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KOZY (AM)

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KOZY
Broadcast area
Iron Range
Frequency1320 kHz
Branding1320 KOZY
Programming
FormatCommercial; Oldies/Sports/Talk
AffiliationsABC News Radio
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota News Network
Ownership
Owner
  • Steve Hallstrom and Scott Hennen
  • (Rapids Radio LLC)
KMFY, KBAJ
History
First air date
January 29, 1948
Former call signs
KBZY (1948-1954)
Former frequencies
1490 kHz (1948-1976)
Call sign meaning
Comfy Cozy
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
34971
ClassB
Power5,000 watts
Translator93.1 K226CV (Grand Rapids)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitekozyradio.com

KOZY (1320 kHz) is an oldies AM radio station in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It is owned by Steve Hallstrom and Scott Hennen, through licensee Rapids Radio LLC, along with its sister stations, KMFY and KBAJ.

History

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized Itasca Broadcasting Corporation in 1947 to construct a full-time radio station in Grand Rapids on 1490 kHz with 250 watts. The corporation's founding group consisted of Robert D. Kennedy, formerly sales manager of WSBR in Superior, Wisconsin, and Grand Rapids-area business figures Larke Huntley, Harry Erickson, William King, Robert Dingman and Walter Kurtz.[2]

The station began broadcasting as KBZY in January 1948.[3][4] Itasca Broadcasting operated KBZY from North First Avenue in Grand Rapids.[5] The call sign was changed to KOZY in December 1954.[6] A 1964 industry directory continued to list Kennedy as general manager and identified KOZY as an affiliate of the Mutual and Keystone networks.[7]

KOZY initially operated with 250 watts both day and night. In December 1965, the FCC granted a construction permit increasing its daytime power to 1,000 watts while retaining 250-watt nighttime operation.[8] The upgraded facility was licensed in early 1966.[9]

Itasca Broadcasting applied in 1975 to move KOZY from 1490 to 1320 kHz, increase its power to 5,000 watts full-time and construct a directional nighttime antenna system at a new transmitter site southeast of Grand Rapids.[10][11] The FCC granted program operating authority for the rebuilt facility effective October 13, 1976, establishing KOZY's present frequency and power.[12] By that year, Kennedy owned 99.2 percent of the station.[13]

In 1979, the FCC approved the assignment of KOZY from Itasca Broadcasting to Sorenson Broadcasting Corporation for $375,000, plus $25,000 for a noncompetition agreement. Sorenson Broadcasting was owned equally by Dean P. Sorenson and Thomas J. Simmons.[14] Sorenson sold KOZY in 1986 for $375,000 to Kirwin Broadcasting, owned by William J. and Carla Kirwin. William Kirwin was then KOZY's general manager.[15]

By 2001, the National Radio Club AM Radio Log listed KOZY with an oldies format and affiliations with ABC and the Minnesota News Network.[16] Following William Kirwin's death, an application was filed in 2002 to transfer control of Kirwin Broadcasting, which by then owned both KOZY and KMFY. Michael and Cynthia Iaizzo, each of whom already held 13 percent of the company, acquired the remaining interests from two trusts controlled by Carla Kirwin for $1.5 million and became equal owners.[17][18] By 2005, the FCC listed Itasca Broadcasting, Inc., as KOZY's licensee.[19]

Itasca Broadcasting sold KOZY and KMFY to Jim and Colleen Lamke's Lamke Broadcasting in 2012 for $1.25 million.[20] In 2019, KOZY added the 250-watt FM translator K226CV on 93.1 MHz. The translator, authorized through the FCC's AM revitalization program, extended the station's service into several communities in the western Iron Range. At the time, KOZY was carrying a full-service oldies format.[21]

Lamke Broadcasting agreed in 2021 to sell KOZY, K226CV, KMFY and KBAJ to Steven Hallstrom and Scott Hennen's Rapids Radio LLC for $1.4 million.[22] The FCC approved the transaction that September,[23] and Rapids Radio assumed ownership on November 1, 2021.[24] Rapids Radio describes KOZY as a locally presented classic hits and information station, combining music with local news and sports programming.[25]

The Super Cruiser

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The Super Cruiser is KOZY's promotional vehicle used in parades and on location reporting. Originally a 1971 Chevy Ambulance, It was retired and sold to KNNS-FM (Now KOZY's sister station, KMFY). The Super Cruiser has had many color schemes over the years including Yellow, 2 tone blue, and the current black.

