WQBK-FM
Encyclopedia
WQBK-FM and WQBJ are Active Rock
music formatted radio station
s licensed to Rensselaer, New York
and Cobleskill, New York respectively, and serving New York's Capital District
and Mohawk Valley
. The stations are owned by Townsquare Media. WQBK-FM broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP
from a tower in Bethlehem, New York
, while WQBJ broadcasts at 50 kilowatts ERP
from a tower northwest of Fultonville, New York
. WQBK-FM is also one of the three commercial Albany FM radio stations to have never changed their call letters (WGNA-FM
and WFLY
are the others).
by five years. Throughout the years, the station has continued to evolve through various rock formats, beginning with progressive rock
in August 1975; the station currently airs an alternative
-leaning active rock
format.
WQBK-FM was the Albany market home of The Howard Stern Show from 1992 to 2005, and was replaced by The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
upon its transition from The Edge to Q103. At the present time, WQBK-FM's airstaff includes The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
weekdays from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Rob Dawes from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Mrozek from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Dave Hunter from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM, and John Clark from 12:00 AM to 5:00 AM (a holdover from the Q104 classic rock
era).
) and they simulcasted an adult contemporary, and later oldies format (SHO Radio) as WSHQ. The sale of WSHZ to the owners of WTRY-AM
in 1992 led to a return to adult contemporary (albeit satellite fed) on 103.5 as a stopgap for the station before it was sold to Maximum Media in 1994. The calls were changed to the current WQBJ and it has been a simulcast of WQBK-FM's rock format ever since, despite several ownership changes.
By the early 1980s, WPYX
had arrived in the Albany market with a more mainstream format, while WQBK-FM kept its more progressive format, albeit updated. The original owners sold the station and its AM sister in 1984 to Dick Berkson, who tweaked the format from a new-wave format to a more mainstream format with elements of the Big Chill
format (which had a heavy lean on 1960s music), and rebranded the station as QBK-FM 104 with the slogan The Rock That Matters.
However, this format caused WQBK-FM to lose its audience share, and in 1987, the station relaunched as a more mainstream classic rock
format as well as the return of the Q104 branding. During this period, the programming was classic-heavy with a limited amount of currents (mainly new material from core artists of the time). Five years later, WQBK-FM would pick up The Howard Stern Show and deseat WGY morning host Don Weeks for the next thirteen years.
In 1994, WQBK-FM added a simulcast on recent acquisition WQBJ at 103.5 MHz in Cobleskill. One year later, the stations flipped to mainstream rock
and rebranded as 103.5/103.9 The Edge, placed between classic rock
WPYX
and active rock
WZRQ
. However, after several months of faltering ratings, the stations flipped to modern rock
, which made the stations a success in the Albany market within a year (scoring in the top 5 ratings and #1 18-34 spot) thanks to the combination of modern rock and Howard Stern.
In 1996, Radio Enterprises purchased Maximum Media (then-owners of WQBK-FM, WQBJ, and WQBK-AM (now WGDJ)); two years later, Clear Channel
would purchase Radio Enterprises, and increased voicetracking and automation at the station as well as leaning towards active rock
. The stations eventually flipped officially to active rock
on September 17, 1999; two weeks later, former sister station WHRL flipped to modern rock to fill the hole left by The Edge's flip to active rock.
When AMFM merged with Clear Channel in 2000, WQBK-FM/WQBJ/WTMM were divested to Regent Communications (now Townsquare Media) due to market concentration concerns; the format was tweaked to a more mainstream active rock format as a result of the acquisition by Regent; eventually developing a lean towards modern rock
. However, ratings began to decline at The Edge by 2005, and with Howard Stern moving to Sirius Satellite Radio
, the future of The Edge' s format was bleak.
On the morning of December 16, 2005, The Edge format was flipped to album-oriented rock
, changing their moniker to Q103 (a reference to the former Q104) and the Where Rock Lives slogan and introducing The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
(based at sister station WGRD-FM
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
) as a replacement for the departed Howard Stern show. The Edge name was later revived on Pamal Broadcasting
's new active rock
station WZMR
(which formerly held the modern rock
-formatted Z104.9 in 1999 before flipping to a jazz
format and is now country music
as 104.9 The Cat). During this time, the stations were positioned between WPYX and WZMR in terms of music playlist.
