WXKR
Encyclopedia
WXKR is a radio station
in Port Clinton, Ohio
, broadcasting on 94.5 MHz with a classic rock
format. The station is known as 94.5 XKR, Toledo's Classic Rock Station.
in Norwalk, WAWR
in Bowling Green
, and WKTN
in Kenton
through his "Ohio Radio Incorporated" banner. Robert W. Reider operated the station until he died on March 4, 1976, but his company continued operating the station until July 31, 1979, when WRWR, Inc., a subsidiary of Triplett Broadcasting, took over operations.
format. The station increased its power in 1981, and soon changed format to country music
. During these years it was known as "The Chicken", in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing. However, WOSE eventually changed back to Top 40 hits
less than two years later, in 1983. In 1990 it became classic rock and was known as WXKR "X-94.5". The station's transmitting power was boosted and moved closer to Toledo.
format with artists such as Tori Amos
, Pete Droge
, Rusted Root
, Eels
, Fastball
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
, with 1980s retro songs sprinkled in, each introduced as a "Retro Rewind from the X-K-Archives". The station struggled to find a niche in the market, and slowly evolved into somewhat of a mainstream modern rock
format, changing its tagline to "Toledo's Modern Rock, 94.5 K-Rock". With continuing low ratings, lack of promotion, and lack of direction, the station changed ownership the next year.
WXKR broadcasts a digital "HD radio" signal
in addition to its analog signal. In late July 2009, WXKR added WXKR-HD2, which carried audio programming from "The Zone", formerly carried on 106.5 FM prior to its swap to an all sports simulcast of 1470 WLQR-AM's "The Ticket". WXKR-HD2's programming is also available to analog listeners by way of translator W264AK at 100.7 FM, licensed to Toledo. In May 2011, The Zone's HD2 channel and translator was replaced with a Top 40/CHR format as "100.7 The Vibe," but the alternative format and "Zone" moniker continues on WXKR's HD3 subchannel.
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 Port Clinton, Ohio
Port Clinton, Ohio
Port Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,056 at the 2010 census. The city has been nicknamed the "Walleye Capital of the World."...
, broadcasting on 94.5 MHz with a 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. The station is known as 94.5 XKR, Toledo's Classic Rock Station.
WRWR
The station dates back to WRWR, which signed on on October 4, 1961, serving the town of Port Clinton. The station's callsign stood for its founder, Robert W. Reider, a local resident who eventually operated WRWR, WLKRWLKR-FM
WLKR-FM is an FM radio station licensed to Norwalk, Ohio, operating on 95.3 MHz. Its transmitter is located just outside of Norwalk near the intersection of Huber Road and Lamereaux Road. However, its studios are in Milan, along with sister stations WLKR and WKFM...
in Norwalk, WAWR
WRQN
WRQN is an American radio station licensed to broadcast from Bowling Green, Ohio. Though licensed to Bowling Green, its primary market and its studios are in the nearby city of Toledo. The station broadcasts at 93.5 on the FM dial, and plays classic hits music...
in Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood County in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Bowling Green was 30,028. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University...
, and WKTN
WKTN
WKTN is one of two radio stations operating in Hardin County, Ohio, United States. The other station is WONB, a college radio station that is a part of the Ohio Northern University.-Format and ownership:The format of WKTN is an A/C Mix Variety....
in Kenton
Kenton, Ohio
Kenton is a city in and the county seat of Hardin County, Ohio, United States, along the Scioto River. The population was 8,262 at the 2010 census. It is named for Kentucky/Ohio frontiersman, Simon Kenton...
through his "Ohio Radio Incorporated" banner. Robert W. Reider operated the station until he died on March 4, 1976, but his company continued operating the station until July 31, 1979, when WRWR, Inc., a subsidiary of Triplett Broadcasting, took over operations.
WOSE/X 94.5
On May 21, 1980, the station's callsign was changed to WOSE (for Ottawa, Sandusky, and Erie counties) with an Adult contemporaryAdult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
format. The station increased its power in 1981, and soon changed format 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...
. During these years it was known as "The Chicken", in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing. However, WOSE eventually changed back to Top 40 hits
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
less than two years later, in 1983. In 1990 it became classic rock and was known as WXKR "X-94.5". The station's transmitting power was boosted and moved closer to Toledo.
94.5 K-Rock
In March 1996, after being off the air for a couple of days, the station became "94.5 K-Rock, Rock's New Perspective" in a surprise move to try to compete with WBUZ Buzz 1065 Toledo. The station focused on an adult alternativeAdult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
format with artists such as Tori Amos
Tori Amos
Tori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
, Pete Droge
Pete Droge
Pete Droge is an American alternative/folk rock musician from Vashon Island in Washington State's Puget Sound. His debut album Necktie Second, released by American records in 1994, featured the tongue-in-cheek "If You Don't Love Me ", , as well as the songs "Sunspot Stopwatch" and "So I am Over...
, Rusted Root
Rusted Root
Rusted Root is a band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania known for their unique fusion of acoustic, rock, world and other styles of music, with a strong percussion section that draws from African, Latin American, Native American, and Indian influences...
, Eels
Eels (band)
Eels is an American indie rock band formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E...
, Fastball
Fastball (band)
Fastball is an American rock band that formed in Austin, Texas in the 1990s. The band originally called themselves "Magneto U.S.A." but changed their name after signing with Hollywood Records....
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, with 1980s retro songs sprinkled in, each introduced as a "Retro Rewind from the X-K-Archives". The station struggled to find a niche in the market, and slowly evolved into somewhat of a mainstream modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
format, changing its tagline to "Toledo's Modern Rock, 94.5 K-Rock". With continuing low ratings, lack of promotion, and lack of direction, the station changed ownership the next year.
Return to Classic Rock 94.5 XKR
In 1997, Cumulus Broadcasting purchased the station. The station stunted over the last weekend of January 1998 by playing the first five seconds of many classic rock songs followed by the sound effect of a needle dragging across a record. The classic rock format returned the following Monday on February 2, 1998. The station made an immediate return to the top 10 of the Arbitron ratings in Toledo. It was renamed "94.5 XKR" and has retained its format ever since, due to an upswing in the station's ratings and a subsequent drop in WJZE's ratings, which forced WJZE to drop their classic rock format later that Summer.WXKR broadcasts a digital "HD radio" signal
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...
in addition to its analog signal. In late July 2009, WXKR added WXKR-HD2, which carried audio programming from "The Zone", formerly carried on 106.5 FM prior to its swap to an all sports simulcast of 1470 WLQR-AM's "The Ticket". WXKR-HD2's programming is also available to analog listeners by way of translator W264AK at 100.7 FM, licensed to Toledo. In May 2011, The Zone's HD2 channel and translator was replaced with a Top 40/CHR format as "100.7 The Vibe," but the alternative format and "Zone" moniker continues on WXKR's HD3 subchannel.