WCGQ: Difference between revisions
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Removed duplicate "period" (.) character in quotation relating to WCGQ-FM sign-on announcement. Also, cited Arbitron ratings source to demonstrate WHTZ-FM Top 40 ratings prominence. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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{{Unreferenced|article's section called "History"|date=August 2010}} |
{{Unreferenced|article's section called "History"|date=August 2010}} |
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WCGQ signed-on, "live", on December 26, 1973, at 6:00am, replacing an automated Country music format under call-letters, WHYD-FM (also known as "Hydee"). {{reference necessary}} |
WCGQ signed-on, "live", on December 26, 1973, at 6:00am, replacing an automated Country music format under call-letters, WHYD-FM (also known as, "Hydee"). {{reference necessary}} |
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The first on-the-air announcement on WCGQ was made by WCGQ start-up Program Director, [[David_Tate_(radio_broadcaster)| David Tate]]: |
The first on-the-air announcement on WCGQ was made by WCGQ start-up Program Director, [[David_Tate_(radio_broadcaster)| David Tate]]: |
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''"This is WCGQ, Columbus, Georgia, 'The New 107-Q', where the Rock revolution starts NOW |
''"This is WCGQ, Columbus, Georgia, 'The New 107-Q', where the Rock revolution starts NOW"''. |
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Then, Tate played the first musical selection ever broadcast on WCGQ, [[Revolution_(song)|Revolution]], recorded by the British pop band, [[The Beatles]]. |
Then, Tate played the first musical selection ever broadcast on WCGQ, [[Revolution_(song)|Revolution]], recorded by the British pop band, [[The Beatles]]. |
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This "left-field" strategy was apparently by-design, in order to give WCGQ the initial veneer of being an "underground" FM station. But the presentation-style of WCGQ was purely in the "Top 40" mold, with a handful of Top 40 "shotgun", short, singing identifiers ("jingles") and high-energy radio announcers, often referred to in the radio trade as, "Boss Jocks". |
This "left-field" strategy was apparently by-design, in order to give WCGQ the initial veneer of being an "underground" FM station. But the presentation-style of WCGQ was purely in the "Top 40" mold, with a handful of Top 40 "shotgun", short, singing identifiers ("jingles") and high-energy radio announcers, often referred to in the radio trade as, "Boss Jocks". |
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The most notable on-air host during the earliest days of WCGQ was 6pm-10pm host, Kris Earl Phillips, who eventually reached radio's most prominent Top 40 station, WHTZ-FM/New York, NY (a.k.a. "Z-100") in 1991. {{POV-statement}} |
The most notable on-air host during the earliest days of WCGQ was 6pm-10pm host, Kris Earl Phillips, who eventually reached radio's most prominent Top 40 station, according to the Arbitron radio ratings, WHTZ-FM/New York, NY (a.k.a. "Z-100"), in 1991. {{POV-statement}} |
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In April, 1974, due to a business dispute between WCGQ management and David Tate's employer, Bill Parris Programming of Washington, DC, Tate was ordered to withdraw prematurely from the 107-Q project and Kris Earl Phillips actually guided 107-Q as Program Director through its first ratings period. But, by then, the start-up strategy had largely been set by Parris and Tate. However, according to informal radio broadcasting folkways, the Program Director who is in place during a ratings period is normally credited with any success or failure attained therein and, in this case, the first successful ratings results for WCGQ are commonly credited to Phillips, not Tate.{{POV-statement}} |
In April, 1974, due to a business dispute between WCGQ management and David Tate's employer, Bill Parris Programming of Washington, DC, Tate was ordered to withdraw prematurely from the 107-Q project and Kris Earl Phillips actually guided 107-Q as Program Director through its first ratings period. But, by then, the start-up strategy had largely been set by Parris and Tate. However, according to informal radio broadcasting folkways, the Program Director who is in place during a ratings period is normally credited with any success or failure attained therein and, in this case, the first successful ratings results for WCGQ are commonly credited to Phillips, not Tate.{{POV-statement}} |
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Revision as of 05:25, 1 September 2010
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2010) |
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| Frequency | 107.3 MHz |
|---|---|
| Branding | Q107.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary Hit Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | PMB Broadcasting |
| WRLD-FM, WKCN, WRCG | |
| History | |
Call sign meaning | "Columbus, Georgia's Q" |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 72089 |
| Class | C0 |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 308.0 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°28′0″N 85°3′20″W / 32.46667°N 85.05556°W |
| Links | |
| Website | http://www.q1073.com |
WCGQ (107.3 FM, "Q107.3") is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Hit Radio music format.[1] WCGQ is licensed to serve the community of Columbus, Georgia, USA.
Programming
Current
Current weekday on-air personalities include Elvis Duran and the Morning Show on mornings, Dave Arwood on Middays, Damon Free on afternoon drive, and "Nudge at Night" on nights. Notable weekend personalities include Toni Free and "MJ". Current syndicated programming includes Open House Party hosted by John Garabedian on Saturday and Sunday nights, and American Top 40 hosted by Ryan Seacrest on Sunday afternoons.