Two years later, the stations would flip back to active rock
and introduce slogans such as Relentless Rock and Go Rock Yourself to promote the new format, which is climbing back up the ratings. Like the former Edge, the stations have a modern rock
lean, although most modern rock songs played on the stations are those found on both the modern and active rock charts. A year later, WHRL flipped to active rock, sparking the Clear Channel-Regent non-compete agreement again (which was used in 2007 when WBZZ had a Hot AC format and flipped to AC as a result); however, WHRL eventually flipped to a simulcast of WGY.
By the end of 2010, WQBK-FM/WQBJ was the only Active Rock radio station remaining in the Albany market, as both WZMR
and WHRL had flipped to country music
as 104.9 The Cat and a simulcast of talk radio
WGY respectively. Mediabase
, Arbitron
and Nielsen BDS now report WQBK-FM/WQBJ as an active rock station, replacing WZMR. On September 2, 2011, the station gained a new competitor on 100.9 FM when the station flipped from variety hits to active rock
; however, WQBK-FM still leans more alternative than its competitor.
affiliate WEDG-TV
which used the "EdgeTV" branding and a variant of the radio station's logo as their on-air logo. After The Edge was taken over by Regent Communications, that station changed its name to "UPN4" and was dissolved in 2003 when off-air affiliate WNYA
signed on.
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:...
music formatted radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s licensed to Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, United States, and is located on the Hudson River directly opposite Albany. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,392; in 1920, it was 10,832. The name is from Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original landowner of the region in New...
and Cobleskill, New York respectively, and serving New York's Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
and Mohawk Valley
Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains....
. The stations are owned by Townsquare Media. WQBK-FM broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP
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...
from a tower in Bethlehem, New York
Bethlehem, New York
Bethlehem is a town in Albany County, New York, USA. The population was 33,656 at the 2010 census. The town is south of Albany. Bethlehem includes the following hamlets: Delmar, Elsmere, Slingerlands, Glenmont, Selkirk, South and North Bethlehem. U.S. Route 9W passes through the town...
, while WQBJ broadcasts at 50 kilowatts ERP
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...
from a tower northwest of Fultonville, New York
Fultonville, New York
Fultonville is a village in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 710 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat....
. WQBK-FM is also one of the three commercial Albany FM radio stations to have never changed their call letters (WGNA-FM
WGNA-FM
WGNA-FM is a country music-formatted radio station licensed to Albany, New York and serving New York's Capital District. The station is owned by Townsquare Media, and broadcasts at 12.5 kilowatts from the Helderberg Mountains tower farm in New Scotland...
and WFLY
WFLY
WFLY is a Contemporary Hit Radio station licensed to Troy, New York and serving New York's Capital District as well as the surrounding areas, including the Adirondacks...
are the others).
Programming
WQBK-FM is the longest-running commercial rock music station in the Albany radio market, predating WPYXWPYX
WPYX is a Classic Rock radio station licensed to Albany, New York and primarily serving New York's Capital Region, the Adirondacks, and surrounding areas...
by five years. Throughout the years, the station has continued to evolve through various rock formats, beginning with progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
in August 1975; the station currently airs an alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
-leaning 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:...
format.
WQBK-FM was the Albany market home of The Howard Stern Show from 1992 to 2005, and was replaced by The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a syndicated talk radio show based at WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels and Chris "Hot Wings" Michaels with Eric "Zane" Zeitunian, "Producer" Joseph Gasmann, Jr, Assistant Producer Steve McKiernan, and Robot. The...
upon its transition from The Edge to Q103. At the present time, WQBK-FM's airstaff includes The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a syndicated talk radio show based at WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels and Chris "Hot Wings" Michaels with Eric "Zane" Zeitunian, "Producer" Joseph Gasmann, Jr, Assistant Producer Steve McKiernan, and Robot. The...
weekdays from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Rob Dawes from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Mrozek from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Dave Hunter from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM, and John Clark from 12:00 AM to 5:00 AM (a holdover from the Q104 classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
era).
