WNNX (99X)
Encyclopedia
W255CJ FM 98.9 is a radio station
in Atlanta, Georgia
, USA
, airing a modern rock
radio format
branded as 99X, which originally began on full-power station WNNX (now WWWQ
) FM 99.7 in 1992. Its city of license
was previously Tallapoosa
(west of metro Atlanta
), which is now far beyond its current broadcast range, nearly in Alabama
. The station's current facility was moved-in in 2011.
It has a power
of 250 watts but at great height, and is transmitted from a broadcast translator on the WWWQ
FM 99.7 radio tower near North Druid Hills, along with several other stations. It has the same height and coordinates as W250BC
97.9 and W229AG 93.7, indicating that it likely shares an antenna
with them via a combiner
. While on 99.1 at 99 watts as W256BO, it had a broadcast range of approximately 20 miles (32.2 km), only somewhat less than the two other stations, which are at 250 watts.
On 99.1, the station had to maintain lower power and a slightly directional antenna
due partly to WDEN-FM
99.1 in Macon
, which often caused RF interference with the station, particularly early on calm morning
s due to overnight temperature inversions that enhance radio propagation
. It was required to run at less than 100 watts due to the proximity of WRAS
FM 88.5, since the intermediate frequency
(IF) of 10.7MHz used in radio tuner
s puts the station's IF at 88.4, overlapping the lower half of 88.5's channel. For its initial two weeks on 99.1, the station was required to run at half power due to testing required for all new directional antenna installations.
Even after going to full power, the station lost half its over-the-air
listeners because of this, so in July 2011, it applied to change one channel down to 98.9 and increase to 250 watts using the same antenna. Two months later, it received its permit and made the switch to the new frequency in mid September. Interference is now mostly on the opposite side of the metro area
due to co-channel WWGA FM 98.9 to the west in Tallapoosa (where what is now W255CJ once had its city of license), and WNGH-FM
98.9 (Georgia Public Broadcasting
) to the northwest
in Chatsworth
. Likewise, W255CJ makes it impossible to hear those stations in metro Atlanta anymore.
Legally
, the station acts as a "translator" for WWWQ, under a low-power broadcast license
system intended to allow main stations to be heard in areas where terrain
(or great distance to isolated rural
communities) blocks their signal. In this case, the "translator" is instead on the same tower as its parent station where the signal is already extremely strong, and broadcasts programming that cannot otherwise be heard except for the extremely limited number of those receiver
s equipped with the proprietary digital radio
system. (Although translators are prohibited from carrying their own programming, the Federal Communications Commission
or FCC allows stations to ignore this if they are simulcast
ing an HD Radio
channel
of the parent station on analog FM, also allowing them to circumvent caps intended to prevent excessive concentration of media ownership
.)
The station's facility has been through numerous channel changes, requiring it to change broadcast callsigns each time, since translators have the channel number included in their callsigns. These past callsigns and frequencies
and their official callsign start dates are:
The frequencies from late 2006 to mid 2010 are in the reserved band (88 to 92MHz), indicating it must have rebroadcast a noncommercial educational station at the time. Prior to each callsign change, the station may have been broadcasting on the frequency under program test authority
allowed by its construction permit
.
Like 99X's former home on W250BC, W255CJ is owned by Cumulus Media
, after their acquisition
of Susquehanna Broadcasting. WWWQ and WNNX are also under the same ownership. , the FCC still lists W250BC as rebroadcasting parent station WNNX
FM ("Rock 100.5" in analog and HD1, previously no HD2). That station forced two other LPFM stations (like W250BC and W255CJ) permanently off-air
when it moved to Atlanta as WWWQ in 2001: WGHR
at Southern Polytechnic State University
, and W264AE from Georgia Public Broadcasting
.
After the 2011 purchase of Citadel Broadcasting
, its sister station
s in Atlanta now include WKHX-FM
100.5 and WYAY
FM 106.7, in addition to previous Cumulus holdings WWWQ FM 99.7, WNNX FM 100.5, and W250BC FM 97.9.
At the beginning of the 1990s, Atlanta's Power 99 was the dominant top-40 station in the southeast. However, the success of Nirvana
and Pearl Jam
and the subsequent rise of alternative music gave station management pause. In early 1992, KEDG-FM debuted in Las Vegas
as an alternative station and immediately moved to #1 in the ratings
. At the same time, Power 99 was seeing its ratings decline. Susquehanna's management agreed that changes were in order.
In early September 1992, Will Pendarvis was brought in to host an all-alternative program on weeknights called "Power 99 On the Edge". After receiving a solid amount of positive feedback, station management decided to re-brand Power 99 and tweak its format to include more alternative songs. Just prior to its planned debut, Sean Demery, Leslie Fram, and station PD/MD Rick Stacy agreed that the approved format was not drastic enough a change from what Power 99 was playing. Without knowledge of management, they rebuilt the playlist
, focusing more on alternative music.
On Monday, October 26, 1992, at noon, 99X made its debut with "Video Killed the Radio Star
" by The Buggles
being the first song. Station management expressed their disapproval that the trio had recrafted the station without their permission. However, the positive response from listeners and ad buyers encouraged them to allow the station to move forward.
Initially, the station stuck with Power 99's WAPW, but soon acquired the call sign WNNX from a PEMEX
oil rig off the coast of Corpus Christi
, Texas
.
During the first couple of years of the format, 99X maintained a surprisingly wide playlist, including songs from the previous fifteen years of modern rock radio, almost in the style of college radio. They also opted to play album tracks that were not necessarily singles, often to the dismay of the major labels and standard marketing strategies. Despite the initial positive response, the station earned modest ratings in its initial books. As a response, the station moved to tighten the playlist and act as more of a "Top Alternative" station. However, the station did not call itself an alternative station, instead adopting the slogan "New Rock 99X".
99X played a key role in breaking numerous acts during its early years. MD
Sean Demery's push behind The Cranberries
' "Linger
" in 1993 helped earn the band national attention. On a trip to Australia
in early 1995, PD
Brian Phillips brought back a copy of fledging band Silverchair
's debut EP
, with the station adding the EP
's version of eventual single "Tomorrow
" to regular rotation. The day after the release of their debut album Frogstomp
, the band played its first US show at the Roxy in Atlanta as a 99X Freeloader show.
In early 1993, 99X established what would become its best known program, Live X
. The station invited touring acts into the studio to perform (usually) acoustic sets. The first year saw live performances by World Party
, Natalie Merchant
, Lenny Kravitz
, and Frank Black
, among others. In 1994, the station issued its first compilation of Live X performances, with the proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity. Over ensuing years, a total of twelve compilations were released.
For most of the first two years of the station, mornings were hosted by Demery and Fram. In early 1994, the show added newcomer Jimmy Baron
and was named The Morning X. That summer, Demery decided to move to afternoons, swapping shifts with Steve Barnes. With Barnes, Leslie, and Jimmy, The Morning X became a top-five morning show in Atlanta, earning several industry awards during its nine-year run.
99X spent the end of the 1990s adding more "light" alternative fare, such as Tonic
and Matchbox Twenty
. By 1999, the station saw its greatest success, billing upwards of $20 million a year.
With the turn of the century, 99X turned heavier, nearly crossing into active rock
territory. The goal was to target a younger male audience, pulling the focus away from recurrents and more toward the latest tracks from Limp Bizkit
, KoЯn, and Kid Rock
. The station added a late-night program called Living Loud, hosted initially by Axel and Jill and later by one-time 99X intern Fred Toucher. The program included a nightly segment called Mandatory Metallica, featuring a block of Metallica
songs.
The change brought 99X the highest ratings of its existence, but it came at a price. In the opinion of former MD Sean Demery, "[It] began to alienate women and alternative lifestyle groups that the station was originally based upon." Within a few years, the station's ratings began to erode as the edgier fare waned in popularity and as those who enjoyed the more "classic" alternative sound turned elsewhere.