Programming

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KOZY AM 1320 is a live, local, locally produced radio station.

KOZY is the Grand Rapids area affiliate for the ABC Information Network, with hourly news updates from ABC, and ABC Sports reports. KOZY is also an affiliate of the Minnesota News Network with hourly newscasts of statewide news, generally at the bottom of each hour. MNN also provides several Minnesota sports programs throughout the day. KOZY also airs local area-based news hourly from 6am to 5pm.

KOZY broadcasts games for the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Golden Gophers (college), Minnesota Wild. The Minnesota Vikings NFL Football Games air on sister station, KMFY.

KOZY is also the longtime flagship station of Grand Rapids High School sports. They also feature "Thunderhawk Talk", a program of news from Grand Rapids High School. Grand Rapids High School hockey will be heard on KOZY's sister station, KBAJ in 2018.

KOZY airs syndicated programming including "Little Known Facts" with Chaz Allan, "American Hit List" with M.G. Kelly, as well as the "Twilight Zone".

KOZY's music programming features the hit songs of the mid-1950s through the mid-1970s. A music library of literally thousands of musical selections provides a very wide music base generally exceeding that of typical "oldies" radio stations.

References

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  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KOZY". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "Ten new standard stations granted" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 17, 1947. p. 104. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  3. ↑ Minnesota Anniversary & Directory (PDF). Minnesota Broadcasters Association. p. 28. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  4. ↑ "FCC actions" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 9, 1948. p. 80. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  5. ↑ TV Digest's AM–FM Directory (PDF). 1952. p. 22. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  6. ↑ "Station Shorts" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 13, 1954. p. 92. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  7. ↑ Radio Annual and Television Year Book 1964 (PDF). 1964. p. 270. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  8. ↑ "FCC actions" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 6, 1965. p. 70. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  9. ↑ "FCC actions" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 7, 1966. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  10. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 20, 1975. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  11. ↑ "Broadcast applications" (PDF). Federal Register. 40 (188): 44303. September 26, 1975. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  12. ↑ "AM starts" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 1, 1976. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  13. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 12, 1976. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  14. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 12, 1979. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  15. ↑ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 22, 1986. p. 86. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  16. ↑ Heinen, Wayne (2001). National Radio Club AM Radio Log (PDF) (22nd ed.). National Radio Club. p. 176. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  17. ↑ "Broadcasting News—March 2002". NorthPine. March 7, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Transactions" (PDF). The M Street Journal. March 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  19. ↑ "Broadcast Actions, Report No. 45955" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. April 4, 2005. p. 22. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Transactions: 1-5-12". Radio & Television Business Report. January 4, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  21. ↑ Ellis, Jon (December 4, 2019). "New FM Signals in Glencoe and Grand Rapids". NorthPine. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  22. ↑ Ellis, Jon (July 7, 2021). "Update: Flag Family Media Buys Grand Rapids Radio Trio". NorthPine. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  23. ↑ Ellis, Jon (September 12, 2021). "FCC Monitor: St. Cloud AM Upgrade Sought; SD Station Ownership Change". NorthPine. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  24. ↑ "About Rapids Radio". Rapids Radio. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  25. ↑ "KOZY Radio". Rapids Radio. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
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47°10′22″N 93°27′10″W / 47.17278°N 93.45278°W / 47.17278; -93.45278

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