WWQM-FM
Encyclopedia
WWQM-FM is a radio station
licensed to Middleton, Wisconsin
and serving the Madison
area. Owned and operated by Mid-West Family Broadcasting
, the station has aired a country music
format since 1981. The station is simulcast on WWQN, at 106.7 FM, which is licensed to Mount Horeb
in western Dane County
.
WWQM was originally WMAD-FM, owned by Hudson Communications. As WMAD-FM, it simulcast with Country-formatted WMAD (at 1550AM, a station now known as WHIT
). "The Country Giant" was an early station slogan, followed by "Music of America." WMAD-AM became WWQM ("15Q") in 1976, running an automated oldies format featured PAMS jingles, while WMAD-FM adopted its own country format, though competitor WTSO
continually beat it in the ratings, forcing WMAD-FM to drop Country for Top 40 rock in 1978. WMAD adopted the WWQM call letters in 1977, running a live-assist format using TM Programming Stereo Rock. In mid-1978, the station hadn't reached the high ratings expected and Q106 became a fully automated station. In January 1980, Q106 dropped automation and went live Top 40. This version of Q106 only lasted a short time and a switch to country would follow in 1981.
On November 3, 2008, Q106's reach would expand outside of the immediate Madison area with a simulcast on WWQN at 106.7 FM, which covers Iowa County
and far west portions of Dane County
. The frequency was formerly home to Rhythmic Top 40 station WJQM
, which moved to 93.1 FM (and displaced the classic rock-formatted WHLK
) to accommodate the Q106 simulcast.
The Q106 format would be adjusted in July 2009, when new program director John Sebastian, after 3-1/2 days of on-air stunting with alternate, non-country formats
, instituted a new "Q106.3," which would feature less talk by DJ's, more music, a harder-edged voice imaging, and a broader playlist that includes vintage songs
and pop and rock songs with crossover appeal to contemporary country listeners, such as the first song played post-stunting, Lynyrd Skynyrd's
"Sweet Home Alabama". Sebastian would depart WWQM/WWQN in Summer 2011, after which the station would gradually divert from path he instituted to one with more DJ interaction and brighter imaging, including a rebranding to "Today's Q106".
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Middleton, Wisconsin
Middleton, Wisconsin
Middleton is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. It is a western suburb of the state capital, Madison but it was actually founded before Madison. It got its name from Middletown, Connecticut; the "w" being dropped was due to a paper work error made by long time historian Edward Kromrey...
and serving the Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
area. Owned and operated by Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Mid-West Family Broadcasting is an independently owned broadcasting company based in Madison, Wisconsin. The company owns and manages radio stations in Madison and LaCrosse, WI, Benton Harbor/St Joseph, MI, Springfield, IL and Springfield, MO....
, the station has aired a 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...
format since 1981. The station is simulcast on WWQN, at 106.7 FM, which is licensed to Mount Horeb
Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Mount Horeb is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,009 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in western Dane County
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
.
History
Whit
Whit, or, Isis amongst the unsaved is a novel by the Scottish writer Iain Banks, published in 1995. Isis Whit, a young but important member of a small, quirky cult in Scotland, narrates...
). "The Country Giant" was an early station slogan, followed by "Music of America." WMAD-AM became WWQM ("15Q") in 1976, running an automated oldies format featured PAMS jingles, while WMAD-FM adopted its own country format, though competitor WTSO
WTSO
WTSO is a radio station in the Madison, Wisconsin area. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and airs a sports radio format...
continually beat it in the ratings, forcing WMAD-FM to drop Country for Top 40 rock in 1978. WMAD adopted the WWQM call letters in 1977, running a live-assist format using TM Programming Stereo Rock. In mid-1978, the station hadn't reached the high ratings expected and Q106 became a fully automated station. In January 1980, Q106 dropped automation and went live Top 40. This version of Q106 only lasted a short time and a switch to country would follow in 1981.
On November 3, 2008, Q106's reach would expand outside of the immediate Madison area with a simulcast on WWQN at 106.7 FM, which covers Iowa County
Iowa County, Wisconsin
Iowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 22,780. Its county seat and largest city is Dodgeville.Iowa County is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and far west portions of Dane County
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
. The frequency was formerly home to Rhythmic Top 40 station WJQM
WJQM
WWQN is a radio station licensed to Mount Horeb, Wisconsin and surrounding areas. The station is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting and simulcasts the country format of sister station WWQM-FM...
, which moved to 93.1 FM (and displaced the classic rock-formatted WHLK
WHLK
WJQM is a radio station serving Madison, Wisconsin and surrounding areas. The station is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting and launched a Rhythmic Contemporary format as "106.7 Jamz" in January 2007 before the move to 93.1 FM in October 2008....
) to accommodate the Q106 simulcast.
The Q106 format would be adjusted in July 2009, when new program director John Sebastian, after 3-1/2 days of on-air stunting with alternate, non-country formats
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
, instituted a new "Q106.3," which would feature less talk by DJ's, more music, a harder-edged voice imaging, and a broader playlist that includes vintage songs
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
and pop and rock songs with crossover appeal to contemporary country listeners, such as the first song played post-stunting, Lynyrd Skynyrd's
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
"Sweet Home Alabama". Sebastian would depart WWQM/WWQN in Summer 2011, after which the station would gradually divert from path he instituted to one with more DJ interaction and brighter imaging, including a rebranding to "Today's Q106".