WAXQ
Encyclopedia
WAXQ is a radio station
with a classic rock
format
in New York City
. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
.
station owned by the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
. However, like most early FM station
s, WFDR lost money, and the station ceased operations in 1952.
The WFDR calls now reside in Georgia
, via an AM station (1370)
in Manchester
and an FM outlet (94.5)
in Woodbury
.
and shows up on a list of maritime calls published in 1931. In those days the three and four letter callsigns were used by ships, broadcast stations, and police departments.
The FM station first took to the air on December 1, 1956 as WFMX, and within a year adopted the call letters WNCN. As such, it was a part of a group of classical music stations in the northeastern United States, the Concert Network, programmed from WBCN, Boston and carried by affiliates in Providence, Hartford (WHCN), Riverhead (WRCN) and other markets. Later, WNCN was acquired by the National Science Network, which added daily medical news reports to the schedule since it was believed that Classical Music was the choice of the medical and dental professions. It also moved the antenna from the Hotel Pierre to the Empire State Building, increasing the station's coverage. National Science sold the station to Starr Broadcast Group in 1974. The station would retain a classical music format for many years, except for a short period during 1974–1975 when it took up a rock format with the call letters WQIV. The station's ownership history can be found at www.wncn.org.
The WQIV era was during ownership by Starr Broadcast Group, of which William F. Buckley was Chairman. The announcement that the station was changing to rock music was read by Mr. Buckley himself and repeated frequently on the air. Two groups, the WNCN Listeners Guild and Classical Radio for Connecticut, were formed, and petitioned the FCC to forbid the change. A last minute stay by a Supreme Court Justice delayed the scheduled changeover, but that was lifted and WNCN became WQIV. The first selection played on the air after the changeover was Chuck Berry's "Roll over Beethoven." William Buckley admitted he loved Bach, but had a responsibility to Starr shareholders to maximize returns. The Listeners Guild continued its fight, and eventually forced a change back to classical music when an application was filed for the frequency by a new group head by William Benton, of the Encyclopædia Britannica. Starr relented and in a negotiated settlement sold the station to GAF broadcasting. The first selection played on the air after the change back was from Bach's B-minor Mass, "Et resurrexit."
The station was owned by GAF
until 1993, when Entercom would buy WNCN for $100 million.
The WNCN
call letters are now used by Channel 17, an NBC Television Network
affiliate in Goldsboro, North Carolina
which targets Raleigh
-Durham
.
format, as they took the call letters WAXQ and the nickname "Q-104.3." The first on-air staff was Trent Tyler and Christine Nagy in morning drive; Heidi Hess in middays; Mark Razz in afternoon drive; Candy Martin in nights and Lark Logan, overnights. The station's first PD was Bob Elliot, who was replaced by Ron Valeri. The APD/MD for Q 104.3's entire existence as a hard rock station was Vinny Marino. The playlist was split into 5-song blocks that focused on current hard rock favorites, but also mixed in classic rock tunes and cuts from bands not typically thought of as radio friendly (Type O Negative
, Anthrax
). However, ratings were low, as this format was not ideal during a time in which more people were listening to alternative rock
than to heavy metal
. Also, during the mid-1990s, other New York City radio stations were playing alternative rock
music, as WXRK went from classic rock to alternative rock, and WNEW-FM was trying to go after a younger audience.
In 1996, thanks to a deal involving a swapping of various broadcast stations, Viacom would acquire WAXQ. After initial consideration was given for the station to turn to a country format, management decided that there was a need for a full-time classic rock station in New York City. As a result, the station went to its current format on July 1, 1996. Research indicated that if WNEW were to revert to an all-classic rock format, listeners would not return there due to the distrust for that station. As it turned out, WNEW would unsuccessfully go back to a classic rock format in January 1997.
That same year, Viacom sold off its entire radio division (before its merger with CBS and Infinity) to Chancellor Media. Chancellor in turn merged with Capstar Broadcasting to form AM/FM, and that company was then purchased by Clear Channel Communications
.
WAXQ's airstaff includes several disc jockey
s who were well-known from other New York City radio stations, such as morning show host Jim Kerr, Carol Miller, and Eddie Trunk
. Legendary disc jockey Scott Muni
also worked at the station, hosting a noon-hour show from late 1998 until his death in 2004. The Sopranos
often featured the station as the radio station Tony Soprano would set on his alarm clock. In sharp contrast to their respective tenures on other NYC area radio stations, the DJs now have little creative input into what music gets played, as is common nowadays at most major-market radio stations. The playlist is narrower than that of classic rock radio stations of the past, due to results from audience research, and songs that were once staples of classic rock radio, such as "Eight Miles High" by The Byrds
, are now only played during infrequent segments devoted to "Deep Classics". WAXQ is also known to go outside the genre of strictly classic rock, sometimes playing more modern rock, such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers
, as well as some classic pop music. WAXQ is Arbitron rated #1 in America for Classic Rock.
