WXST
Encyclopedia
WXST is a Gold-based Urban Adult Contemporary
radio station
located in Charleston, South Carolina
, but licensed by the FCC to the town of Hollywood, South Carolina
. The station broadcasts with an ERP
of 70 kW.
, with studios located near the town of Bluffton
under the ownership of Barnicle Broadcasting. WHTK featured a CHR
format targeting nearby Hilton Head and Savannah
. Although ratings were very good in its home market of Hilton Head/Beaufort, SC, the station faced stiff competition from competitor WZAT-FM
in the Savannah market as well as a weak signal in that area. WHTK played a major role during Hurricane Hugo
in 1989 as it was one of the few radio stations that was able to stay on the air for most of the storm and broadcast information to the Lowcountry.
In January 1993, the station dropped its CHR format for Country
under the new call letters of WNCK as "K99.7". This lasted less than a year before the station changed formats again to Adult Standards
as WLOW moved down the dial from 106.9 to 99.7.
WLOW eventually moved back to 106.9 within a years time and 99.7 once again became WNCK with a Talk
format. It eventually gave way to a Contemporary Christian format before going dark in May, 1995.
By the Summer of 1995, the station was sold to Baker Broadcasting, who changed the format to a syndicated Beach Music
format under the WHBZ call letters as "The Breeze", pairing it with WWBZ in McClellanville, South Carolina
and adding WLXC
in Columbia, South Carolina
in early 1996.
By 2001, Baker Broadcasting sold WHBZ to Apex Broadcasting, which dropped the simulcast with WWBZ and flipped the station to a simulcast with WSIS. Then it briefly had an All-Comedy format, then a brief satellite-fed Classic rock
format with local shows on the weekend. The station became Smooth Jazz
under the WJZX call letters.
During this time, the station made a long-planned move into the Charleston radio market by changing its city of license to Hollywood and moving its tower to Mount Pleasant
, which was completed in 2003.
When the move was completed, the station flipped again to Adult Urban Contemporary as WXST, adopting the "Star 99.7" handle.
The station is owned by Apex Broadcasting.
, beginning May 24, 1991. It remained until they were dropped on March 16, 1998 for WESK
.) Then, WXST was assigned to STAR 107.9 in Delaware, Ohio
beginning June 26, 1998. They remained until they were dropped on April 23, 2001 for WJHT
, only to be reacquired on May 16, 2001. WXST/Delaware was dropped completely for WODB July 27, 2001 (now WVMX).
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
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...
located in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, but licensed by the FCC to the town of Hollywood, South Carolina
Hollywood, South Carolina
Hollywood is a town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,946 at the 2000 census. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
. The station broadcasts with an 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...
of 70 kW.
History
99.7 signed on the air July 15, 1988 as WHTK. The station at the time was licensed to Port RoyalPort Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...
, with studios located near the town of Bluffton
Bluffton, South Carolina
The weather in the Bluffton, SC area is typical of the Southeast with generally mild temperatures from Fall through Spring and a warm and humid Summer. There can be occasionally snow flurries in the winter but that is quite unusual....
under the ownership of Barnicle Broadcasting. WHTK featured a CHR
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...
format targeting nearby Hilton Head and Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. Although ratings were very good in its home market of Hilton Head/Beaufort, SC, the station faced stiff competition from competitor WZAT-FM
WZAT-FM
WZAT is a radio station in Savannah, Georgia. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, is licensed to Savannah, Georgia, and is airing a sports format with programming from ESPN Radio.-History:...
in the Savannah market as well as a weak signal in that area. WHTK played a major role during Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 1989 as it was one of the few radio stations that was able to stay on the air for most of the storm and broadcast information to the Lowcountry.
In January 1993, the station dropped its CHR format for Country
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...
under the new call letters of WNCK as "K99.7". This lasted less than a year before the station changed formats again to Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
as WLOW moved down the dial from 106.9 to 99.7.
WLOW eventually moved back to 106.9 within a years time and 99.7 once again became WNCK with a Talk
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...
format. It eventually gave way to a Contemporary Christian format before going dark in May, 1995.
By the Summer of 1995, the station was sold to Baker Broadcasting, who changed the format to a syndicated Beach Music
Beach music
Beach music, also known as Carolina beach music, is a regional genre which developed from various musical styles of the forties, fifties and sixties. These styles ranged from big band swing instrumentals to the more raucous sounds of blues/jump blues, jazz, doo-wop, boogie, rhythm and blues,...
format under the WHBZ call letters as "The Breeze", pairing it with WWBZ in McClellanville, South Carolina
McClellanville, South Carolina
McClellanville is a small fishing town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census. It is situated on the Atlantic coast, on land surrounded by Francis Marion National Forest and has traditionally derived its livelihood from the sea and coastal...
and adding WLXC
WLXC
WLXC is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 103.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 6 kW...
in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
in early 1996.
By 2001, Baker Broadcasting sold WHBZ to Apex Broadcasting, which dropped the simulcast with WWBZ and flipped the station to a simulcast with WSIS. Then it briefly had an All-Comedy format, then a brief satellite-fed 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 with local shows on the weekend. The station became Smooth Jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
under the WJZX call letters.
During this time, the station made a long-planned move into the Charleston radio market by changing its city of license to Hollywood and moving its tower to Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Mount Pleasant is a large affluent suburban town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. It is a member of the Charleston–North Charleston–Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area, for statistical purpose only, as designated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget....
, which was completed in 2003.
When the move was completed, the station flipped again to Adult Urban Contemporary as WXST, adopting the "Star 99.7" handle.
The station is owned by Apex Broadcasting.
Call Letter History
Prior to this, the WXST call letters were first assigned to a station licensed to Loudon, TennesseeLoudon, Tennessee
Loudon is a city in and the county seat of Loudon County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 4,476 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located in eastern Tennessee, southwest of Knoxville, on the Tennessee River...
, beginning May 24, 1991. It remained until they were dropped on March 16, 1998 for WESK
WFIV
WFIV-FM is a radio station broadcasting an adult album alternative format. Licensed to the suburb of Loudon, Tennessee it serves the Knoxville metropolitan area including Farragut. It first began broadcasting in 1990 under the call sign WJDG...
.) Then, WXST was assigned to STAR 107.9 in Delaware, Ohio
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
beginning June 26, 1998. They remained until they were dropped on April 23, 2001 for WJHT
WJHT
WJHT is a radio station licensed to serve Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Forever Broadcasting, LLC. It airs a Contemporary Hit Radio music format. This station was assigned the WJHT call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on July 13, 2006.There is no relation...
, only to be reacquired on May 16, 2001. WXST/Delaware was dropped completely for WODB July 27, 2001 (now WVMX).