In December of that year, KTRO began targeting the larger Kansas City market by flipping to a Top 40 format as "ZZ 99", KZZC.

On August 25, 1986, due to financial trouble, the station flipped to a syndicated oldies outlet as "98.9 Gold" with the KZZC call letters still in place.

On April 3, 1992, at 5 p.m., after playing "The River" by Garth Brooks, the station flipped to its current format as "98.9 The Rock", which debuted with Kansas City band Shooting Star's "Hang On For Your Life".

[13][14] In 2002, the station's transmitter would be relocated to its current location near East 56th Street and Bennington Avenue in South Kansas City.

After sister station KRBZ announced it would end its alternative rock format in August 2024, KQRC would pick up their former afternoon program, The Church of Lazlo, in the same timeslot; as a means of transition, the two stations would simulcast the show until KRBZ's flip to a sports talk format as "The Fan" took place.