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This article is about the current WNNX (Rock 100.5). For the former WNNX (99X), see 99X (Atlanta).
WNNX
File:ROCK1005ATL.PNG
Broadcast areaAtlanta metropolitan area
Frequency100.5 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingRock 100.5
Programming
FormatTriple A-leaning lite FM
Ownership
OwnerCumulus Media Partners
WWWQ
History
First air date
January 12, 2001
Former call signs
WHMA-FM, WWWQ
Call sign meaning
Ninety-Nine X (previous moniker)
Technical information
Facility ID73345
ClassC2
ERP12,500 watts
HAAT298 metres (978 ft)
Translator(s)W250BC 97.9 Riverdale
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.atlantasrockstation.com

WNNX (100.5 FM, "Lite FM 100.5") is an Atlanta radio station that is owned and operated by Cumulus Media. It broadcasts from the same building as its other Atlanta sister stations WWWQ FM ("Q100", 99.7 MHz) and 99X. WNNX's main transmitter is located in downtown Atlanta atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel.

On Monday, January 28, 2008, at 6:00 a.m., The Regular Guys announced the debut of Rock 100.5, carrying a radio format similar to their previous station WKLS 96 Rock, which itself changed formats as "Project 9-6-1". They lean adult album alternative to compete up against CBS Radio's WZGC (Dave FM).

History

The 100.5 frequency has been in metro Atlanta, licensed to College Park, since early 2001. Before then, the station was licensed to Anniston, Alabama as WHMA-FM, broadcasting as country music station "Alabama 100". (After the move, that callsign shifted to another existing station in that area becoming WHMA-FM "The Big 95", 95.5 MHz)

Interested in moving the station to Atlanta, owner Robert Gammon proposed that it be re-licensed to Sandy Springs, and remain at 100,000 watts ERP (class C). An agreement had already been made with the nearest co-channel station, WSSL-FM in upstate South Carolina for it to move further away, however that station was sold to Clear Channel Communications in the interim and the agreement was negated. Additionally, the FCC ruled that Sandy Springs was "not a community", citing its unincorporated status and letters of support from local organizations in Sandy Springs that had "Atlanta" as the address. This was despite the fact that it was (and still is) one of the largest cities in the state, and was only unincorporated (after more than two decades of community drives for cityhood) for political reasons. Additionally, the addresses were listed as "Atlanta" because prior to its incorporation in late 2005, the USPS failed to allow "Sandy Springs" as acceptable, even for mail delivered from the post office there.

After exhausting his funds in pursuit of the reallocation, Gammon sold the station to Susquehanna Radio.[1] In a revised application before the FCC, Susquehanna proposed a different city of license, College Park. The FCC approved the application, mostly because the new application changed the class of the station from C (up to 100 kW at 600 meters or 1968 feet) down to C3 (up to 25 kW at 100 meters or 328 feet) to protect the licensed broadcast range of WSSL. Susquehanna was also forced to slightly null the station's signal in the direction of WSSL to stay in compliance with spacing rules. The move created spectrum space for two new radio stations in Alabama, but forced Southern Polytechnic State University low-power station WGHR and Georgia Public Broadcasting repeater W264AE (both 100.7 MHz FM) off the air in the Atlanta area. Ironically, the station now has its own low-power station relaying itself entirely within its own broadcast range.

W250BC FM 97.9 is a broadcast translator licensed to Riverdale, although its six watts reach only Morrow, Lake City, most of Jonesboro, and part of Forest Park, skimming only the eastern edge of Riverdale. In early February 2009 it was issued a construction permit to move to the "Richland" site in North Druid Hills and go up to 250 watts (but will still not reach Riverdale within its official service contour). In November 2007, the FCC approved the sale of the station by Clark Atlanta University (WCLK FM 90.1) to Extreme Media Group LLC of Woodstock, Virginia. It was then transferred via asset exchange to Cumulus Licensing LLC in mid-February 2009, in return for WZBN FM 105.5 in Camilla, Georgia. In January 2009 it requested special temporary authority (STA) to remain "silent" (off-air) for 60 days due to technical issues.

Q100

Main article: WWWQ

100.5's first format in Atlanta was top-40 station WWWQ, "Q100", which made its debut in early 2001. Despite its more limited signal, Q100 grew to the point that it often received higher Arbitron listenership ratings than several of its 100,000-watt competitors, including sister station 99X.

Susquehanna continued to pursue a larger signal for the station, eventually earning approval from the FCC to upgrade from class C3 to class C2. The upgrade occurred on October 24, 2005 at 5:00 PM, and is also when the station moved from the Turner tower to the Westin building.

In 2006, Cumulus acquired Susquehanna, including both 99X and Q100. On January 11, 2008, Cumulus announced that Q100 would move to the 100,000-watt signal at 99.7 MHz. Q100 was finally moved off of the 100.5 signal on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 5:45 AM. The two stations swapped callsigns, and the 99X format moved to digital-only HD Radio channel 99.7-2.

Disc jockeys

The Regular Guys

Rock 100.5's morning show is The Regular Guys, featuring Larry Wachs and Eric Von Haessler. The show also features "Southside" Steve Rickman and producer Tim Andrews, with Mark Owens on traffic.

