $373 Million|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/492841-Sinclair_to_Acquire_Fisher_Stations_for_373_Million.php|access-date=April 12, 2013|newspaper=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=April 11, 2013}}</ref>  Fisher owned radio stations in Seattle and in [[Great Falls, Montana]], as well as TV stations in [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Oregon]], [[Idaho]], [[California]] and other markets.
Although Sinclair primarily owns television stations, the company said it would retain KPLZ, [[talk radio]] [[KVI]], [[all-news radio]] [[KNWN (AM)|KOMO]] and continued to lease [[KNWN-FM|KOMO-FM]] as a simulcast of KOMO (AM) (KOMO-FM would be purchased outright by Sinclair in June 2020).<ref name=tst-saletosinclair>{{cite news|last=Allison|first=Melissa|title=KOMO owner Fisher Communications agrees to sale|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020756564_fisherbroadcastingxml.html|access-date=April 12, 2013|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=April 11, 2013}}</ref> The deal was completed on August 8, 2013.<ref name=aa-fishersinclaircomplete>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes On Fisher Communications Acquisition|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/121117/sinclair-broadcast-group-closes-on-fisher-communic|access-date=August 8, 2013|newspaper=All Access|date=August 8, 2013}}</ref>
On June 3, 2021, Sinclair announced they would sell KPLZ, KVI and KOMO-AM-FM to [[Lotus Communications]] for $18 million. Sinclair retained KOMO-TV.<ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/209052/lotus-broadcasting-acquires-sinclairs-four-stations-in-seattle/ Lotus Broadcasting Acquires Sinclair's Four Stations in Seattle]</ref> The sale was completed on September 28, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/209052/lotus-broadcasting-acquires-sinclairs-four-stations-in-seattle/|title=Lotus Closes On Purchase Of Sinclair's Seattle Radio Properties|first=Lance|last=Venta|work=RadioInsight|date=September 28, 2021|accessdate=September 29, 2021}}</ref>
===Classic country (2024-present)===
On April 1, 2024, Lotus announced that KPLZ would drop the hot AC format after 30 years at 2 p.m. that day. At that time, after playing "[[End of the Road (Boyz II Men song)|End of the Road]]" by [[Boyz II Men]] and "[[Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)]]" by [[Green Day]], the station flipped to a gold-leaning [[country music|country]] format as "101.5 [[Hank FM]]". The first song as "Hank" was "[[It's Five O'Clock Somewhere]]" by [[Alan Jackson]] and [[Jimmy Buffett]]. The move also triggered a similar move at [[KPNW-FM]] just four hours before in retaliation, and came as the station carried just a 2.1 share in the January 2024 Nielsen Audio market ratings. Both KPLZ and KPNW now compete against [[KKWF]], which had a 7.1 share in those same ratings, ranking second in the market.<ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/266838/star-101-5-seattle-to-flip-today/ Star 101.5 Seattle to Give Way to Hank FM]</ref>
===Christmas music===
KPLZ, under its run as "Star", spent the latter part of each year playing an all-[[Christmas music]] format. In 2016, the station briefly rebranded as "Santa FM," which sparked rumors of a format change or rebranding away from the "Star" name after the holiday season. However, at midnight on December 26, KPLZ returned to its Hot AC format and the "Star" branding, but adjusted its [[playlist]] to include some additional gold/recurrent songs from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.<ref>[http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/161066/kplz-seattle-returns-with-today-s-best-mix-and-thr/  KPLZ/Seattle Returns with Today's Best Mix and Throwbacks]</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{official website|https://www.crankthehankseattle.com}}
{{FM station data|21663|KPLZ-FM}}
{{Seattle Radio}}
{{Country Radio Stations in Washington}}
{{Lotus Communications}}
{{coord|47.544|N|122.108|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}
[[Category:Radio stations in Seattle|PLZ-FM]]
[[Category:Classic country radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1959]]
[[Category:Lotus Communications stations]]