| Broadcast area | Washington metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.7 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 98.7 WMZQ |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Subchannels | HD2: WUST simulcast (Black-oriented news) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WASH, WBIG, WIHT, WUST, WWDC | |
| History | |
First air date | April 2, 1947 (as WWDC-FM) |
Former call signs | WWDC-FM (1947–1950) WOL-FM (1950–1968) WMOD (1968–1977)[1] |
Former frequencies | 100.9 MHz (1947) 101.1 MHz (1947–1950)[1] |
Call sign meaning | tribute to WMAQ,[2] abbreviation of "music"[3] |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 73305 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 149 meters (489 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live HD2: Listen Live |
| Website | WMZQ.iheart.com/ |
WMZQ-FM (98.7 FM) is a commercial radio station in Washington, D.C. owned by iHeartMedia. It has had a country music radio format since 1977. The studios and offices are located on Rockville Pike in Rockville, Maryland.[4]
The transmitter is on Tower Street in Falls Church, Virginia.[5] WMZQ-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 50,000 watts, the maximum power for radio stations in the Washington area. It broadcasts from a tower at 149 meters (489 feet) in height above average terrain (HAAT). With a good radio, WMZQ-FM can be heard from Baltimore, Maryland to Fredericksburg, Virginia.
This station signed on the air on April 2, 1947 as WWDC-FM, originally on 100.9 MHz, moving to 101.1 MHz a few months later.[7] It was owned by the Capital Broadcasting Company with its studios at 1000 Connecticut Avenue NW. The station originally simulcast its sister station, WWDC, then on AM 1450.
Meanwhile, WOL-FM signed on at 98.7 MHz in 1947, simulcasting its sister station, WOL 1260 kHz. In 1950, WWDC and WOL came under common ownership; that February 20, WWDC moved to the far higher-powered 1260 kHz allocation, and WOL was shifted to 1450 kHz to be resold. WWDC-FM also swapped callsigns and facilities with WOL-FM on the same day, and each simply modified their licenses to continue operating on their same frequencies.[8][9] As the actual licenses were not exchanged, WMZQ-FM is the legal successor of the original WWDC-FM.
WOL-AM-FM aired a full service Rhythm and Blues format, featuring personalities, news and talk for the African-American community. It was owned by the Peoples Broadcasting Company, relocated to the 1000 Connecticut Avenue NW studios and offices.
In 1965, WOL-AM-FM were acquired by the Sonderling Broadcasting Company.[10] In 1968, Sonderling switched the FM station to an Oldies format, as WMOD, while the AM continued as an R&B station. WMOD played the rock-era hits of the 1950s and early 60s, including doo-wop music. By the mid 1970s, the format shifted to classic rock.
In 1977, Sonderling switched 98.7 to country music as WMZQ-FM.[11] Although press reports at the time attributed the call sign as a simple abbreviation of "music", then-program director Bill Figenshu claims to have chosen it in homage to WMAQ Chicago, which was at the time a successful large-market country station. A since-repealed FCC rule also required stations to notify their competitors of a call sign change, and Figenshu suspected the "Q" – then as now, a common branding for contemporary music stations – might fool them into thinking a Top 40 format was about to launch.[3][2]
The Washington market already had one FM station playing modern country, but it was based in Northern Virginia, 105.9 WXRA (today WMAL-FM) licensed to Woodbridge, Virginia. Its signal had a hard time reaching the D.C. suburbs north of Washington, while WMZQ-FM covered the entire D.C. radio market. The change proved a success for WMZQ-FM and the station at 105.9 eventually switched to classic rock.
Viacom acquired WMZQ-FM a few years after the switch to the country format. In 1987 Viacom began simulcasting WMZQ-FM on AM station WMZQ in Arlington, Virginia.[12][13]
In 1997, WMZQ-FM switched hands again, this time acquired by Chancellor Media.[14] In 2000, Chancellor was acquired by Clear Channel Communications, which a few years later became iHeartMedia, the current owner.
Previous morning / afternoon shows on WMZQ-FM include Boxer in the Morning with Aly Jacobs, Ben & Brian, Murphy & Cash, Jim London & Mary Ball, and Carol Munse. WMZQ currently airs The Bobby Bones Show, in the mornings syndicated by Premiere Networks, and based out of Nashville, Tennessee.