KDRK: The Beginnings
Drake University Journalism Professors John Lytle, Michael Cheney, and Todd Evans founded "KDRK" (K-Drake) in 1982 using donated and second-hand equipment and bailing wire so Broadcasting Methods students could practice their announcing and board operations. The station started with a collection of 33 and 45 records, and cassette-delayed sports. The original studio was first located in a corner of the Meredith Hall basement, currently the engineering room for studio control.

KDRK operated briefly (until campus contractors cut the audio line) as a carrier current service to Goodwin-Kirk residence hall as AM 790 KDRK, starting October 16, 1984 . 1984 also saw Drake's first application for an FM license for KDRK, but FCC regulations showed that there was no available frequency space in the Des Moines metro. The Jewett Residence Hall Council approved a transmitter for their building in April 1985, but faculty and students decided to forego the opportunity because there was too large of an investment for too little potential audience. These events are representative of one of Drake radio's largest problems: finding a way to reach audiences.

In 1986 as part of an elevator installation project, Drake built a new studio for KDRK inside the E-Media newsroom in the basement of Meredith Hall. For several years, the musical format wandered somewhere between progressive rock and a free-for-all.

Students look for a “Voice Of Drake”
Because the School of Journalism and Mass Communication controlled the station and maintained equipment, many students aimed to start a second radio station on campus, completely controlled by the Office of Student Life and budgeted from Student Fees and Allocations. A committee worked with student leadership to develop "KVOD, The Voice Of Drake," to counter KDRK, which would remain in the hands of the SJMC. However, the cost of KVOD would be quite large, and the benefit small--since that station also would lack a signal.

Instead of progressing with KVOD, the Drake Broadcasting System (DBS, a student organization) brought a new life to the radio station by re-organizing its structure and taking on some programming responsibilities. Under the leadership of General Manager JoAnn Ball, the station flourished from 1988-1990, moving to the cable TV dial for broadcast (where it has remained since). KDRK adjusted to a progressive rock format, playing songs unavailable elsewhere on the radio dial. During this time the slogan "Drake's Campus Sound" was first used as a positioning statement for the station. Music, news and announcements were played off audio cart machines. Two cart carousels were donated by an Iowa radio station for use when students were not on the air, but it never really worked. Automation then became a multi-cd player.

In the early 1990s, KDRK caught onto the alternative music craze. With new bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarten, and others, the station sounded like a contemporary modern rock station. Events included a 3-day Radio Marathon just before Dead Day (the last day of the semester before finals week in which students have the day free to study). The station began positioning itself as "KDRK Radio, Your Alternative Alternative," and started a new show on Friday nights called "The Underground." Staffed by two students, "The Underground" flipped on a TV camera in the corner of the studio and broadcast not only the music, but also a live video feed from the KDRK studios. This program, co-hosted by Scott “Allen” Gojkovich, who went on to serve as the Marketing Director for the Des Moines Radio Group, was an immediate hit both on-campus and in the Des Moines community. Its time, though, was short-lived, and it ended in 1995.

The ill-fated Variety format
As the 1990s progressed, KDRK lost its musical niche as "alternative" became mainstream, and many of the bands that provided a unique sound in the early part of the decade drifted away from the music scene. In 1998, KDRK General Manager Matt Barr abandoned the alternative format in favor of a "variety" format, where any music was acceptable and disc jockeys programmed their own shows. "The term alternative has lost all meaning," Barr told the Times-Delphic, the student run campus newspaper, in a February 1998 interview. "In a college setting we have the ability to create a huge variety, and I'd like to take advantage of that."

With little musical direction, however, KDRK wandered down a path of instability. Sensing a change needed to occur, KDRK's next General Manager, Jennifer Slesnick, revived the alternative rock format for two reasons, according to a February 1999 Times-Delphic interview.

"First, there was no consistency with the old format," Slesnick said. "A regular station doesn't jump from Mariah Carey to country in one song or even within a day. Second, listeners didn't know what to expect. Now anyone can tune in and know what kind of music is going to be played at any time."

