KBEQ-FM (104.3 MHz "Q-104") is a commercial radio station in Kansas City, Missouri, serving the Kansas City radio market. It is owned by Steel City Media and airs a country radio format. The station's studios and offices are located on Mill Street at Westport Center in Midtown Kansas City. The transmitter site is on the East Side of Kansas City, off Stark Avenue and 23rd Street South. KBEQ has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 99,000 watts (100,000 with beam tilt). History Early years (1960-1973) In November 1960, the station signed on the air as KBEY, the FM counterpart to AM station KBEA (1480 AM, now KCZZ) in nearby Mission, Kansas. It was only powered at 17,500 watts, a fraction of its current output. KBEY played big band and easy listening music, running a no-announcer broadcast automation system. In 1970, KBEY was acquired by Intermedia, Inc., a division of Interstate Securities Corp. The division was managed by Mark Wodlinger, former manager of KMBC-TV, where he convinced Len Dawson to do TV sports. In 1972, Intermedia decided to divest itself from the radio business and keep only its main asset, KQTV in St. Joseph. Bob Ingram bought KBEA, while KBEY was purchased by Mark and Connie Wodlinger. KBEY switched to "underground" rock in August 1970, playing cuts from albums including blues, folk and rock, with some classical music and jazz. Another FM station, KUDL's sister FM KCJC, had recently ended its underground format, so KBEY decided to fill the void. One of KCJC's longtime DJs, "Little Willie," was part of the first KBEY air staff. KBEY's progressive rock format began with 20 hours of music played on the old automation system, and four hours live each evening with Bill Scott, until an air staff could be assembled. Unfortunately, in Scott's previous job, he was a DJ using the name "Robert W. Walker" ("El Walkero") on KUDL and he had a non-compete clause in his previous contract. He assumed this restriction was for the character while KUDL asserted it was for him, personally. Within a few weeks, KUDL sued and he was forced to leave the job on KBEY. KBEY became an ABC FM Network affiliate to fulfill most of its news obligation, but devoted minimum time to news and talk, focusing on new, unique, and classic music. In 1971, KBEY devoted the midnight to 6 a.m. time slot to jazz, hosted