KWQW (98.3 FM, "WOW-FM") is an American radio station broadcasting a talk radio format. Licensed to Boone, Iowa, the station serves the Des Moines area. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media. KWQW's studios are in Urbandale, Iowa, along with Cumulus' other stations: KGGO, KJJY, KHKI, and KBGG.

History [link]

The station began as KWBG-FM in 1975, a local Boone, Iowa radio station.^[1] In 1991, the station started to target the Des Moines, Iowa area with a country music format with call letters KIAB "K98" from 1991 to 1993. The station then became KRUU known as "The Rooster" from 1993–1996, also with a country music format before becoming KRKQ in 1996.

As KRKQ the station took on the nickname of "98 Rock," featuring a classic rock format that competed with longtime ratings leader KGGO as well as the Bob & Tom Show. In 2000 the station's format was tweaked to classic hits as "Magic 98.3" after owner Barnstable Communications acquired KGGO. A short time later, the format was changed to adult contemporary as "98.3 the River."

Barnstable sold all of its Des Moines stations to Wilks Broadcasting in 2001; the stations were sold to Citadel Broadcasting in 2003. On November 11 of that year, Citadel changed KRKQ's format to talk radio as "WOW-FM, the Capital's Big Talker." The Bob & Tom Show was the only program that carried over to the new format. The station's call letters were changed to KBGG-FM shortly afterwards. On December 28, 2004, the call letters became KWQW.

During the 2004 Presidential election, the station gained attention by running satirical billboards portraying candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry as a same-sex bride and groom.

Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.^[2]

Programming [link]

Most of KWQW's programming is syndicated. The Bob & Tom Show aired on the station from October 31, 1996 to December 30, 2011, when it was moved to 95 KGGO. Other syndicated talk shows include Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage. In 2005, Paul Harvey became part of the station's lineup after WHO dropped the show. The station has several local talk shows on its daily schedule; "Bradshaw", Health is Wealth, Around The House, The Fallon Forum, and Moving Iowa.

References [link]

External links [link]

• Official WOW-FM website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for KWQW
• Radio-Locator information on KWQW
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for KWQW