Barnes departed the station in 2003 when the station decided not to renew his contract. The station subsequently moved Toucher to mornings with Baron and Fram.
Late in 2004, the station also tried experimenting with its format, moving from strictly modern rock to "New Rock and 90's Alternative", a reference to their days in the early 1990s
. The station soon unveiled its new slogan: "99X - Everything Alternative". Following Hurricane Katrina
, 99X staged a weekend promotion during which they sent all their DJs out to help with disaster relief efforts while the music was aired from then-music-director Jay Harren's iPod
. This promotion was popular enough that it continued over subsequent weekends as 99X On Shuffle.
On May 5, 2006, Cumulus Media
acquired Susquehanna Radio and all of its stations, including 99X and sister station Q100
. In the weeks leading up to the final day, several long-time members of 99X's staff departed from the station, including Jimmy Baron, Fred Toucher, and music director Jay Harren.
Over the next twenty months, Cumulus continued to support 99X's Modern Rock format, despite a continuing decline in Arbitron ratings. In October 2006, 99X introduced The New Morning X, marking the return of Sean Demery to 99X. However, ratings failed to improve for the station, leading to rumors among radio insider
s that 99X was ripe for a format change. In December 2007, Demery announced his departure from the station.
On January 11, 2008, Cumulus announced that it was moving the CHR format of sister station Q100 to the stronger 99.7 signal. It also announced the departures of founding 99X members Leslie Fram and Steve Craig. On January 25, 2008, at 5:30am, 99X ceased broadcasting on 99.7, following its last song, Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
". The 99X brand and its modern rock format moved to 99.7 HD-2 and 99X.com.
Fifteen months later, 99X returned to the FM airwaves in Atlanta. On April 16, 2009, 99X announced that they would be returning to the radio airwaves on April 17 at 9:09 AM. At that time, 99X signed-on at its new dial position of 97.9 FM, with "Know Your Enemy
" by Green Day
being the first song played.
On June 9, 2011, 99X began simulcasting on 99.1 FM (W258BU, now W256BO). A few days later, W250BC then began stunting with different genres of music, as well as Atlanta news and history bits and periodic announcements that 99X had moved to the new frequency. At noon on June 17, W250BC launched a new "gold"-based "hot AC" format branded as "Journey 97-9". That station's format and imaging is virtually identical to that of WNNF
in Cincinnati, Ohio
, which was launched in early June 2011, and also shares the "Journey" moniker.
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...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, airing a modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
radio 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...
branded as 99X, which originally began on full-power station WNNX (now WWWQ
WWWQ (FM)
WNNX is an Atlanta radio station that is owned and operated by Cumulus Media. The station broadcasts from the same building as its other Cumulus Atlanta sister stations WWWQ FM 99.7 and 99X...
) FM 99.7 in 1992. Its city of license
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
was previously Tallapoosa
Tallapoosa, Georgia
Tallapoosa is a city in Haralson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,789 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tallapoosa, incorporated in 1860, is located in Haralson County, in northwest Georgia, about west of Atlanta, just north of Interstate 20 and east of the Alabama state line...
(west of metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
), which is now far beyond its current broadcast range, nearly in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The station's current facility was moved-in in 2011.
It has a power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 250 watts but at great height, and is transmitted from a broadcast translator on the WWWQ
WWWQ (FM)
WNNX is an Atlanta radio station that is owned and operated by Cumulus Media. The station broadcasts from the same building as its other Cumulus Atlanta sister stations WWWQ FM 99.7 and 99X...
FM 99.7 radio tower near North Druid Hills, along with several other stations. It has the same height and coordinates as W250BC
W250BC
W250BC FM 97.9 is a radio station located in Atlanta, Georgia, and has Riverdale, Georgia as its city of license. Although licensed as a broadcast translator prohibited from carrying its own programming, it broadcasts under a legal loophole allowed by the Federal Communications Commission, by...
97.9 and W229AG 93.7, indicating that it likely shares an antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
with them via a combiner
Diplexer
A diplexer is a passive device that implements frequency domain multiplexing. Two ports are multiplexed onto a third port . The signals on ports L and H occupy disjoint frequency bands...
. While on 99.1 at 99 watts as W256BO, it had a broadcast range of approximately 20 miles (32.2 km), only somewhat less than the two other stations, which are at 250 watts.
On 99.1, the station had to maintain lower power and a slightly directional antenna
Directional antenna
A directional antenna or beam antenna is an antenna which radiates greater power in one or more directions allowing for increased performance on transmit and receive and reduced interference from unwanted sources....
due partly to WDEN-FM
WDEN-FM
WDEN-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Macon, Georgia, USA. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing, LLC. WDEN broadcasts a country music format....
99.1 in Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, which often caused RF interference with the station, particularly early on calm morning
Morning
The word morning originally referred to the sunrise. Morning precedes midday, afternoon, and night in the sequence of a day.Morning is the part of the day usually reckoned from dawn to noon...
s due to overnight temperature inversions that enhance radio propagation
Radio propagation
Radio propagation is the behavior of radio waves when they are transmitted, or propagated from one point on the Earth to another, or into various parts of the atmosphere...
. It was required to run at less than 100 watts due to the proximity of WRAS
WRAS (FM)
WRAS is a college radio station in Atlanta with a frequency of 88.5MHz, which has been in operation since January 18th 1971. It is owned by Georgia State University and its on-air staff are all GSU students, with the exception of those who broadcast the University's athletic events for the station...
FM 88.5, since the intermediate frequency
Intermediate frequency
In communications and electronic engineering, an intermediate frequency is a frequency to which a carrier frequency is shifted as an intermediate step in transmission or reception. The intermediate frequency is created by mixing the carrier signal with a local oscillator signal in a process called...
(IF) of 10.7MHz used in radio tuner
Tuner (radio)
A radio tuner is a subsystem that receives radio broadcasts and converts them into audio-frequency signals which can be fed into an amplifier driving a loudspeaker. FM tuner, AM tuner, Digital Audio Broadcasting DAB tuner, etc. are types of radio tuner dealing with transmissions using different...
s puts the station's IF at 88.4, overlapping the lower half of 88.5's channel. For its initial two weeks on 99.1, the station was required to run at half power due to testing required for all new directional antenna installations.
Even after going to full power, the station lost half its over-the-air
Over-the-air
Over-the-air has several meanings, depending on context. *Generally, over-the-air is synonymous for wireless.*Specifically, over-the-air can have the following meanings or is used in the following contexts:...
listeners because of this, so in July 2011, it applied to change one channel down to 98.9 and increase to 250 watts using the same antenna. Two months later, it received its permit and made the switch to the new frequency in mid September. Interference is now mostly on the opposite side of the metro area
Metro Area
Metro Area is a Brooklyn-based dance music production team composed of Morgan Geist and Darshan Jesrani.- History :Geist grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, while Jesrani is from upstate New York...
due to co-channel WWGA FM 98.9 to the west in Tallapoosa (where what is now W255CJ once had its city of license), and WNGH-FM
WNGH-FM
WNGH-FM is an NPR-member public radio station , licensed to Chatsworth, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by Georgia Public Broadcasting , which the station simulcasts all radio programming from...
98.9 (Georgia Public Broadcasting
Georgia Public Broadcasting
Georgia Public Broadcasting is the public broadcasting radio and television state network in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is operated by the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission....
) to the northwest
Northwest Georgia
Northwest Georgia includes the counties of:*Dade County*Walker County*Catoosa County*Whitfield County*Murray County*Gordon County*Chattooga County*Floyd County*Bartow County*Paulding County*Polk County*Haralson County...
in Chatsworth
Chatsworth, Georgia
Chatsworth is a city in Murray County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,531 at the 2000 census, but was estimated around 3,890 as of the 2005 census. The city is the county seat of Murray County...
. Likewise, W255CJ makes it impossible to hear those stations in metro Atlanta anymore.
