By Mike Stoll

Classic country music fans in southern Minnesota will soon have to find a new radio station for their music.

Austin-based KQAQ 970 AM was recently sold to Grand Forks-based Real Presence Radio. Hometown Broadcasting Inc. owner Greg Jensen, who purchased the classic country station 10 years ago, confirmed the sale last month.

“We had a wonderful listenership, but it never really caught on with the advertisers,” Jensen said. “It didn’t make sense to make something work that wasn’t. I got an offer and I took it.”

Real Presence Radio is a Catholic talk radio network that will air the EWTN radio program. The station will remain KQAQ, according to Real Presence Radio Executive Director Steve Splonskowski.

“We are very excited to serve and bring the message of Jesus Christ as revealed through the Catholic Church to the faithful of southern Minnesota,” he said.

Although KQAQ has been sold, Jensen said Power 96, a classic rock station, was not part of the purchase and is still owned by Hometown Broadcasting Inc. Jensen estimates the transition will take about 90 days.

“We appreciate all of our listeners and I hope they loved the music as much as I did,” he said. “It just didn’t pay its way.”