KMOM is a station with an interesting and checkered history. It began life in 1982, which was fairly late for a new AM station. Monticello is located midway between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. The original plan was to have a station which could be heard in both markets and would serve travelers along I-94, the main road which connects these two metropolitan areas. Problem was, KMOM could not be heard well in either market. Especially during nighttime hours. As you will hear, the night signal was plagued with co-channel interference, even though I only lived about 40 miles from the transmitter. The other problem was that music radio had pretty much migrated to FM by 1982. In an area saturated with radio stations, there just wasn’t room for a new standalone AM with a weak signal. KMOM eventually went dark. In 1996, the license was cancelled by the FCC. Today, the frequency is being used by KVKK in Verndale, MN. Sorry to say, but KMOM is gone for good. R.I.P.
I recorded this from Apple Valley, MN, using a Pioneer SX-3900 receiver and horizontal longwire antenna. The recording was made on a Technics stereo cassette deck with Scotch Dynarange tape.
#1 by Eric Meyer on November 25, 2009 - 4:50 pm
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Good recording! I live in Buffalo now and wondered about the station’s history. The building is still in Monticello, but it hasn’t been used for anything but storage since the station went off the air. Recently, the KMOM building has been boarded up and is for sale. The property is close to one of the last new subdevelopments on the south side of Monticello, so when the economy picks up. the land will be valuable, moreso than the building.
Depending on the time you recorded this, getting somehting this clear with KYMN next door on 1080 was tricky.
My guess it’s Tim Matthews as the anmouncer, who is with KRWC in Buffalo.
#2 by Drew on November 25, 2009 - 7:55 pm
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Hi Eric,
KYMN made it tough during the day. I could hear KMOM, but very faintly and with lots of splatter. KYMN was a daytimer back then, so it made KMOM an easier catch. Lots of co-channel interference, though. The main source was WTSO/Madison, WI, which beamed 5kW towards me after dark.
My guess is the owners of the building are just waiting for the economy to rebound. Then, they’ll sell the land for houses and the building will be demolished.
Good catch on Tim Matthews. Thanks!
Drew
#3 by Oscar on November 27, 2009 - 2:57 pm
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It may have been struggling towards the South, but KMOM was very strong in St. Cloud and was a decent catch as far North as Walker during the day. I had a cheap reciever that wouldn’t stop on any local stations in N. Morrison Country on a scan (KWAD, KVBR, KLIZ, KLTF) but it would on KMOM.
#4 by Drew on November 28, 2009 - 7:42 am
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Hi Oscar,
I’m guessing KMOM was directional with the lobe north or northwest and a null to the southeast, protecting KYMN (?) KYMN was a daytimer, but they’d likely have to keep the same SE null at night to protect co-channel WTSO in Madison. I’d love to see a contour map. Any idea where or if they still exist?
Drew