Star 101.9
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Mackay , Australia |
| Owner | ARN |
| Website | www |
Star 101.9 (call sign 4MMK) operates as a commercial radio broadcaster based in Mackay, Queensland, Australia, and is currently under the ownership of the ARN. The station was formerly part of Prime Media Group’s portfolio before its radio holdings were transferred to Grant Broadcasters in 2013, with ARN subsequently acquiring these assets in 2022.
History
The station commenced operations in 1999 under the name 4MK-FM, initially featuring an adult contemporary music format. This branding was derived from the AM counterpart broadcasting on 1026 AM. At the same time, the AM service rebranded as Easymix 1026, adopting an easy listening format.
In 2005, ownership of both 4MK-FM and Easymix transitioned from Macquarie Regional RadioWorks to Prime Media Group. By late 2008, Prime had expanded its portfolio by launching Zinc, a classic rock station, in Cairns, Gladstone, and Townsville.
March 2009 saw Prime introduce Zinc to the Mackay market as Zinc 101.9. This change involved relocating the 4MK brand back to the 1026 AM frequency, replacing Easymix. Zinc 101.9 offered locally produced weekday breakfast and Saturday morning shows, while other time slots were filled with content syndicated from Zinc 96 based on the Sunshine Coast.
In 2012, the station moved its studios from 85 Sydney Street to a new location at 37 Sydney Street. The following year, ownership changed hands again when Grant Broadcasters purchased Zinc 101.9 along with sister station 4MK and additional Prime radio assets.
The station underwent a rebranding in May 2016, adopting the name Star 101.9.
In November 2021, ARN acquired Star 101.9 as part of its purchase of Grant Broadcasters’ network, providing regional stations access to ARN’s iHeartRadio digital platform. This transaction was completed on 4 January 2022. While integrating into ARN’s KIIS Network, Star 101.9 will maintain its established station name.