# WDUL > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/WDUL > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/WDUL.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDUL > Source revision: 1356412138 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Radio station in Superior, Wisconsin, United States WDUL Superior, Wisconsin United States Broadcast area Duluth-Superior Frequency 970 kHz Branding 98X Programming Language English Format Active rock Affiliations Westwood One Ownership Owner Midwest Communications (Midwest Communications, Inc.) Sister stations KDAL, KDAL-FM, KDKE, KTCO, WDSM History First air date August 10, 1959 (1959-08-10) (as WQMN at 1320) Former call signs WQMN (1959–1966) WAKX (1966–1982) KXTP (1982–2003) WGEE (2003–2015) Former frequencies 1320 kHz (1959–1967) Call sign meaning "Duluth" Technical information[1] Licensing authority FCC Facility ID 26590 Class D Power 1,000 watts (day) 26 watts (night) Translator 98.1 W251CD (Superior) Links Public license information Public file LMS Webcast Listen live Website 98xrocks.com **WDUL** (970 [kHz](/source/Hertz)) is a [commercial](/source/Commercial_broadcasting) [AM](/source/AM_broadcasting) radio station [licensed](/source/City_of_license) to [Superior, Wisconsin](/source/Superior%2C_Wisconsin). It airs an [active rock](/source/Active_rock) [format](/source/Radio_format) and is owned and operated by [Midwest Communications](/source/Midwest_Communications). Midwest's six [Duluth-Superior](/source/Duluth-Superior) radio stations share studios at 11 East Superior Street in downtown [Duluth, Minnesota](/source/Duluth%2C_Minnesota). WDUL is a [Class D](/source/List_of_broadcast_station_classes) AM station. It is powered at 1,000 [watts](/source/Watt) by day, using a [non-directional antenna](/source/Omnidirectional_antenna). To avoid interference to other stations on [970 AM](/source/970_AM), at night it reduces power to 26 watts. Programming is also heard on 250-watt [FM translator](/source/FM_translator) W251CD at 98.1 [MHz](/source/MHz) in Superior. It uses the translator dial position in its moniker "Hot 98.1". ## History ### WQMN 1320 The station [signed on](/source/Signed_on) the air on August 10, 1959, as WQMN. It was a 1,000-watt [daytime-only](/source/Daytimer) station transmitting on 1320 kHz. WQMN was owned by Quality Radio, Inc. in Superior, Wisconsin.[2] At noon on May 9, 1964, the station changed its [call sign](/source/Call_sign) to WAKX ("WAX"), playing a [Top 40](/source/Top_40) format. Lance "Tac" Hammer was the station's first program director.[3] ### WAKX 970 WAKX moved to 970 kHz, formerly the home of WIGL in Superior,[4] on October 26, 1967. The 1320 kHz frequency in the Duluth-Superior market is [no longer in use](/source/Dark_(broadcasting)). Owner Lew Latto purchased the facilities of [beautiful music](/source/Beautiful_music) station [KPIR](/source/KTCO) in September 1974, and began simulcasting the format of WAKX on both 970 AM and 98.9 FM. ### KXTP In 1982, the AM station changed its call sign to KXTP and switched to [adult standards](/source/Adult_standards), airing the "[Music of Your Life](/source/Music_of_Your_Life)" [syndicated](/source/Radio_syndication) format. WAKX-FM remained unchanged. In 1994, Latto sold KXTP and WAKX to Ken Beuhler and Patty McNulty, the owners of [WDSM](/source/WDSM) and [KZIO](/source/KDKE) (currently KDKE). The FM station flipped from [classic rock](/source/Classic_rock) to [country music](/source/Country_music) and became [KTCO](/source/KTCO). Later that decade, Buehler and McNulty sold their stations to Shockley Communications, which changed KXTP's format to [country music](/source/Country_music) and then [Radio Disney](/source/Radio_Disney) network on April 2, 1998.