Legally
Legal fiction
A legal fiction is a fact assumed or created by courts which is then used in order to apply a legal rule which was not necessarily designed to be used in that way...
, the station acts as a "translator" for WWWQ, under a low-power broadcast license
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
system intended to allow main stations to be heard in areas where terrain
Terrain
Terrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
(or great distance to isolated rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
communities) blocks their signal. In this case, the "translator" is instead on the same tower as its parent station where the signal is already extremely strong, and broadcasts programming that cannot otherwise be heard except for the extremely limited number of those receiver
Receiver (radio)
A radio receiver converts signals from a radio antenna to a usable form. It uses electronic filters to separate a wanted radio frequency signal from all other signals, the electronic amplifier increases the level suitable for further processing, and finally recovers the desired information through...
s equipped with the proprietary digital radio
Digital radio
Digital radio has several meanings:1. Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies, such as the digital audio broadcasting system, also known as Eureka 147. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized into zeros and ones, compressed using formats such as...
system. (Although translators are prohibited from carrying their own programming, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
or FCC allows stations to ignore this if they are simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
ing an HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
channel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
of the parent station on analog FM, also allowing them to circumvent caps intended to prevent excessive concentration of media ownership
Concentration of media ownership
Concentration of media ownership refers to a process whereby progressively fewer individuals or organizations control increasing shares of the mass media...
.)
The station's facility has been through numerous channel changes, requiring it to change broadcast callsigns each time, since translators have the channel number included in their callsigns. These past callsigns and frequencies
Center frequency
In electrical engineering and telecommunications, the center frequency of a filter or channel is a measure of a central frequency between the upper and lower cutoff frequencies...
and their official callsign start dates are:
- W261AS 100.1 - 2004/06/30
- W208BE 89.5 - 2006/11/30
- W209BX 89.7 - 2008/12/03
- W207CA 89.3 - 2009/06/02
- W205CI 88.9 - 2009/07/20
- W258BU 99.5 - 2010/12/08
- W256BO 99.1 - 2011/06/21
- W255CJ 98.9 - 2011/09/29
The frequencies from late 2006 to mid 2010 are in the reserved band (88 to 92MHz), indicating it must have rebroadcast a noncommercial educational station at the time. Prior to each callsign change, the station may have been broadcasting on the frequency under program test authority
Program test authority
In broadcasting, program test authority is an authorization to conduct on-air testing of broadcast station facilities authorized to be built under a construction permit...
allowed by its construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
.
Like 99X's former home on W250BC, W255CJ is owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
, after their acquisition
Acquisition
Acquisition may refer to:* Takeover, the acquisition of a company* Mergers and acquisitions, strategy of buying and selling of various companies to quickly grow a company...
of Susquehanna Broadcasting. WWWQ and WNNX are also under the same ownership. , the FCC still lists W250BC as rebroadcasting parent station WNNX
WNNX (FM)
WWWQ FM 99.7, known as "Q100", is an Atlanta radio station airing a top-40 contemporary hit radio format. It is owned and operated by Cumulus Media from the same building as its other co-owned sister stations WNNX FM "Rock 100.5", W258BU FM 99.1 "99X", and W250BC FM 97.9 "Journey 97-9"...
FM ("Rock 100.5" in analog and HD1, previously no HD2). That station forced two other LPFM stations (like W250BC and W255CJ) permanently off-air
Dark (broadcasting)
In the broadcasting industry, dark is a term used to describe a radio station or television station that has gone off-the-air for an indefinite period of time, or as defined by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission , a "silent" station...
when it moved to Atlanta as WWWQ in 2001: WGHR
WGHR
WGHR is a noncommercial radio station operated solely by the students of Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Georgia, USA. The station is student- and listener-supported, with diverse programming from a wide variety of genres.-History:...
at Southern Polytechnic State University
Southern Polytechnic State University
Southern Polytechnic State University is a public, co-educational state university located in Marietta, Georgia, USA just northwest of Atlanta...
, and W264AE from Georgia Public Broadcasting
Georgia Public Broadcasting
Georgia Public Broadcasting is the public broadcasting radio and television state network in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is operated by the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission....
.
After the 2011 purchase of Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
, its sister station
Sister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio and/or television stations operated by the same ownership....
s in Atlanta now include WKHX-FM
WKHX-FM
WKHX-FM, known as "Kicks 101.5", is an Atlanta FM radio station that plays country music. Its city of license is Marietta, Georgia. "Kicks" debuted in 1980 after Capital Cities Communications purchased the station. WKHX used to simulcast on AM 590, which is now Radio Disney...
100.5 and WYAY
WYAY (FM)
WYAY is a 77,000 watt Atlanta FM radio station that plays mainly classic hits music from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Its city of license is Gainesville, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta, but the station moved in toward the metro area in early 1985.-History:...
FM 106.7, in addition to previous Cumulus holdings WWWQ FM 99.7, WNNX FM 100.5, and W250BC FM 97.9.
99X history
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
and Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
and the subsequent rise of alternative music gave station management pause. In early 1992, KEDG-FM debuted in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
as an alternative station and immediately moved to #1 in the ratings
Audience measurement
Audience measurement measures how many people are in an audience, usually in relation to radio listenership and television viewership, but also in relation to newspaper and magazine readership and, increasingly, web traffic on websites...
. At the same time, Power 99 was seeing its ratings decline. Susquehanna's management agreed that changes were in order.
In early September 1992, Will Pendarvis was brought in to host an all-alternative program on weeknights called "Power 99 On the Edge". After receiving a solid amount of positive feedback, station management decided to re-brand Power 99 and tweak its format to include more alternative songs. Just prior to its planned debut, Sean Demery, Leslie Fram, and station PD/MD Rick Stacy agreed that the approved format was not drastic enough a change from what Power 99 was playing. Without knowledge of management, they rebuilt the playlist
Playlist
In its most general form, a playlist is simply a list of songs. They can be played in sequential or shuffled order. The term has several specialized meanings in the realms of radio broadcasting and personal computers.-In radio:...
, focusing more on alternative music.
On Monday, October 26, 1992, at noon, 99X made its debut with "Video Killed the Radio Star
Video Killed the Radio Star
"Video Killed the Radio Star" is a song by the British synthpop/New Wave group The Buggles, released as their debut single on 7 September 1979, on Island Records from their debut album The Age of Plastic. It celebrates the golden days of radio, describing a singer whose career is cut short by...
" by The Buggles
The Buggles
The Buggles were an English New Wave band consisting of Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes . They are remembered chiefly for their 1979 debut single "Video Killed the Radio Star" that was #1 on the singles chart in 16 countries. Its music video was the first to be shown on MTV in the U.S...
being the first song. Station management expressed their disapproval that the trio had recrafted the station without their permission. However, the positive response from listeners and ad buyers encouraged them to allow the station to move forward.
Initially, the station stuck with Power 99's WAPW, but soon acquired the call sign WNNX from a PEMEX
Pemex
Petróleos Mexicanos or Pemex is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. As of 2010, with a total asset worth of $415.75 billion, it is the second non-publicly listed largest company in the world by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009...
oil rig off the coast of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
During the first couple of years of the format, 99X maintained a surprisingly wide playlist, including songs from the previous fifteen years of modern rock radio, almost in the style of college radio. They also opted to play album tracks that were not necessarily singles, often to the dismay of the major labels and standard marketing strategies. Despite the initial positive response, the station earned modest ratings in its initial books. As a response, the station moved to tighten the playlist and act as more of a "Top Alternative" station. However, the station did not call itself an alternative station, instead adopting the slogan "New Rock 99X".
99X played a key role in breaking numerous acts during its early years. MD
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
Sean Demery's push behind The Cranberries
The Cranberries
The Cranberries are an Irish rock band formed in Limerick in 1989 under the name The Cranberry Saw Us, later changed by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan. The band currently consists of O'Riordan, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler...
