WJPZ-FM
| Broadcast area | Central New York |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 89.1 MHZ |
| Branding | "Z89" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Rhythmic CHR |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | WJPZ Radio, Inc. Board of Directors |
| History | |
First air date | 1974 |
| Technical information | |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 100 watts |
| Links | |
| Website | Z89's website |
WJPZ-FM is a radio station operated entirely by students at Syracuse University in New York. It broadcasts at 89.1 FM at a power level of 100 watts and can be heard around the Syracuse University campus, downtown Syracuse, and immediate surrounding neighborhoods, with an effective broadcasting radius of up to 10 miles. Although operated by students, it is an independent organization which is incorporated and licensed by the FCC as WJPZ Radio, Inc. It is neither owned nor controlled by Syracuse University, but it does lease studio and transmitter facilities on Syracuse University property.
Station history
The station was established in 1974 as an alternative to the Syracuse University owned FM station, WAER, though that station did at that time program a free-form music format and was operated by students. WJPZ first broadcast on a carrier current AM frequency which could reach only the University campus. The station's format was Top 40 music, and served a dual purpose of providing programming to the student community and giving vocational training in the radio broadcasting field to students at the University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. The station later also broadcast its audio over campus television monitors through the facilities of CitrusTV, then UUTV, as well as a channel on the citywide cable television system with a blank screen. This arrangement continued for some time after WJPZ went on FM.
In 1983, after operations of WAER were taken over by the University administration and the format was changed to jazz and NPR News, the management of WJPZ endeavored to move the station to the FM band, where it could broadcast with more power. On February 2, 1985, WJPZ began broadcasting at 89.1 FM. At that time the format was Top 40 with a heavy emphasis on imported and domestic dance music. Since that time, the station has experimented with playing different genres of music. The station played "modern rock" for a few years in the 1990s as 89.1 the Pulse, which began in December 1995. During the Pulse period, WJPZ stayed within a Top 40 format of a limited playlist of frequently rotated songs. The station currently produces frequent news and sports broadcasts and several specialty programs that air on weekends.
The station was very prosperous during the timeframe of 1989-1994. A popular contest was developed called "89 days of summer" concluding with a large prize given away. In 1991 the station gave away a vacation, and in 1992 the prize was a GeoTracker.
Today, the station continues the "Beat of Syracuse" Top-40 format as Z89. It has recently expanded their programming schedule to include shows such as "Z Morning Zoo", "The Z8 at Nine" and the "Fourplay at Four."
On January 22, 2008, after two days of stunting, WJPZ underwent a shift toward a Rhythmic CHR fromat and adopted the slogan "The Beat Of Syracuse."
WJPZ also includes a thriving Sports Department. It has been the home of Syracuse University Women's Basketball from the station's inception. Years later WJPZ began covering SU Women's Lacrosse. The department made its most recent addition in the Fall of 2004 adding a Central New York High School Football Game of the Week every Friday night. "Friday Night Football" as the broadcast package is known, features a 1-hour pregame show, with reporters at games across CNY. The season is capped off with a marathon day of coverage, typically on the first Saturday in November, CNY Championship Saturday, features five football section championships. The Championship coverage runs from 9:00AM to 11:00PM. In addition to all this... the Z is home to sports talk blocks from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday's and 8:00-2:00 on Sundays.
WJPZ has a very active alumni association that meets annually in Syracuse each spring.
Alumni
- Steve Donovan- Morning Show DJ, WXLO Worcester, MA[1]
- BB Good- DJ, Radio Disney
- Dave Gorab- Program Director, Sirius/XM Radio
- Carl Wiser- Founder, songfacts.com
References
External links
- WJPZ official website
- WJPZ Alumni Association
- Template:FMQ
- Template:FML
- WJPZ in Nielsen Audio's FM station database