In the early 1980s, KIZZ was Minot’s “Rock” station. Their format was a mix of Rock and Top 40. Pure CHR with the Z94 moniker didn’t occur until later. The Judas Priest tune heard here was a current AOR track at the time this aircheck was recorded.
KIZZ had a strong signal. This was the old KMOT-FM, so it’s transmitting antenna was perched high upon the KMOT-TV 10 tower. Although I was 160 miles distant, I was able to hear them by connecting my Pioneer unit to grandpa’s large “fringe” TV antenna. However, the antenna had to be aimed perfectly in order to null out co-channel WDAY-FM in Fargo. This meant waiting until grandma and grandpa went to bed. I’d go outside, loosen the mast bolt on the tower, and swing the antenna around. This explains why I have an aircheck of Karen Abel’s overnight show and no other dayparts of KIZZ. I’ll bet the neighbors wondered what I was up to: a 19-year-old kid, climbing a tower with a flashlight, wrench, and compass at midnight!
Reception/recording was made from Michigan, North Dakota, using a Pioneer AM/FM/cassette stereo portable unit. Source tape is a TDK D90.