' "Linger
Linger (song)
"Linger" is a song composed by Irish musicians Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan of the rock band The Cranberries. The song, which has an acoustic arrangement featuring a string section, became the band's first major hit, peaking at #3 in the Republic of Ireland, #8 in the US and #14 in the UK.In...
" in 1993 helped earn the band national attention. On a trip to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in early 1995, PD
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
Brian Phillips brought back a copy of fledging band Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
's debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, with the station adding the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
's version of eventual single "Tomorrow
Tomorrow (Silverchair song)
"Tomorrow" is a song by Australian alternative rock band Silverchair and was their breakthrough single from their debut album Frogstomp, which was released in 1994 in their home country and 1995 in the US...
" to regular rotation. The day after the release of their debut album Frogstomp
Frogstomp
Frogstomp is the debut album of Australian rock band Silverchair. It was released in Australia in early 1995, when the members were only 15 years of age, by a subsidiary of Sony Records and reached number one on the album charts. On 20 June 1995, Frogstomp was released by Epic Records in the U.S...
, the band played its first US show at the Roxy in Atlanta as a 99X Freeloader show.
In early 1993, 99X established what would become its best known program, Live X
Live X
Live X refers to concerts hosted by the Atlanta, Georgia-based radio station 99X, generally performed in an unplugged, acoustic style. Each year, a CD was released by 99X containing select tracks from many Live X concerts that occurred in the past year. All proceeds from the sales benefit the I Am...
. The station invited touring acts into the studio to perform (usually) acoustic sets. The first year saw live performances by World Party
World Party
World Party is a British pop/alternative rock band, which is essentially the solo project of its sole member, Karl Wallinger. He started the band in 1986 in London after leaving The Waterboys.-Career:...
, Natalie Merchant
Natalie Merchant
Natalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
, Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
, and Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
, among others. In 1994, the station issued its first compilation of Live X performances, with the proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity. Over ensuing years, a total of twelve compilations were released.
For most of the first two years of the station, mornings were hosted by Demery and Fram. In early 1994, the show added newcomer Jimmy Baron
Jimmy Baron
Jimmy Baron , is an American disc jockey on commercial radio. He has also acted in several TV shows and movies from 1980 to 1985. Films include Risky Business, The Sure Thing, and Heart Like a Wheel. Television work includes Facts Of Life, Quincy, Hart to Hart, and M*A*S*H.Baron was born in...
and was named The Morning X. That summer, Demery decided to move to afternoons, swapping shifts with Steve Barnes. With Barnes, Leslie, and Jimmy, The Morning X became a top-five morning show in Atlanta, earning several industry awards during its nine-year run.
99X spent the end of the 1990s adding more "light" alternative fare, such as Tonic
Tonic (band)
Tonic is an American rock band that has earned two Grammy nominations to date. The band was formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo. Later members have included Dan Lavery, Kevin Shepard, and Dan Rothchild. Signed to a recording contract in 1995, the band released its debut album Lemon Parade...
and Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty is an American rock band, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1995...
. By 1999, the station saw its greatest success, billing upwards of $20 million a year.
With the turn of the century, 99X turned heavier, nearly crossing into active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
territory. The goal was to target a younger male audience, pulling the focus away from recurrents and more toward the latest tracks from Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
, KoЯn, and Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
. The station added a late-night program called Living Loud, hosted initially by Axel and Jill and later by one-time 99X intern Fred Toucher. The program included a nightly segment called Mandatory Metallica, featuring a block of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
songs.
The change brought 99X the highest ratings of its existence, but it came at a price. In the opinion of former MD Sean Demery, "[It] began to alienate women and alternative lifestyle groups that the station was originally based upon." Within a few years, the station's ratings began to erode as the edgier fare waned in popularity and as those who enjoyed the more "classic" alternative sound turned elsewhere.
Barnes departed the station in 2003 when the station decided not to renew his contract. The station subsequently moved Toucher to mornings with Baron and Fram.
Late in 2004, the station also tried experimenting with its format, moving from strictly modern rock to "New Rock and 90's Alternative", a reference to their days in the early 1990s
1990s in music
For music from a year in the 1990s, go to 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99This article includes trends in popular music in the 1990s....
. The station soon unveiled its new slogan: "99X - Everything Alternative". Following Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, 99X staged a weekend promotion during which they sent all their DJs out to help with disaster relief efforts while the music was aired from then-music-director Jay Harren's iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
. This promotion was popular enough that it continued over subsequent weekends as 99X On Shuffle.
On May 5, 2006, Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
acquired Susquehanna Radio and all of its stations, including 99X and sister station Q100
WWWQ (FM)
WNNX is an Atlanta radio station that is owned and operated by Cumulus Media. The station broadcasts from the same building as its other Cumulus Atlanta sister stations WWWQ FM 99.7 and 99X...
. In the weeks leading up to the final day, several long-time members of 99X's staff departed from the station, including Jimmy Baron, Fred Toucher, and music director Jay Harren.
Over the next twenty months, Cumulus continued to support 99X's Modern Rock format, despite a continuing decline in Arbitron ratings. In October 2006, 99X introduced The New Morning X, marking the return of Sean Demery to 99X. However, ratings failed to improve for the station, leading to rumors among radio insider
Insider
An insider is a member of any group of people of limited number and generally restricted access. The term is used in the context of secret, privileged, hidden or otherwise esoteric information or knowledge: an insider is a "member of the gang" and as such knows things only people in the gang...
s that 99X was ripe for a format change. In December 2007, Demery announced his departure from the station.
On January 11, 2008, Cumulus announced that it was moving the CHR format of sister station Q100 to the stronger 99.7 signal. It also announced the departures of founding 99X members Leslie Fram and Steve Craig. On January 25, 2008, at 5:30am, 99X ceased broadcasting on 99.7, following its last song, Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
-Charts:-Covers:* Rancid have covered the song in some acoustic performances, Matt Freeman is the lead vocalist in the cover.* Comedian Tim Hawkins plays a parody of the song entitled "These Are Things You Don't Say to Your Wife"...
". The 99X brand and its modern rock format moved to 99.7 HD-2 and 99X.com.
Fifteen months later, 99X returned to the FM airwaves in Atlanta. On April 16, 2009, 99X announced that they would be returning to the radio airwaves on April 17 at 9:09 AM. At that time, 99X signed-on at its new dial position of 97.9 FM, with "Know Your Enemy
Know Your Enemy
Know Your Enemy is the sixth album by the Manic Street Preachers. It was released in March 2001 on Virgin Records. The album has songs ranging from energetic lo-fi rock songs reminiscent of their earlier material to highly produced, more melodic pop songs as well as a disco song...
" by Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
being the first song played.
On June 9, 2011, 99X began simulcasting on 99.1 FM (W258BU, now W256BO). A few days later, W250BC then began stunting with different genres of music, as well as Atlanta news and history bits and periodic announcements that 99X had moved to the new frequency. At noon on June 17, W250BC launched a new "gold"-based "hot AC" format branded as "Journey 97-9". That station's format and imaging is virtually identical to that of WNNF
WNNF
WNNF is a radio station currently airing an 80's/90's Hits-leaning Hot AC format. Licensed to Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, it serves the Cincinnati area. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media. Cumulus also owns classic rocker WOFX-FM 92.5 and alternative rocker WFTK 96.5...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, which was launched in early June 2011, and also shares the "Journey" moniker.
Current 99X on-air staff
- Axel Lowe. Currently hosts the morning drive 6am-10am.
- Lewis Alston. Currently hosts the afternoon drive 3pm-7pm.
- Tommy McNulty. Currently hosts nights 7pm-midnight.
- Matt "Organic" Jones. Currently hosts the show "Organic X" Sundays 7am-12pm.
- Debora. Currently announces traffic and hosts weekends.
- Adam. Currently hosts weekends.