[5] ### WGEE It later switched to [hot talk](/source/Hot_talk), and then to [sports radio](/source/Sports_radio). Its call letters were WGEE. It aired [ESPN Radio](/source/ESPN_Radio) programming, as well as two [syndicated](/source/Radio_syndication) programs, *[The Jim Rome Show](/source/The_Jim_Rome_Show)* and *[Loveline](/source/Loveline)*. It was also the local home of [NASCAR](/source/NASCAR) races and [ESPN](/source/ESPN) Sunday Night Baseball. AM 970 returned to the "Music of Your Life" adult standards format in September 2008, dropping ESPN Radio. On March 7, 2014, WGEE changed formats from adult standards, back to sports, this time with programming from [CBS Sports Radio](/source/CBS_Sports_Radio). ### WDUL On March 16, 2015, WGEE changed its call sign to WDUL. Even though WDUL is licensed to Superior, Wisconsin, the call letters stand for Duluth, Minnesota. On November 4, 2020, WDUL rebranded as "970 The Game". Its weekday daytime programming originated from [WRNW](/source/WRNW), a sports station in [Milwaukee](/source/Milwaukee) owned by [iHeartMedia](/source/IHeartMedia).[6] ### Hot 98.1 On April 25, 2022, WDUL changed formats from sports to [CHR](/source/Contemporary_hit_radio), branded as "Hot 98.1". WDUL aired programming from [Westwood One](/source/Westwood_One)'s "[Hits Now!](/source/Hits_Now!)" network, competing against Top 40 outlet [KBMX](/source/KBMX). Some programs from the prior sports format were moved to [sister station](/source/Sister_station) [WDSM](/source/WDSM).[7] The switch to a CHR format was primarily for listeners to 98.1 FM, the station's translator outlet. This also returned the CHR format to 970 AM for the first time since then-KXTP dropped the Radio Disney affiliation in 2002. In April 2025, WDUL shifted to hot adult contemporary, utilizing programming from Westwood One's "Hot AC" network due to the company shutting down its "Hits Now" network. The station maintained the "Hot 98.1" branding. ### 98X On March 27, 2026, a post was uploaded on the station’s Facebook page, revealing that the “X” brand and the active rock format would return to radio this time on this station.[8] On March 30, 2026, the post was confirmed, as WDUL dropped the hot adult contemporary and changed their format to active rock, branded as "98X", returning the “X” branding that was previously used on signals [KZIO](/source/KZIO) 94.1/104.3 until being sold to MPR, went silent after the sale closing, and change to AAA as “The Current” in 2017.[9] ## Previous logos ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FCC-LMS-26590_1-0)** ["Facility Technical Data for WDUL"](https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityTechDetails.html?facilityId=26590). *Licensing and Management System*. [Federal Communications Commission](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Station "History Cards"](https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=79609) (FCC.gov) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Station Changes Format, Name"](https://books.google.com/books?id=_UQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14), *Billboard*, June 6, 1964, page 14. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-rdl_4-0)** Leffingwell, Robert Down (1983). "WIGL". *Causes and Indicators of Commercial AM Radio Station Failure: 1962-1976* (Dissertation). The Ohio State University. p. 510. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [303192463](https://www.proquest.com/docview/303192463). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["News Archive April 1998"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190127023014/http://northpine.com/broadcast/archive/news0498.htm). *Northpine.com*. Archived from the original on January 27, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2025.