WENZ: Difference between revisions
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|frequency = '''107.9''' ([[Megahertz|MHz]]) |
|frequency = '''107.9''' ([[Megahertz|MHz]]) |
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|format = [[Mainstream urban]] |
|format = '''Analog:''' [[Mainstream urban]]<br>'''HD:''' [[Mainstream urban|Mainstream urban]] <small>(analog [[simulcast]])</small><ref name="HD Radio"/> |
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|erp = Horizontal: 16,000 [[watt]]s<br>Vertical: 15,000 [[watt]]s |
|erp = Horizontal: 16,000 [[watt]]s<br>Vertical: 15,000 [[watt]]s |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist |
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<ref name="HD Radio">{{cite web|title=Station Guide: Cleveland, OH|url=http://www.hdradioalliance.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=25&utm_source=Station+Guide+Proper&utm_term=Cleveland%2C+OH&utm_medium=Widget&utm_campaign=Station+Guides+on+hdradio.com|year=2011|work=HDRadio.com|publisher=HD Radio|accessdate=January 15, 2011}}</ref> |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{official|http://www.zhiphopcleveland.com}} |
*{{official|http://www.zhiphopcleveland.com}} |
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Revision as of 23:00, 15 January 2011
 | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Cleveland Northeast Ohio |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 107.9 (MHz) |
| Branding | Z 107.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Analog: Mainstream urban HD: Mainstream urban (analog simulcast)[1] |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Radio One |
| WERE, WJMO, WZAK | |
| History | |
Call sign meaning | Refers to frequency (last on the FM band): W-"ENd"-Z WEN-"Z" (last letter in alphabet) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| ERP | Horizontal: 16,000 watts Vertical: 15,000 watts |
| Links | |
| Website | ZHipHopCleveland.com |
WENZ (107.9 FM) — branded Z 107.9 — is a mainstream urban commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio serving surrounding Northeast Ohio.
History
The station, which debuted on April 5, 1958 as WNOB FM (Northern Ohio Broadcasting), was started by several people from WNEW in New York. When the companion AM license was not granted, the station found itself in a precarious position, because stand alone FM stations in the 1950's did not make money.
In 1961, the station filed for bankruptcy and a machine operator, Mr. Phillip Kerwin, purchased WNOB for $16,000. In 1963, WNOB became one of the first FM stations in the country to broadcast in stereo.In 1968 the signal was upgraded, the station purchased a new transmitter and antenna system. Two years later, in 1970, Multicom Inc. (owner of WELW AM 1330 in Willoughby) purchased the station for $330,000. The call letters were then changed to WELW FM. WELW played a top 40 Drake type format for almost two years, then switched to country music.
In 1975, Beasley Broadcast Group purchased the station from Multicom for $550,000 and changed the call letters to WDMT (Dyno-mite).In 1976, the station switched to the then popular disco format and took the moniker "Disco 108". This is where the urban influence started, and in 1978, the station switched to an "Urban Contemporary" format, (WDMT-FM 108) one of the first Urban formatted stations in the USA [citation needed]. It is during this era that the popular "Club Style" show was initiated, where street jocks from Cleveland got the chance to mix live on the air.
Power 108
In 1987 the call letters were changed to WPHR, and the station branded itself Power 108 along with a switch to Top-40. In 1988, the station was sold to Ardman Broadcasting in Washington DC for $2.8 million. Personalities during this period included Jim Bosh, Maria Farina, Liz Luke, John Landecker, Gina St. John, Cat Thomas, Rick Michaels, Cathy Cruise, Scott James, Mark Allen, Downtown Eddie Brown, and Sunny Joe among others. WPHR moved to Playhouse Square in late 1988.
107.9 The END
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In 1992, the station changed its callsign to WENZ and flipped its format to alternative rock, branding itself 107.9 The END. Both the name ("The END") and the callsign (W—"ENd"—Z; also, "Z" is the last letter in the alphabet) reflected the station's position on the FM dial, as 107.9 is the highest — or last — commercial FM frequency. Both the inception and the demise of 107.9 The END were stunted: with both format changes, the station broadcast a 24 hour loop of R.E.M.'s song "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)". There was a documentary film [2] made about The End, entitled The End of the World As We Knew It, released in 2009. It featured many of the former staffers and jocks.
Z 107.9
On January 15, 1999, WENZ was purchased by Radio One, a company that owns and operates radio stations, most of which target African American communities. On May 14, 1999, the station relaunched as Kiss 107.9, with a Mainstream Urban format featuring hip-hop and R&B. However, due to legal action from Clear Channel Communications claiming rights to the Kiss brand in the state of Ohio[3] (that same week, Clear Channel flipped Lorain station WZLE-FM to WAKS Kiss 104.9 with a CHR format; that station now operates at 96.5 MHz), on September 1, 1999, the name was changed to Z 107.9[4], maintaining the same format and targeting the Cleveland, Ohio area.
Z 107.9 was the home of the syndicated Russ Parr Show In the Mornings until June 07, 2010. On June 07, 2010, WENZ debuted The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, replacing Russ Parr's syndicated morning show. PD/Afternoon drive DJ Colby Colb says, "Cleveland is a home away from home for Rickey Smiley, spending his childhood summers in Cleveland and getting his start at the Cleveland Improv."[5]
References
- ^ "Station Guide: Cleveland, OH". HDRadio.com. HD Radio. 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1384803/
- ^ Feran, Tom (May 26, 1999). "One station may have to kiss name goodbye". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1E - Entertainment.
- ^ Feran, Tom (September 25, 1999). "Swoboda backs to news as anchor on TV-5 at 11". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 6E - Entertainment.
- ^ "Rickey Smiley Morning Show debuts in Cleveland". Radioinfo.com.
External links
- Official website
- WENZ in the FCC FM station database
- WENZ in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Template:FML
- Cleveland Broadcast Radio Archives: WENZ timeline
- 107.9 The END former website
- End Film Review
- Interview about The End documentary
- WPHR audio clip from 1990
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