KMPT
KMPT is a radio station licensed to serve East Missoula, Montana. The station is owned by Townsquare Media. It airs a talk radio format. Currently branded as "930 AM KMPT," the station operates as a conservative talk leader in Missoula, featuring syndicated programming from networks such as Salem and Premiere. The station serves as a local affiliate for the Bobcat Radio Sports Network, providing live coverage of Montana State University athletics to listeners in Western Montana.
History
The station first signed on the air on June 27, 1959, under the original call letters KYSS. It was established by Treasure State Broadcasting, which had previously secured the construction permit for the station under the temporary designation KDOO in 1958. During its early decades, the station was a pioneer in local music broadcasting, launching its FM counterpart in 1969 to expand its reach in the Missoula market.KYSS-FM was started by the station in 1969. In 1984, the station rebranded as KLCY, adopting a nostalgia and adult standards format that it maintained for over two decades. In late 2007, Gap Broadcasting II LLC, led by Erik Hellum, reached an agreement to acquire the station from Clear Channel Communications as part of a 57-station transaction valued at $74.78 million. Following this acquisition, the station officially transitioned to its current KMPT call letters on January 1, 2008.
Ownership
In October 2007, a deal was reached for the station to be acquired by GAP Broadcasting II LLC from Clear Channel Communications as part of a 57 station deal with a total reported sale price of $74.78 million. What eventually became GapWest Broadcasting was folded into Townsquare Media on August 13, 2010. The merger, finalized on August 13, 2010, was technically a "roll-up" of three separate entities—Townsquare Media, GAP Radio Broadcasting, and GAP West Broadcasting—all of which were already majority-owned by the private equity firm Oaktree Capital Management. This consolidation expanded Townsquare's reach to 171 radio stations across 36 markets, making it the fourth-largest radio owner in the United States at the time.The Missoula radio market saw further disruption on June 17, 2022, when Townsquare Media acquired Cherry Creek Media for $18.75 million. To comply with FCC ownership caps following this massive addition, Townsquare was required to divest several stations, including KMPT’s sister station KENR-FM, to Anderson Broadcasting and other local non-profits.