The 105.1 FM facility signed on December 1, 1956 as KTGM, owned by Good Music Associates and programmed with middle-of-the-road and beautiful music. Sound Corporation of Colorado acquired the station in the late 1960s and changed the calls to KADX.
Under Columbine Broadcasting, KADX became a jazz station in the 1970s. Great Empire Broadcasting later acquired the facility and changed it to country as KBRQ-FM in 1982, simulcasting 1280 AM.
On July 3, 1987, Shamrock Communications flipped 105.1 to oldies as KOOL 105 and adopted the KXKL calls. The format was also simulcast on 1280 AM for several years. KOOL 105 became one of Denver’s durable oldies/classic-hits brands.
Ownership later included Chancellor, AMFM, Infinity/CBS, Wilks and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. KSE acquired KXKL, KIMN and KWOF in a $54 million transaction completed December 31, 2015.
Lineage: KTGM → KADX → KBRQ-FM → KXKL.
2024 CBA Awards: Certificate of Merit: Best On-Air Contest for a Station, “KOOL 105 Free Fuel for A Year!” Official CBA 2024 results.
Sources: FCC history cards — Facility 59959; Radio Business Report Source Guide, 1997; KXKL-FM chronology and source list.
Awards & Recognitions
Documented awards, honors, and finalist or nomination recognition associated with this station or broadcaster.
- 2024Certificate of MeritColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest On-Air Contest for a StationKOOL 105 Free Fuel for A Year!2024 Metro Market Radio results
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KXKL-FM History
KOOL 105 launches on 105.1 FM
On July 3, 1987, 105.1 FM changed from country KBRQ to an oldies format branded KOOL 105, with the KXKL call letters. The format was also simulcast on 1280 AM during its early years.
KOOL 105 launches on 105.1
Shamrock Communications flipped 105.1 from country KBRQ-FM to oldies as KOOL 105 on July 3, 1987. The station adopted the KXKL call letters and became one of Denver’s long-running oldies and classic-hits brands.
Clear Channel–AMFM merger forces major Denver radio divestitures
The U.S. Justice Department required a large package of station sales before approving Clear Channel’s merger with AMFM in 2000. In Denver-Boulder, the divestiture list included KXPK-FM to Emmis; KDJM-FM, KIMN-FM and KXKL-FM to CBS; KALC-FM to Salem; and KVOD-AM to a buyer to be determined.
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment buys Wilks Denver cluster
On October 12, 2015, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment announced an agreement to acquire Wilks Broadcasting’s Denver cluster: KXKL 105.1, KIMN 100.3 and KWOF 92.5. The transaction closed December 31, 2015 for $54 million.
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