KSHE 94.7, St. Louis, known to generations of rock fans as “KSHE 95,” has been formally declared the Official Rock Radio Station of Missouri.
The designation became law under HCS SCS SB 348, which was approved on June 24, 2025. It will take effect officially on August 28. The move marks a rare moment where a local radio station receives statewide recognition for cultural and historic impact.
For State Representative Bill Lucas (R-DeSoto), the legislation was personal. Lucas grew up listening to KSHE and approached the station in March about making it the state’s official rock outlet. The station worked closely with him, providing historical documents, quotes, and even logo assets to help advance the bill.
“It’s quite an honor to be recognized by the state of Missouri in an official capacity,” said Marty Linck, KSHE Brand Content Director. “It’s surreal that the station I grew up listening to and now work for has achieved such status.”
KSHE has long held a special place in St. Louis radio and beyond. The station is widely recognized as the longest continually operating rock station in the United States. Having first embraced the rock format in 1967. It had launched the year prior as a classical station, with a twist: the original deejays were women, prompting the founders to call it KSHE — pronounced “kay she.”
From there, the station built a legacy around its “real rock radio” mantra. Over the years, KSHE 95 became more than just a frequency. It turned into a cultural institution, creating a rock museum, a café, and one of the most recognizable mascots in radio: Sweetmeat, the sunglass-wearing, cigar-chomping pig.
The station’s reach extended far beyond Missouri. In 1987, Rolling Stone readers voted KSHE the Best Medium Market Radio Station in the country — a nod to its blend of local swagger and rock credibility.
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