WZBA
Encyclopedia
WZBA is a radio station
serving Baltimore, Maryland. The station broadcasts on 100.7 MHz and translator W261CD 100.1 MHz in downtown Baltimore, and markets itself as the only station in the Baltimore market dedicated to the classic rock
format. The station's city of license is Westminster, Maryland
.
After broadcasting in a classic rock format for many years, the station moved over to a modern rock format for a time in the mid-1990s. While in its modern rock format, it was known as "the X", and featured the popular "M&M" morning show.
Suddenly one day, the station started broadcasting its modern rock DJ-free in a repetitive 10-song loop for a few days, which led into an unannounced weekend-long transition period of disco music as Polyester 101, before eventually switching to a country music format dubbed "Froggy 100.7, and later New County 100.7".
"Froggy 100.7" having proven a failure, the station switched its call letters to WZBA and became known as "The Bay", advertising its format as "Rock without the hard edge". The station played mostly classic rock at this time, but only songs without heavy guitar. Occasional forays into mixing more modern "rock without the hard edge" in with the classic rock of that variety were attempted, but abandoned quickly, as they did not seem to have support from the station's listeners.
Just hours after the Baltimore market's generalized classic rock station, 104.3 WOCT FM, switched to a smooth jazz format, WZBA abandoned its theme and switched to its current straight-forward classic rock format.
The station also offers other designated times where it plays certain songs based on a theme. They include:
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...
serving Baltimore, Maryland. The station broadcasts on 100.7 MHz and translator W261CD 100.1 MHz in downtown Baltimore, and markets itself as the only station in the Baltimore market dedicated to the 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's city of license is Westminster, Maryland
Westminster, Maryland
Westminster is a city in northern Maryland, United States. It is the seat of Carroll County. The city's population was 18,590 at the 2010 census. Westminster is an outlying community within the Baltimore-Towson, MD MSA, which is part of a greater Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV...
.
History
Originally known as WTTR-FM Westminster, after its move to Baltimore and the World Trade Center at the Inner Harbor the station operated under the call letters WGRX ("100 GRX"), and featured such diverse formats as classic rock, modern rock, and even country at various times in its history.After broadcasting in a classic rock format for many years, the station moved over to a modern rock format for a time in the mid-1990s. While in its modern rock format, it was known as "the X", and featured the popular "M&M" morning show.
Suddenly one day, the station started broadcasting its modern rock DJ-free in a repetitive 10-song loop for a few days, which led into an unannounced weekend-long transition period of disco music as Polyester 101, before eventually switching to a country music format dubbed "Froggy 100.7, and later New County 100.7".
"Froggy 100.7" having proven a failure, the station switched its call letters to WZBA and became known as "The Bay", advertising its format as "Rock without the hard edge". The station played mostly classic rock at this time, but only songs without heavy guitar. Occasional forays into mixing more modern "rock without the hard edge" in with the classic rock of that variety were attempted, but abandoned quickly, as they did not seem to have support from the station's listeners.
Just hours after the Baltimore market's generalized classic rock station, 104.3 WOCT FM, switched to a smooth jazz format, WZBA abandoned its theme and switched to its current straight-forward classic rock format.
DJs
- 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — "The More Music Morning Show" with (John) Klug
- 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Colleen Carew
- 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. — Albie Dee
- 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. — Mike Brilhart
- Traffic Meredith Marx
- Weekends Scott Fitzgerald, Sarah Taylor, AJ, the Acoustic Cafe with Mike Brilhart (Sunday, 8-10 a.m.), Flashback (Sunday, 8 p.m. - midnight)
Features
Every weekday, the station has designated giveaway times featuring the same theme that deal with questions about classic rock. They include:- 4:20 p.m. — College of Classic Rock Knowledge, a classic rock question with four multiple choice answers is given and must be answered correctly by callers.
The station also offers other designated times where it plays certain songs based on a theme. They include:
- Workforce Lunch (Monday – Friday) — From noon to 1:00 p.m., Colleen Carew hosts "Connect The Classics," a request show with one catch: each song must start with the last letter of the previous song.
- Get The Led Out (Monday – Friday) hosted by Mike Brilhart — At 10:00 p.m., a block of songs by Led ZeppelinLed ZeppelinLed Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
.
- The Perfect Album Side (Monday - Friday) hosted by Mike Brilhart - At 11:00 p.m., a block from a specific classic rock band or artist, requested from listeners.
- Acoustic Cafe (Sunday) — 8:00 - 10:00 a.m., Mike Brilhart plays acousticAcoustic musicAcoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
versions of popular classic rock songs.