KMRI


KMRI is a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format. Licensed to West Valley City, Utah, United States, the station serves the Salt Lake City area. The station is currently owned by AASAA Media, LLC, who obtained it from Alpha and Omega Communications, LLC. Both organizations have common principals.

History

The station was originally built on 1570 kHz with a power of 500 watts and the transmitter located in the 'Sugarhouse' area of Salt Lake City in 1956. It operated during daytime hours only. In 1965, the station's frequency was changed to 1550 kHz, and its power was increased to 10,000 watts. The transmitting tower was moved to 5265 West 2100 South in what is now West Valley City, Utah.
On March 4, 1968, the station's callsign was changed from KWIC to KRGO. As KRGO, the station aired a country music format. In 1977, nighttime operation at 500 watts was added. In the mid 1980s, the station's country music programming was simulcast on KRGO-FM 107.9.
On January 1, 1988, the station's callsign was changed to KZQQ, and the station aired the Z Rock heavy metal format. By 1990, the station's format had changed to Spanish language music, and was branded "La Fabulosa". The station later adopted a religious/gospel format during the day, while Spanish language programming remained on the station at night.
On July 31, 1992, the station's callsign was changed to KRGQ, and the station began airing a country music format during the day, while Spanish language programming remained on the station at night. On September 14, 1992, the station's country music programming began to be simulcast on 107.9 KZQQ-FM and 103.1 FM, and was branded "KRGO". In December 1993, the station's country music programming began to be simulcast on KQOL 106.5, as well.
By 1995, the station had been taken off the air. In 1997, the station was rebuilt at its current transmitter location of 6211 West 2100 South in West Valley City. On March 10, 1997, the station's callsign was changed back to KRGO. The station returned to the air, airing a Country Western format.
On January 16, 1998, the station's callsign was changed to the current KMRI. The station began airing a religious format. The station's callsign stood for "Miracle Rock Incorporated Church", which owned the station when it was assigned. In 2003-2004 the station made arrangements with the then-owner of KCPW , Community Wireless of Park City, to share its single tower as "Tower 2" of the other stations two tower directional array.
In 2005, the owners of the radio station made a contract with David J Velasquez, president of Radio Exitos Communications Inc and began transmitting Regional Mexican Music which also included Spanish Christian Music a program of 4 hours everyday from 2-6 p.m. Musica para tu alma played for 1 year, then two hours a day for two years. The president of Radio Exitos Communications Inc sold the contract to Victor Galindo owner of Victor's Tire. For the remainder of the contract. The contract was renew with Victor Galindo owning the new contract. Then the radio station was sold to the new corporation.

Tower collapse

On March 18, 2020, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake happened near Magna, Utah, southwest of the station's tower. The earthquake knocked the station off the air after its tower collapsed. The earthquake's epicenter was north-northeast of the city of Magna, putting it near the Great Salt Lake or close to the towers. The collapse also affected KIHU, which was operating at reduced power. KMRI filed for a special temporary authority to go silent.
On March 26, 2020, AASAA Media/KMRI was placed in involuntary receivership by Judge Matthew Bates of the Third Judicial District Court of Salt Lake County. KMRI's license was auctioned off in Salt Lake City on July 17, 2020 by the court-appointed receiver Jacob Hibbard. No assets other than the station's license were included in the auction.