KQRI

For the Belen, New Mexico radio station that held the call sign KQRI at 91.1 FM from 2006 to 2009, see KQGC.

KQRI (105.5 FM) is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Bosque Farms, New Mexico. It covers the Albuquerque metropolitan area and Valencia County. It is owned by the Educational Media Foundation broadcasting its "Air1" Christian worship music service, a national radio format.

KQRI

Bosque Farms, New Mexico
Broadcast area	Albuquerque metropolitan area and Central New Mexico
Frequency	105.5 MHz
Branding	Air1
Programming
Format	Christian worship
Affiliations	Air1
Ownership
Owner	Educational Media Foundation
Sister stations	KQLV, KQGC
History
First air date	2004
Former call signs	KQLV (1998–2009)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	84247
Class	C1
ERP	100,000 watts
HAAT	227 meters (745 ft)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	air1.com

History

KQRI is one of the newest additions to the Albuquerque radio market, having moved into the area in 2004 from Grants, New Mexico. The 105.5 frequency in Albuquerque was previously translator K288CX, which had re-broadcast the programming on various stations in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe market over the years. In 2015, more than decade after being displaced, the translator moved to 107.5 as K298BY rebroadcasting KIVA 1600. In 2012, KQRI-FM1, a 16,000 watt effective radiated power booster on 105.5 in Albuquerque came on the air.

105.5 was originally KQLV and had aired EMF's "K-Love" format. In the spring of 2009, KQLV had moved to the recently upgraded facility at 90.7 FM Santa Fe. KQRI and the "Air 1" format had previously aired on 90.7 in Belen, which had moved to 91.1 to make way for the Santa Fe station on 90.7. KQRI moved to 105.5 in June 2009 while 91.1 became KQGC airing a Christian country music format. Since this change, KQRI is now vying for area listeners with locally programmed heritage station KLYT previously known as "M88". That station, however, had rebranded as "Static Radio" in 2011 playing Christian rock bands alongside some selected secular alternative rock songs. In April 2015 it rebranded again as "Star 88".

On December 1, 2015, KQRI had been rebroadcasting on translator K233CG 94.5 in Albuquerque. The EMF owned translator had previously been leased since 2011 to KRKE 1550 (now KQNM) which aired an 80's hits format until late September 2015. KQRI had previously used the translator from 2009-2011 when it broadcast at 89.5 as K208EO although it did not really provide any additional coverage for KQRI. In late June 2016 EMF sold the translator to Martha Whitman for $61,432.66. Martha Whitman is the owner of KOAZ 1510 AM and translator K279BP which rebroadcasts KOAZ. The sale was consummated on August 15, 2016 at which time the broadcast on 94.5 ceased. The translator now airs programming from KKOB (AM).

KDRI

This format has also aired on KDRI out of Grants, New Mexico on 90.3 FM, which can sometimes be picked up in Albuquerque on some radios (usually in cars) although not so much since KANW upgraded K212AN in Santa Fe in late 2015. This station was previously KLGQ from 2005 until August 15, 2012 when it changed to KDRI. The station broadcasts at 1,000 watts. On June 13, 2016, this station went silent as EMF prepared to sell the station. On September 12, 2016, the station was donated along with KGGA 88.1 in Gallup to the Board of Education of the City of Albuquerque which operates public radio station KANW. KANW already owns KIDS 88.1 in Grants so KDRI would become a second station in the area.

External links

• Facility details for Facility ID 84247 (KQRI) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• KQRI in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
• Facility details for Facility ID 189006 (KQRI-FM1) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• KQRI-FM1 in Nielsen Audio's FM station database