During this time, Slesnick and KDRK Music Director Ryan Farmer championed a slow transition to playing music from a digital hard drive. An Arrakis Digilink IV was installed in the studio to begin an evolution away from CDs.

Perhaps the biggest change in the late 1990s, however, was the addition of sports broadcasting to the station. With old equipment previously used for TV sports broadcasts, KDRK added men's and women's basketball broadcasts, as well as football broadcasts. Under the direction of new KDRK Sports Director Nate Zinnel, KDCS sports broadcasters left the studio for the first time in years, a sign of bigger things to come.

In Fall 1999, with sports broadcasting and an alternative rock format, KDRK attracted new workers. Slesnick, in her final year, hired Eric Grunzinger, a pharmacy student, to serve as the station's Music Director. Although he wasn't the typical J-major who had run KDRK before, he attempted to organize the station's overflowing inventory of music. Meanwhile, she recruited Tony Lorino and Molly Finn, two first-year students, to host a new underground show to air on TV for Friday nights. Entitled “The KDRK Jammin' Dance Party,” Tony played disco songs and took requests on the phones, while Molly sang along and danced on chairs. It was an instant success in the community, amassing over 250 calls per night for the two hour show.

Although the pieces weren't all quite in place, the winds of change began to evolve in 2000. Zinnel investigated web broadcasting for the station, while Slesnick and Lorino worked with SJMC faculty again to investigate FM frequencies. The possibility for an FM frequency at Drake came when the FCC approved a measure for Low-Power FM in January 2000.

With Slesnick moving onto a job with Clear Channel's website management division, Zinnel, the new President of the radio station, Lorino, the new General Manager/Program Director, and Grunzinger, who remained Music Director, began investigating new possibilities for the station. A survey distributed in April 2000 yielded dramatic results: “alternative” music, as the station called it, was dead. New artists were alive and well—and the station made a change.

Leave K-Dork for the puppies…This is Bulldog Radio!
As web broadcasting, FM broadcasting, and an image change loomed for the station, Lorino proposed new call letters—both to avoid image confusion, and FCC licensing problems (as KDRK-FM was already on the dial). Thus, in May 2000, the announcement was made: KDRK would become “KDCS Bulldog Radio, Drake's Campus Sound.”

Musically, the station evolved to a more mainstream sound called “Modern Adult Contemporary,” featuring artists like Alanis Morrisette, Matchbox Twenty, and Sugar Ray. Although it wasn't a drastic shift away from the alternative sound, the name alternative wasn't used. Instead, the station positioned in several ways in the 2000-01 school year, including “Your Favorite Music,” “The Best Mix of Your Music,” “This Is Your Station,” finally settling on “The Most Music, The Best Music.” Behind the scenes, however, more issues arose. Grunzinger was diagnosed with leukemia and was forced to take a leave of absence from Drake. Although he planned to return, he never fully recovered, and passed away in November 2001. Originally hired to temporarily replace Grunzinger as Music Director, Lorino hired Bryan Gay, who had planned to serve as Grunzinger's assistant in Fall 2000.

On September 19, 2000 , KDCS signed on with a new image, a new attitude—and a new morning show. Lorino and newly-appointed KDCS News Director Laura Colaizy hosted mornings together Monday-Thursday from 8-9 a.m. Before “Tony and Laura in the Morning” was a sports-talk show, “Breakfast with Bolger and Zinnel,” hosted by KDCS President Nate Zinnel and Assistant Sports Director Matt Bolger. With the music slowly evolving, Lorino and Gay took the show on the road to football tailgating, increasing the station's visibility. Slowly, a new marketing department began to emerge—and so did better programming.