Former
Notable former on-air personalities include Al Haynes (now programming sister station WRLD-FM), Lulu, Spikey Mike, Shelby Guest, Lee "Lee Baby" McCard, Dave Kelly, James Steele, Mark "Mark in the Dark" Ross, Brian Waters, Bear O'Bryan, Jeff Tate, Kris Kennedy aka Blaine Stewart, Robert Cunningham, Rob Carter, Jeff Michaels, Alan Quin, Leo Davis, Mark Gunn, Andy Woods, and Stella (Joe Mclure).
Ownership
In December 2002, McClure Broadcasting, Inc., (Chuck McClure Jr., president) reached an agreement to sell this station to Archway Broadcasting Group (Al Vicente, president/CEO). This was part of a four-station deal, along with WRLD-FM, WRCG, and WKCN, for a reported combined sale price of $15 million.[2] At the time of the sale, WCGQ carried an adult contemporary music format.
History
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WCGQ signed-on, "live", on December 26, 1973, at 6:00am, replacing an automated Country music format under call-letters, WHYD-FM (also known as, "Hydee"). [citation needed]
The first on-the-air announcement on WCGQ was made by WCGQ start-up Program Director, David Tate:
"This is WCGQ, Columbus, Georgia, 'The New 107-Q', where the Rock revolution starts NOW".
Then, Tate played the first musical selection ever broadcast on WCGQ, Revolution, recorded by the British pop band, The Beatles.
Indeed, a Rock revolution did begin at WCGQ-FM that day. WCGQ trounced its direct competitor, WDAK-AM, in only 4 months. In the April/May, 1974 Arbitron ratings Radio Market Report for Columbus, GA, WCGQ became the leading popular music radio station in the Columbus, GA metropolitan area.
107-Q's earliest musical style was marked by a decidedly eclectic, "left-of-center", musical mixture, featuring playlists with artists like David Essex, Ian Thomas, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (which was called, "underground" music at the time) and Jimi Hendrix. Also, WGCQ played songs by a number of "Southern Underground" bands and singers, including The Allman Brothers' Band, Black Oak Arkansas, Wet Willie and others. "Southern Rock" was crystallizing in the world of pop music at the very moment of WCGQ's inception.
This "left-field" strategy was apparently by-design, in order to give WCGQ the initial veneer of being an "underground" FM station. But the presentation-style of WCGQ was purely in the "Top 40" mold, with a handful of Top 40 "shotgun", short, singing identifiers ("jingles") and high-energy radio announcers, often referred to in the radio trade as, "Boss Jocks".
The most notable on-air host during the earliest days of WCGQ was 6pm-10pm host, Kris Earl Phillips, who eventually reached radio's most prominent Top 40 station, according to the Arbitron radio ratings, WHTZ-FM/New York, NY (a.k.a. "Z-100"), in 1991. [neutrality is disputed]
In April, 1974, due to a business dispute between WCGQ management and David Tate's employer, Bill Parris Programming of Washington, DC, Tate was ordered to withdraw prematurely from the 107-Q project and Kris Earl Phillips actually guided 107-Q as Program Director through its first ratings period. But, by then, the start-up strategy had largely been set by Parris and Tate. However, according to informal radio broadcasting folkways, the Program Director who is in place during a ratings period is normally credited with any success or failure attained therein and, in this case, the first successful ratings results for WCGQ are commonly credited to Phillips, not Tate.[neutrality is disputed]
Later, WCGQ was programmed directly by William B. Parris, of Bill Parris Programming of Washington, D.C. (who initially hired Tate to execute the 107-Q start-up) and the station took-on a decidedly more "Urban" tenor. As a result, WCGQ attracted a large number of African-American listeners in WCGQ's city-of-license, Columbus, GA.
By 1975, under the direction of Parris, WCGQ became the overall number one radio station in the Columbus, GA radio listening market. WDAK-AM's audience ratings fell into obscurity during the period after 1975.
Notable Industry Accomplishments
WCGQ holds the distinction of broadcasting the "Top 40" radio format longer than any other American commercial radio station: 37 years, as of 2010.
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Acquisitions and Mergers
On July 31, 2008, local investment group PMB Broadcasting LLC (headed up by Jim Martin) purchased this station along with Columbus-area sister stations WRLD-FM, WRCG, WCGQ, and WKCN from Archway Broadcasting Group LLC for a reported sale price of $7.2 million.[3] At the time of the sale, the station carried a contemporary hit radio music format.
References
- ^ "WCGQ Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ "Changing Hands - 1/20/2003". Broadcasting & Cable. 2003-01-20.
- ^ "Deals - 8/18/2008". Broadcasting & Cable. 2008-08-18.
External links
- Template:FMQ
- Template:FML
- WCGQ in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
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