Former 99X on-air staff
- Steve Barnes. Joined 99X in December 1992. Started in afternoon drive, moved to mornings in April 1994. Co-hosted "The Morning X". Hosted the weekend Top 30 Countdown. Last song he played on-air was "California" by Phantom PlanetPhantom PlanetPhantom Planet are an American alternative rock band from Southern California. Formed in 1994 in Los Angeles, the band consists of Alex Greenwald , Darren Robinson , Sam Farrar and Jeff Conrad . The band is best known for its track "California", which became the theme song for the Fox TV series,...
. Left the station in October 2003 to produce and act in independent films (but also to wait out a non-compete with 99X). Launched a morning show called All Access on 92.9 Dave FM (WZGC-FM) in Atlanta on September 13, 2004, with co-host Holly Firfer, formally of CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
. Dave FM decided to go personality free in the morning, so he parted ways with DAVE in September 2006. He has played the character "Agent Drucker" on the FOX show Prison BreakPrison BreakPrison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring, that was broadcast on the Fox Broadcasting Company for four seasons, from 2005 until 2009. The series revolves around two brothers; one has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an...
. - Jimmy BaronJimmy BaronJimmy Baron , is an American disc jockey on commercial radio. He has also acted in several TV shows and movies from 1980 to 1985. Films include Risky Business, The Sure Thing, and Heart Like a Wheel. Television work includes Facts Of Life, Quincy, Hart to Hart, and M*A*S*H.Baron was born in...
. Joined 99X in 1994 as part of the morning show with Leslie Fram and Sean Demery. Shortly afterwards, Barnes replaced Sean, leading to the show named The Morning X. Stayed with the morning show through its various changes: The Morning X with Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy; The Don Miller Morning Show; The Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie Morning Show; and Mornings with Axel, Jimmy, and Leslie. Exited the morning show in early April 2006 in anticipation of the expiration of his contract on April 5, 2006 and officially announced his departure from 99X on Friday, April 28, 2006. He is currently hosting Music Mornings on WZGC - 92.9 Dave FM, in Atlanta. - Christopher "Crash" Clark. Began as a traffic reporter for Power 99, continued on 99X, eventually added to sister station Q100. Was suspended more than once while working at the station. Was fired at the end of November 2005 for a contest gone wrong. According to reports, Crash was hosting a remote at a club and was giving away pairs of tickets to a private 99X concert by 311311 (band)311 is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson , bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton...
. A woman approached and offered to perform oral sexOral sexOral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
on someone at the club for the tickets. Crash assumed she wouldn't actually go through with it (noting that people had offered to do the same at previous events and hadn't) and was planning to give her the tickets even if she didn't. However, she did go through with it in the men's bathroom, upsetting the club owners and 99X programming director Leslie Fram. Made a brief final appearance on air near the end of Toucher's final show on March 17, 2006, where Clark jokingly asked Fram to hire him back "for the fifth time". Currently involved in a radio show with Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb known as The Toucher and Rich ShowThe Toucher and Rich ShowThe Toucher and Rich Show is a morning radio show from 6 to 10 AM on The Sports Hub 98.5 WBZ-FM, based Boston, Massachusetts. The show first aired on June 5, 2006...
on WBCN in Boston. - Steve Craig. Started at Power 99 as "The Big Watusi". Worked middays at 99X for all of its existence at 99.7, including the hour-long retro show ("House of Retro Pleasure", "Duplex of Retro Pleasure", and "The Retroplex"). Was dismissed from the station on January 11, 2008 following the announcement of the move of Q100 to 99.7. Still under contract with Cumulus, Craig returned on April 7 briefly hosting middays on 99X.com/WWWQ HD2. Currently middays host at WRXP in New York.
- Sean Demery. Started at Power 99 as "Shotgun Sean". Co-hosted one of 99X's first morning shows with Leslie Fram. Moved to the afternoon drive, where he at one point hosted the Friday drive-time program The Swinging Velveeta Lounge. Also served as the station's Music Director. During his final sign-off with the station on January 7, 2000, his last words were, "I'm Sean Demery, and I was 99X," a reference to 99X's slogan "I am 99X". (He followed that by playing his last song, "How Soon Is Now" by The SmithsThe SmithsThe Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
.) Served as Programming Director at Live 105 in San Francisco until October 2006 when he rejoined 99X as a member of the New Morning X. Departed 99X again on December 4, 2007, to move to Utah to rejoin his wife. (Demery's wife remained in San Francisco during the fourteen months Demery was back on 99x.) - Keith Eubanks. Occasionally ran shifts on both Power 99 and 99X as "Fast Freddy Luka". Also occasionally appeared as Will Pendarvis' "roommate" Wendell. Best known as the voice of the station throughout the 1990s. His off-the-cuff imitation of 99X's first voice guy (done when said voice guy, who worked out of town, was unavailable) eventually morphed into a famous whisper-spoken delivery that, within a few years, could be heard on stations throughout the country. He died in 2002 from complications of pneumonia. (His voice could still be heard on Atlanta radio as late as early 2004 on station IDs for the now-defunct 105.3 WMAX.) Keith Eubanks Tribute
- Leslie FramLeslie FramLeslie Fram is an American radio personality on commercial radio.Her first professional job was at WABF in Fairhope, Alabama. One of the weekend shows she hosted was called "Platter Ladder"...
. Joined Power 99 in 1990 as a member of "The Breakfast Club". Served as 99X's program director for most of its existence at 99.7. Was dismissed from the station on January 11, 2008 following the announcement of the move of Q100 to 99.7. Now at 101.9 WRXP-FM ("the New York Rock Experience") in New York City. - Keith Cunningham. Joined 99X in 1993. Started 99X as "Phone Boy" as named by Steve Barnes in Afternoon Drive. He continued to be a sidekick for Sean Demery and eventually helped out Steve Craig on the "House of Pleasure" earning the moniker "Retro Boy". Served as 99X's Programming Assistant until 1998. He left 99X to pursue a Record Company job with VelVel Records (The legendary Walter Yetnikoff's label). Then went to RoadRunner Records as Southeast Promotion Director and helped take Slipknot and Nickelback Platinum. He also worked for Clear Channel Atlanta as Marketing Assistant and Clear Channel Orlando as a Promotion Manager.
- Jay Harren. Joined 99X in 1997. Served as the station's music director from 2004 until his departure. Hosted "Sunday School" on Sunday nights, featuring off-the-playlist music. At the end of 2005, 99X's weekend programming was referred to as "99X On-Shuffle", with the concept being that the music was being supplied by Harren's iPodIPodiPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
set to "shuffle". Harren has a neurological condition called synesthesiaSynesthesiaSynesthesia , from the ancient Greek , "together," and , "sensation," is a neurologically based condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway...
. In August 2004, he appeared in a brief CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
piece about the condition, coincidentally conducted by future All Access host Holly Firfer. Departed the station on Thursday, May 4, 2006, on the eve of Cumulus' acquisition of the station from Susquehanna. He is currently doing A&R for Columbia Records. - Elliott Garstein. Host of "Sunday School", featuring independent and local bands. Replaced Jay Harren as MD in 2006. Departed 99x on January 22, 2008, just prior to the format flip.
- Doug Harding. Started at 99X as an intern in 1993. Primarily hosted weekends. Broadcast 99X's final shift.
- Matt "Organic" Jones. Generally hosted weekday overnights. Hosted a long-time Sunday morning specialty show, "Organic X", which featured a softer and more acoustic side of alternative music. Started at Album 88 and moved to Springfield as a PD for Channel Z, before returning to Atlanta to join 99X.
- Axel Lowe. Joined 99X in 1993. Worked nights after the departure of Will Pendarvis in 1995 before moving to afternoons. Temporarily helmed the morning show from spring until late September 2006. Also hosted "Southern Home by Design" on Turner SouthTurner SouthTurner South was an American cable television network launched on October 1, 1999 by Turner Broadcasting System as the first regional entertainment network developed especially for viewers in the southern United States...
. Moved Rock 100.5 after the frequency switch, now Back on 99X at 97.9 for the morning drive. - Jill. Joined 99X in 1998. Worked full-time before shifting to occasional, part-time shifts. Currently teaches American Literature, as well as working for Dave FM on Saturdays.
