KMBZ-FM

KMBZ-FM (98.1 FM; "Newsradio 98.1 FM") is a radio station based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States broadcasting a locally based news/talk format. Owned by Entercom, its transmitter is located in east Kansas City, and studios are located in Mission, Kansas.

History

The 98.1 frequency was originally KUDL, which debuted on the AM band, broadcasting from Fairway, Kansas at 1380 kHz (now KCNW). KUDL began broadcasting at 1380 AM in 1953. KUDL was a pop music station that was playing Top 40 music since at least 1956. With frequency modulation growing in popularity, KUDL began simulcasting their AM signal on 98.1 FM in 1965. From 1968 to 1973, the stations had split formats, with progressive rock (dubbed "The Rock of Kansas City") on the FM and Top-40/oldies on AM. In the early '70s, KUDL-FM had a Soul music format and switched back to a progressive rock format until 1975 when KUDL AM began an all news format. The FM station played began playing top 40 music in 1975 and called itself 'Disco 98' in 1976 with a disco format. After attempting Top-40 again during the rise and fall of disco, KUDL's soft rock format debuted in 1977.