History of WQBJ
Prior to joining the simulcast of WQBK-FM, WQBJ signed on in 1986 as WITU with an adult contemporary format. It became WACS, in 1988, still adult contemporary at the time. In 1989, WACS was sold to the owners of 98.3 WSHZ (now WTRY-FMWTRY-FM
WTRY-FM, or 98.3 WTRY, is an oldies station licensed to Rotterdam, New York and serving New York's Capital District and Mohawk Valley. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications, and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from a tower in between Altamont and Duanesburg, New York off U.S...
) and they simulcasted an adult contemporary, and later oldies format (SHO Radio) as WSHQ. The sale of WSHZ to the owners of WTRY-AM
WOFX (AM)
WOFX, known as Fox Sports 980, is an AM radio station broadcasting on 980 kHz licensed to Troy, New York. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and runs a sports radio format and is the Fox Sports Radio affiliate for the Capital District, Adirondacks, and...
in 1992 led to a return to adult contemporary (albeit satellite fed) on 103.5 as a stopgap for the station before it was sold to Maximum Media in 1994. The calls were changed to the current WQBJ and it has been a simulcast of WQBK-FM's rock format ever since, despite several ownership changes.
History of WQBK-FM
WQBK-FM signed on in 1972 as the sister station to WQBK, an AM daytimer (today's WGDJ) which had aired MOR music. The station originally simulcasted WQBK-AM's programming and continued it through the evening hours. However, by early 1975, WQBK-FM began to air Progressive Rock, starting at 4PM. The earlier hours of the day were still a simulcast of WQBK-AM. WQBK-FM flipped to a full time Progressive Rock format in August 1975. The original broadcast day was 7AM-1AM, signing off overnight. The station was now promoted as The Progressive 104; two years later, the iconic Q104 branding appeared on the station.By the early 1980s, WPYX
WPYX
WPYX is a Classic Rock radio station licensed to Albany, New York and primarily serving New York's Capital Region, the Adirondacks, and surrounding areas...
had arrived in the Albany market with a more mainstream format, while WQBK-FM kept its more progressive format, albeit updated. The original owners sold the station and its AM sister in 1984 to Dick Berkson, who tweaked the format from a new-wave format to a more mainstream format with elements of the Big Chill
The Big Chill (film)
The Big Chill is a 1983 American comedy-drama film directed by Lawrence Kasdan, starring Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly, and JoBeth Williams. It is about a group of baby boomer college friends who reunite briefly after 15 years due to...
format (which had a heavy lean on 1960s music), and rebranded the station as QBK-FM 104 with the slogan The Rock That Matters.
However, this format caused WQBK-FM to lose its audience share, and in 1987, the station relaunched as a more mainstream classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
format as well as the return of the Q104 branding. During this period, the programming was classic-heavy with a limited amount of currents (mainly new material from core artists of the time). Five years later, WQBK-FM would pick up The Howard Stern Show and deseat WGY morning host Don Weeks for the next thirteen years.
In 1994, WQBK-FM added a simulcast on recent acquisition WQBJ at 103.5 MHz in Cobleskill. One year later, the stations flipped to mainstream rock
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
and rebranded as 103.5/103.9 The Edge, placed between classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
WPYX
WPYX
WPYX is a Classic Rock radio station licensed to Albany, New York and primarily serving New York's Capital Region, the Adirondacks, and surrounding areas...
and 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:...
WZRQ
WKKF
WKKF is a Contemporary Hit Radio radio station licensed to Ballston Spa, New York and serving the Capital District and Adirondacks...
. However, after several months of faltering ratings, the stations flipped to modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
, which made the stations a success in the Albany market within a year (scoring in the top 5 ratings and #1 18-34 spot) thanks to the combination of modern rock and Howard Stern.
In 1996, Radio Enterprises purchased Maximum Media (then-owners of WQBK-FM, WQBJ, and WQBK-AM (now WGDJ)); two years later, Clear Channel
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...
would purchase Radio Enterprises, and increased voicetracking and automation at the station as well as leaning towards 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:...