- Yvonne Monet. Joined 99X in 1992. Hosted the dance oriented show The Beat Factory, "X-Cellerator" and "The Pleasuredome" with Dr. Roger Libby. Moved to a Susquehanna station in Dallas in 1999 before returning to Atlanta in 2004. Currently owns a tennis company and is on air at 92.9 Dave FM.Yvonne Monet's website.
- Will Pendarvis. Started at Power 99 in September 1992, hosting a nightly alternative music program called "Power 99 On the Edge", a precursor to 99X's format change nearly two months later. The show continued simply as "On the Edge" following the format change to 99X. Left the station in 1995. Worked mornings at Washington, DC's DC 101 before moving to New York's K-Rock 92.3. Currently works at Sirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
on the "Faction Rock Radio" channel.
- Chris Williams. Worked at the station from the late 90s until June 2004, variously as assistant program director, music director, and lastly program director. Was suspended, and later fired, from the station by General Manager, Mark Renier following the airing of a controversial spot on the Don Miller Morning Show in June 2004. He became program director at 105.3 the Buzz in 2005 and interim program director of 96rock in the summer of 2006. The two stations were merged into Project 9-6-1 with an active rock format in November 2006. Williams became program director thereafter.
- Tim Andrews. Producer for The New Morning X. Joined 99X in 2007. Previously worked with the Regular GuysRegular GuysThe Regular Guys is a radio morning show based out of Atlanta, Georgia airing on rock station Rock 100.5 featuring Larry Wachs, Eric Von Haessler, "Southside" Steve Rickman and Tim "Action Plan" Andrews. The show's primary demographic target is men aged 25 to 49...
on 96 Rock and is now back with them at NNX] Rock 100.5 in Atlanta. - Ben. Was the voice of cross-town competitor WBZY when it went on the air in 2002 under the on-air name "Roach". Joined 99X in 2004 and departed in May 2007.
- Monti Carlo. Joined the New Morning X for its first three weeks before moving to Seattle to start as an afternoon and morning DJ at KQMVKQMVKQMV , known as "Movin' 92.5," is a Rhythmic-leaning CHR radio station serving the Puget Sound area. The Sandusky Radio outlet operates at 92.5 MHz with an ERP of 56.8 kW and its community of license is Bellevue, Washington...
. She is now currently out of the radio business. - Melissa Carter. Was the news reporter on 99X for several years. Became part of the Bert Show when Q100 was launched. Currently working on The Bert Show on Q100 in Atlanta, and co-host of the former Radio With A TWIST syndicated radio program (with Dennis Hensley and Will WikleWill WikleWill Wikle is a registered nurse and a reality television participant best known for his appearance in the fifth American season of Big Brother. Wikle parlayed his Big Brother notoriety into a gig as co-host of the Logo network travel-themed program, Round Trip Ticket...
). - Carter, aka Bob Carter. First joined 99X after graduating from Georgia State University as yet another alum from the college radio powerhouse, Album 88 (WRAS). Worked with Cartoon Network's George Lowe (voice of Space Ghost) to produce the vast majority of commercials on 99X 1994-1996 before becoming Production Director and Air Talent from 1996-1999. Carter was 99's "X-Man" known for late night club appearances and events around the city. Carter won a "Spotlight on North American Opera" award with the Atlanta Opera while representing the station as well as several Achievements In Radio Awards for Commercial Production. He later joined Yvonne Monet in Dallas in 2000 on Merge 93.3 FM. Most recently, Carter returned to Atlanta and is currently on Dave FM, 92.9 in the mornings with Jimmy and Yvonne. He is also an accomplished anime and video game voice talent.
- Cat. Nights and weekends. Started 2003, departed 2004 for Rock 104 in Asheville, NC.
- Jeff Clark. Hosted a Sunday night free-form music program called Fear of Music during the first few years of 99X.
- Tom Clark, aka "Major Tom" (brother of Crash). Worked mornings on Power 99 (as part of "The Breakfast Club"), and continued on mornings after the format change to 99X. Left the station in the mid-90s. Last seen on Atlanta airwaves working mornings on the now-defunct Mix 105.7 / Cool 105.7. He has recently been seen in Huddle House television commercials, and co-hosted the former WXIA-TV produced mid-morning program Peachtree Morning from 1997-1998.
- Christopher Calandro. Associate producer, traffic reporter, phone screener for the morning shows, charged with "tertiary character casting". Injured during a stunt with Fat Kid on October 30, 2004, and spent months off the air battling a staph infection in his right knee. Was let go from 99X in June 2005. Before 99X, did traffic for WSB-AMWSB (AM)WSB — branded AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB — is a commercial radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting a news/talk format. The station transmits with 50,000 watts of nondirectional power day and night, enjoying clear-channel status on its broadcast frequency according to the U.S...
and WSB-TVWSB-TVWSB-TV, virtual channel 2.1 , is the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship television station of Cox Enterprises and its Cox Media Group subsidiary...
. Also produced the Regular GuysRegular GuysThe Regular Guys is a radio morning show based out of Atlanta, Georgia airing on rock station Rock 100.5 featuring Larry Wachs, Eric Von Haessler, "Southside" Steve Rickman and Tim "Action Plan" Andrews. The show's primary demographic target is men aged 25 to 49...
' show on Atlanta's 96 Rock under the nickname "Radio Boy" from 1999-2001. Currently a producer with Atlanta's 920 WGKA. - Dekker. Worked nights at cross-town competitor WBZY before moving to 99X in March 2005. Worked nights until September 2007, when he was moved to manager of 99x's AV Room. Departed 99X at the end of 2007. Now works at WRXP in New York City under his real name of Greg.
- Alicia Culver. Worked part-time doing various shifts on both Power 99 and 99X from 1988 to 1995. Died in her home in Lithia Springs, Ga., on December 22, 2008, of a brain aneurysm. She was 46 years old.
- Rick Stacy. Worked mornings for Power 99 (on "The Breakfast Club") and was MD/PD of the station during the transition to 99X. Departed 99X a few months after the format change.
- Fred Toucher. Joined 99X as an intern in 1999. Moved to air-staff full-time, working over-nights for several years before switching to mornings following the departure of Steve Barnes. Made his last appearance on 99X on March 17, 2006. Currently hosting a radio show with Rich Shertenlieb and Crash Clark known as The Toucher and Rich ShowThe Toucher and Rich ShowThe Toucher and Rich Show is a morning radio show from 6 to 10 AM on The Sports Hub 98.5 WBZ-FM, based Boston, Massachusetts. The show first aired on June 5, 2006...
on 98.5 The Sports HubWBZ-FMWBZ-FM is a sports radio station known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" and broadcasting on 98.5 MHz in Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by CBS Radio, the current WBZ-FM began on August 13, 2009 and competes with AM sports talk stations WEEI and competed with the ESPN Radio pair of WAMG and WLLH before their...
in BostonBostonBoston 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...
. Fred Toucher's website
- English Nick. Joined 99X in 2006 from 96 Rock. Worked part-time.
- Eric the Web Gangsta. First appeared on The Morning X in 1999, covering all aspects of the InternetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, video games, computers, and assorted new technology for listeners. He reported live from the floor of E³ and from the first-day-of-sales for the PlayStation 2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. He also did commentary with Matt Jones on the station's public affairs program on technology issues. He also wrote articles for the station's listener magazine 99Xpress. He is currently a monthly contributor to Morning Mouth magazine, a trade publication for radioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
morning shows. He left in October 2007 to run internet media for Cox Communications. - Mitch Evans, sports/traffic. He worked briefly for the morning show in the spring of 2006. He left the show in the summer of 2006.Now Sports Director at WGST and pre/post game show host on the Atlanta Braves radio network.
