KXOK

KXOK is a radio station licensed to St. Louis, Missouri, broadcasting on the AM band at a frequency of 630 kHz. The station has been on the air since the 1920s, with its early years marked by broadcasts of live music performances, including those by Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, from venues such as the Fox Theatre (St. Louis). KXOK has undergone several format changes over the years, including Top 40 and talk radio, with notable personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity hosting shows on the station, which is owned by Entercom and competes with other stations in the St. Louis market, including KMOX and KSHE.

● History

KXOK began broadcasting in the 1920s, with its first license issued by the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), the precursor to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The station's early years were marked by broadcasts of jazz music, with performers like Bessie Smith and Count Basie appearing on the air, and it was also an affiliate of the NBC Red Network, carrying shows like The Jack Benny Program and The Edgar Bergen Show. In the 1950s and 1960s, KXOK shifted its focus to rock and roll and Top 40 music, with disc jockeys like Wolfman Jack and Murray the K hosting popular shows, and it was also a major player in the St. Louis music scene, with local bands like Chuck Berry and Nelly getting airplay on the station. KXOK has also been an affiliate of CBS Radio and Westwood One, carrying shows like The Howard Stern Show and The Jim Rome Show.

● Programming

KXOK's programming has varied over the years, with a focus on music and entertainment in its early years, and later shifting to talk radio and sports radio, with shows like The Dan Patrick Show and The Mike Francesa Show airing on the station. The station has also carried play-by-play broadcasts of local sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues, with announcers like Jack Buck and Dan Kelly calling games on the station. KXOK has also been an affiliate of ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio, carrying shows like Mike and Mike in the Morning and The Herd with Colin Cowherd. In addition, the station has aired news and public affairs programs, including The O'Reilly Factor and The Sean Hannity Show, which are syndicated by Premiere Networks and Westwood One.

● Notable personalities

KXOK has been home to several notable personalities over the years, including Rush Limbaugh, who got his start in radio at the station, and Sean Hannity, who hosted a show on KXOK before moving to New York City and joining WABC (AM). Other notable personalities who have worked at KXOK include Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and Michael Savage, who have all hosted shows on the station, which is also a affiliate of Salem Media Group and Cumulus Media. KXOK has also been a launching pad for the careers of several other notable radio personalities, including Neal Boortz and Clark Howard, who got their start in radio at the station before moving on to other markets, including Atlanta and Chicago.

● Technical information

KXOK broadcasts on the AM band at a frequency of 630 kHz, with a power output of 5,000 watts during the day and 1,000 watts at night, and its signal covers the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis County and St. Charles County. The station's transmitter is located in Ladue, Missouri, and its studios are located in Creve Coeur, Missouri, which is also home to other radio stations, including KMOX and KSHE. KXOK is owned by Entercom, which also owns other radio stations in the St. Louis market, including KEZK-FM and KYKY.

● Impact and legacy

KXOK has had a significant impact on the St. Louis media market, with its broadcasts reaching a wide audience in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and it has also been a major player in the St. Louis music scene, with local bands like Chuck Berry and Nelly getting airplay on the station. The station's format changes over the years have also reflected the changing tastes and preferences of its listeners, with a shift from music to talk radio and sports radio in recent years, and it has also been an affiliate of CBS Radio and Westwood One, carrying shows like The Howard Stern Show and The Jim Rome Show. KXOK's legacy can be seen in the many notable personalities who have worked at the station over the years, including Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, who have gone on to become major figures in the world of talk radio, and it continues to be a major player in the St. Louis media market, with a wide range of programming and a strong signal that covers the entire St. Louis metropolitan area. Category:Radio stations in Missouri