Suddenly, Zinnel announced he would not return in Spring 2001 for personal reasons, and thus, Lorino moved up again to serve as the DBS/KDCS President, and Gay took over as the station's General Manager/Program Director. During the Spring semester, KDCS teamed up with the Journalism Council to broadcast live from the inaugural “Journalism Days” festivities in March 2001, and gave away a free stereo live on the air. First-year students Sara Goers and Joe Acker served as Music Directors.

During the summer of 2001, Lorino worked with Professor Lytle to finalize Drake's application for an LPFM license. But again, due to tie-ups with channel protection, the application didn't make it any further than before. However, by working with SJMC Engineer Brad Toussaint, the station finally initiated web streaming in September 2001. However, this first attempt was short lived when the recording industry announced a new licensing procedure that would have cost Drake hundreds of dollars in copyright fees. Thus, Bulldog Radio streaming ended several short months later.

KDCS comes into its own in 2001-02
For the start of the 2001 school year, Lorino and Gay, along with Acker, handled the day-to-day operations of KDCS. Following the events of September 11, 2001 , KDCS News Director Jess Roberts covered news conferences and events around the campus live using sports broadcasting equipment. As Gay segued out of the station in October, Lorino and Acker, along with KDCS Marketing Director Adam Ghassemi, took the station on the road again for more fun activities, including a live broadcast before the G-Love & Special Sauce concert at the Olmsted Center . In February, the station teamed up with the public relations group, PRSSA, to host the “KDCS/PRSSA Makeout Marathon” on Valentine's Day. The event paired up couples to see who would kiss the longest—and also earned the station an honorable mention award for Best Campus Program. Musically, the station began to ebb and flow into more top 40 music, including modern rock and rap.

Perhaps the largest event to that date in KDCS' history was the Ja Rule concert in April 2002. Although the Student Activities Board needed a larger station to promote the event to the city, KDCS promoted Ja Rule's arrival on campus, and set up the first off-campus live remote broadcast at Big Dog's Bar & Grill. The station's staff, including Ghassemi, Acker, Lorino, Roberts, Bolger, and Assistant Program Director J.D. Fox, handled the operations of the undertaking.

Ch-ch-ch-changes…
As Lorino moved on to work at the Des Moines Radio Group and Acker decided to concentrate on other areas, 2002-03 saw Eric Duffee take over as the station's President, J.D. Fox as Program Director, Tim Ryder as Music Director, and Ghassemi staying on as Marketing and Sales Director. Although the station got off to a slow start, it took on more challenges and continued to develop. A new music scheduling system was implemented to ease programming music. And the station's promotions went to a new level as well.

In January 2003, an orchestrated effort between KDCS, Student Senate, the Student Activities Board and local businesses, a promotion called “Dream Drake” asked students to come up with ideas for improving the campus, with a grand prize of $500.00 cash, pizza for a year, laundry service for a year, and more. KDCS and Senate awarded the prize to Drake junior Steve Mason, who compiled an idea for an eco-friendly residence hall. As the semester went on, the station continued promotions during Relays and other campus events.

Streaming Returns, and a New Home for KDCS
As fall 2003 approached, the 2003-04 staff realized the true need for another way to get KDCS out to the campus other than Campus Cable. The DBS Board came to the conclusion that they needed to look into the actual cost of paying appropriate fees to get KDCS back to the web for streaming.

After investigating the options, DBS President Scott Inukai found what it would take to get the signal back to the web. The decision was made to pay the required fees, and KDCS could once again be live to the world. On September 11, 2003, KDCS went back to the web, this time with a website of its very own.

During the summer of 2003, DBS Production Director Carl Sundermann saw the immediate need for a real website for the Drake Broadcasting System as a whole. Some attempts had been made in the past, but none really worked due to a lack of commitment from any one DBS member. In September 2003, Sundermann founded www.drakebroadcasting.com as the online home for the Drake Broadcasting System, and the new home for the KDCS web stream. The Drake Telemedia Center again provided service and technical support to DBS for the streaming audio using the QuickTime format.

