{{short description|Adult contemporary radio station in St. Louis}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{More citations needed|date=November 2008}} {{Infobox radio station | name = KEZK-FM | logo = 1025 KEZK 2015.png | logo_size = 150px | city = St. Louis, Missouri | country = US | area = Greater St. Louis | branding = 102.5 KEZK | frequency = {{frequency|102.5|MHz}} {{HD Radio}} | translators = {{Radio Relay|98.7|K254CR|St. Louis|HD2}} | airdate = {{start date|1969|02|08}} | language = English | format = Adult contemporary | subchannels = {{ubl|HD2: Urban contemporary|HD3: Channel Q}} | erp = {{val|100000|u=watts|fmt=commas}} | haat = {{convert|309|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | class = C0 | licensing_authority = FCC | facility_id = 13507 | coordinates = {{coord|38|34|27.9|N|90|19|31.9|W|region:US-MO_type:landmark}} | callsign_meaning = "Easy" (former format) | former_callsigns = KDNA (1969–1973) | affiliations = Premiere Networks | owner = Audacy, Inc. | licensee = Audacy License, LLC | sister_stations = {{hlist|KFTK-FM|KMOX|KMOX-FM|KYKY|WFUN-FM}} | webcast = {{ubl|{{Audacy.com|kezk}}|HD2: {{Audacy.com|hot987}}}} | website = {{ubl|{{URL|https://audacy.com/kezk}}|HD2: {{URL|https://audacy.com/hot987}}}} }}
'''KEZK-FM''' (102.5 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it airs an adult contemporary format,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KEZK-FM |title=KEZK-FM Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }}</ref> with studios on Olive Street in downtown St. Louis and transmitter in Shrewsbury.<ref>[https://kezk.radio.com/about/contact-us KEZK.com/contact-us]</ref> In addition to a standard analog transmission, KEZK broadcasts in HD Radio<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hdradio.com/ |title=HD Radio Station Guide |work=HD Radio |publisher=iBiquity }}</ref> and is available online via Audacy.
==History== ===KDNA and easy listening=== The 102.5 frequency in St. Louis had originally been the home of listener-supported free form KDNA from 1969 to 1972. KDNA was a non-commercial station, supported by listener donations, yet it broadcast on a commercial frequency. In 1972, it relocated to the non-commercial part of the FM dial, and became KDHX at 88.1 MHz.
Heftel Broadcasting paid for the frequency, and in June 1973, it put KEZK on the air.<ref>[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1975/C%201%201975%20Radio.pdf Information] from the Broadcasting Yearbook 1975 page C-111</ref> KEZK carried a beautiful music format and its call sign reflected that format with the EZ call letters, referring to easy listening. It was among St. Louis' highest rated FM stations in the 1970s and 1980s. By the mid-1980s, however, listeners interested in the beautiful music format were beginning to age and most advertisers were seeking a younger audience. In response, KEZK began adding more vocals to its mostly instrumental playlist.
===Soft AC=== On January 1, 1991, KEZK completed the transition to a soft adult contemporary format, playing music mostly from the 1970s and 1980s as well as some current soft hits.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1991/RR-1991-01-11.pdf | title=B/EZ KEZK Switches To AC Format | website=www.americanradiohistory.com | date=1991-01-11 | page=38}}</ref> Through the early 2000s, KEZK moved to a mainstream adult contemporary music format.
In 1996 ownership changed from EZ Broadcasting to American Radio Systems Corporation and Pat McMahon replaced Bob Burch as Program Director. At the time, the morning show anchored by St. Louis radio veteran Ed Goodman and co hosted my Mary Phelan, were the top rated FM radio morning show in the market. Jeff Kapugi became KEZK's Program Director in November 2010, replacing Mark Edwards. The current program director is Cat Thomas.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/cat-thomas-named-om-of-entercom-st-louis-music-stations/article_8131d01c-fe2c-11e8-99a0-3fe960e1f879.html | title=Cat Thomas Named OM of Entercom St. Louis Music Stations | date=12 December 2018 }}</ref>
===Fresh 102.5=== On December 27, 2010, the station rebranded from "Soft Rock 102.5 KEZK" to "Fresh 102.5"<ref name="kezk.radio.com">http://kezk.radio.com/2010/12/08/fresh-102-5/ {{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> adopting the brand used on sister CBS Radio stations WWFS New York City, WCFS-FM Chicago and WIAD Washington, D.C.
