Radio isn't dead. Honestly, if you spent five minutes in southwest Wisconsin, you’d see why. While big tech algorithms try to guess what you want to hear based on some creepy data point, Queen B Radio Platteville WI is actually out there in the mud, at the high school football games, and reporting on the corn prices that actually keep the local economy breathing.
It’s local. Like, really local.
Based out of 51 Means Drive, this isn't just one station. It’s a four-headed beast of broadcasting that covers a massive chunk of the Tri-State area—Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. If you're driving through Grant County or pulling into Dubuque, these are the voices coming through your speakers. But what makes Queen B actually stick in a world of Spotify and podcasts?
The Queen B Radio Lineup: More Than Just Background Noise
You’ve probably flipped past them on the dial without even realizing they’re all under the same roof. Queen B Radio Platteville WI operates a pretty strategic mix of formats. They aren't trying to be everything to everyone on a single channel; they’ve split the personality of the region into four distinct flavors.
97.7 WGLR-FM: The Country Heavyweight
This is the big one. WGLR is basically the heartbeat of the farming community here. It’s not just about playing Luke Combs or Morgan Wallen; it’s about the "The Farm Show" with Bob Middendorf at 5:00 AM. While the rest of the world is sleeping, they’re talking about market reports and agriculture news. For a lot of people in Lancaster or Fennimore, WGLR is less of a radio station and more of a daily utility.
✨ Don't miss: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
Xtreme 107.1 (WPVL-FM): The Energy
Then you’ve got the polar opposite. Xtreme 107.1 is where you go for the Top 40 hits. It’s got that high-energy, "let's get through the workday" vibe. They carry Ryan Seacrest, sure, but they also lean heavily into local personalities like Johnny Page. It’s the station playing in the dental office or the gym in downtown Platteville.
Super Hits 106.1 (KIYX-FM): The Nostalgia Trip
If you’re a fan of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, this is your spot. Based in Dubuque but a core part of the Queen B family, KIYX focuses on "Super Hits." Dick McGrane handles the mornings, and honestly, the guy is a local legend. He knows more about musicology than most people know about their own kids. It’s comfy, familiar, and surprisingly addictive when you’re on a long haul down Highway 151.
ESPN Radio AM 1590 (WPVL-AM): The Sports Hub
Don't let the "AM" fool you. This is the local home for the Milwaukee Brewers, the Wisconsin Badgers, and some of the most intense high school sports coverage in the state. If it’s Friday night in Platteville, you can bet people are huddled around a radio or a stream listening to WPVL's play-by-play.
Why Ownership Matters: The Morgan Murphy Connection
A lot of people think local radio is just a hobby for some guy in a basement. It's not. Queen B Radio is actually part of Morgan Murphy Media. This is a family-owned company that’s been around since the 1800s.
🔗 Read more: Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 23 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
They own TV stations in Madison and La Crosse, but they’ve kept the Queen B operations deeply rooted in Platteville. Why? Because local advertising works when the people selling the ads actually live in the community. Denise Deaton Tolzman and the sales team aren't some nameless corporate drones; they're Chamber of Commerce members who see their clients at the grocery store.
That accountability changes how a station operates. You can't just run trash segments when you have to face your listeners at the local diner the next morning.
The "Secret Sauce" of Community Impact
So, what does Queen B Radio Platteville WI actually do besides play music?
They do the stuff that doesn't scale. I’m talking about the Annual Turkey Drop. The Easter and Halloween Candy Drive-Thru. The "Stuff the Cruiser" events with Grant County Law Enforcement.
💡 You might also like: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
When a blizzard rolls through southwest Wisconsin—and they always do—people don't check a national weather app for the nuance of which backroads are drifted over. They tune in to hear the local news team, people like Courtney Chaffee or Mark Evenstad, who actually know which hills are death traps in a heavy snow.
The Digital Pivot
Queen B hasn't stayed stuck in 1985. They’ve gone hard into digital services through Phase 3 Digital. They’re doing everything from targeted display ads to social media management for local businesses.
Interestingly, they even stream their high school sports broadcasts on a dedicated YouTube channel. It’s a weird, beautiful hybrid of old-school radio grit and new-school tech. You can be a grandma in Florida and still watch your grandson’s wrestling match in Platteville because Queen B sent a crew with a camera and a headset.
Common Misconceptions About Local Radio
- "Nobody listens to AM anymore." Tell that to the guys waiting for the Brewers score. WPVL-AM still pulls a dedicated male demographic that advertisers crave.
- "It's all syndicated content." While they do use Premiere Networks and Westwood One for some national shows, the core "prime time" slots are almost always local.
- "Streaming killed the radio star." Spotify can't tell you that the school board meeting was moved or that there’s a massive tractor parade blocking the main drag in Cuba City.
How to Get the Most Out of Queen B Radio
If you’re a listener or a business owner in the Tri-State area, there are a few ways to actually engage with this network that go beyond just turning the dial:
- Download the Apps: Each station (WGLR, KIYX, etc.) has its own app. If you’re traveling outside the broadcast range, you can still get your local fix.
- Check the Obituaries: It sounds grim, but for many in rural Wisconsin, the "Obituary Report" on WGLR is a primary way they stay connected to the community. It's a service you won't find on a national playlist.
- Use the Marketing Power: If you're a business, don't just "buy an ad." Work with their digital team to sync your radio spots with social media retargeting. They're one of the few local entities that can actually pull off a 360-degree campaign in this market.
Queen B Radio Platteville WI isn't just a collection of frequencies. It’s a cultural anchor for southwest Wisconsin. In an era where everything feels increasingly global and anonymous, there’s something genuinely comforting about hearing a familiar voice tell you it’s going to be a high of 72 degrees and that the local 4-H fair is starting tomorrow.
Actionable Next Step: If you're a local business owner looking to grow, contact the Queen B sales office at 608-349-2000 to discuss a "360-degree" marketing plan that combines traditional FM airplay with their Phase 3 Digital retargeting services. For listeners, the best way to support local media is to follow their station-specific Facebook pages, where they post real-time weather alerts and community event photos that rarely make it to the major news cycles.