Summer 2003 also saw the renovations of the first floor of Olmsted. KDCS Members we excited to see the new booth upon returning to class in August. It was more than anyone had anticipated, and DBS had not spent a dime. While the room itself came free of charge to DBS, the equipment needed for the room would not be free.

DBS President Scott Inukai and KDCS Program Director Matt Haeger investigated the cost of outfitting the new studio. The final bill was set to cost nearly $10,000, far more than DBS could afford or the Board of Student Communications could give for such a project. DBS needed a way to make some good money for this studio.

An idea for a Battle of the Bands competition was thrown around at a meeting, and suddenly a new KDCS sponsored event was born. This Battle of the Bands was such a success that it went on to win Outstanding Social Program of the Year. Held on the eve of Dead Day in December 2003, the event brought in a big chunk of change for KDCS' new studio. A deal was worked out with SFAC for the remaining dollar amount. March 1, 2004 KDCS Olmsted went live to campus and the world.

A New Home, But Incomplete
KDCS had a new home. All of the equipment was purchased and installed using DBS funds. But one large piece was missing from the finished product. The studio console originally slated for donation from the SJMC turned out to be faulty, leaving KDCS without funds to purchase a new console. JMC professor Todd Evans donated a live sound mixing board so that KDCS could go on air on March 1, with the promise that DBS would budget for a new board in the coming year.

While newly elected President Carl Sundermann was researching possibilities for a new board, again Program Director Matt Haeger approached Sundermann with an idea for the new board. Des Moines Radio Group in downtown Des Moines was getting ready to replace all of studios with new digital consoles and they were willing to donate a board to the Drake Broadcasting System. Sundermann jumped on this idea.

In September of 2004, Des Moines Radio Group remodeled the 93.3 KIOA studio, and KDCS received the console, along with the custom built desk in which the console fits. The entire KDCS Staff was in awe at the size and functionality of the board. Now it would take time to get in installed.

A Slow Process
Receiving the board was a great addition to the KDCS, but also meant that the current studio design would need to be reconfigured for this new setup. Sundermann had the money in the DBS budget to put into the new studio because it was originally intended to go to the new console. And with that, the renovation began. Again.

Carl Sundermann and Scott Inukai, both seniors, performed the majority of the renovation themselves with guidance from Jeff Nichols in the Drake Telemedia Center . After taking KDCS Olmsted off air in October 2004, it took several months for the entire studio to be complete. January 17, 2005, KDCS Olmsted went back on the air. This time, with a professional audio console, microphone, and a touch screen monitor.

...and a frequency was born!
During the 2005-2006 school year, Drake University was granted a share in a low power FM frequency with Grandview College. The Dog would be on-air Monday thru Friday 4pm-4am and all day Saturday and Grandview would have the remaning time. KDCS went through a rigorous music testing in tihe fall semester to help determine the format for the new FM frequency. With Music Testing out of the way, it was time to begin tower construction on top of Meredith Hall and incorporating new programs to make the station run. A new Management Board consisting of Travis Monroe, Ashley Householder, Todd Evans, John Lytle and Jan Wise was formed to oversee the progress and security of 94.1 The Dog.

Throughout the Summer of 2006, 94.1 The Dog Operations Manager Morgan Brigman worked hard with Drake Alum Tony Lorino to make sure "The Dog" was ready to be "Unleashed" in the fall of 2006. The hard efforts of the board and operations manager came through because on August 22, 2006 at 4pm 94.1 The Dog legally signed on to the airwaves! The Dog signed on with at two day stunt broadcast. The entire playlist consisted with songs about dogs (or with the name dog). Songs included "Puppy Love" by Donny Osmond, "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night, "Hound Dog" by Elvis and "Bird Dog" by The Everly Brothers, just to name a few. At 5pm on Thursday, August 24, 2006, The Dog signed on with its current format. Local media was there to witness this historic event in DBS history.

The current Management Board Consists of Cody Gough, Ashley Householder, Todd Evans, John Lytle and Jan Wise.