WFMX
Encyclopedia
WMKS, "105.7 NOW" is a Rhythmic-leaning
top 40 outlet serving the Piedmont Triad
region. The station is a part of Clear Channel's cluster in the Greensboro
/Winston-Salem
market and is licensed to Clemmons, North Carolina
.
station licensed to Statesville, North Carolina
. WFMX was popular for its coverage of NASCAR
, dubbing itself as "The Racin' Station". The station started service on May 3 of 1947 as WSIC-FM. It, along with its sister station WSIC-AM, was the first AM and FM radio station simulcast combo to sign on simultaneously in the nation.
The station is also credited as the first FM radio station in the United States to program the country music format.
While the call letters have no specific meaning, they were purchased by then owner Statesville Broadcasting Company from the American Broadcasting Company
in New York in 1958.
Starting in the late 1980s, WFMX broadcast from a tower in Rowan County
and their 100,000 watt signal covered the Charlotte, Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, and Raleigh-Durham markets. As a result the station would see their ratings show up in the Arbitrons in each of the three markets, yet they remained true to the roots of serving the Piedmont of North Carolina. The station's signal could, also, be heard in portions of South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
After Hurricane Hugo
, WFMX broadcast from its transmitter site, since the studios had no power, using a panel truck
. Information about affected areas was relayed to WFMX through ham radio
.
WFMX was owned by Texas based Mercury Broadcasting Inc. and operated in a J.S.A. (Joint Sales Agreement) with Clear Channel Communications
. With the move to Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Clear Channel purchased the facility.
On July 19, 2006, WFMX signed off from its Statesville location after nearly 50 years, and prepared for a move to a community of license of Clemmons, North Carolina
. This move was extremely controversial for several reasons. WFMX was a staple of the Statesville community and was considered to be one of the most popular radio stations in the Charlotte market. The town switch would move the station from the Charlotte market to the Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem market. Many listeners were also under the impression that after the station moved to Clemmons that it would remain a country station and keep many of the same programs and DJ's.
format, taking on the WMKS calls and using the "105.7 KISS-FM
" moniker/slogan. It became the Piedmont Triad region's second Adult R&B outlet as they took on the more-established WQMG
, which is owned by Entercom. They also were the second station in the Clear Channel family to adopt the "KISS-FM" brand as an Adult R&B, the other being WKUS
out of Norfolk, Virginia
. Kiss FM aired Steve Harvey
and Michael Baisden
.
On May 22, 2009 WMKS changed their format to a rhythmic-leaning Top 40, branded as "105.7 Hit Music Now". It is now the second Top 40 station in the Triad, this time taking Dick Broadcasting's longtime (and more mainstream focused) Top 40 station, WKZL
. On August 17, 2009, they became the first station outside the Triangle area to broadcast Bob and the Showgram
during morning drive. However, in June 2010, due to poor ratings, WMKS ceased broadcasting Bob and the Showgram and now carries "Brotha' Fred" in the mornings, which originates from WKSC-FM in Chicago and also airs on nearby WHQC. It should be noted that it also has competition with Urban rival WJMH
, another factor in their reason to play rhythmic hits, but stay within the Top 40/CHR realm.
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
top 40 outlet serving the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
region. The station is a part of Clear Channel's cluster in the Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
/Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
market and is licensed to Clemmons, North Carolina
Clemmons, North Carolina
Clemmons is a village in Forsyth County, North Carolina and a suburb of Winston-Salem. The population was 18,627 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Clemmons is located at ....
.
History as WFMX
105.7 FM, originally WFMX, was a well known and popular countryCountry 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...
station licensed to Statesville, North Carolina
Statesville, North Carolina
Statesville is a city located in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States and was named an All-America City in 1997 and 2009. The population was 24,633 at the 2010 census...
. WFMX was popular for its coverage of NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, dubbing itself as "The Racin' Station". The station started service on May 3 of 1947 as WSIC-FM. It, along with its sister station WSIC-AM, was the first AM and FM radio station simulcast combo to sign on simultaneously in the nation.
The station is also credited as the first FM radio station in the United States to program the country music format.
While the call letters have no specific meaning, they were purchased by then owner Statesville Broadcasting Company from the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in New York in 1958.
