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WOUR

Coordinates: 43°08′46″N 75°10′37″W / 43.146°N 75.177°W / 43.146; -75.177
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Reidgreg (talk | contribs) at 16:58, 30 September 2016 (70's → 1970s, 80's → 1980s wp:typo as per MOS:DECADE, minor copyedit). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

WOUR
File:Wourlogo.jpg
Broadcast areaUtica, New York
Frequency96.9 MHz
Branding96.9 WOUR
Programming
FormatClassic rock
Ownership
OwnerGalaxy Communications
History
First air date
1969
Technical information
Facility ID4681
ClassB
ERP19,500 watts
HAAT241 meters
Links
Websitewour.com

WOUR (96.9 FM) is a classic rock radio station that broadcasts from Utica, New York. The station is currently owned by Galaxy Communications.

On-Air Personalities

  • "Gomez & Lisa in the Morning" 6am-9am
  • Lisa's Breakroom 9am-10am
  • Mimi Griswold 10am-3pm
  • Scoop 3pm-7pm
  • Brett Hall 7pm-Midnight
  • Hutch Saturday's 7pm-Midnight

Programs

  • "Gomez & Lisa in the Morning" Monday-Friday 6am-9am
  • "The Blue Moon Cafe with Mimi Griswold" Sundays 7am-12pm
  • "Time Warp with Bill St. James Saturdays 6am-8am
  • Little Steven's Underground Garage Sundays 10pm-12am
  • "Two For Tuesdays"
  • "Irish Power Hour" with Sean and Cabrina, Sundays 9pm-10pm
  • Syracuse University Football and Basketball play-by-play

WOUR History

WOUR signed on in 1969 as a religious station. In 1970, it changed formats to the syndicated automated Top 40/Oldies "Hit Parade '70" format. In 1971, it programmed "Hit Parade '71" by day, and Progressive Rock at night, with a live DJ. In 1973, WOUR became a full time Progressive Rock/Album Rock station.

At that time, WOUR became the only album oriented rock station in the Syracuse/Utica market. The station was well known for a series of radio concerts broadcast live from local clubs including "Four Acres" in Marcy, New York. Artists who appeared on the series of live concerts included Elvis Costello, Blackjack (featuring Michael Bolton and Yellowjackets' bass player Jimmy Haslip), Cindy Bullens (with Central New York's Mark Doyle), Craig Fuller & Eric Kaz, Nick Gilder, The Ramones and others.

WOUR also became known for presenting rare interviews with rock musicians, among them Boston's Tom Scholz (in one of his rare radio interviews), Journey's Steve Perry, Ross Vallory and Greg Rolie, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ed King, Charlie Daniels, Anthony Phillips, former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, John Hall of Orleans, and several more.

WOUR alumni include John Cooper, Bob Lassiter, Tony Yoken, Steve Huntington, Bob London, Peter Hirsch, Dale Edwards, Tom Starr, Robin Sherwin, Jerry Kraus, "Genesee" Joe Trisolino, Alisson Ryan, J.P. Hastings and many more. A morning drive show with Hirsch and Bill Houser became popular among WOUR listeners in the late-1970s to early-1980s.[1]

Previous owners have included Bunkfeldt Broadcasting, Dame Media and Clear Channel, who sold it to Galaxy Communications in 2007 when Clear Channel chose to exit small markets and go private. Galaxy, who already owned WRCK, itself a classic rock station, sold WRCK to the Educational Media Foundation, a religious broadcaster who already owned WKVU, and purchased WOUR. Under Galaxy ownership, WOUR brought "Fireworks Over Utica" back, brought Dickey Betts to Hanna Park, created the annual Wine & Chocolate event, created Fan Fest for the Utica Comets season kick-off and righted the Classic Rock playlist.

In 2016 Galaxy moved their Utica studios (WKLL, WOUR, WUMX, WTLB, WRNY and WIXT) from Washington Mills to Downtown Utica inside the new landmark building (the old HSBC Location) and renamed it Galaxy Media. Inside their new location the walls on the side of the street for each studio are made entirely of glass, allowing people to see DJs at work similar to the "Good Morning America" Studios.

References


43°08′46″N 75°10′37″W / 43.146°N 75.177°W / 43.146; -75.177