WKKD (1580 AM) was a radio station licensed to Aurora, Illinois. The station's studios, transmitter and towers were at 1880 Plain Avenue in Aurora.

History Early history The station was originally owned by Chicago area radio announcer, emcee, and engineer Russell G. Salter, and began broadcasting on September 21, 1960.1961-62 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1961-1962. p. B-51. Retrieved December 14, 2018. The station initially ran 250 watts during daytime hours only with a three tower directional pattern towards Aurora.Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 106-107.History Cards for WKKD, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2018."WKKD Local Rate Card #7", WKKD. August 1, 1970. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

The station began simulcasting on 95.9 WKKD-FM on February 12, 1961. Bill Blough hosted a country music program in the station's first years.Sachs, Bill. "Folk Talent & Tunes", Billboard. May 16, 1960. p. 47. Retrieved December 14, 2018.Sachs, Bill. "Folk Talent & Tunes", Billboard. July 10, 1961. p. 8. Retrieved December 14, 2018.Sinclair, Charles. "Vox Jox", Billboard. December 1, 1962. p. 40. Retrieved December 14, 2018. Chicago weathercaster Tom Skilling began his career at WKKD, c. 1966, while he attended High School in Aurora."Tom Skilling" Chicago Tribune. November 9, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2018. By 1968, the simulcast had ended.1968 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1968. p. B-50. Retrieved December 14, 2018. WKKD 1580 would air an easy listening format.

WFVR In 1973, the station's callsign was changed to WFVR, standing for "Fox Valley Radio", and the station adopted a country music format.1974 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1974. p. B-61. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

Adult contemporary era By 1979, the station had adopted an adult contemporary-MOR format."Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved December 14, 2018.Broadcasting Yearbook 1979, Broadcasting, 1979. p. C-62. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

In 1983, the station's callsign was changed back to WKKD and it became part of a partial simulcast with WKKD-FM, while continuing to air an adult contemporary format.Bornstein, Rollye. "Vox Jox", Billboard. December 10, 1983. Retrieved December 14, 2018.Chicago Radio Guide, Vol. 1, Issue 1. May 1985. Retrieved December 14, 2018.Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1985, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1985. p. B-78. Retrieved December 14, 2018. On October 3, 1986, the station was granted a construction permit to broadcast during nighttime hours."Actions", Broadcasting. October 20, 1986. p. 80. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

Pure Gold By 1988, the station had begun airing an oldies format branded as "Pure Gold".Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988. Retrieved December 12, 2018."WKKD AM 1580", Radio Chicago. Fall 1989. p. 18. Retrieved December 15, 2018. By 1989, the station had begun nighttime operations.Public Notice Comment - BL-19891004AD, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2018. In 1993, WKKD-FM began simulcasting the oldies format of WKKD.Todorovich, Lisa. "Lettermen Bring Valentine Spirit To Norris", Chicago Tribune. February 12, 1993. Retrieved December 15, 2018."Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 10, No. 32. August 11, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

Real Country In March 1995, AM 1580 adopted a country music format, airing Satellite Music Network's "Real Country" format.Nidetz, Steve. "Reporters Have New Assignments On Ch. 2 Mission", Chicago Tribune. March 26, 1995. Retrieved December 15, 2018."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 12, No. 11. March 15, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

Viva 1580 On July 1, 1996, the station adopted a Spanish language Tejano music format as "Viva 1580".

CNN Headline News In 1997, the station adopted an all-news format, airing the national audio feed of CNN Headline News."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14, No. 34. August 27, 1997. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2018. In 2000, the Salter family sold WKKD AM & FM, as well as WRWC in Rockford, Illinois to RadioWorks for $6.5 million, plus $1.5 million in consulting and non-compete agreements.Kirk, Jim. "Rockford Firm Adds To Its Reach", Chicago Tribune. July 28, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2018. In 2001, the station was sold to NextMedia Group, along with WKKD-FM, for $3.4 million."Elsewhere", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 01. January 4, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

Kovas Communications ownership In early 2002, the station was sold to Kovas Communications for $825,000, and it began simulcasting the ethnic programming of WONX.Application Search Details - BAL-20011004AAN, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2018."Radio Station WKKD (AM) Asset Purchase Agreement", fcc.gov. September 2001. Retrieved December 15, 2018.Duncan, James H., Jr. (2002). Duncan's Radio Market Guide. p. 64. Retrieved December 15, 2018.Knopper, Steve. "Station to Station", Chicago Tribune. April 14, 2002. Retrieved December 15, 2018. In October 2004, the station began airing talk shows related to health and fitness, becoming a full-time "Health Radio" outlet February 1, 2005."Radio station rolls out all-health format", United Press International. February 1, 2005. Retrieved December 15, 2018. This format would later be simulcast on 1600 WMCW."Media Briefing for Wednesday, May 7, 2008", Thirteen. May 7, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

End of operations In 2007, Kovas Communications applied with the FCC to move WKKD to Silvis, Illinois.Mayeroff, Bill. "Health Radio files for move to Silvis", The Quad Cities Dispatch-Argus. December 18, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2018. In February 2008, the station was granted a construction permit to move WKKD to Silvis, Illinois, and increase its power to 1,000 watts during the day and 1,400 watts at night.Burke, David. "Chicago radio station may move to Silvis", Quad-City Times. February 25, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2018. On November 29, 2008, the station was taken off the air and on April 10, 2009, Kovas Communications surrendered the station's license to the FCC."Call Letter Changes", Medium Wave News. Volume 55, No. 2. May/June 2009. p. 11. Retrieved December 15, 2018. WKKD's license was surrendered, along with 1600 WMCW's and 1600 WCGO's, in order to enable 1590 WONX (now WCGO) to increase its daytime power from 3,500 watts to 7,000 watts."WCGO Goes Dark, WONX -- Now WCGO -- Ups Power", All Access Music Group. April 13, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

The Federal Communications Commission cancelled the station's license on April 20, 2009.

References

External links Facility details for Facility ID 72077 (WKKD) in the FCC Licensing and Management System FCC History Cards for WKKD (covering 1957–1980 as WKKD / WFVR)