However, while those three stations had playlists more closely resembling hot adult contemporary stations, KEZK continued to feature 1970s artists such as Billy Joel and Chicago.<ref name="kezk.radio.com"/> The name "Fresh" was more of a rebranding than a format change, as sister station KYKY already features a hot AC format.
===Today's Hits & Yesterday's Favorites=== On May 26, 2015, at 7:05 a.m., after stunting the prior weekend with 1980s music (ending with "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys), KEZK dropped the "Fresh" handle, rebranding as "102.5 KEZK, Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites." The first song after the relaunch was "P.Y.T." by Michael Jackson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://formatchange.com/kezk-refreshes/|title=KEZK Refreshes|date=May 26, 2015}}</ref> While many AC stations have moved more contemporary, KEZK continues to play artists from the 1980s, such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Billy Joel and Hall & Oates.
After the annual Christmas music programing concluded at the end of 2020, while using the slogan "All Your Favorites From the 80s and Today," the station shifted to a playlist with little to no recurrent music, and heavy emphasis on the 1980s and to a lesser extent, the 2000s. KEZK also plays songs from the 1970s, 1990s, and 2010s.<ref>{{Cite web | title=102.5 KEZK - All Your Favorites From The 80's And Today - LISTEN LIVE {{!}} AUDACY | url=https://www.audacy.com/kezk/listen#recently-played | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416025228/https://www.audacy.com/kezk/listen | access-date=2025-11-22 | archive-date=2021-04-16}}</ref>
On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/116299/cbs-radio-to-merge-with-entercom/|title=CBS Radio To Merge With Entercom - RadioInsight|date=February 2, 2017|website=radioinsight.com}}</ref> The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on November 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entercom.com/press/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-merger-cbs-radio/|title=Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio|work=Entercom|date=November 9, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121072/entercom-completes-cbs-radio-merger/|title=Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger|last=Venta|first=Lance|work=Radio Insight|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2017}}</ref>
==Programming== ===Christmas music=== KEZK has been "St. Louis’ Official Christmas Station" since 2003. They switch to Christmas music during the second week of November, and air Christmas music until December 25, when the station usually plays 36 hours of commercial-free Christmas music from noon on Christmas Eve until midnight on December 25. KEZK also played Christmas music in late March until early April 2020 during the first few weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic quarantines, calling it “Christmas In March”.
===HD Radio=== KEZK-FM's HD2 channel carries an urban contemporary format as "Hot 98.7", reflecting its simulcast on FM translator K254CR (98.7 FM). Prior to March 24, 2025, the HD2 channel and K254CR simulcast KMOX; the change to "Hot" was a format swap with WHHL (104.1 FM), which became KMOX-FM.<ref name="rink-kezkhothd2">{{cite news |last1=Coats |first1=Cameron |title=Audacy Shuffles St. Louis Radio As KMOX Expands On FM |url=https://radioink.com/2025/03/10/audacy-shuffles-st-louis-radio-as-kmox-expands-on-fm/ |access-date=March 24, 2025 |work=Radio Ink |date=March 10, 2025}}</ref>
{{RadioTranslators|freq1=98.7|fid1=138424|callsign=KEZK-FM HD2|watts1=250|haat1=162|class1=D|coord1={{Coord|38|36|47.2|N|90|20|9.4|W|type:landmark_region:US-MO_source:FCC|name=K254CR}}|notes1=Previously assigned to rebroadcast KFTK (1490 AM); reassigned to KFTK-FM and then KMOX after KFTK (AM)'s license was cancelled by the FCC, and KEZK-FM HD2 after KMOX began simulcasting on KMOX-FM.|call1=K254CR|city1=St. Louis, Missouri}}
==Awards== In 2007, the station was nominated for the top 25 markets Adult Contemporary station of the year award by Radio & Records magazine. Other nominees included WMJX in Boston, KOST in Los Angeles; WALK-FM in Nassau, New York; WLTW in New York City; and WBEB in Philadelphia.<ref name="randrawards">{{cite news|title=2007 Industry Achievement Awards |date=Sep 28, 2008 |url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/con2007/awards/indexFinal.asp |work=Radio and Records |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511170136/http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/con2007/awards/indexFinal.asp |archive-date=2008-05-11 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.audacy.com/kezk}} * {{FM station data|13507|KEZK}}
{{St. Louis Radio}} {{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Missouri}} {{Entercom}}
EZK-FM Category:Radio stations established in 1969 Category:Audacy, Inc. radio stations Category:Mainstream adult contemporary radio stations in the United States Category:1969 establishments in Missouri