WENZ
Encyclopedia
WENZ—branded Z 107.9—is a mainstream urban
commercial radio station
licensed to Cleveland, Ohio
serving surrounding Northeast Ohio
. Owned by Radio One since 1999, the station's studios are located in Downtown Cleveland
near Burke Lakefront Airport
, while its transmitter resides in Russell Township
of Geauga County
.
in New York. When the companion AM license was not granted, the station found itself in a precarious position, because standalone FM stations in the 1950s did not make money.
In 1961, the station filed for bankruptcy
. A machine operator, Phillip Kerwin, purchased WNOB for $16,000. In 1963, WNOB became one of the first FM stations in the US to broadcast in stereo
. In 1968 the signal was upgraded; the station purchased a new transmitter and antenna system. Two years later, in 1970, Multicom Inc. (owner of WELW
AM 1330 in Willoughby, Ohio
) purchased the station for $330,000. The call letters were then changed to WELW-FM. WELW played a top 40 Drake
type format for almost two years, then switched to country music
.
In 1975, Beasley Broadcast Group purchased the station from Multicom for $550,000 and changed the call letters to WDMT ("Dyno-mite", which happened to be a well known catch phrase on the popular sitcom Good Times
). In 1976, the station switched to the then popular disco
format and took the moniker Disco 108. This is where the urban influence started, and in 1978, the station switched to an "Urban Contemporary
" format, (WDMT-FM 108) one of the first urban formatted stations in the USA. It is during this era that the popular "Club Style" show was initiated, where street jocks from Cleveland got the chance to mix live on the air.
. In 1988, the station was sold to Ardman Broadcasting in Washington DC for $2.8 million. Personalities during this period included Jim Bosh, Maria Farina, Liz Luke, John Landecker
, Gina St. John
, Cat Thomas, "Big" Steve Szabo, Rick Michaels, Cathy Cruise, Scott James, Mark Allen, Downtown Eddie Brown, and Sunny Joe among others. WPHR moved to Playhouse Square in late 1988.
, branding itself 107.9 The END (the name and callsign each reflected the station's position on the FM dial). Both the inception and the demise of 107.9 The END were stunted
: with both format changes, the station broadcast a 24 hour loop of R.E.M.
's song "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
". There was a documentary film made about The End, entitled The End of the World As We Knew It, released in 2009. It featured many of the former staffers and jocks.
communities. On May 14, 1999, the station relaunched as Kiss 107.9, with a Mainstream Urban
format featuring hip-hop
and R&B. However, due to legal action from Clear Channel Communications claiming rights to the Kiss brand
in the state of Ohio (that same week, Clear Channel flipped Lorain
station WZLE-FM to WAKS
Kiss 104.9 with a CHR
format; that station now operates at 96.5 MHz), on September 1, 1999, the name was changed to Z 107.9, maintaining the same format and targeting the Cleveland, Ohio
area.
Z 107.9 was the home of the syndicated Russ Parr Show In the Mornings
until June 07, 2010. On June 07, 2010, WENZ debuted The Rickey Smiley Morning Show
, replacing Russ Parr's syndicated morning show. PD/Afternoon drive DJ Colby Colb says, "Cleveland is a home away from home for Rickey Smiley, spending his childhood summers in Cleveland and getting his start at the Cleveland Improv."
Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban is a term used to describe a radio format similar to an Urban Contemporary format. The format differentiates itself due to two factors: playlist composition and target demographic...
commercial radio station
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...
licensed to Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
serving surrounding Northeast Ohio
Greater Cleveland
Greater Cleveland is a nickname for the metropolitan area surrounding Cleveland, Ohio and is part of what used to be the Connecticut Western Reserve.Northeast Ohio refers to a similar but substantially larger area as described below...
. Owned by Radio One since 1999, the station's studios are located in Downtown Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland is the central business district of the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Reinvestment in the area in the mid-1990s spurred a rebirth that continues to this day, with over $2 billion in residential and commercial developments slated for the area over the next few years...
near Burke Lakefront Airport
Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport
Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is a public airport situated on the shore of Lake Erie, in the northeast part of downtown Cleveland, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It classified as a general aviation airport and is an FAA designated reliever to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport ,...
, while its transmitter resides in Russell Township
Russell Township, Geauga County, Ohio
Russell Township is one of the sixteen townships of Geauga County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 5,529 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships and villages:...
of Geauga County
Geauga County, Ohio
Geauga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 93,389. It is named for a Native American word meaning "raccoon". The county seat is Chardon...
.
History
The station debuted on April 5, 1958 as WNOB (Northern Ohio Broadcasting), was started by several people from WNEWWBBR
WBBR is a radio station broadcasting at 1130 AM in New York City. It airs Bloomberg Radio, a service of Bloomberg L.P. WBBR's format is general and financial news, offering local, national and international news reports along with financial market updates and interviews with corporate executives,...
in New York. When the companion AM license was not granted, the station found itself in a precarious position, because standalone FM stations in the 1950s did not make money.