Starting in the late 1980s, WFMX broadcast from a tower in Rowan County
Rowan County, North Carolina
-Demographics and economics:As of the census of 2010, there were 138,428 people, 53,140 households, and 37,058 families residing in the county. The population density was 270.7 people per square mile . There were 60,211 housing units at an average density of 117.7 per square mile...
and their 100,000 watt signal covered the Charlotte, Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, and Raleigh-Durham markets. As a result the station would see their ratings show up in the Arbitrons in each of the three markets, yet they remained true to the roots of serving the Piedmont of North Carolina. The station's signal could, also, be heard in portions of South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
After Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
, WFMX broadcast from its transmitter site, since the studios had no power, using a panel truck
Panel truck
A panel truck is a windowless cargo van built on a truck chassis.Similar in function to its smaller cousin, the sedan delivery; which is a station wagon with no backseat, and no side windows aft of the front doors...
. Information about affected areas was relayed to WFMX through ham radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
.
WFMX was owned by Texas based Mercury Broadcasting Inc. and operated in a J.S.A. (Joint Sales Agreement) with 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...
. With the move to Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Clear Channel purchased the facility.
On July 19, 2006, WFMX signed off from its Statesville location after nearly 50 years, and prepared for a move to a community of license of Clemmons, North Carolina
Clemmons, North Carolina
Clemmons is a village in Forsyth County, North Carolina and a suburb of Winston-Salem. The population was 18,627 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Clemmons is located at ....
. This move was extremely controversial for several reasons. WFMX was a staple of the Statesville community and was considered to be one of the most popular radio stations in the Charlotte market. The town switch would move the station from the Charlotte market to the Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem market. Many listeners were also under the impression that after the station moved to Clemmons that it would remain a country station and keep many of the same programs and DJ's.
Recent History
When the station returned to the air on July 24, 2006 to the Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point market, WFMX flipped to an Adult R&BUrban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
format, taking on the WMKS calls and using the "105.7 KISS-FM
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...
" moniker/slogan. It became the Piedmont Triad region's second Adult R&B outlet as they took on the more-established WQMG
WQMG
WQMG is an Urban Adult Contemporary station licensed to Greensboro, North Carolina and serves the Piedmont Triad region, which also includes High Point and Winston-Salem...
, which is owned by Entercom. They also were the second station in the Clear Channel family to adopt the "KISS-FM" brand as an Adult R&B, the other being WKUS
WMOV-FM
WMOV-FM is a Rhythmic AC formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WMOV-FM is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.-Simulcast:The station used to simulcast the format on WKSA...
out of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. Kiss FM aired Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey
Broderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
and Michael Baisden
Michael Baisden
Michael Baisden is an American author, motivational speaker, host of the TV One talk show Baisden After Dark, and host of his own nationally-syndicated radio show.-Career:...
.
On May 22, 2009 WMKS changed their format to a rhythmic-leaning Top 40, branded as "105.7 Hit Music Now". It is now the second Top 40 station in the Triad, this time taking Dick Broadcasting's longtime (and more mainstream focused) Top 40 station, WKZL
WKZL
WKZL is a [Bottom 40 Mainstream|Mainstream Top 40]] station licensed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and serves the Piedmont Triad area, which also includes Greensboro and High Point...
. On August 17, 2009, they became the first station outside the Triangle area to broadcast Bob and the Showgram
Bob and the Showgram
Bob and the Showgram is a morning radio show based at WDCG-FM in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina that airs from 6 am to 10 am weekdays. The current cast consists of radio personalities Host Bob Dumas, Executive Producer Mike Morse, and Co-Host Erica Delong....
during morning drive. However, in June 2010, due to poor ratings, WMKS ceased broadcasting Bob and the Showgram and now carries "Brotha' Fred" in the mornings, which originates from WKSC-FM in Chicago and also airs on nearby WHQC. It should be noted that it also has competition with Urban rival WJMH
WJMH
WJMH is an Entercom-owned mainstream urban FM radio station serving the Piedmont Triad region. It broadcasts at 102.1 MHz with 100,000 watts of power and is licensed to serve Reidsville, North Carolina.-Early history :...
, another factor in their reason to play rhythmic hits, but stay within the Top 40/CHR realm.
