The 98.9 MHz frequency shuffled between formats when it first went on the air in 1962. Licensed to Leavenworth, the station began as KCLO-FM, a religious-MOR outlet simulcasting with its AM sister station on 1410.
Mark and Connie Wodlinger, the former owners of Top 40 outlet KBEQ-FM, bought KTRO in late 1982. In December of that year, KTRO began targeting the larger Kansas City market by flipping to a Top 40 format as "ZZ 99", KZZC.[2] KZZC competed heavily against KBEQ by emphasizing on newer music in comparison to KBEQ's oldies lean. The station also was home to Kansas City legendary DJ Randy Miller in morning drive. During this time, the station's transmitter was relocated to a site near Basehor in Wyandotte County to improve coverage. On August 25, 1986, due to financial trouble, the station flipped to a syndicated oldies outlet as "98.9 Gold" with the KZZC call letters still in place.[3][4] In August 1987, the station's transmitter moved again, this time to the KCTV Tower.
1987–1989: KCWV
On September 24, 1987, at Noon, "98.9 The Wave" debuted with a new age (a precursor to the smooth jazz format) and easy listening format, competing with a multitude of AC stations. The call letters were also changed to KCWV.[5][6] In May 1989, Wodlinger Broadcasting sold the station to Journal Broadcast Group for $6 million.[7][8]
1989–1992: KRVK
On October 27, 1989, at 5:37 pm, the station flipped to soft rock as KRVK, "98.9 The River".[9][10] The station was largely automated with very low-key on-air personalities.
1992–present: KQRC
On April 3, 1992, at 5 p.m., after playing "The River" by Garth Brooks, the station flipped to its current format as "98.9 The Rock", which debuted with Kansas City band Shooting Star's "Hang On For Your Life".[11][12] The current KQRC call letters were adopted on April 20, 1992. The Rock has lived up to its name in the stability of its format, surviving a rock format shuffle in 1997 that claimed Kansas City's (then) longest-surviving (23 years) FM rock station, KYYS.
In 2002, the station's transmitter would be relocated to its current location near East 56th Street and Bennington Avenue in South Kansas City.
After sister station KRBZ announced it would end its alternative rock format in August 2024, KQRC would pick up their former afternoon program, The Church of Lazlo, in the same timeslot; as a means of transition, the two stations would simulcast the show until KRBZ's flip to a sports talk format as "The Fan" took place.[15]
