KFYR (AM)KFYR Radio (550 AM) is in Bismarck, North Dakota and owned by iHeartMedia,Inc. It transmits on a 5,000 Watt signal that can be heard in seven U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. Boasting an enormous coverage area, KFYR can be heard across almost all of North Dakota during the day, as well as parts of: Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Nebraska. It has been claimed that KFYR has the largest land coverage area in the United States of any AM radio station during daytime hours.
Founded in 1925 by Phillip J. Meyer and his wife, Etta Hoskins Meyer ..KFYR switched to a Top 40 format in the early 60’s. It was very popular with teenagers by virtue of its “Torrid Twenty” Countdown Show .. which featured the twenty popular hits of the week.
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, teenagers from South Dakota to parts of Canada enjoyed listening to “their” music every evening on KFYR.
Gaining brief national notoriety in 1979 - KFYR was sued in Federal Court by The Pointer Sisters and Elektra Records, for taking the liberty of having The Pointer Sisters’ current hit – the song “Fire”penned by Bruce Springsteen – redubbed so that the Sisters appeared to be singing “K-Fire” on the chorus. The suit was settled out of court.
KFYR was revamped in the late 1990’s. Since then the station has broadcast a variety of programming .. with News and Talk Radio - during the day .. Classic Rock and Oldies music - during the evening
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