, and is the American Idol
Princess on Countdown with Keith Olbermann
), afternoons with Ken Dashow
and Carol Miller on evenings. As with a number of other Clear Channel Classic Rock stations, Doc Reno from WBGG-FM
"Big 105.9" in Miami is voicetracked overnights.
Specialty programming on Friday includes Friday Rock and Roll Road Show with Gerry Martire on late afternoons and Friday Night Rocks with Eddie Trunk
from 11 pm to 2 am.
Notable Saturday programming includes Ralph Tortora on mornings, a midday show that alternates hosts Maria Milito and Ian O'Malley on a weekly basis. and Gerry Martire on afternoons. Marc "The Cope" Coppola
does The Saturday Night "Party Night", followed by Gerry Martire on the overnight.
Notable Sunday programming includes Ken Dashow
on mornings followed by an hour and 45 minutes Breakfast With The Beatles show. Other Sunday programming includes Ian O'Malley's Sunday morning/afternoon session of Rock and Roll. Gerry Martire finishes off Sunday afternoon before Jonathan Clarke takes over on evenings with his hour-long show Out of the Box with Jonathan Clarke. Clarke features the best in local bands and new music Sunday Nights at 9 pm. Little Steven's Underground Garage with Steven Van Zandt
finishes off Sunday night, with Gerry Martire taking over at midnight.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
with a classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
.
WFDR
The 104.3 frequency originally signed on in 1949 as WFDR, a non-profitNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
station owned by the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was once one of the largest labor unions in the United States, one of the first U.S. unions to have a primarily female membership, and a key player in the labor history of the 1920s and 1930s...
. However, like most early FM station
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
s, WFDR lost money, and the station ceased operations in 1952.
The WFDR calls now reside in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, via an AM station (1370)
WFDR (AM)
WFDR AM 1370 is a radio station broadcasting a gospel music format. It is licensed to serve Manchester, Georgia, USA, south-southwest of metro Atlanta. The station is currently owned by Ploener Radio Group, LLC....
in Manchester
Manchester, Georgia
Manchester is a city located in Meriwether and Talbot Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, although primarily in Meriwether. The population was 3,769 at the 2010 census.-Demographics:...
and an FM outlet (94.5)
WFDR-FM
WFDR-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Woodbury, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by Ploener Radio Group, LLC....
in Woodbury
Woodbury, Georgia
Woodbury is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,184 at the 2000 census.- History :Woodbury is one of the oldest towns in Meriwether County. It grew up about ten miles southeast of Greenville in the late 1820s. It was first named Sandtown for the white sand that...
.
WNCN
The callsign WNCN was first issued by the Federal Radio Commission (precursor to the FCC in 1934) to a Great Lakes passenger steamer City of Detroit IIICity of Detroit III
The City of Detroit III, often referred to as just the D-III, was a sidewheeler steamboat on the Detroit River and Lake Erie. It was one of the largest sidewheelers on the Great Lakes.- History :...
and shows up on a list of maritime calls published in 1931. In those days the three and four letter callsigns were used by ships, broadcast stations, and police departments.
The FM station first took to the air on December 1, 1956 as WFMX, and within a year adopted the call letters WNCN. As such, it was a part of a group of classical music stations in the northeastern United States, the Concert Network, programmed from WBCN, Boston and carried by affiliates in Providence, Hartford (WHCN), Riverhead (WRCN) and other markets. Later, WNCN was acquired by the National Science Network, which added daily medical news reports to the schedule since it was believed that Classical Music was the choice of the medical and dental professions. It also moved the antenna from the Hotel Pierre to the Empire State Building, increasing the station's coverage. National Science sold the station to Starr Broadcast Group in 1974. The station would retain a classical music format for many years, except for a short period during 1974–1975 when it took up a rock format with the call letters WQIV. The station's ownership history can be found at www.wncn.org.
The WQIV era was during ownership by Starr Broadcast Group, of which William F. Buckley was Chairman. The announcement that the station was changing to rock music was read by Mr. Buckley himself and repeated frequently on the air. Two groups, the WNCN Listeners Guild and Classical Radio for Connecticut, were formed, and petitioned the FCC to forbid the change. A last minute stay by a Supreme Court Justice delayed the scheduled changeover, but that was lifted and WNCN became WQIV. The first selection played on the air after the changeover was Chuck Berry's "Roll over Beethoven." William Buckley admitted he loved Bach, but had a responsibility to Starr shareholders to maximize returns. The Listeners Guild continued its fight, and eventually forced a change back to classical music when an application was filed for the frequency by a new group head by William Benton, of the Encyclopædia Britannica. Starr relented and in a negotiated settlement sold the station to GAF broadcasting. The first selection played on the air after the change back was from Bach's B-minor Mass, "Et resurrexit."