- Dave Hill. Previously worked at Album 88. Currently a PD at 98 RockWIYYWIYY is a radio station in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, owned by the Hearst Corporation. WIYY broadcasts an Mainstream Rock format that mixes music popular in the modern rock, heavy metal and classic rock genres...
in BaltimoreBaltimoreBaltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. - Rob Jenners. Joined 99X with the creation of The New Morning X in October 2006. Previously worked at Miami's BIG 105.9WBGG-FMWBGG-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....
. Departed 99X on the announcement of the move of Q100 to 99.7 on January 11, 2008. - Just Dave.
- Klinger. Alumni of Album 88. Currently hosting mornings on Project 9-6-1 in Atlanta.
- James Knight. Currently working in LA on James Cameron's Avatar. Radio was a hobby until Feb of 2007, when he moved to LA. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2595922/
- Margot. She now does nights at Dave FM.
- Mark Owens. Producer for the New Morning X. Was on sister station Q100's as "Phil Terrana", The Bert Show Assistant Producer/Man on the Street. Before that was 99X's Saturday overnight DJ. "Phil Terrana" is the real name of long-time Atlanta-area morning show host Steve McCoySteve McCoySteve McCoy is an American radio personality best known for his show with Vikki Locke in Atlanta, Georgia for over 18 years. The duo was twice nominated for the Marconi Award. McCoy came to Atlanta in 1981 to work at legendary top 40 WZGC FM...
. - Jeremy Powell - "Fat Kid". Cast during the "Toucher 6-Day Morning Show," a precursor to the Toucher, Jimmy, & Leslie Show. He started as an intern and then was hired as an associate producer for the TJL Morning Show. Fat Kid was arrested twice while performing stunts for the morning show. He was let go on January 13, 2006 due to budget cuts. He worked nights at "96-5 The Mountain"WDOD-FMWDOD-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary hit radio format. Licensed to Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA,. The station is currently owned by WDOD of Chattanooga, Inc.-Previous Triple A Format:...
in Chattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
from June 2006 - September 2007. Fat Kid was recently fired from KQYKKQYKKQYK, better known as "95.7 The Blaze", is a radio station licensed to Lake Crystal, Minnesota, serving the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley...
95.7 The Blaze in Mankato, MN after Minnesota State University, MankatoMinnesota State University, MankatoMinnesota State University, Mankato is a public four-year university located in Mankato, Minnesota, a community of 53,000 located southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. As of Fall 2011, the student body is the third-largest in the state of Minnesota with over 15,000 students...
took offense to his on-air comments of a hockey cheerleader.Fat Kid's infamous fooling gets him fired The audio that got Fat Kid fired is posted on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. Currently, Fat Kid is podcasting from his home and searching for another radio job. www.Fat-Kid-Rocks.com - Mark Renier. General manager of 99X from its inception until May 2006.
- Brian Sack. Did commercial work for the station in the late 1990s, including "Angry Brian" bits. Now the public viewerBrian SackBrian Sack is an American writer and actor. He is currently employed to Glenn Beck's video network, GBTV.He is the author of The B.S. of A.: A Primer in Politics for the Incredibly Disenchanted , In the Event of My Untimely Demise and a contributing author to the New York Times bestseller Arguing...
on the Glenn Beck ProgramGlenn Beck ProgramThe Glenn Beck Program is an American talk radio show hosted by commentator Glenn Beck on Premiere Radio Networks. Since its inception as a nationally syndicated show in 2002, the program has become one of the highest rated radio programs...
on CNN Headline NewsCNN Headline NewsHLN, formerly known as CNN Headline News and CNN2, is a cable television news channel based in the United States and a spinoff of the cable news television channel, CNN. Initially airing tightly-formatted 30-minute newscasts around the clock, since 2005, the channel has increasingly aired long-form...
. - Rich Shertenlieb. Started as an intern for the Morning X, soon turned into the show's stunt guy. Most famous for his protest of Martha BurkMartha BurkMartha Burk is an American political psychologist, feminist, and former Chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations....
at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, GeorgiaAugusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, where he held up a sign that said "Make Me Dinner/Iron My Shirt". This stunt was covered by ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and hundreds of other news organizations. Also received recognition for rescuing a carjackingCarjackingCarjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
victim. Before 99X, he co-hosted Tech Talk on WREKWREKWREK is the radio station staffed by the students of the Georgia Institute of Technology. It is located at 91.1 MHz and on channel 17 on the Georgia Tech cable TV network, GTCN...
while a management student at Georgia TechGeorgia Institute of TechnologyThe Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
. After leaving 99X, worked on Kidd Kraddick in the MorningKidd Kraddick in the MorningKidd Kraddick in the Morning is an American morning radio show hosted by Kidd Kraddick on Cumulus Media Networks...
in Dallas through December 2005. Currently hosting a radio show, with former 99X'ers Fred Toucher and Crash Clark, known as The Toucher and Rich ShowThe Toucher and Rich ShowThe Toucher and Rich Show is a morning radio show from 6 to 10 AM on The Sports Hub 98.5 WBZ-FM, based Boston, Massachusetts. The show first aired on June 5, 2006...
on 98.5 The Sports HubWBZ-FMWBZ-FM is a sports radio station known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" and broadcasting on 98.5 MHz in Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by CBS Radio, the current WBZ-FM began on August 13, 2009 and competes with AM sports talk stations WEEI and competed with the ESPN Radio pair of WAMG and WLLH before their...
in BostonBostonBoston 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...
. - Twisted Todd.
- Gary "Wally" Wallace, former morning show director for the Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie Show. Formerly known as "Zippy" from Radio DisneyRadio DisneyRadio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
. Quit 99X on April 14, 2006, following a dispute with incoming station management about his involvement in the morning show. Currently hosting Total AxxessTotal AxxessTotal Axxess is a contemporary Christian music radio program. The afternoon show is broadcast nationwide on WAY-FM Network and other affiliated Contemporary Christian music radio stations. The program is based out of Nashville, Tennessee. The show is produced by CHRSN. The show began in January 2004...
on the WAY-FM NetworkWAY-FM NetworkThe WAY-FM Network is a national, non-profit radio broadcasting network in the United States that primarily plays Contemporary Christian music operating in 25 states . It is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, while most programming originates in Franklin, Tennessee.-Origins in Fort Myers:WAY-FM...
. - Whip. Joined 99X in 2004. Covered the evening shift. Left in May 2005 to become the morning host at 105.3 the Buzz. He was let go from the Buzz in November 2006 when that station merged with 96rock to become Project 9-6-1.
- Jeff Woodall. Earned a station shift by winning 99X's "Quit Your Day Job" contest in 2004.
- BJ Kinard. Original program director for 99X.com and when 99X first returned to the airwaves. Left the station in mid 2010. Now on 96.1 KZQ (WKZQ) in Myrle Beach.
- Shawn Williams. Joined 99X from doing overnights at sister-station Q100 (WWWQ). Started doing evenings, then mid-days after the departure of BJ Kinard. Left in the station January 2011.
99X shows
- Organic X. Specialty show that features acoustic, live, and lighter rock hosted by Matt Jones. Airs Sunday mornings on 99X and sister station WNNX (Rock 100.5).
- On the Edge. Will Pendarvis' nightly program, where he mixed up the regular playlist with classic alternative tracks and surreal humor. Debuted as Power 99 On the Edge prior to the format shift.
- The 99X CD Countdown. A weekly tally of the 30 top-selling CDs by 99X artists, heard on Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 12:00.
- The Morning X. Hosted by Barnes, Leslie FramLeslie FramLeslie Fram is an American radio personality on commercial radio.Her first professional job was at WABF in Fairhope, Alabama. One of the weekend shows she hosted was called "Platter Ladder"...
, and Jimmy BaronJimmy BaronJimmy Baron , is an American disc jockey on commercial radio. He has also acted in several TV shows and movies from 1980 to 1985. Films include Risky Business, The Sure Thing, and Heart Like a Wheel. Television work includes Facts Of Life, Quincy, Hart to Hart, and M*A*S*H.Baron was born in...