. The stations eventually flipped officially to 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:...
on September 17, 1999; two weeks later, former sister station WHRL flipped to modern rock to fill the hole left by The Edge
When AMFM merged with Clear Channel in 2000, WQBK-FM/WQBJ/WTMM were divested to Regent Communications (now Townsquare Media) due to market concentration concerns; the format was tweaked to a more mainstream active rock format as a result of the acquisition by Regent; eventually developing a lean towards modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
. However, ratings began to decline at The Edge by 2005, and with Howard Stern moving to Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius 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...
, the future of The Edge
On the morning of December 16, 2005, The Edge format was flipped to album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
, changing their moniker to Q103 (a reference to the former Q104) and the Where Rock Lives slogan and introducing The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a syndicated talk radio show based at WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels and Chris "Hot Wings" Michaels with Eric "Zane" Zeitunian, "Producer" Joseph Gasmann, Jr, Assistant Producer Steve McKiernan, and Robot. The...
(based at sister station WGRD-FM
WGRD-FM
WGRD-FM is an active rock radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.WGRD-FM is the flagship station of The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show, a comedy/talk program, on weekday mornings...
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
) as a replacement for the departed Howard Stern show. The Edge name was later revived on Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd. is a family-owned radio ownership with stations in medium-to-small markets in the Northeast and Florida. Based in the Albany suburb of Latham, New York, Pamal Broadcasting was founded in 1986 as Albany Broadcasting when business man James J. Morrell entered broadcast...
's new 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:...
station WZMR
WZMR
WZMR is a country music formatted radio station licensed to Altamont and serving New York's Capital District and surrounding areas. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting, and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from the Helderberg Mountains antenna farm in New Scotland...
(which formerly held the modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
-formatted Z104.9 in 1999 before flipping to a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
format and is now country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
as 104.9 The Cat). During this time, the stations were positioned between WPYX and WZMR in terms of music playlist.
Two years later, the stations would flip back to 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:...
and introduce slogans such as Relentless Rock and Go Rock Yourself to promote the new format, which is climbing back up the ratings. Like the former Edge, the stations have 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...
lean, although most modern rock songs played on the stations are those found on both the modern and active rock charts. A year later, WHRL flipped to active rock, sparking the Clear Channel-Regent non-compete agreement again (which was used in 2007 when WBZZ had a Hot AC format and flipped to AC as a result); however, WHRL eventually flipped to a simulcast of WGY.
By the end of 2010, WQBK-FM/WQBJ was the only Active Rock radio station remaining in the Albany market, as both WZMR
WZMR
WZMR is a country music formatted radio station licensed to Altamont and serving New York's Capital District and surrounding areas. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting, and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from the Helderberg Mountains antenna farm in New Scotland...
and WHRL had flipped to country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
as 104.9 The Cat and a simulcast of talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
WGY respectively. Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
, Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
and Nielsen BDS now report WQBK-FM/WQBJ as an active rock station, replacing WZMR. On September 2, 2011, the station gained a new competitor on 100.9 FM when the station flipped from variety hits to 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:...
; however, WQBK-FM still leans more alternative than its competitor.
EdgeTV
For a brief period in 2000, WQBK-FM/WQBJ had an association with startup cable-only UPNUPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
affiliate WEDG-TV
WEDG-TV
WEDG-TV was a cable-only UPN affiliate in New York's Capital District which was a joint venture between Time Warner Cable and Fox affiliate WXXA-TV.Edge TV, named for and promoted with a sister radio station, signed on at the start of 2000, displacing Boston's WSBK from...
which used the "EdgeTV" branding and a variant of the radio station's logo as their on-air logo. After The Edge was taken over by Regent Communications, that station changed its name to "UPN4" and was dissolved in 2003 when off-air affiliate WNYA
WNYA
WNYA is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for the Capital District of New York State and Western New England. Licensed to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, WNYA broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter northwest of New Salem, New York, along with a...
signed on.