KWBZ (107.5 FM) is an American radio station licensed to Monroe City, Missouri, covering Northeast Missouri, including Hannibal. KWBZ airs a country music format while also airing local high school sports, Mizzou athletics, and NASCAR. The station is owned by Larry Bostwick, through licensee LB Sports Productions.[3][4][5]
The station began broadcasting on July 4, 1981, holding the call sign KLCQ, and originally broadcast at 106.3 MHz, with an ERP of 2,400 watts at a HAAT of 330 feet.[1][6] It was originally owned by Lynnlee Broadcasting.[1][6] The station aired a full service format.[1] In 1987, the station was sold to Twain Lake Broadcasting for $60,000.[7]
On December 28, 1987, the station's call sign was changed to KDAM.[2] The station would begin airing a CHR format.[8] In November 1992, the station adopted an oldies format, airing programming from Satellite Music Network's "Kool Gold" network.[9] The station went silent in November 1993.[10] In 1994, the station was granted a permit to change frequency to 107.5 MHz,[11] and the station's license was transferred to Phoenix I Broadcasting.[12][13] The station returned to the air in July 1996, airing an oldies format.[14] In 1998, the station was sold to Big Signal Broadcasting for $38,500.[15] In 2000, the station was sold to WPW Broadcasting for $240,000.[16][17]
In July 2000, the station's call sign was changed to KWBZ,[2] and the station began airing a soft AC format as "The Breeze".[18] In 2003, the station's ERP was increased to 10,000 watts.[19][20][21] By 2005, the station had begun airing a classic hits format.[22][19] By 2008, the station had begun to be simulcast the oldies format of 106.7 WPWQinMount Sterling, Illinois, and the station was branded "The Oldies Superstation".[23] In 2014, the station was sold to Larry Bostwick, along with WPWQ, for $175,000.[5] In 2017, KWBZ adopted a country music format, ending the simulcast.
