A few things will change in upcoming weeks for the new country music station, 95.7 FM The Eagle.

New staff will be hired. Programming will be determined.

But the most important elements of the station have been in place since day one, which was last Thursday, and will remain, said Rick Prusator, general manager of the station’s owner, Three Eagles Communications.

“The music is the star of the radio station,” Prusator said. “We guarantee to play at least 15 songs an hour. We’ll play 10 country hits in a row. It’s less commercials and more music.”

Three Eagles Communications, which also owns Z99 99.1 FM, The River 105.5 FM and KRBI AM, had been looking to start the station for several years when the Federal Communications Commission added new frequencies, including 95.7. Three Eagles spent the last three years vying for the new license, finally receiving the go-ahead from the FCC more than a week ago.

The company had all the music loaded and ready to go for when the approval came through. After final approval last week, The Eagle was on the air within 24 hours.

“We’re really having a lot of fun with it,” he said. “It’s not very often that you get to start a new radio station from scratch.”

The format, Prusator said, is “Today’s country,” which is also a part of the station’s logo. The music will be contemporary country and western artists, such as Keith Urban, with a few of the classic country stars, such as Johnny Cash, thrown into the mix.

“Our country is going to be very upbeat,” he said.

Prusator said most programming has yet to be determined. But a couple of syndicated shows already are set.

Lia, a live call-in country talk/music radio show, is on 95.7 from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. And “After MidNite with Blair Garner” follows. The show, which also is on Sundays, plays new country music, has guests and announces news.

Prusator said he’s confident the station will do well. More people listen to country music in the United States than any other genre of music, he said.

Other formats in the area, from classic rock to pop, are covered. There was a need for country, he said.

Other country stations in the area include Mankato’s KYSM 103.5 FM, St. James’ KRRW 101.5 FM, New Ulm’s KNUJ 860 AM, Blue Earth’s KBEW 98.1 FM and Fairmont’s KSUM 1370 AM.

The Eagle 95.7 station is in the same building as Z99 along Highway 169 south of Mankato.