WYGY
Encyclopedia
WYGY is a radio station
broadcasting a country music
format. Licensed to the suburb of Fort Thomas
, Kentucky
, it serves the Cincinnati
, Ohio
metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1993
under the call sign WAAR. The station is currently owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.
97.3 "The Sound" launched ichannel.fm's broadcast as a sub channel (HD-2) on their HD Radio signal near the end of August 2008. In late May 2009, that format was dropped and 'Mormon Channel
', a Christian talk and teaching station, took its place on the HD2 channel.
format as Alex 97.3 (Why Alex? Why Not?).
format abandoned by owner of 107.1 FM Jacor Communications was re-introduced by CBS Radio
on 97.3 FM as "Channel Z" in March 2000
. In 2003
WAQZ was rebranded "New Rock 97.3" with a shift to more current current modern rock artists. WAQZ was rebranded again in 2005
as 97.3 Everything Alternative."
On August 21, 2006, Entercom Communications
bought WAQZ, along with several other stations, from CBS Radio. On October 30, 2006, Entercom abruptly fired the entire on-air staff, signaling the end of WAQZ. The final song to play on WAQZ was "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage
" by Panic! at the Disco
.
On November 2, 2006, a new alternative station was launched at 94.9 FM and the WYGY format was moved to 97.3 FM, although the call sign remained WAQZ for a month until the WYGY calls were finally in place. WYGY was formerly "The Star", located at 96.5 FM and owned by Cumulus Media
, but was traded to Entercom in exchange for WGRR
. Entercom would re-launch the format on 97.3 as "The Wolf", a top 40 country
station, in order to appeal to a younger demographic than its other country station, WUBE
("B-105"). At this time, Cincinnati's new alternative radio station, WSWD, began broadcasting on 94.9 FM, and WAQZ came to an end.
" by Green Day
at 12:02 p.m. EST.
" by Oasis
, launching a set of personal "Perfect 10" playlists sent in by individuals. After the "Perfect 10" promotion ended, WSWD returned to its alternative variety format.
, to Bonneville International
in exchange for all three of Bonneville's FM stations in San Francisco, California
and $1 million cash. In May 2007, Bonneville officially took over control of the Cincinnati stations through a time brokerage agreement
. On March 14, 2008, Bonneville officially closed on the stations.
The reason many were angry about the switch from 94.9 to 97.3 is because the signal is weaker on the new frequency, whereas 94.9 broadcast at 10,500 watts. This means the signal had trouble in Northern Kentucky and other portions of the listening area, especially behind hills.
er WSWD and flipped the station back to country
, taking the format from its 94.9 sister station, which flips to 1980s music
as Rewind 94.9. The last song on The Sound was No You Girls
by Franz Ferdinand
. Many believe the Sound's demise was based on Cumulus
' WFTK
flipping to alternative rock
earlier this year
. The Sound is available on WREW 94.9 HD2 and on the internet at www.thesoundcincinnati.com.
On January 19, 2011, it was announced that Bonneville International will sell WYGY and several other stations to Hubbard Broadcasting for $505 million. The sale was completed on April 29, 2011.
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...
broadcasting 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. Licensed to the suburb of Fort Thomas
Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Fort Thomas is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, on the southern bank of the Ohio River and the site of an 1890 US Army post. The population was 16,325 at the 2010 census, making it the largest city in Campbell County and it is officially part of the Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky metropolitan...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, it serves the Cincinnati
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...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1993
1993 in radio
The year 1993 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*WIBF debuts it's modern rock in Jenkintown/Philadelphia*March 13 - Eagle 106 WEGX becomes WJJZ Smooth Jazz 106.1 and featured Smooth Jazz format. the final song played for Eagle 106 was I Will Remember You by Amy Grant...
under the call sign WAAR. The station is currently owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.
97.3 "The Sound" launched ichannel.fm's broadcast as a sub channel (HD-2) on their HD Radio signal near the end of August 2008. In late May 2009, that format was dropped and 'Mormon Channel
Mormon Channel
Mormon Channel is an over the air and Internet radio station owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is based in Salt Lake City, Utah....
', a Christian talk and teaching station, took its place on the HD2 channel.
Station history
After signing on with the call sign WAAR, the station changed their call sign to WMMA in June 1993. The station again changed their call sign to WYLX in 1998 and by then was broadcasting a classic rockClassic 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 Alex 97.3 (Why Alex? Why Not?).
WAQZ
The WAQZ call sign and Alternative rockAlternative 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...
format abandoned by owner of 107.1 FM Jacor Communications was re-introduced by CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
on 97.3 FM as "Channel Z" in March 2000
2000 in radio
The year 2000 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*The Real Radio & Century Radio networks become active on - air, through the United Kingdom....
. In 2003
2003 in radio
The year 2003 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:* October 10 - Facing an investigation surrounding allegations of illegal drug use, American right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh publicly admits that he is addicted to prescription pain killers, and will seek treatment.-Debuts:*March...
WAQZ was rebranded "New Rock 97.3" with a shift to more current current modern rock artists. WAQZ was rebranded again in 2005
2005 in radio
The year 2005 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*April 29 - KFRC 610 AM in San Francisco, switches formats as a result of ownership change. KFRC becomes KEAR, the "Sound of the New Life", a listener-supported, gospel/religious only station. It had been previously KFRC from...
as 97.3 Everything Alternative."
