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KUDL is an adult contemporary radio station based in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States. It broadcasts on 98.1 MHz with an ERP of 98,500 watts. Its transmitter is located in Shawnee, Kansas.
KUDL originally debuted on the AM band, broadcasting from Fairway, Kansas at 1380 kHz (now KCNW). With frequency modulation growing in popularity, KUDL began simulcasting their AM signal on 98.1 FM in 1965. From 1968 to 1973, the stations had split formats, with progressive rock on the FM and Top-40/oldies on AM. Both formats changed two years later, with AM becoming news and FM attempting oldies. After attempting Top-40 again during the rise and fall of disco music, KUDL's soft rock format debuted in 1979.
KUDL, once dubbed "The Rock of Kansas City", remains a steady stream of soft adult contemporary music as other formats have attempted and failed. In 1993, Apollo Broadcasting bought KUDL and one-time rival WHB from Shamrock Broadcasting, then sold WHB to a local broadcaster on the same day. In 2002, current owner Entercom dropped the all-jazz KCIY at 106.5, resulting in many workplace listeners switching to KUDL. However, KUDL airs a mini version of the Smooth Jazz format on Saturday nights. The show airs from 7 PM to 12 midnight and is hosted by Michelle Chase.
Currently, KUDL sits considerably ahead of Star 102 in the ratings, having successfully claimed the all-Christmas music format as their own during the months of November and December. On November 1st, 2006, KUDL switched over to the all-Christmas format, continuing through Christmas day. They continued to play some occasional Christmas music until January 1, 2007. In 2007 Star 102 beat KUDL to the punch by beginning the all Christmas format on October 31, Halloween was not even completed! KUDL followed suit the next day with their all Christmas format on November 1. KUDL is also the Kansas City radio station that airs the nationally syndicated Delilah (radio show).
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