WERZ
Encyclopedia
WERZ is a radio station located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, located at 107.1 on the FM dial. On air it is presented as 107.1 WERZ.
The station was formerly known as WKXR-FM. In March 1982 the call letters were changed to WERZ, with the slogan "Z107...the continuous music FM". The format also changed to CHR
. The first program director was Jack O'Brien. The studios were located at 11 Downing Court in Exeter
.
WERZ continued through the mid 80s as a Top 40 radio station with great ratings success. Boston-area concert promoter Don Law's Precision Media purchased the station in 1986 and modified the format to a hybrid Adult Contemporary/Top 40 format, during which time the on-air slogan was "107FM WERZ...today's hits, yesterday's classics". Due to the gold-based music product, ratings dropped precipitously until around 1990, when the tempo of the music was picked up, the older Adult Contemporary music was dropped, and more current music was added to the rotation. The slogan was modified to "107.1 FM WERZ...more music, more variety". Specialty weekend programs helped to boost ratings, including American Top 40
with Shadoe Stevens
, Rick Dees
Weekly Top 40, and "Party Saturday Night" featuring uptempo party songs and "megamix
es" of popular dance music, as well as frequent prize giveaways and heavy listener interaction and requests.
WERZ was a Hot AC through most of the 2000s and known on air as Hits of the 80s, 90s and Today 107.1 WERZ. For the first time in December 2008 WERZ went all Christmas. After the holiday season WERZ became an Adult Contemporary station playing an even bigger mix of the 80s, 90s and Today. Then in December 2009 WERZ went Christmas again and this time returned as Hot AC with the on air slogan of The 80s, 90s and Now on Today's Mix.
In February 2010 WSKX
and WERZ announced that Matty in the Morning, syndicated by WXKS-FM
out of Boston
, would be moving from Kiss 95.3 to WERZ.
WERZ broadcasts from studios located on Lafayette Road in Portsmouth and from a transmitter located on Long Hill in Stratham, New Hampshire
. WERZ's signal serves southeastern New Hampshire (more commonly known as the New Hampshire Seacoast Region
), York County, Maine
, and northeastern Massachusetts. WERZ's legal identification is WERZ-Exeter/Portsmouth, with Exeter being the actual city of license.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, located at 107.1 on the FM dial. On air it is presented as 107.1 WERZ.
The station was formerly known as WKXR-FM. In March 1982 the call letters were changed to WERZ, with the slogan "Z107...the continuous music FM". The format also changed to 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...
. The first program director was Jack O'Brien. The studios were located at 11 Downing Court in Exeter
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
.
WERZ continued through the mid 80s as a Top 40 radio station with great ratings success. Boston-area concert promoter Don Law's Precision Media purchased the station in 1986 and modified the format to a hybrid Adult Contemporary/Top 40 format, during which time the on-air slogan was "107FM WERZ...today's hits, yesterday's classics". Due to the gold-based music product, ratings dropped precipitously until around 1990, when the tempo of the music was picked up, the older Adult Contemporary music was dropped, and more current music was added to the rotation. The slogan was modified to "107.1 FM WERZ...more music, more variety". Specialty weekend programs helped to boost ratings, including American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
with Shadoe Stevens
Shadoe Stevens
Shadoe Stevens is an American radio host, voiceover actor, and television personality. He was the host of American Top 40 from 1988 to 1995...
, Rick Dees
Rick Dees
Rigdon Osmond "Rick" Dees III is an American comedic performer, entertainer, and radio personality, best known for his internationally syndicated radio show The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown and for the novelty song "Disco Duck." He is a People's Choice Award recipient, a Grammy-nominated...
Weekly Top 40, and "Party Saturday Night" featuring uptempo party songs and "megamix
Megamix
A megamix is a medley remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. There may also be some elements of bastard pop in some, though not as much as a mashup...
es" of popular dance music, as well as frequent prize giveaways and heavy listener interaction and requests.
WERZ was a Hot AC through most of the 2000s and known on air as Hits of the 80s, 90s and Today 107.1 WERZ. For the first time in December 2008 WERZ went all Christmas. After the holiday season WERZ became an Adult Contemporary station playing an even bigger mix of the 80s, 90s and Today. Then in December 2009 WERZ went Christmas again and this time returned as Hot AC with the on air slogan of The 80s, 90s and Now on Today's Mix.
In February 2010 WSKX
WSKX
WSKX , known as "Kiss 95.3", is a radio station licensed to York Center, Maine, United States, which airs a Top 40 format.-History:The station went on the air in May 1987 as WQMI with an middle of the road format. In 1988 it became WCQL as "Cool 95.3" with an oldies format...
and WERZ announced that Matty in the Morning, syndicated by WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
out of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, would be moving from Kiss 95.3 to WERZ.
WERZ broadcasts from studios located on Lafayette Road in Portsmouth and from a transmitter located on Long Hill in Stratham, New Hampshire
Stratham, New Hampshire
Stratham is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,255 at the 2010 census. It is bounded on the west by the Squamscott River. The town is the home of the only U.S. Lindt & Sprüngli factory and the headquarters of the Timberland Corporation.-History:Stratham...
. WERZ's signal serves southeastern New Hampshire (more commonly known as the New Hampshire Seacoast Region
Seacoast Region (New Hampshire)
The Seacoast Region is the southeast area of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The region stretches 18 miles along the Atlantic Ocean from New Hampshire's border with Salisbury, Massachusetts to the Piscataqua River and New Hampshire's border with Kittery, Maine. The shoreline is generally very...
), York County, Maine
York County, Maine
York County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, the population was 197,131. Its county seat is Alfred.Founded in 1636, it is the oldest county in Maine and one of the oldest in the United States....
, and northeastern Massachusetts. WERZ's legal identification is WERZ-Exeter/Portsmouth, with Exeter being the actual city of license.
Selected alumni between 1982-2009
- Willy B!
- Jack O'Brien
- Jeff Paradis
- Sarah Sullivan
- Brian Battle
- Jay Michaels
- Samantha "The Wild V" Wilde
- Tim Rose
- Dave Sandz (DeFranzo)
- Corey Matthews
- Arik "A-Rok" Pierce
- Chad Erickson
- Valerie Scott
- Zach Carter
- Roy Sullivan
- Mike "OD" O'Donnell
- Kid Cruise
- Kevin Matthews
- Mark Matzell
- Pete Falconi
- Audley Williams
- Dom Armano :: http://www.armano.com :: http://www.Myspace.com/DJWebMasster
- J.J. Wright
- Dave Stevens
- Lindsey Robbins
- Tim Fontaine
- John Willis
- Rob Walker
- Steve McVie
- Dan Alexander
- Tom Record
- "Captain" Ken Spaulding
- Eric Powerz
- Stella Mars
- Andy Hartmann
- Super Dave
- Ed Foxx
- Jim "JR" Randall
- "Doctor" Jeff Lawrence
- Ben Hamilton
- Jimmy Stevens
- BB Good
- Teegan Hart
- Melissa Mathers
- Bob Lindner
- Bob Goodwin
- Jackie Goddard
- John Collins
- Pat St. John
- "Jammin" Jay Brady
- Daryl Mundo
- Peter Scott
- Scott Mackay
- Charlie Phillips
- Ben Hamilton
- Mike Thomas
- Steve "Matt Taylor" Varholy
- Pete Falconi
- Ralphie Marino
- Suzanne Lewis
- Ed McMann
- Glen Turner
- Scotty Dee
- Jeff Knight
- Danny Steele
- Bev Valentine