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WXTU

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WXTU
File:WXTU.JPG
Broadcast areaDelaware Valley
Frequency92.5 MHz (HD Radio)
92.5 HD-2 for Future Country
Branding92-5 XTU
Programming
FormatCountry
AffiliationsAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Ownership
OwnerBeasley Broadcast Group
WRDW, WTMR, WWDB
History
First air date
1940s (as KYW-FM)
Former call signs
KYW-FM (1940s-?)
WIFI (?-1984)
Technical information
Facility ID74213
ClassB
ERP11,000 watts
HAAT279 meters
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitehttp://www.wxtu.com

WXTU (92.5 FM, "92-5 XTU") is a Country music formatted radio station which is broadcast in the Philadelphia area. It is the largest country radio station in the United States based on listener cume (WUSN in Chicago is the second largest).[citation needed] The station plays a variety of country music, including current hits, as well as older hits. WXTU is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group, and is Philadelphia's only country radio station. Its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of the city. WXTU also broadcasts commercial free country music on one of its HD Radio channels, which is separate from the main programming. The WXTU studios and offices are located in the "555 Building" in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

Since the advent of the Portable People Meter by Arbitron in Philadelphia, WXTU has become the most listened to country station in the United States (based on listener cume). This distinction was formerly held by WUSN in Chicago, owned by CBS Radio. Although, since PPM service is not yet available in Chicago, this is in dispute.[citation needed]

History

WIFI/Hit Parade 70

The first Philadelphia station on 92.5 was Westinghouse's KYW-FM. Westinghouse ultimately decided not to continue operating this station and relinquished its license. The original call sign of the current 92.5 was WIFI. Although it was always licensed as a Philadelphia station, WIFI in its early years was essentially a local station serving Norristown and neighboring communities in Montgomery County, broadcasting MOR music and talk along with some local sports events. WIFI at the end of the 1960s brought some of the first "progressive" or "underground" rock programming to the airwaves with Johnny Devereaux and other hosts. By 1970, WIFI had dropped locally originated programming in favor of the syndicated automated format "Hit Parade '70".

I-92/Studio 92

After two or three years of this and other automated programming, WIFI instituted a high-energy AM-style rock format. For a couple of years, WIFI was the only true Top 40 station in Philadelphia following WFIL's move to an Adult Contemporary format in the late 1970s, but after WCAU-FM debuted its Hot Hits format in October 1981, WIFI's ratings fell as CAU-FM quickly grabbed most of the teen audience. A move to a new-wave rock format, branded as "I-92" and "Rock of the Eighties" (1982), attracted more press attention than listenership. A move to an Urban Contemporary format as "Studio 92", with a call sign change to WXTU, followed but failed to find an audience.

92.5 WXTU

On March 1, 1984 at 1pm ET the station switched to the current country format. The very first country song on WXTU was "Are You Ready For The Country" by Waylon Jennings.

In 2007, the station was nominated for the top 25 markets Country music Radio & Records magazine station of the year award . Other nominees included WUSN Chicago, KYGO-FM Denver, WYCD Detroit, KEEY-FM Minneapolis, and KSON-FM San Diego.[1]

References

  1. ^ "2007 Industry Achievement Awards". Radio and Records. Sept 28, 2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

Awards and Nominations

CMA Awards

  • 2002 Radio Station (Major Market) (Nominated)
  • 2005 Radio Station (Major Market) (Nominated)
  • 2006 Radio Station (Major Market) (Nominated)
  • 2007 Radio Station (Major Market) (Nominated)
  • 2008 Radio Station (Major Market) (Nominated)

ACM Awards

  • 2007 Radio Station (Major Market) (Nominated)
  • 2008 Radio Station (Major Market) (Nominated)

Industry Achievement Awards

  • 2007 Radio Station (Major Market) (Nominated)
  • 2007 Personality (Bob Marly) (Nominated)


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