The Regular Guys had a successful run at cross-town rival 96 Rock before being fired from for accidentally airing audio from a pornographic film. Wachs and Von Hasessler were rehired at sister station news-talk WGST before moving back to 96Rock for a second stint, but were fired again for secretly taping co-workers' conversation in the restroom.

Before doing traffic for The Regular Guys, Owens served as producer for 99X's New Morning X with Sean, Leslie, and Jenners. Before that, Owens was on sister station Q100 as "Phil Terrana", acting as The Bert Show's assistant producer and "man on the street". ("Phil Terrana" is the real name of former Star 94 morning show host Steve McCoy.) Owens got his start at 99X working Saturday overnights.

Regular staff

  • Axel Lowe. Presently the afternoon DJ for Rock 100.5. Previously hosted afternoons at 99X as a DJ from 1993 until 2008. Prior to moving to 99X afternoons, Lowe worked nights (after the departure of Will Pendarvis in 1995). Temporarily helmed the 99X morning show from spring until late September 2006. Also hosted "Southern Home by Design" on Turner South.
  • English Nick. Hosts evenings (replacing the Matt C and Lewis show) since February 2008. Joined 99X in 2006 from 96 Rock. Also host to Metalsome Mondays.
  • Matt "Organic" Jones. Hosts weekday overnights and 'Organic Sundays' on Rock 100.5. Previously hosted a long-time Sunday morning specialty show, "Organic X" on 99x (WNNX), which featured a softer and more acoustic side of alternative music. Started at Album 88 and moved to Springfield as a PD for Channel Z, before returning to Atlanta to join 99X.
  • Erin Watson became mid-day host in March 2008. Previously hosted mid-days at Rock 103 in Columbus.

Former staff

  • Matt C and Lewis. Briefly Rock 100.5 evening DJ team until February 2008. The Matt C and Lewis team originally started on 99X in 2007. Prior to becoming "on-air" talent, both Matt C and Lewis worked on 99X's promotional staff. Lewis can now be heard weeknights at 99x.com and WWWQ HD-2.

Rock 100.5 shows

  • Organic Sunday on Rock 100.5 with Matt Jones. Specialty show that features acoustic, live, and lighter rock hosted by Matt Jones with sidekick, Kyl. The show originated in 1996 as Organic X on 99X. Organic Sunday debuted on February 3, 2008.

Promotions and concerts

  • Unplugged in the Park- A recurring free summer concert series presented at Park Tavern on the edge of Piedmont Park. Originated as 99X event featuring national and regional artists in an unplugged (acoustic) performance. Noted performances included the Frey, Regina Spektor, Blue October, Pete Yorn, Matt Costa and Missy Higgins among others.

Former DJs (pre-2008)

Q100.5

  • Caroline. The very first voice you heard back on Hot Hits Q100. Hosted various weekend and fill in shifts.
  • Amy. Did weekends and fill-in. Is now middays at WFLZ in Tampa as Melissa Moran
  • Lindsay Brien. Mornings. Before joining Q100's Bert Show, appeared as a cast member on MTV's The Real World Seattle season. Currently in Tampa working in television.
  • Jet Davis. Weekender. Left in November of 2002 for MD/Nights at WRVW in Nashville, most recently was PD/Afternoons at Cox Radio's WHZT-FM in Greenville/Spartanburg, SC as Jet Black.
  • Dylan. Program director and afternoon drive. Left Q100 in December 2007 to Pd Alice 105.9 In Denver.
  • "Mister Ed" Lambert. Program manager and mid-day drive back in Q100's beginning in 2001.
  • Geller. Nights. Currently nights at G105 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
  • KJ. Left to join XM Satellite Radio's 20 on 20 and weekends on WIHT Hot 99.5 Washington D.C.
  • Jamie Massey. Covered morning and afternoon traffic for both Q100 and 99X. Massey is currently at KNIX in Phionex,Arizonia. .[2]
  • Jeff Miles. Music Director and evening host. Went to San Francisco to handle afternoon drive for Energy 92.7 before heading to a KHKS-FM/Dallas, Texas as "Cruz." He has since transitioned to KSCS in Dallas as their morning show producer.
  • Mark Owens (AKA "Phil Terrana"). Producer of The Bert Show. Currently board operator and traffic personality for the Regular Guys.
  • Nicole Nilson Schaffrich. Weekends/overnights. Previously, she appeared on CBS's Big Brother 2 reality TV show, finishing second. [1]
  • Tracy St George. Left in December 2006 for the afteroon drive position at 97-9 WRMF in West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Kevin Steele. Now programing director at WGMG and WPUP. Also current on-air personality weekday afternoons at Magic 102.1. Also worked weekends on Kicks 101.5.
  • Suzy Tavarez. Nights. A former Miami Dolphins cheerleader. Most recently at KIIS/Los Angeles. Posed for Playboy magazine's "Women of Radio" pictorial in late 2004/early 2005.

References

  1. ^ "458 F.3d 1212: Bridge Capital Investors II v. Susquehanna Radio Corporation (No. 05-11052)". United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. August 1, 2006.
  2. ^ Access Atlanta's article on Jamie Massey's move to The Bull
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