KNOU

KNOU (96.3 MHz) is an FM radio station in St. Louis, Missouri, branded as "Now 96-3". Owned by Emmis Communications, the station's studios are located in the Powerhouse building at St. Louis Union Stations, while the transmitter is located in Shrewsbury.

KNOU has two HD channels. 96.3-HD2 airs a classical music format operated by the non-profit Radio Arts Foundation branded as "RAF STL" (relayed on FM translator K297BI 107.3 FM), while 96.3-HD3 airs a smooth jazz format as "Hip 96.3".

History

The 96.5 frequency originally went on the air on December 11, 1959 as KADI under the ownership of William Cady, making it one of the first commercial FM radio stations in the St. Louis area. KADI spent most of the 1960s on and off the air in the early turbulent days of FM radio. By the early 1970s, the station was sold to Richard J. Miller, who would put a Progressive Rock format on the air. In the mid-'70s, KADI moved down one notch on the dial to 96.3 MHz to allow new station KSCF (now known as KFTK) in Florissant to go on the air at 97.1 MHz.

KWMZ-FM

KWMZ-FM (104.5 FM) is a radio station licensed to serve Empire, Louisiana. The station is owned by Michael A. Costello through licensee M.A.C. Broadcasting, LLC.

History

This station received its original construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission on May 15, 1998. The new station, intended for Grand Isle, Louisiana, was assigned the call letters KBIL by the FCC on July 17, 1998.

The station signed on the air as a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit music formatted station branded as "U104.5" on June 5, 2001 using the call sign KNOU. KNOU had evolved to an urban contemporary/hip hop music format by December 2001.

JP Broadcasting, LLC agreed in July 2002 to sell KNOU to On Top Communications of Louisiana, LLC for a reported $8.5 million. The deal was approved by the FCC on September 6, 2002, and the transfer was completed on December 6, 2002.

On January 6, 2003, the station changed its branding to "Hot 104.5" and brought in Russ Parr's syndicated morning show and veteran programmer Lamonda Williams.