. Won multiple industry awards from Gavin ReportGavin ReportThe Gavin Report was a San Francisco-based radio industry trade publication. The publication was founded by radio performer Bill Gavin in 1958. Its Top 40 listings were used for many years by programmers to decide content of programs...
, BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, Radio and Records, Creative Loafing, AtlantaAtlanta (magazine)Atlanta is an award-winning monthly general-interest magazine based in Atlanta, Georgia and owned by Emmis Publishing, a division of Emmis Communications...
magazine, and others. Featured recurring characters like "Bertha, the oldest Freeloader", "Gay Bob", "the Stryper Rules guy", and "Forrest, the listener who couldn't win contests". Some of their elaborate pranks included the underground amusement parkAmusement parkthumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
Magic Island, giving out Leonardo DiCaprioLeonardo DiCaprioLeonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer. He has received many awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Aviator , and has been nominated by the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild and the British Academy of Film and Television...
's home phone number, complicated April Fool's Day ruses, and firing Leslie from the show because she wasn't pretty enough for the webcam. - Resurrection Sunday. Hosted by Axel at the Atlanta Beer Garten. A four-hour Sunday afternoon block of retro alternative songs.
- Locals Only. Hosted by Steve Craig (co-hosted by Jeff Clark, music critic and publisher of the magazine Stomp and Stammer) Saturday nights and Sunday nights. Featured all Atlanta-based bands and regional bands that regularly toured the Atlanta club scene. Collective SoulCollective SoulCollective Soul is an American rock band originally formed in Stockbridge, Georgia. Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity with their first hit single, "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993...
, Dave MatthewsDave MatthewsDavid John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
, Butch WalkerButch WalkerButch Walker is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.-Career:Walker grew up in Cartersville,...
, Shawn MullinsShawn MullinsShawn Mullins is an American singer-songwriter who specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, adult alternative, and Americana music. He is best known for the 1998 single, "Lullaby", which hit number one on the Adult Top 40 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.-Career:Mullins was born in...
, SevendustSevendustSevendust is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group...
and John MayerJohn MayerJohn Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
got their breaks here. Now hosted by Tommy every weekday night at 11:30 PM. - Bootleg X. 99X's Sunday night program of concerts by popular alternative acts (usually via Westwood OneWestwood OneWestwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
's archives). - Fear of Music. Jeff Clark's Sunday night program, highlighting underground music.
- The Swinging Velveeta Lounge. Sean Demery's hour-long Friday drive-time program dedicated to quirky and oddball music (aka, "cheese"). Usually broadcast in front of a live studio audience.
- The Beat Factory, later called Xcellerator. A Saturday evening block of techno/dance mixes.
- The Pleasure Dome. A sex-education talk show cohosted by Yvonne Monet (later Jill) and Roger Libby.
- Living Loud. Mon-Fri evening program (7p - 12a) that ran in the early 2000s. Initially hosted by Axel and Jill, later hosted by Fred Toucher.
- Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie. Started out in October 2003 as The Don Miller Morning Show, and briefly changed to The Toucher Show with Toucher and Jimmy. The show featured frequent appearances from Fat Kid, Donshay, Louis Perico, Wade the Drunk, MC Helium, and Calandro.
- Retroplex. Hosted by Steve Craig, featuring New Wave musicNew Wave musicNew Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and other classic alternative. Debuted in the mid-1990s as House of Retro Pleasure with a focus on 80s alternative. Later renamed Duplex of Retro Pleasure with the addition of 90s music to the show. Ended August 20, 2007. - Planet Jill. Hosted by Jill. Late-night programming that expanded on the station's traditional format.
- Freedom of Choice at 5. A request-only hour, hosted by Axel at 5pm every weekday. Ran through summer 2007.
- Sunday School. Sunday night program featuring new music, imports, b-sides, and other rarities. Originally hosted by Jay Harron, later by Elliott. Ended January 20, 2008.
- Live XLive XLive X refers to concerts hosted by the Atlanta, Georgia-based radio station 99X, generally performed in an unplugged, acoustic style. Each year, a CD was released by 99X containing select tracks from many Live X concerts that occurred in the past year. All proceeds from the sales benefit the I Am...
. Live performance show, usually acoustic. Began in 1993 as a live broadcast from Purple Dragon Studios before shifting to pre-taping and a regular timeslot. Later moved to Cat's Paw Studios, then to 99x Studios. Spawned twelve CD compilations so far, with proceeds from each going to a variety of charitable organizations. - Ten at Ten. Ten consecutive songs, commercial-free, starting at 10am.
- Ten O'Clock News. A 20-minute block of songs from emerging artists, and new songs from established ones, heard weeknights at 10:00 pm.
- 99Xposure. Hosted every weekday night at 10:30 PM by Tommy. Breaking new music from established and emerging artists.
- 99X-Press Lunch. Weekdays from 12pm-1pm. Featured thirteen consecutive songs, commercial-free. Replaced the Retroplex in 2007.
Promotions and concerts
- Music MidtownMusic MidtownMusic Midtown was a large music festival held in Atlanta, Georgia from 1994 to 2005. It is once again resurrected for 2011.The festival ran on one weekend each year from 1994 to 2005. The event drew in excess of 300,000 attendees per year during its peak years. Music Midtown started as a two-day...
- 99X Freeloader Program
- 99X Anti-Neck Army
- Upstart Fest
- Unplugged in the Park - a recurring free summer concert series presented at Park Tavern on the edge of Piedmont ParkPiedmont ParkPiedmont Park is a urban park in Atlanta, Georgia, located about northeast of Downtown, between the Midtown and Virginia Highland neighborhoods. Originally the land was owned by Dr. Benjamin Walker, who used it as his out-of-town gentleman's farm and residence...
beginning in 2002 - Sinner's Ball
- Naughty Night
- Live XLive XLive X refers to concerts hosted by the Atlanta, Georgia-based radio station 99X, generally performed in an unplugged, acoustic style. Each year, a CD was released by 99X containing select tracks from many Live X concerts that occurred in the past year. All proceeds from the sales benefit the I Am...
concerts and CDs - Virginia-HighlandVirginia-HighlandVirginia-Highland is a neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, founded in the early 20th century as a streetcar suburb. It is named after the intersection of Virginia Avenue and North Highland Avenue, the heart of a busy commercial district at the center of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is famous...
Summerfest - On The Bricks (the original)
- Downtown Rocks
- The Big Rock
- Big Day Out
- Big Day In (2005) - to help with victims of Hurricane KatrinaHurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
- Chinese New YearChinese New YearChinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
- Acoustic Christmas
- I'm with the Band!
- Brouhaha
- Mistle Toe Jam
- Brewfest
- 99Xpress magazine
- Project X http://books.google.com/books?id=6A0EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA98&ots=A3bsqttfmZ&dq=%22project%20x%22%2099x.com&pg=PA98#v=onepage&q=%22project%20x%22%2099x.com&f=false
- Get a Life
- Quit Your Day Job
- American IdiotAmerican IdiotAmerican Idiot is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released on September 21, 2004 through Reprise Records and was produced by longtime collaborator Rob Cavallo. In mid-2003, the band began recording songs for an album entitled Cigarettes and Valentines...
- Free Night Out w/ FilterFilter (band)Filter is a rock group formed in 1993 in Cleveland by singer Richard Patrick and guitarist/programmer Brian Liesegang. Filter has released five studio albums, the most recent being The Trouble with Angels, which was released on August 17, 2010....
and The Julia DreamThe Julia DreamThe Julia Dream is a rock band based out of Atlanta, GA founded by bassist Matt Spatial and singer Vernon P. Love. The sound of the band has been described as New Wave, psychedelic trance-rock, and melodic post-punk.... - The "What Would You Do" $10,000 Dare
- Celebrity SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
Slam - Night of the Living Loud
- Swingles Party
- Campus MovieFest
- Oyster Fest