View source for KZEL-FM

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name             = KZEL-FM
| logo             = File:KZEL ZRocks96.1 logo.png
| city             = [[Eugene, Oregon]]
| area             = [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]&ndash;[[Springfield, Oregon]]
| branding         = ''96.1 KZEL''
| frequency        = 96.1 [[Megahertz|MHz]]
| translator       = 96.7 K244DL (Cottage Grove)<br>99.3 K257EB (Riddle)<br>102.1 K271BL (Roseburg)
| airdate          = [[1969 in radio|1969]]
| format           = [[Classic rock]]
| erp              = 100,000 [[watt]]s (horizontal)<br>43,000 watts (vertical)
| haat             = {{convert|333|meters}}
| class            = C
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| facility_id      = 49822
| callsign_meaning = George '''ZEL'''lner, station founder<ref name="bob">{{cite news|title=Call Letter Origins |volume=238 |url=http://nelson.oldradio.com/origins.call-list.html |publisher=The Broadcast Archive |last=Nelson |first=Bob |date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=June 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218013408/http://nelson.oldradio.com/origins.call-list.html |archive-date=February 18, 2016 }}</ref>
| former_callsigns =
| affiliations     = [[Westwood One]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|44|00|05|N|123|06|48|W|display=inline,title}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio locator: Eugene, Oregon |url=http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=KZEL&x=12&y=0|publisher=Theodric Technologies LLC|year=2012|access-date=March 10, 2012}}</ref>
| owner            = [[Cumulus Media]]
| licensee         = Cumulus Licensing LLC
| sister_stations  = [[KUJZ]], [[KNRQ]], [[KEHK]], [[KUGN]]
| webcast          = {{listen live|https://player.listenlive.co/23541}}<br>[http://www.iheart.com/live/5839/?autoplay=true Listen Live via iHeart]
| website          = {{URL|96kzel.com}} 
}}

'''KZEL-FM''' (96.1 [[Hertz|MHz]]) is a commercial [[radio station]] in [[Eugene, Oregon]], in the United States. The station airs a [[classic rock]] [[radio format|music format]].<ref name="arb1">{{cite web |work=Arbitron |url=http://www.arbitron.com/radio_stations/station_information.htm |title=Station Information Profile |access-date=June 21, 2009}}</ref>

It has applied for a [[U.S. Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) [[construction permit]] to move to a taller tower (HAAT 451.9 meters) at the same site and increase the [[Polarization (antenna)|vertically polarized]] [[effective radiated power|ERP]] to 100,000 watts.

==History==
KZEL-FM, along with short-lived KZEL-AM, was founded and funded in 1967 by Eugene lumberman George "Tirebiter" Zellner. When he purchased the stations, their call letters were KWFS.<ref>''The Register Guard'', January 21, 1967</ref>  Zellner changed the call letters to KZEL, for the FM and AM bands. KZEL-AM was briefly affiliated with the CBS network, and carried Frank Gifford's sports updates from CBS, along with broadcasts of Churchill High School sports and Eugene Bombers pro football. <ref name="rdl">{{cite thesis |last=Leffingwell |first=Robert Down |date=1983 |title=Causes and Indicators of Commercial AM Radio Station Failure: 1962-1976 |type=Dissertation |section=KZEL |publisher= The Ohio State University |docket= |oclc= |id={{ProQuest|303192463}} |page=497}}</ref> Zellner sold the station to Jay and Barbara West in 1971.<ref>''The Register Guard'', March 12, 1971</ref>

The Wests led KZEL for most of the 1970s as a [[Freeform (radio format)|free-format]] station. Its studios were located in [[Glenwood, Lane County, Oregon|Glenwood]], near [[Springfield, Oregon|Springfield]]. [[Disc jockey]]s included John Napier, Gary "The Wasted Potato" Palmatier, Stan "Harry 'Til 6" Garrett, Michael Waggoner, Sleepy John (Cuthbertson), JET, Tom Krumm, Chris Kovarik, Magic Mike, and Peyton Mays. Additionally, KZEL carried "Daybreak" in the morning and "News & Information" in the afternoon. News anchors included Melinda Coates, Rosemary Reed, Cal Turlock (real name Phillip Johnson) and [[Bryce Zabel]].