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [97.3 The Game Expands Across Wisconsin](https://radioinsight.com/headlines/200898/97-3-the-game-expands-across-wisconsin/) Radioinsight - November 4, 2020 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Its Getting Hot In Duluth](https://radioinsight.com/headlines/224482/its-getting-hot-in-duluth/) Radioinsight - April 25, 2022 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Venta, Lance (March 27, 2026). ["98X Launches In Duluth/Superior"](https://radioinsight.com/headlines/344444/x-on-the-way-back-to-duluth/). *RadioInSight*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [98X Launches in Duluth/Superior](https://radioinsight.com/headlines/344444/x-on-the-way-back-to-duluth/) Radioinsight - March 30, 2026 ## External links - [Website for Midwest Communications](https://www.mwcradio.com/) - [WAKX history](https://www.twinportsbroadcasting.com/WAKXAM-FMTimeline.html) - [WAKX survey from July 28, 1967](https://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys_item.php?svid=360) - [Facility details for Facility ID 26590 (WDUL)](https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=26590) in the [FCC](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission) Licensing and Management System - [WDUL](https://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=SP26&band=am&callLetter=WDUL) in [Nielsen Audio](/source/Nielsen_Audio)'s AM station database - [Facility details for Facility ID 152431 (W251CD)](https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=152431) in the [FCC](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission) Licensing and Management System - [W251CD](https://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=W251CD&ccode=1&city=&state=&country=US&zip=&arn=&party=&lmspf=&lmspl=&party_type=LICEN&latd=&lond=&lang=en) at FCCdata.org - [FCC history cards for WDUL (covering WQMN/WAKX, 1958-1979)](https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=79609) v t e Radio stations in the Duluth–Superior metropolitan area (Minnesota/Wisconsin) By AM frequency 560 610 710 850 970 1230 1490 By FM frequency 88.1 88.5 89.1 89.5 89.9 90.5 91.3 92.1 92.9 94.9 95.7 96.5 97.3 98.9 100.5 101.7 102.5 103.3 104.3 105.1 106.9 107.3 107.7 LPFM 93.7 99.5 Translators 90.9 94.1 97.7 98.1 100.9 103.9 106.5 Digital radio by frequency & subchannel 92.9-1 100.5-1 100.5-2 By call sign K231BI KBMX KDAL KDAL-FM KDKE KDNI KDNW KJOQ KKCB KLDJ KQDS-FM KTCO KTWH-LP KUWS KZIO W215CG W249CX W251CD W265DO W280FB W293CT WDSE-FM WDSM WDUL WEBC WGHF-LP WGZS WHSA WJRF WKLK WKLK-FM WMOZ WNXR WQRM WSCD-FM WSCN HD2 WSSU WWEN WWPE-FM Defunct WEBC-FM (92.3) Nearby regions Ashland Brainerd Iron Range Minneapolis–St. Paul Rice Lake–Spooner St. Cloud See also List of radio stations in Minnesota List of radio stations in Wisconsin v t e Active rock radio stations in the state of Wisconsin By frequency 800 810 940 970 92.9 94.1 94.7 94.7 95.1 95.7 102.9 104.7 By callsign WDUL WECL WHQG WIIL WJJO WOZZ WPCA WRQT WXNK WZOR WZOS WZRK By city Berlin Dodgeville Kenosha La Crosse Lake Hallie Milwaukee Mosinee Mishicot/Green Bay Shell Lake Superior Watertown Waupaca See also adult contemporary classic hits college country news/talk NPR oldies religious rock sports top 40 urban other radio stations in Wisconsin See also active rock classic rock mainstream rock modern rock v t e Midwest Communications Illinois Peoria WIRL WKZF WMBD WSWT WPBG WXCL Indiana Evansville WABX WIKY-FM WLYD WSTO Terre Haute WBOW WMGI WTHI-FM WWVR Michigan Battle Creek WFAT WNWN Coldwater WTVB Holland WHTC WYVN Kalamazoo WKZO WTOU WVFM WZOX Lansing WJXQ WLMI WQTX WWDK Minnesota Duluth KDAL KDAL-FM KDKE KQDS-FM KTCO WDSM WDUL Hibbing KDAH KQDX WDKE WEVE-FM WMFG WTBX WUSZ North Dakota Fargo KFGO KFGO-FM KNFL KOYY KRWK KVOX-FM South Dakota Sioux Falls KELO KELO-FM KELQ KQSF KRRO KTWB KWSN Tennessee Knoxville WDKW WIMZ-FM WJXB-FM WNFZ Nashville WCJK WJXA WNFN Wisconsin Appleton WGEE WYDR Green Bay WDKF WIXX WNCY-FM WNFL WTAQ/WTAQ-FM Wausau WDEZ WIFC WOZZ WRIG WSAU WSAU-FM Sheboygan WBFM WHBL WHBZ WXER Website mwcradio.com [46°43′28″N 92°07′11″W / 46.72444°N 92.11972°W / 46.72444; -92.11972](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=WDUL¶ms=46_43_28_N_92_07_11_W_type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [WDUL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDUL) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDUL?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.