In 1961, the station filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. A machine operator, Phillip Kerwin, purchased WNOB for $16,000. In 1963, WNOB became one of the first FM stations in the US to broadcast in stereo
STEREO
STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth...
. In 1968 the signal was upgraded; the station purchased a new transmitter and antenna system. Two years later, in 1970, Multicom Inc. (owner of WELW
WELW
WELW is an AM radio station licensed to Willoughby, Ohio and, while technically part of the Cleveland, Ohio radio market, its main area of service is Lake County and Eastern Cuyahoga County, Ohio.It operates on 1330 kHz...
AM 1330 in Willoughby, Ohio
Willoughby, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,621 people, 10,265 households, and 5,892 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,225.3 people per square mile . There were 10,700 housing units at an average density of 1,052.6 per square mile...
) purchased the station for $330,000. The call letters were then changed to WELW-FM. WELW played a top 40 Drake
Bill Drake
Bill Drake , born Philip Yarbrough, was an American radio programmer who co-developed the Boss Radio format with Gene Chenault via their company Drake-Chenault.-Early career:...
type format for almost two years, then switched to country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
.
In 1975, Beasley Broadcast Group purchased the station from Multicom for $550,000 and changed the call letters to WDMT ("Dyno-mite", which happened to be a well known catch phrase on the popular sitcom Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
). In 1976, the station switched to the then popular disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
format and took the moniker Disco 108. This is where the urban influence started, and in 1978, the station switched to an "Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
" format, (WDMT-FM 108) one of the first urban formatted stations in the USA. It is during this era that the popular "Club Style" show was initiated, where street jocks from Cleveland got the chance to mix live on the air.
Power 108
In 1987 the call letters were changed to WPHR, and the station branded itself Power 108 along with a switch to Top-40Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
. In 1988, the station was sold to Ardman Broadcasting in Washington DC for $2.8 million. Personalities during this period included Jim Bosh, Maria Farina, Liz Luke, John Landecker
John Landecker
John Records Landecker is a Top40/Oldies disc jockey best known for creating "Boogie Check," "Americana Panorama," and satirical songs and bits based on current events such as "Make a Date with the Watergate," and "Press My Conference." He currently hosts a TKO Radio Networks syndicated weekend...
, Gina St. John
Gina St. John
Gina St. John is an American actress and television presenter. She has hosted shows including CNET Central and E! News Daily, and has had roles in television dramas such as Crossing Jordan and Commander in Chief.-References:...
, Cat Thomas, "Big" Steve Szabo, Rick Michaels, Cathy Cruise, Scott James, Mark Allen, Downtown Eddie Brown, and Sunny Joe among others. WPHR moved to Playhouse Square in late 1988.
107.9 The END
In 1992, the station changed its callsign to WENZ and flipped its format to alternative rockModern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
, branding itself 107.9 The END (the name and callsign each reflected the station's position on the FM dial). Both the inception and the demise of 107.9 The END were stunted
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
: with both format changes, the station broadcast a 24 hour loop of R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
's song "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
"It's the End of the World as We Know It " is a song by the rock band R.E.M., which appeared on their 1987 album Document, the 1988 compilation Eponymous, and the 2006 compilation And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S Years 1982–1987...
". There was a documentary film made about The End, entitled The End of the World As We Knew It, released in 2009. It featured many of the former staffers and jocks.
Z 107.9
On January 15, 1999, WENZ was purchased by Radio One, a company that owns and operates radio stations, most of which target African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
communities. On May 14, 1999, the station relaunched as Kiss 107.9, with a Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban is a term used to describe a radio format similar to an Urban Contemporary format. The format differentiates itself due to two factors: playlist composition and target demographic...
format featuring hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and R&B. However, due to legal action from Clear Channel Communications claiming rights to the Kiss brand
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
in the state of Ohio (that same week, Clear Channel flipped Lorain
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
station WZLE-FM to WAKS
WAKS
WAKS — branded 96.5 KISS-FM — is a commercial radio station licensed to Akron, Ohio broadcasting a pop/contemporary hit radio format. The station serves Cleveland, Akron and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio....
Kiss 104.9 with a CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format; that station now operates at 96.5 MHz), on September 1, 1999, the name was changed to Z 107.9, maintaining the same format and targeting the Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
area.
Z 107.9 was the home of the syndicated Russ Parr Show In the Mornings
Russ Parr
Russ Parr is an American radio and television personality.-Career:Parr began as a Production Services Director at ABC TV....
until June 07, 2010. On June 07, 2010, WENZ debuted The Rickey Smiley Morning Show
Rickey Smiley
Rickey Smiley is a standup comedian, television host, actor, and radio personality best known for his prank phone calls. The calls feature Smiley disguising his voice and carrying on a conversation with the recipient of the call....
, replacing Russ Parr's syndicated morning show. PD/Afternoon drive DJ Colby Colb says, "Cleveland is a home away from home for Rickey Smiley, spending his childhood summers in Cleveland and getting his start at the Cleveland Improv."