WKQQ
Broadcast areaLexington metropolitan area
Frequency100.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding100.1 WKQQ
Programming
FormatClassic rock
SubchannelsHD2: Blues
AffiliationsWestwood One
Ownership
Owner
WBUL-FM, WLAP, WLKT, WMXL, WWTF
History
First air date
October 2, 1974; 48 years ago (1974-10-02)
Former call signs
WKDJ (1974-1981)
WFMI (1981-1989)
WLFX (1989-1992)
WHRS-FM (1992-1993)
WWYC (1993-1998)[1]
Technical information
Facility ID68206
ClassC2
ERP20,000 watts
HAAT194 meters (636 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
38°07′24″N 84°26′37″W / 38.12333°N 84.44361°W / 38.12333; -84.44361
Links
WebcastFM/HD1: Listen Live
HD2: Strictly Blues Listen Live
Websitewkqq.iheart.com

WKQQ (100.1 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Winchester, Kentucky, and serving the Lexington metropolitan area. It broadcasts a classic rock radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.[2] WKQQ carries the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom show in morning drive time. Other times of the day, DJs from other iHeart stations voicetrack their shows on WKQQ.

WKQQ has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 20,000 watts. The transmitter is on Russell Cave Road near Huffman Mill Pike, amid the towers for other Lexington-area FM and TV stations.[3] The studios and offices are on Main Street in Lexington.

History

WKDJ and WFMI

The station signed on the air on October 2, 1974; 48 years ago (1974-10-02).[4] The call sign was WKDJ. It was originally owned by Clark Communications Company, a business of David Greenlee.[5] The station was based in Winchester and with only 3,000 watts of power, its signal was not available in the greater Lexington area.

WKDJ went silent in December 1980. It returned in late February 1981 as WFMI. The station was owned by the Cromwell Group and featuring Top 40 music.[6][7]

Classic Rock and Soft AC

WFMI and co-owned WHRS 1380 AM were then sold to Premier Broadcast Corporation of Albany, New York, in 1988.[8] Coinciding with an impending power increase from 3,000 to 20,000 watts, it switched to classic rock in February 1989 and rebranded as WLFX "Fox 100".[9]

Premier went into receivership in 1991. Hancock Communications of Nashville acquired the pair of stations the next year with plans to sell both facilities to other companies. While buyers were lined up for both stations, WLFX began simulcasting WHRS and its new soft adult contemporary format.[10] As a result of the sale action, the 100.1 station changed hands in rapid succession.

Move to Lexington

WLFX was purchased by Trumper Communications in 1993. Trumper relocated the transmitter facility to Lexington.[11] Upon taking over the more powerful, Lexington-centered signal, the format was changed to country music as "Young Country" WWYC. WWYC competed with market leader WVLK-FM.[12]

Trumper Communications's three-station Lexington cluster was acquired by Jacor in 1996.[13]

Format swap

In 1998, Jacor effectuated a format swap between two of its stations. The country music format on WWYC was moved to 98.1, where it was relaunched as WBUL-FM "The Bull." Meanwhile, WKQQ's call sign and programming moved to 100.1 MHz.[14] The station has been assigned these call letters by the Federal Communications Commission since February 4, 1998.[1]

In 1998, Jacor was purchased by Clear Channel Communications for $2.8 billion.[15] Then in 2014, Clear Channel's corporate name was changed iHeartMedia, Inc.

References

  1. ^ a b "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. ^ "Winter 2008 Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Archived from the original on 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  3. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WKQQ
  4. ^ Robertson, John (November 24, 1974). "Newest Station Middle-Of-Road: Format Of Radio Programs Is Moving With The Times". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. E-7. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ FCC History Cards for WKQQ
  6. ^ Green, Gail (January 30, 1981). "New-format Winchester station to enter 'under-radioed' market". The Lexington Leader. p. B-6. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Reed, David (February 20, 1981). "There's a New FM Radio Signal Floating on Local FM Airwaves". The Lexington Herald. p. B-11. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Duke, Jacqueline (December 10, 1988). "N.Y. company buys 2 area radio stations: WFMI, WHRS will not undergo major program changes". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C9. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Poindexter, Marshall (February 13, 1989). "Radio station's new name, format herald other changes". Lexington Herald-Leader. pp. B1, B11. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Jordan, Jim (November 3, 1992). "2 Winchester stations split up, will be sold". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C6. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Schultz, Ted (January 23, 1993). "Sale to move WHRS radio station to Lexington". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A9. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Business in Brief". Lexington Herald-Leader. February 19, 1993. p. C7. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Isaacs, Barbara (June 19, 1996). "Lexington radio stations to be bought". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1, B5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20221214064036/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114598822/lexington-radio-stations-to-be-bought/ Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Svokos, Heather (January 10, 1998). "WKQQ moves up dial, makes way for Garth". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. Home & Garden 2. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Myerson, Allen (9 October 1998). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Clear Channel to Buy Jacor For $2.8 Billion in Stock". New York Times.

External links

Radio stations in the Lexington Metropolitan Area and Central Kentucky
Classic rock radio stations in the state of Kentucky
iHeartMedia
Categories