Local radio station may return to the airwaves after months off the air

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Ken’s FM or KNNZ was the operation under one man, Ken Bartz. Once a radio host in the 1990s for a show called Manchester Avenue, he took his own initiative in launching a radio station in his basement.

“He had the whole control room with the console, and all these computer screens and all the equipment there. So it was almost like just stepping into another world right within Ken’s house,” said Trevour Meyer, KNNZ Associate.

The station was started back in 2012, bringing local musicians, alternative rock, indie, and Ken’s own favorite music into the mix.

But now Ken’s family is looking to sell the station, and Meyer hopes that they are able to keep the station alive.

“If we can continue it in the future, wouldn’t want to radically change anything about it at all. We’d obviously want to keep adding new content as we go along. But, at the same time, we would want to keep Ken’s FM as Ken’s FM as much as we can,” said Meyer.

Trevour Meyer knew Ken since his radio show in the 1990s. And when he heard Ken on the radio in 2012, he wanted to be a part of it.

“Basically, when I started working with him, we were creating shows and DJing. Basically, playing whatever you wanted as long as it was, you know, modern rock and alternative, and indie stuff. So that was kind of the appeal of it all,” said Meyer.

Meyer helped Ken with merchandise, advertising, and other events for the station. But when Ken passed away, the station went off the air, but the programming is still being streamed online.

“It is a lot of money to power a radio transmitter. And so, that isn’t in operation at the moment, but at the same time we still have the license for it,” said Meyer.

The station is livestreaming online currently and is accepting donations online to hopefully return back to the airwaves.