Random Memory Moment (KHTR)
KHTR was a popular Top 40 "Hit Radio" station on 103.3 FM in St. Louis during the 1980s, broadcasting from late 1982 to 1988. In the summer of 1981, KMOX-FM began gradually evolving its format toward Top 40/CHR by adding more current hits to its playlist. By August 1982, the format transition was pretty much complete, and in December of that year, the station's call letters were officially changed from KMOX to KHTR.
Launched at midnight on December 20, 1982, "103 KHTR" quickly became the dominant "Hit Radio" station for the St. Louis region, playing the biggest contemporary pop hits of the 1980s. KHTR was consistently the No. 2 ranked station in the St Louis market, trailing only behind KMOX AM; having successfully unseated the previous king of the FM radio waves, K-SHE 95.
The very first song ever played on the newly branded station was "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. The station was celebrated for its energetic hosts, "Hot Lunch Specials" (30 minutes of non-stop music), and its catchy jingles produced by JAM Creative Productions.
On Sundays, KHTR was the local station to broadcast Casey Kasem's American Top 40 (AT40), introducing listeners to new music as it entered the countdown, and sharing those listener didications.
The station's Top 40 run officially ended at midnight on November 5, 1988 when it pivoted its format. Just like the first song, the last song under the Top 40 format was "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Today, the 103.3 FM frequency is known as KLOU. Originally, KLOU was an "Oldies" station, playing popular music from the 50s, 60s, and up to 1975. Today, KLOU continues to bill itself as an "Oldies" station, and has for the most part come full circle; broadcasting a "classic hits" format that specializing in music from 1980s and 1990s.
