Feb 1

Feb 1 Top 40 expected to replace easy listening on Rochester radio dial

(THE MED CITY BEAT) - A popular easy-listening radio station went off the air early Saturday morning.

Hometown Broadcasting, based out of Alberta Lea, recently purchased KNXR 97.5-FM from station founder Tom Jones after nearly 50 years in business. The deal was reportedly worth around $1 million.

Jones tells the Post-Bulletin's Answer Man that there is "no guarantee" the new owner will continue playing the easy-listening format. Hometown owns two other stations, both in Albert Lea, that are classic rock and classic country.

There is some evidence to suggest the station will be re-branded as a pop station called "97.5 Pulse-FM." RadioInsight notes the move would put the station "in direct competition with Townsquare Media’s market leading 106.9 KROC-FM."

What's next for easy-listening fans? KTTC-TV reports Jones plans to launch an Internet version of his former station by April of this year. In the meantime, here's a link to a comparable station out of Green Bay.

(Cover photo: File / Bernhard Benke / Creative Commons)