The station was owned by GAF
GAF Materials Corporation
GAF Materials Corporation is a company based in Wayne, New Jersey, that has roots dating back to the late 19th century. The GAF acronym stands for General Aniline & Film. The company has historically been primarily focused on manufacturing of roofing materials for residential and commercial...
until 1993, when Entercom would buy WNCN for $100 million.
The WNCN
WNCN
WNCN is the NBC affiliate television station in the Triangle region of North Carolina , broadcasting on digital channel 17. It is licensed to Goldsboro, but its studios are just outside of downtown Raleigh...
call letters are now used by Channel 17, an NBC Television Network
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate in Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro is a city in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 37,597 at the 2008 census estimate. It is the principal city of and is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The nearby town of Waynesboro was founded in 1787 and Goldsboro was...
which targets Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
-Durham
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
.
WAXQ
In December 1993, the station adopted a hard rockHard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
format, as they took the call letters WAXQ and the nickname "Q-104.3." The first on-air staff was Trent Tyler and Christine Nagy in morning drive; Heidi Hess in middays; Mark Razz in afternoon drive; Candy Martin in nights and Lark Logan, overnights. The station's first PD was Bob Elliot, who was replaced by Ron Valeri. The APD/MD for Q 104.3's entire existence as a hard rock station was Vinny Marino. The playlist was split into 5-song blocks that focused on current hard rock favorites, but also mixed in classic rock tunes and cuts from bands not typically thought of as radio friendly (Type O Negative
Type O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
, Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
). However, ratings were low, as this format was not ideal during a time in which more people were listening to alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
than to heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. Also, during the mid-1990s, other New York City radio stations were playing alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
music, as WXRK went from classic rock to alternative rock, and WNEW-FM was trying to go after a younger audience.
In 1996, thanks to a deal involving a swapping of various broadcast stations, Viacom would acquire WAXQ. After initial consideration was given for the station to turn to a country format, management decided that there was a need for a full-time classic rock station in New York City. As a result, the station went to its current format on July 1, 1996. Research indicated that if WNEW were to revert to an all-classic rock format, listeners would not return there due to the distrust for that station. As it turned out, WNEW would unsuccessfully go back to a classic rock format in January 1997.
That same year, Viacom sold off its entire radio division (before its merger with CBS and Infinity) to Chancellor Media. Chancellor in turn merged with Capstar Broadcasting to form AM/FM, and that company was then purchased by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
.
WAXQ's airstaff includes several disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s who were well-known from other New York City radio stations, such as morning show host Jim Kerr, Carol Miller, and Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk is an American music historian, radio personality, talk show host, and author best known as the host of several hard rock and heavy metal themed radio and television shows.- Current work :...
. Legendary disc jockey Scott Muni
Scott Muni
Scott Muni was an American disc jockey, who worked at the heyday of the AM Top 40 format and then was a pioneer of FM progressive rock radio.-Biography:...
also worked at the station, hosting a noon-hour show from late 1998 until his death in 2004. The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
often featured the station as the radio station Tony Soprano would set on his alarm clock. In sharp contrast to their respective tenures on other NYC area radio stations, the DJs now have little creative input into what music gets played, as is common nowadays at most major-market radio stations. The playlist is narrower than that of classic rock radio stations of the past, due to results from audience research, and songs that were once staples of classic rock radio, such as "Eight Miles High" by The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, are now only played during infrequent segments devoted to "Deep Classics". WAXQ is also known to go outside the genre of strictly classic rock, sometimes playing more modern rock, such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, as well as some classic pop music. WAXQ is Arbitron rated #1 in America for Classic Rock.
Programming
Notable weekday programming includes The Jim Kerr Rock and Roll Morning Show with Shelli Sonstein, middays with Maria Milito (who was previously the announcer on Make the GradeMake the Grade
Make the Grade is a children's game show that aired from October 2, 1989 through December 29, 1991 on Nickelodeon.- Broadcast history :Make the Grade premiered on Nickelodeon on October 2, 1989 and ended on December 29, 1991...
, and is the American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Princess on Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann is an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program that airs on Current TV, where it began airing on June 20, 2011. The program was broadcast on MSNBC from March 31, 2003, to January 21, 2011. On MSNBC, the show presented five selected news stories of...
), afternoons with Ken Dashow
Ken Dashow
Ken Dashow is a writer, performer and director. He is currently a disc jockey at New York City’s WAXQ "Q104.3" classic rock radio station he is also voicetracked to Classic Rock WBGG-FM "Big 105.9" in Miami and to WEGR - Rock 103, 102.7 FM in Memphis. Brooklyn born and raised, he has spent the last...
and Carol Miller on evenings. As with a number of other Clear Channel Classic Rock stations, Doc Reno from WBGG-FM
WBGG-FM
WBGG-FM, branded as Big 105.9, is a classic rock radio station licensed to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and serving the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station is licensed for HD Radio and carries WIOD 610 AM on HD2....
