Intrepid Companies launched Hip Hop/R&B “96.9 The Beat” KQRB Effingham/Topeka KS at noon today.

The station will feature DeDe In The Morning, D-R Jamz in afternoons and Slow Jams with R-Dub at night. The new station is launching with 1969 songs commercial-free with the debut featuring Earth, Wind & Fire “In The Stone”, Latto “Big Energy”, Monica “For You I Will”, Missy Elliott “Lights, Camera, Action!”, and DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper and Lil Wayne “I’m The One”.

The new number one radio station for R&B, Hip-Hop, and Throwbacks in Topeka and Lawrence will launched at noon today, playing 1,969 Beats In A Row, broadcasting at 96.9 KQRB-FM and streaming worldwide at 969TheBeat.com.

The new station is owned by Intrepid Companies LLC. Intrepid’s corporate office is headquartered in Topeka, making The Beat the only locally owned commercial radio station in the area.

Intrepid managing partner Don Sherman said being close to the community is empowering for listeners.

“Being a locally owned radio station means we can be flexible, respond to what the listeners want, and super-serve our communities,” Sherman said. “The music, engaging on-air personalities, and news our audience can use will lead to increased listenership that crosses barriers like age and race.”

The Beat is home to a mix of local, regional, and national radio personalities, such as the nationally syndicated DeDe In The Morning show. Listeners can call the local studio line  8-333-969-969 toll free to make song requests, win station swag, and send shout-outs.

Starting at noon today, listeners can scan the QR Code at 969TheBeat.com to have the The Beat web app delivered immediately to their phone. Android and iOS apps are  also in development. Users of either app will have the ability to record a message for broadcast, listen to the stream, and interact with the station using their devices.

“Our goal at The Beat is to embrace and super-serve the community on-air, online, and on the streets,” Sherman said. “This station build is a two year labor of love and we are ready, willing, and excited to be part of the fabric of Topeka and Lawrence.”

The primary target demographic is adults aged 18-54 who love R&B, Hip-Hop and Throwback music. Sherman is accepting inquiries from Topeka and Lawrence businesses for a limited number of charter strategic partnerships at sustainable low advertising rates. Partners that value the millions of dollars in buying power of this untapped and underserved audience will remain at locked-in unprecedented low rates as long as their contract is in effect.

Special events and live remotes will also be available.

“The R&B radio audience has a long history of being very loyal.  Businesses will get a lot of bang for their buck and we will help them see the results,” Sherman said. “The smallest of businesses can be on our station if they partner for the long-term. Win-Win”

Building a brand new, full-power terrestrial radio station from the ground up is rare in modern broadcasting. Sherman has a passion for radio borne of extensive industry experience. From 2000-2007, he owned Sherman Broadcast Group, based in Wichita, Kan. At that time, he was the first African-American majority radio station owner in Kansas.

Of nearly 12,000 AM/FM commercial radio stations in the country, only 168 are African-American owned.

“It’s fitting that Topeka and Lawrence now has the 169th station, based on the rich history of diversity, equity and inclusion of both communities. The Beat will also add to our quality of place as we attract diverse talent to the area. Visitors that love R&B can tune into a local radio station that plays music that they enjoy,” Sherman said.

Since 2007, Sherman has operated stations in Wichita Falls, Texas, and Wichita, Kan. while also offering radio station consulting through Intrepid Companies.

“July 1 marked 22 years in the radio industry and it’s rewarding to look back and reflect on everything that’s brought us to this point,” Sherman said. “The last two years getting this station to launch through supply chain challenges and pandemic related delays makes this launch very special. I hope the community feels the same way!”

This soft launch will feature 1,969 Beats In A Row. Regular programming will begin Monday, July 18th at 5 a.m. with DeDe In The Morning, D-R JAMZ in the afternoon, and R-Dub Slow Jams at night. The station is also seeking local talent from both Topeka and Lawrence for on-air and sales. Candidates can apply at 969TheBeat.com.

96.9 The Beat Fast Facts

• Vision Statement: ReThink Radio
• Mission Statement: Via Strategic Partnerships, 96-9 The Beat will Super-Serve the Topeka/Lawrence R&B; Hip-Hop, and Throwback Community. On-Air, Online, and On The Streets.
• The station’s signal broadcasts 50,000 watts from east of Hoyt
• Businesses interested in learning more about a low cost charter strategic advertising partnership should contact Don Sherman at (785) 371-0767 or IntrepidCos@gmail.com.
• Follow at Facebook.com/969TheBeat
• Listen online worldwide at 969TheBeat.com
• Sales rep and on-air personality candidates can apply online at 969TheBeat.com

Original Report 7/11: Intrepid Companies has completed its move-in and upgrade of 96.9 KQRB (formerly KDVB) Effingham KS into the Topeka market and has begun stunting ahead of launching its new format on Thursday, July 14 at 12pm.

Donald and Denise Sherman’s Intrepid Companies purchased then KDVB in March 2021 for $300,000. Intrepid upgraded the signal to a Class C2 with 50kW/114m to cover both Topeka and Lawrence. The station previously simulcasted Classic Rock “V100” KDVV Topeka.

KQRB is currently stunting with a mix broad mix of music. Many of the songs include the word “Beat” in the title such as The Go-Go’s “We Got The Beat”, Michael Jackson “Beat It”, Taylor Dayne “With Every Beat Of My Heart”, and Celine Dion “Where Does My Heart Beat Now”. Other songs are less obvious with their connection to the potential format such as Toby Keith “How Do You Like Me Now”, Led Zeppelin “Stairway To Heaven”, David Bowie “Fame”, and Prince “1999”.

Cumulus originally won the KDVB license in an FCC Auction in 2004 where it was originally to operate on 96.7 in Humboldt NE. They applied to move it to Effingham as a C2 in 2007 but only built out as a low powered Class A once Cumulus cancelled its plans to move 107.7 KMAJ-FM into the Kansas City market preventing the company from fitting KDVB within the ownership limits in its Topeka cluster.

The Shermans previously owned a cluster in Wichita KS and operated one station in Wichita Falls TX.