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WIOQ

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WIOQ
File:WIOQ.JPG
Broadcast areaGreater Philadelphia (Delaware Valley)
Frequency102.1 MHz (HD Radio)
102.1 HD-2 for Verizon New Music Channel
BrandingQ102
Programming
FormatCHR/Pop
Ownership
OwnerClear Channel
WDAS-FM, WISX, WRFF, WUBA, WUSL
History
First air date
January 18, 1989
Former call signs
WFIL
Call sign meaning
IOQ looks like 102
Q resembles 2 in Cursive Writing
Technical information
Facility ID20348
ClassB
ERP27,000 watts
HAAT204 meters
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.q102.com

WIOQ, known as "Q102", is a CHR/Pop radio station which is broadcast in the Philadelphia area. The station appeals to a generally young demographic. WIOQ is owned by Clear Channel Communications. Its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.

History

WFIL-FM/Popular 102

The 102.1 MHz frequency in Philadelphia was originally occupied by WFIL-FM. In 1948 it was used to transmit some experimental facsimile broadcasts, presumably related to The Philadelphia Inquirer, which was under common ownership with the radio station. By the late 1960s WFIL-FM was operating with an adult contemporary format.

Q102 Album Rock Era

With the sale of WFIL AM-FM-TV by Triangle Publications, Inc. in 1971 to Capital Cities Broadcasting (later Capital Cities Communications), WFIL-FM (102.1) was spun-off to Richer Communications. The call letters were changed to WIOQ representing the script version of IOQ in relation to the frequency of 102. The familiar jingle of Popular 102 was also changed to W102. The station later took on the nickname Q102. The station's music mix gradually became more rock-oriented, and by about 1975 WIOQ had a progressive rock format. The station had trouble competing with established FM rock leader WMMR and aggressive upstart WYSP, and after a few years the owner (by then listed as Que Broadcasting, Inc.) declared bankruptcy. WIOQ emerged from the bankruptcy under the ownership of The Outlet Company, a retailing and broadcasting company based in Providence, Rhode Island.

Under Outlet, WIOQ evolved into an eclectic music format often described as "adult rock". The station played a blend of softer songs heard on rock music stations, some deeper album cuts, a few top 40 crossover hits, and a bit of uptempo jazz. Leading air personalities on WIOQ in this era included John Harvey ("Harvey in the Morning"), Helen Leicht who hosted a show called "Breakfast With The Beatles" on Sunday mornings, David Dye, Ed Sciaky and Michael Tozzi. After a proposed sale of Outlet's broadcast properties to Coca-Cola's Columbia Pictures subsidiary around 1982 fell through, the station group was acquired by Wesray Capital Corporation, a corporation partially owned by former Treasury Secretary William E. Simon.

Solid Gold 102

After years of low to moderate ratings, on November 9, 1987 the adult rock format was dropped in favor of an oldies format, playing the hits of 1955-1973 and positioning themselves as "Solid Gold 102". On the same day CBS-owned WCAU-FM dropped CHR for Oldies as well, becoming WOGL Oldies 98.

WOGL leaned toward pre-1964 oldies slightly more than WIOQ. WOGL also played somewhat more Philadelphia-based artists than WIOQ. As an oldies station, WIOQ was still known as "Q102". WOGL also had a deeper playlist than WIOQ.

Q102 Goes CHR

Late in 1988, WIOQ was sold to EZ Communications. On January 18, 1989, the station dropped Oldies and switched to a Dance/Urban/Top 40 (or "Churban") hybrid format. They kept the WIOQ call letters but became known as Pirate Radio, although they had no association with the rock-based CHR format of that name at then-KQLZ Los Angeles, then owned by Westwood One.

WIOQ was still owned by EZ Communications until the early 1990s. The station consistently leaned dance and urban, but played varying amounts of rock and AC crossover songs, changing according to chart trends and competitive conditions. At that point the station was sold to American Radio Systems. In 1997 CBS bought American Radio Systems and WIOQ was spun off to Chancellor Media. By then the station was Mainstream CHR with a slight dance and rhythmic lean. After the Chancellor acquisition, WIOQ became co-owned with 104.5 FM (now WRFF), WDAS, WDAS-FM, WUSL, and WJJZ (now WISX). There were a few rumors that Q102 would adopt a Jammin' Oldies format in 1999 along with reports that WDAS-FM would possibly become a Jammin' Oldies station, but neither happened.