"Big 105.9" in Miami is voicetracked overnights.
Specialty programming on Friday includes Friday Rock and Roll Road Show with Gerry Martire on late afternoons and Friday Night Rocks with Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk is an American music historian, radio personality, talk show host, and author best known as the host of several hard rock and heavy metal themed radio and television shows.- Current work :...
from 11 pm to 2 am.
Notable Saturday programming includes Ralph Tortora on mornings, a midday show that alternates hosts Maria Milito and Ian O'Malley on a weekly basis. and Gerry Martire on afternoons. Marc "The Cope" Coppola
Marc Coppola (actor)
Marc "The Cope" Coppola is an American actor and DJ currently working for KGB-FM in San Diego, California & WAXQ/WLTW in New York City.-Personal life:...
does The Saturday Night "Party Night", followed by Gerry Martire on the overnight.
Notable Sunday programming includes Ken Dashow
Ken Dashow
Ken Dashow is a writer, performer and director. He is currently a disc jockey at New York City’s WAXQ "Q104.3" classic rock radio station he is also voicetracked to Classic Rock WBGG-FM "Big 105.9" in Miami and to WEGR - Rock 103, 102.7 FM in Memphis. Brooklyn born and raised, he has spent the last...
on mornings followed by an hour and 45 minutes Breakfast With The Beatles show. Other Sunday programming includes Ian O'Malley's Sunday morning/afternoon session of Rock and Roll. Gerry Martire finishes off Sunday afternoon before Jonathan Clarke takes over on evenings with his hour-long show Out of the Box with Jonathan Clarke. Clarke features the best in local bands and new music Sunday Nights at 9 pm. Little Steven's Underground Garage with Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
finishes off Sunday night, with Gerry Martire taking over at midnight.
Popular segments
- "Breakfast with the Beatles": Sundays 8:00am–9:45am; all Beatles music, together and solo, by fan request, often with emotional stories behind the chosen songs. The show is hosted by Ken DashowKen DashowKen Dashow is a writer, performer and director. He is currently a disc jockey at New York City’s WAXQ "Q104.3" classic rock radio station he is also voicetracked to Classic Rock WBGG-FM "Big 105.9" in Miami and to WEGR - Rock 103, 102.7 FM in Memphis. Brooklyn born and raised, he has spent the last...
. - "Twelve O'clock Beatles Block": Weekdays 12:00pm–12:20pm; "Keeping Scott's Promise to New York", Scott MuniScott MuniScott Muni was an American disc jockey, who worked at the heyday of the AM Top 40 format and then was a pioneer of FM progressive rock radio.-Biography:...
, a disc jockey until his death in 2004, who after John Lennon's death promised to start his segments with a Lennon or Beatles song; The disc jockey plays four Beatles, together and solo, songs in a row, some chosen by listeners. - "Workforce Blocks": Weekdays 12:20pm–1:00pm; listeners go online to enter suggestions for a set of songs (usually by a single artist) to be played in one of the two twenty minute time periods. Winners, chosen by disc jockey (perhaps weeks after entry) have their music played and receive a prize, occasionally their entire office gets to share a prize.
- "Live at Five": Monday - Thursday 5:00pm; Ken Dashow plays one or two rare live tracks from various artists. Often requested by listeners.
- "Two for Tuesday": On Tuesdays they will play two songs from each artist that plays in a row. In 2010, WAXQ started a new version of Two for Tuesdays, where they pick a song, and the audience picks a song online.
- "Get The Led Out": Weekdays 8:00am and 8:00pm; Carol Miller will play one, two, or three Led Zeppelin songs (the nighttime segment often includes lots of live and rare tracks). As of January 2009, to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the first Led Zeppelin albumLed Zeppelin (album)Led Zeppelin is the debut album of the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded in October 1968 at Olympic Studios in London and released on Atlantic Records on 12 January 1969 in the United States and 31 March 1969 in the United Kingdom. The album featured integral contributions from each...
, the Monday Night edition has been extended to a full hour. - "Three at 3": Weekdays 3:00pm; contest where the first fan to call in with the connection between three songs chosen by disc jockey wins a prize.
- "Top 1,043 of all time": ThanksgivingThanksgiving (United States)Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
Wednesday 1:00pm-Sunday night; fans vote for their favorite songs in the preceding weeks, then the top 1,043 vote-getters are revealed in the order of a countdown to number one, with only occasional interruptions. The top 1043 songs in the list are repeated on New Year's Eve, and Stairway to Heaven is always the number one song.