A new Classic Rock station is on the air in southwestern North Dakota. KQLZ/95.7 (New England-Dickinson) signed on in early May:
KQLZ is operated by Marks Radio Group alongside Country-formatted “I-94” (KXDI/93.9 Belfield-Dickinson). Marks also owns a pair of stations in Williston and seven radio stations and one TV station in eastern Montana.
The station’s license actually dates back to 2008, but its original two owners operated it at lower power levels limited to the immediate New England area. Marks bought the station in 2016 and used it to relay KXDI until upgrading it to 27.5kW/175m (class C2) earlier this year.
KQLZ’s new Classic Rock format primarily competes with the mainstream Rock format of iHeartMedia’s “Z92” (KZRX Dickinson).
The Marks stations are one of four commercial radio groups in Dickinson, competing with iHeart’s two FM’s and one AM, Totally Amped’s standalone FM, and Starrdak’s standalone AM with an FM translator. Though four groups is a lot for a city the size of Dickinson, the region has seen rapid growth in recent years due to the Bakken oil boom.