The Cities 97.1 Sampler (also titled Cities Sampler and The Cities' Sampler) was a series of albums, cassette tapes and CDs containing "live in studio" recordings from Studio C located at radio station Cities 97.1, KTCZ-FM in Minneapolis at 97.1 MHz. It occasionally contained live tracks recorded from local concerts in the Twin Cities. It was released annually during the holidays from 1989 to 2018. New volumes would appear each November at local Target stores in time for Christmas gifts. In later years the sampler was also available on Target.com. Proceeds benefited Minnesota charitable organizations. The albums, cassettes and CDs usually generated over $500,000 every year for Minnesota charities. In the last several years, the recordings sold quickly, disappearing within minutes in many stores. The 16th volume, released on November 11, 2004, had a print run of about 35,000 copies. In Forest Lake, Minnesota, the local Target store ran out of its shipment of discs in seven minutes. On October 1, 2018, KTCZ-FM announced that the upcoming sampler (volume 30) would be the last. It sold out in stores the same day and online later that night after a technical glitch was resolved freeing the remaining copies for online purchase. Throughout the 30 years of its run, the sampler raised over $13 million for Minnesota non-profits and charities.

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 1: The Cities' Sampler (1989)

Pressings: 10,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD

The Cities' Sampler Vol. 2: Collectibles (1990)

Pressings: 10,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD

The Cities' Sampler Vol. 3: Songs for the Earth (1991)

Pressings: 10,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD

The Cities' Sampler Vol. 4: Keepsakes (1992)

Pressings: 12,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD

The Cities' Sampler Vol. 5: Rarities (1993)

Pressings: 12,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD

The Cities' Sampler Vol. 6: Gems (1994)

Format: Cassette tape & CD

The Cities' Sampler Vol. 7: Essentials (1995)

Format: Cassette tape & CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 8 (1996)

Format: Cassette tape & CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 9 (1997)

Format: CD

Cities Sampler Vol. 10 (1998)

Format: CD

Cities Sampler Vol. 11 Radio Playlist Collection (1999)

Pressings: 27,000 Format: CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 12 New Names + New Music (2000)

Pressings: 27,000 Format: CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 13 (2001)

Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 14 (2002)

Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 15 15th Anniversary (2003)

Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 16 (2004)

Pressings: 35,000 Format: CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 17 (2005)

Pressings: 35,000 Format: CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 18 (2006)

Pressings: 35,000 Format: CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 19 I-35W Bridge Collapse (2007)

Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 20 20th Anniversary (2008)

Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD Disc One Disc Two Album artwork designed by Jenny Plott at Spangler Design Team

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 21 Road Trip Tunes (2009)

Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD Album artwork designed by Jenny Plott at Spangler Design Team

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 22 Live From Studio C (2010)

Pressings: 33,000 Format: CD Retail: $24.97 Bonus tracks for Frequent Listener Club Members (free digital download): Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Spangler Design Team

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 23 (2011)

Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Spangler Design Team

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 24 (2012)

Bonus tracks for Frequent Listener Club Members (free digital download): Album artwork designed by Jeff Kaphingst at Spangler Design Team

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 25 25th Anniversary (2013)

Pressings: 40,000 Retail: $32.97 Disc One Disc Two Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Spangler Design Team

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 26 (2014)

Pressings: 35,000 Retail: $25.97 Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Spangler Design Team

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 27 (2015)

Pressings: 30,000 Retail: $22.97 Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Schmitt Creative

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 28 (2016)

Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Schmitt Creative

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 29 (2017)

Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Schmitt Creative

Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 30 The Final Chapter (2018)

A dedication to all of the Minnesota charities that have been helped by Sampler sales over the past 30 years. Retail: $14.97 Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Schmitt Creative