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WNNF
Broadcast areaCincinnati metropolitan area
Frequency94.1 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingCat Country 94.1
Programming
FormatCountry
AffiliationsWestwood One
Ownership
Owner
WFTK, WGRR, WOFX-FM, WRRM
History
First air date
1955 (as WSAI-FM)
Former call signs
  • WSAI-FM (1955–1983)
  • WKXF (1983–1985)
  • WWNK (1985–1997)
  • WVMX (1997–2007)
Call sign meaning
"Ninety Four-One", from the station's branding as "Radio 94.1" 2007–2009
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID59593
ClassB
ERP16,000 watts
HAAT264 meters (866 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
39°6′59.00″N 84°30′7.00″W / 39.1163889°N 84.5019444°W / 39.1163889; -84.5019444
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.catcountry941.com

WNNF (94.1 FM, “Cat Country 94.1”) is a commercial radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The station broadcasts a country music radio format and is owned by Cumulus Media. Its studios and offices are on Montgomery Road in Norwood, Ohio, with a Cincinnati address.

WNNF has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 16,000 watts. The transmitter site is on Highland Avenue at Interstate 71, northeast of Downtown Cincinnati, co-located with the tower used for WKRC-TV.[2]

History

Early years (1955-1970s)

The station signed on in 1955. In the early 1970s, it switched to a Top 40/Oldies format.

Rock (1976–1981)

In 1976, the station became WSAI-FM and played Rock n Roll.

Country (1981–1985)

In 1981, the station changed to a country format, and became WKXF ("Kix 94.1").

Top 40 (1985)

During late summer 1985, the station briefly switched to a CHR format branded as "K-Rock 94".

Adult contemporary (1985–1997)

Several weeks later on August 26, 1985, the station switched to Adult Contemporary WWNK ("Wink 94.1").[3]

Hot adult contemporary (1997–2006)

On September 19, 1997, WVMX ("Mix 94.1") made its debut with a hot adult contemporary format that was patterned after then-sister station WMVX in Cleveland.[4] In 2006, the station started leaning towards Rhythmic AC after the station had begun carrying Whoopi Goldberg's Wake Up With Whoopi show.

Modern adult contemporary (2007–2009)

The station became "Radio 94.1" at Noon on September 10, 2007, changed call letters to WNNF and dropped Goldberg's show as the station flipped to Modern AC. The first song on "Radio" was "Possession" by Sarah McLachlan.[5][6] On August 1, 2008, then-owners Clear Channel put WNNF up for sale, along with sister station WOFX, to settle regulatory issues involved with the company's sale to private equity firms. On January 3, 2009, Cumulus Media was chosen as a buyer and swapped five of the company's radio stations in Wisconsin to make this transaction complete.[7]

Adult album alternative (2009–2011)

On March 8, 2009, the station began calling itself "Renew 94.1", asking listeners' input on what path the station should take on its website.[8] Later that month, it relaunched its format as "Frequency 94.1", but with a slight difference than what it was as "Radio".[9][10] The station had a slight adult album alternative (AAA) lean, patterned from Cumulus's recently launched AAA stations in Houston and Nashville, which later evolved into a full-fledged AAA in late 2009, dropping most pop acts and leaving competitor WKRQ as the only hot AC station in Cincinnati. It was one of three commercial AAA stations in Ohio, the others being WNWV in Cleveland and WLKR-FM in Norwalk. The station's ratings began falling during this time.

Hot adult contemporary (2011–2012)

On May 18, 2011, at noon, after playing "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" by Pearl Jam, WNNF began stunting with a "wheel of formats" that was predominantly classic country, oldies, all Michael Jackson, CHR, smooth jazz, urban oldies and urban AC, as well as playing news and history bits from Cincinnati history. The station promoted a new format that would be launched on May 20 at 9:41 AM.[11] At exactly the promised time, the station flipped back to Hot AC as "Journey 94-1: 90's, 80's, & Now!" with a heavy emphasis on 1980s and 1990s music. The first song aired on "Journey" was "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey.[12][13] Throughout its run as "Journey", the station's ratings were not satisfactory, usually peaking below a 2 share (#18).

Country (2012–present)

On New Year's Day, 2012, at Noon, without warning, WNNF changed its format to country, branded as "Great Country 94.1".[14] The final song on "Journey" was "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas, while the first song on "Great Country" was "This Is Country Music" by Brad Paisley.

On February 7, 2014, at 5 p.m., after playing "Friday Night" by Eric Paslay, WNNF rebranded as "Nash FM 94.1", following a trend established by other Cumulus-owned country music stations.[15] The first song on "Nash" was "Radio" by Darius Rucker.

On October 1, 2019, WNNF rebranded as "94.1 Cat Country" with no other changes to the schedule. The station's playlist also shifted to a model each hour where commercials play in a seven-minute block, with the remaining 53 minutes consisting of uninterrupted music.[16]

In January 2022, WNNF added the syndicated “Kincaid and Dallas” morning show, and switched to a more gold-based country format under the slogan “Forever Country.”

Other logos

  • Logo used from 1997 until September 2007 during the "Mix" era.
    Logo used from 1997 until September 2007 during the "Mix" era.
  • Logo used from September 2007 until March 2009.
    Logo used from September 2007 until March 2009.
  • Logo used from March 2009 until May 2011.
    Logo used from March 2009 until May 2011.
  • Logo used as "Journey 94.1" from May 2011 to January 2012.
    Logo used as "Journey 94.1" from May 2011 to January 2012.
  • Logo as Nash FM, January 2014 to October 2019.
    Logo as Nash FM, January 2014 to October 2019.

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WNNF". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WNNF-FM 94.1 MHz - Cincinnati, OH". radio-locator.com. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  3. ^ "Ratings" (PDF). www.americanradiohistory.com. 1985. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  4. ^ "Ratings" (PDF). www.americanradiohistory.com. 1997. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  5. ^ "WVMX Cincinnati Becomes "Radio 94.1"". 10 September 2007.
  6. ^ "Cincinnati Change; Mix 94.1 Morphs to Radio 94.1".
  7. ^ Ownership swap is in the works for 5 area radio stations - Green Bay Press-Gazette (released January 3, 2009)
  8. ^ "WNNF Asks for Listener Input on 'Renew 94.1'".
  9. ^ "What's the Frequency Cincinnati?". 20 March 2009.
  10. ^ "WNNF Becomes 'Frequency 94.1'".
  11. ^ "94.1 WNNF Cincinnati Stunt Loop – 5/19/2011 | FM Airchecks". Archived from the original on 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  12. ^ "94.1 WNNF Cincinnati Begins a New Journey". 20 May 2011.
  13. ^ "WNNF Becomes Journey 94.1". 20 May 2011.
  14. ^ "Journey 94.1 Cincinnati Flips to Great Country". January 2012.
  15. ^ "Nash Comes To Cincinnati". RadioInsight. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  16. ^ "WNNF Cincinnati Drops Nash For Cat Country". RadioInsight. October 2019. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
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