Latest news with #KQRS
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kansas and Jefferson Starship tour will carry on to Ledge Amphitheater
KQRS may be edging away from classic rock, but there are plenty of hits from the '70s and '80s on Twin Cities stages this summer. The Ledge Amphitheater has added Kansas and Jefferson Starship to its summer lineup, it announced on Tuesday. The classic rock acts will come to the Waite Park venue on Sept. 19. Kansas, which released its first album in 1974, has sold more than 30 million records during its lengthy career on the back of hits like "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Point of Know Return." Its current lineup features original drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Rich Williams. However, longtime drum tech and frequent fill-in drummer Eric Holmquist will play drums on this tour while Ehart recovers from a heart attack, according to an announcement from the band. While Kansas is headlining the show, Jefferson Starship, which formed after the dissolution of Jefferson Airplane, isn't short on hits, either. The band has surfaced on charts numerous times since its debut in 1974, including top-10 positions for songs like "Miracles" and "Count On Me." A venue presale will take place on Wednesday, April 24. The access code can be snagged by signing up for the venue's newsletter. Tickets will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 25.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
KQRS makes lineup changes as classic rock station moves into the '90s
After a short stretch of rolling without DJs to prepare for a revamp, KQRS is back on the air with DJs and a new format. The station relaunched on Thursday morning at 6 a.m. with an expanded musical focus, new on-air talent, and new shows. The new additions include former Cities 97.1 host Paul Fletcher and former Current music director Jade. In addition to the rock cornerstones the station has long had in the rotation — Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, et al. — owner Cumulus Media says the station will put a larger focus on '90s rock and Minnesota artists, such as Prince, Soul Asylum, The Replacements, and Bob Dylan. Tracks played following the relaunch Thursday morning include "Loser" by Beck, "Seven Nation Army" by The White Striples, and "You Get What You Give" by the New Radicals, with The revamped lineup is anchored by radio personality and founding member of the Black Crowes, Steve Gorman, who will continue to host KQ's morning show after taking over the slot in 2023 following the 2022 departure of Tom Barnard. Paul Fletcher, who was let go as a Cities 97.1 host in a round of iHeartMedia cuts last summer, is joining Gorman and co-host Ryder on the newly named Gorman in the Morning with Fletcher and Ryder. It follows the exit of Brian Zepp, who was let go from the KQ Morning Show in a move that provoked fans to start a petition to get him back on the air. 'After a few years living in the Twin Cities, the enormous legacy of 92KQRS couldn't be more clear to me," Gorman said in a statement. "The most respectful way to honor that legacy is to move forward with great energy. Rock music will forever be a cultural force, but only with continued evolution. I'm very excited about where we're going." Fletcher is also taking over the hosting duties for the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekday slot from Chris Nelson. Jade, who left The Current in 2023 after more than 15 years at Minnesota Public Radio, will take the air from 3–7 p.m. on weekdays. "Hello music lovers, I'm back on the airwaves starting tomorrow!!" Jade announced Wednesday. "I can't wait to spend time listening to music with you again." Jade is taking over the slot previously hosted by Lisa Miller, who will host a new daily segment called Rock Review airing multiple times throughout the day. Miller will also host a weekend show, though details on that program have not been confirmed. As of Thursday morning, Chris Nelson is now listed as the host of the 7 p.m. to midnight weekday slot previously hosted by Shannon Knight. Cumulus Media says Knight will be staying at the station, but has not confirmed what her new role will be. A Cumulus spokesperson adds that the weekend crew will remain, and that more additions are forthcoming 'This is a natural and obvious evolution for 92KQRS. An entire generation is no longer underserved in the Twin Cities with our fresh take on rock," says James Kurdziel, Director of Content and Programming for KQRS. "We're fortunate to have Steve Gorman take the lead and with our new talent additions along with our music focus, a statement is made about what we are and who we serve.'
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ahead of relaunch, KQRS has played nonstop Soul Asylum, R.E.M.
KQRS is teasing big changes. The station has been "under construction" this week, going DJ-free as it prepares for a format change that will be unveiled on April 3 at 6 a.m. On Tuesday, the station played Soul Asylum's "Somebody to Shove" on repeat through the morning, which some listeners on social media dismissed as an April Fool's Day joke. The band posted the playlist, asking, "What's going on at KQRS?" One commenter on Soul Asylum's post likened the repeating song to a '90s stunt where 93X played R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" on repeat before unveiling a format change and rebranding as "The Edge." (The station reverted to the 93X name in 1997.) Then, on Wednesday, KQRS spent part of the afternoon playing "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" on repeat. By the afternoon, it had resumed playing a mix of songs along with a prerecorded ad teasing that host and Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman would be returning to the airwaves soon. The station's Wednesday playlist notably featured a mix of songs released in the '90s like Alice In Chains' "Man in the Box," Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," Counting Crows' "Mr. Jones," and Smashing Pumpkins' "Disarm," among others. It's a bit of a departure from its classic rock format that generally focuses on pre-'90s rock music. KQRS' shakeup began last month when KQ Morning Show co-host Brian Zepp was laid off, which caused fans of the radio personality to start a petition to bring him back. Details on what comes next at the popular classic rock station will be revealed on Thursday morning.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
KQRS temporarily goes DJ-free ahead of April 3 relaunch
Twin Cities radio station 92 KQRS has gone temporarily host-less as it prepares for an apparent revamp that will launch on April 3. As of Monday morning, those tuning in to KQRS found the station's customary classic rock hits but no DJs, with promos telling listeners: "Come back April 3 to find out what's next for 92 KQRS." Social media posts on the station's pages said the same: "Come back Thursday, April 3rd at 6am to hear what we've been cooking up here at Minnesota's 92 KQRS!" No other details have been provided as of Tuesday. Bring Me The News has reached out to owner Cumulus Media for comment. Cumulus has already made changes at its Twin Cities stations in the past month, resulting in the departures of Brian Zepp, co-host of Steve Gorman & The KQ Morning Show at KQRS, and Andrew Wappel from the 93X Half-Assed Morning Show. The current weekday lineup on KQRS is Steve Gorman from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Chris Nelson from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lisa Miller from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Shannon Knight from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Changes at KQRS and 93X, with Brian Zepp among those out
Changes are happening at KQRS and 93X radio stations in the Twin Cities. Social media posts from KQRS and impacted personalities say departures have taken place at both stations, including Brian Zepp at KQRS and Andrew Wappel from the 93X Half-Assed Morning Show. Zepp is leaving The KQ Morning Show, which is hosted by Steve Gorman. KQRS posted about Zepp's departure on its social media accounts. "We want to thank Zepp for his time with 92 KQRS," the post reads. "We had a helluva a ride over the years and want to thank him for every early morning wakeup call, too many late-night parties, and all the laughs in between." Wappel announced his departure on Facebook. "By now most of you have heard the news," he wrote of leaving the station where he worked for more than a dozen years. "I'm no longer with 93X and Cumulus Media. I didn't get fired and didn't do anything wrong. I was let go... Thank you to all the listeners. You are the reason why I did what I did, and for so long." Cumulus Media has not yet responded to request for comment about the reasons for the layoffs and whether any other staff was impacted by the moves. Kathryn Brandt, co-host of the Tom Bernard Show podcast, suggested on Twitter that others were let go beyond Zepp. Fans have been sharing memories of Wappel's time at 93X on Reddit and even began a petition, hoping to bring him back. "Like so many loyal listeners... my mornings began with the insightful humor and unique personality of Andrew Wappel, fondly known to us as the 'Muppet,'" the petition reads. "His sudden and unexpected departure has left a glaring void on the show, akin to losing a good friend."