In the 1970s the News department was headed by Matt McCormick [http://fhhlaw.com/attorneys/mccormick-matthew.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408042210/http://fhhlaw.com/attorneys/mccormick-matthew.htm |date=April 8, 2018 }}, aided by Tim Helfrich [http://www.yturrirose.com/attorney/timothy-j-helfrich/], and [[Josh Marquis]], all destined to become practicing lawyers.

KZEL-FM belongs to [[Cumulus Media]], a nationwide owner of radio stations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KZEL "We Built This City" 1985|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMs12WsZnxY|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>  In 2006, the program director, Mark Raney, locked himself in the station's control room for 10 days to protest the management's decision to abandon KZEL's classic rock format and replace it with country music. Raney, with support from his listeners, persuaded the station's management to retain the rock format.<ref>''The Register Guard'', March 30, 2006</ref>

KZEL-FM then evolved from a classic rock format into an [[adult album alternative]] music format, adding newer artists and music to the playlist.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KZEL ROCKS :15 TV WEB PROOF|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGiGm3YnvM0|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KZEL ROCKS :15 TV WEB PROOF 2|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewFFw7YBNto|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KZEL ROCKS :15 TV WEB PROOF revised|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttZdIUaAFlg|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KZEL ROCKS :15 TV WEB PROOF revised 2|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b64q4FQXIE|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Weekday personalities on the station still include Mark Raney and John Frederick in the morning, Emma at mid-day, and C.Y.D. in the afternoon.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KZEL TV Spot 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0Wgu-grhb8|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In December 2018, Mark Raney retired after 41 years in the radio industry.

On June 1, 2018 KZEL returned to classic rock.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KZEL TV Nov. 19 - Spot 1|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frvNPgh2Vp4|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KZEL TV Nov. 19 - Spot 2|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSywY0WAvTU|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=96.1 KZEL Rocks - :15a|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akeSnlNI4xk|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=96.1 KZEL Rocks - :15b|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlwwyHcbVa0|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=96.1 KZEL • Where Classic Rock Lives! - :15a|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J6rPCEMg0g|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=96.1 KZEL • Where Classic Rock Lives! - :15b|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se4uzjHDz_U|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=96.1 KZEL • The Classic Rock Station - :15a|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGOcFu18cRQ|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=96.1 KZEL • The Classic Rock Station - :15b|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlMlhCORtU4|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

==Translators==
KZEL-FM programming is also carried on a series of [[broadcast translator]] stations to extend or improve the coverage area of the station.

{{RadioTranslators
| callsign = KZEL-FM
| call1    = K244DL
| freq1    = 96.7
| watts1   = 250
| class1   = D
| city1    = Cottage Grove, Oregon
| call2    = K257EB
| freq2    = 99.3
| watts2   = 10
| class2   = D
| city2    = Riddle, Oregon
| call3    = K271BL
| freq3    = 102.1
| watts3   = 62
| class3   = D
| city3    = Roseburg, Oregon
| fid1    = 49820
| fid2    = 156832
| fid3    = 57282
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{FM station data|49822|KZEL-FM}}
*{{FCC-LMS-Facility|49820|K244DL}}
*{{FXL|K244DL}}
*{{FCC-LMS-Facility|156832|K257EB}}
*{{FXL|K257EB}}
*{{FCC-LMS-Facility|57282|K271BL}}
*{{FXL|K271BL}}
*[https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101509107&qnum=5260&copynum=1&exhcnum=1 FCC application]

{{Eugene-Springfield Radio}}
{{Classic Rock Radio Stations in Oregon}}
{{Cumulus Media}}

[[Category:Radio stations in Eugene, Oregon|ZEL-FM]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1969]]
[[Category:Classic rock radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Cumulus Media radio stations]]