On August 21, 2006, Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
bought WAQZ, along with several other stations, from CBS Radio. On October 30, 2006, Entercom abruptly fired the entire on-air staff, signaling the end of WAQZ. The final song to play on WAQZ was "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage
The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage
"The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage", shortened to "The Only Difference" for radio and convenience, is a single from Panic! at the Disco's debut album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out . It achieved some commercial success and exposed the new band to an audience,...
" by Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
.
WYGY The Wolf
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...
, but was traded to Entercom in exchange for WGRR
WGRR
WGRR is a Classic Hits radio station in the Cincinnati, Ohio market on the FM dial at 103.5, owned by Cumulus Media.-History:Originally WHOH when founded in the 1950s by Fort Hamilton Broadcasting which aired middle of the road and beautiful music through the 1960s...
. Entercom would re-launch the format on 97.3 as "The Wolf", a top 40 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...
station, in order to appeal to a younger demographic than its other country station, WUBE
WUBE-FM
WUBE-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, the station serves the Cincinnati area. The station is currently owned by Bonneville Holding Company. The station is also broadcast on HD radio....
("B-105"). At this time, Cincinnati's new alternative radio station, WSWD, began broadcasting on 94.9 FM, and WAQZ came to an end.
"The Sound" 94.9 FM
On Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 12 p.m. EST, "The Sound" began broadcasting on 94.9 FM. Although the station used the WYGY call letters for the first month that the new format was on the air, station management stressed those letters would be moved to 97.3 FM where the country format previously at 94.9 FM was relocated. The WSWD call letters debuted in late November. The first song played on 94.9 The Sound was "Welcome to ParadiseWelcome to Paradise
"Welcome to Paradise" is a song by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released as the second single from its third studio album and its major label debut, Dookie. The original version of the song was released on the band's second studio album, Kerplunk and was re-recorded for Dookie in...
" 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...
at 12:02 p.m. EST.
Initial programming stunts
Upon its launch, the station began a programming stunt that consisted of 9,490 songs in a row without commercials or DJ interruption, though they replayed many songs multiple times in a day. This stunt took 22 days to complete, and it finished on December 1, 2006 at 5 p.m. EST. At this time, the station announced that it would begin airing commercials. The first song played after the 9,490 song promotion was "WonderwallWonderwall (song)
"Wonderwall" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by the band's guitarist and main songwriter Noel Gallagher. The song was produced by Owen Morris and Gallagher for their second album, Morning Glory?...
" by Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, launching a set of personal "Perfect 10" playlists sent in by individuals. After the "Perfect 10" promotion ended, WSWD returned to its alternative variety format.
Entercom/Bonneville station trade
On January 18, 2007, Entercom announced plans to swap its entire Cincinnati radio cluster, including WSWD, together with three of its radio stations in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, to Bonneville International
Bonneville International
Bonneville International Corporation is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation...
in exchange for all three of Bonneville's FM stations in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and $1 million cash. In May 2007, Bonneville officially took over control of the Cincinnati stations through a time brokerage agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
. On March 14, 2008, Bonneville officially closed on the stations.
"The Sound moves to 97.3 FM
On November 7, 2008 at 11:00 a.m., WSWD and WYGY switched frequencies, returning an alternative rock format to the 97.3 FM frequency. All weekday disc jockeys were also let go with the move. The last song to play on the 94.9 frequency was "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage" by Panic! at the Disco.Controversy
Many "Sound" listeners were angry over the move. Some sent angry letters to Bonneville International demanding them to change back and rehire the original weekday disc jockeys who had become a staple in many "Sound" listener's lives.The reason many were angry about the switch from 94.9 to 97.3 is because the signal is weaker on the new frequency, whereas 94.9 broadcast at 10,500 watts. This means the signal had trouble in Northern Kentucky and other portions of the listening area, especially behind hills.
The Wolf Returns To 97.3
Bonneville blew up alternative rockAlternative 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...
er WSWD and flipped the station back to 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...
, taking the format from its 94.9 sister station, which flips to 1980s music
1980s in music
For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89For a history of music in all times, see Timeline of musical events....
as Rewind 94.9. The last song on The Sound was No You Girls
No You Girls
"No You Girls" is a song from the Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand. It is the second single from their third album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand...
by Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
. Many believe the Sound's demise was based on Cumulus
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...
' WFTK
WFTK
WFTK is a commercial modern rock radio station in Cincinnati, operated by Cumulus Media.- History :The station began in 1958 as WQMS, Quality Music Station, playing beautiful music. In 1968, the station became a religious station and played contemporary Christian music...
flipping to alternative rock
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...
earlier this year
2009 in radio
The following events occurred in radio in 2009.- Events :* January 1: Kurdish TV starts broadcasting in Turkey.* January: Michael Smerconish, morning host at talk radio WPHT Philadelphia, begins syndication of his morning show to WHFS in Washington and WOR in New York City.* January 17: Two well...
. The Sound is available on WREW 94.9 HD2 and on the internet at www.thesoundcincinnati.com.
On January 19, 2011, it was announced that Bonneville International will sell WYGY and several other stations to Hubbard Broadcasting for $505 million. The sale was completed on April 29, 2011.