KKLS is a radio station licensed to serve Rapid City, South Dakota. The station is owned by HomeSlice Media Group. It was a Top 40 station during the 1970s. The station was assigned the KKLS call letters by the Federal Communications Commission. KKLS also previously broadcast on translator K248BT, on 97.5 FM. On September 10, 2010 KKLS dropped the True Oldies Channel, and began using the moniker "97.5 - The Hills", playing a mix of songs from the 1970s to the 2000s. While the FM frequency was now given the focus, the AM parent carried the same broadcast. As of January 1, 2015 KKLS changed their format to classic hits, branded as "Smash Hits KKLS", switching translators to K284BA 104.7 FM Rapid City. As of March 1, 2018 KKLS changed their format to News/Talk, branded as "News. Talk. Radio". On January 13, 2020 KKLS dropped its news/talk format and began stunting towards a new format to launch on January 21, 2020, the stunting consisting of a loop of "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, and cryptic liners consisting of recitations of country music song lyrics, implying the new format will likely be classic country as a flanker for KOUT and KBHB. On January 21, 2020 KKLS ended stunting and launched a classic country format, branded as "The Cowboy".
Ownership
In May 1999, Triad Broadcasting reached a deal to acquire this station from Brothers Jim and Tom Instad as part of a twelve-station deal valued at a reported $37.8 million. In July 2006, Schurz Communications Inc. reached an agreement to buy this station from Triad Broadcasting Co. as part of a six-station deal valued at a reported $19 million. Schurz Communications created the Black Hills broadcast division, New Rushmore Radio, now known as Rushmore Media Company. KKLS was sold to the Homeslice Media Group in July 2014, a divestiture required due to Schurz's acquisition of KOTA-TV. The transaction, which included sister station KBHB and translator K284BA, was consummated on June 30, 2014 at a price of $650,000.