As a result of a large merger in 2001 WIOQ and the other stations in its cluster became properties of Clear Channel Communications. Q102 WIOQ remains a successful mainstream Top 40 radio station.

Q102 Today

The morning was hosted by Chris Booker, with Angi Taylor, Diego, Blaire and Team until Booker was fired on May 23, 2008 when the station stated it was switching to a format that focused more on music.

The current Morning Show is Elvis Duran & the Morning Show which originates weekday mornings on top40 station Z100 New York. Q102 began airing the show on July 23, 2008.

Weekday Current Lineup & Past Shows

Current Line Up Weekdays

  • Elvis Duran and the Q102 Morning Show 6-10am
  • Ryan Seacrest (syndicated): 10am-2pm
  • Joey Brooks: 2pm-6pm
  • Jessie Jordan: 6pm-10pm
  • The Freak Show was an afternoon/evening broadcast with Tic Tac, Mikey and Big Bob which catered to single women in the Philadelphia market between 2002 and 2004. The show has since moved to Pittsburgh on 96.1 Kiss FM, where they have similar "gigs" like "hot girl check in". Philadelphia listeners can still tune into the show via WKST's live streaming, however, the broadcast now happens during the morning drive. (Source: http://www.961kiss.com/pages/morningfreakshow.html)
  • Chio in the Morning used to be on Q102 from summer 1999 up until early 2006. Chio is now with Wired 96.5's morning show.
  • Logan hosted the afternoon drive show from 1998 until 2004, at which point he was replaced by Kasper. He can now be heard on sister station My 1061.
  • Chris Marino hosted nights along with sidekick Rich The Freak on Q102 from July 1998 until July 2001 and received the Philadelphia A.I.R. Award for Best Weekday Evening show in 2000. Chris is the current morning show host at K104 (WSPK) in the Hudson Valley of New York.
  • Stick On The Radio hosted nights at Q102 from 2001-2002 and received the Philadelphia A.I.R. Award for Best Weekday Evening show in 2001. Stick has since had stints at Z100 New York, Cleveland's 96-5 KISS FM and currently does afternoon drive at XL 106.7 in Orlando, FL
  • Kasper was the afternoon drive host at Q102 from September 2004 - September 2005 and now can be heard in Cleveland on 96-5 KISS FM, where he is APD/MD afternoon drive host and where he previously worked at before coming to Philadelphia.
  • B-Dub was the afternoon host from September 2005 - August 2006. After leaving Q102, he was heard as a swing talent on competitor Wired 96.5 until May 2008, when he left the business. B-Dub now works as a Real Estate agent in the Philadelphia area.
  • Eddie and JoBo, hosted morning drive between fall 1994 and summer 1995, now host mornings for the 2nd time at WBBM-FM Chicago. The duo hosted mornings at WBBM from 1988 - 1994, worked at Q102 for a year after being fired from WBBM for what officials described as "Gross Misconduct" and were re-hired by WBBM in 1996 where they can still be heard to this day every morning from 5 - 10am. Also can be heard online at www.b96.com
  • Club 102 Live at "Egypt at the Waterfront" with DJ Chuck and Joe Mama Saturday Night from 10pm-2am 1997-2002
  • Afterhours with Joe Finnest 2am-5am Friday/Saturday morning Saturday/Sunday Morning 1997-2001
  • House of Q Sunday night from 10pm-2am 199?-1997
  • The Booker Show. Weekday mornings from 6-10am. 2006-2008

Weekends

American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest is heard Saturdays from 7-11 AM. On Sunday Richie Rich hosts three hours of "throwback" tunes from 7-10 AM.

References

  1. ^ "Inqlings: Radio Audience Share, May". Philadelphia Inquirer. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

The Official WIOQ (Q102) Website

Elvis Duran in Philly Website

The Official Elvis Duran Website

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