WZMJ
Encyclopedia
WZMJ is an all-sports station licensed to Batesburg, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina
market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to broadcast at 93.1 MHz with an effective radiated power
(ERP) of 3 kW. The station goes by the name ESPN Radio 93.1 FM.
. At the time, WBLR-FM was located on 92.1 FM and had featured a middle of the road (MOR) format.
In the early 1980s, in order to accommodate a class/power increase for WTWE/Manning
, WWBD/Bamberg
was moved from 92.7 to 92.1, which required WBLR-FM to move from 92.1 to 95.3. As a result, WBLR-FM became WKWQ when it moved.
In the beginning WKWQ had featured a Country
format, but changed to Album Rock as "K-95 Rock" in 1986 and started to target nearby Columbia. However, it did not have an adequate signal to compete with the others stations in town. In 1988, the station changed again to Urban Contemporary
as "Hot 95" in an attempt to compete with Urban powerhouse WWDM
, but failed. During this period, the tower was moved closer to Columbia, but the signal problems remained.
WKWQ moved from 95.3 to 93.1 in early 1991. The station was re-launched as K-93, but was still handicapped by a smaller signal as well as underfunded ownership. The station eventually went to satellite programming using Satellite Music Network
's "The Touch" Adult Urban Contemporary format and was paired with sister station WKSO (now known as WHXT
) located in Orangeburg
.
This arrangement lasted until 1999 when WKWQ broke off from the simulcast with WKSO and flipped to Urban Oldies as "Majik 93.1", taking the new call letters of WZMJ. Unfortunately, Majic 93.1 never took off due to a weak signal as well as strong competition from Jammin' Oldies outlet WSCQ (now known as WXBT
), which launched a few months later. In 2000, the format was changed to Beach Music
.
The station, as well as sister Urban Contemporary outlet, WHXT was sold in 2003 to Inner City Broadcasting.
Shortly after the sale, the station changed format to Young Country
as 93.1 The Hound. Although it was designed as a flanker to protect sister station WWDM from Clear Channel Communications
's Country outlet WCOS-FM
from being #1 in the ratings, 93.1 The Hound managed to gain a small audience. However, in 2005, after the sign-on of Double O Radio
's New Country outlet WWNU
, the station moved sister AM's WOIC
ESPN Radio format to WZMJ, while WOIC was re-launched as a Air America Radio
outlet.
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...
market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) to broadcast at 93.1 MHz with an effective radiated power
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...
(ERP) of 3 kW. The station goes by the name ESPN Radio 93.1 FM.
History
WBLR-FM signed on August 5, 1965 as the sister station to WBLR 1430 AM, located in Batesburg-LeesvilleBatesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
Batesburg-Leesville is a town in Lexington and Saluda counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 5,517 at the 2000 census...
. At the time, WBLR-FM was located on 92.1 FM and had featured a middle of the road (MOR) format.
In the early 1980s, in order to accommodate a class/power increase for WTWE/Manning
Manning, South Carolina
Manning is a city in South Carolina and the county seat of Clarendon County in the Southeastern United States, located in the center of the county, just to the east of Interstate 95 and at the intersection of U.S. 301 and U.S. 521. The population was estimated to be 3,943 as of 2008, down 2% from...
, WWBD/Bamberg
Bamberg, South Carolina
Bamberg is a city in and the county seat of Bamberg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,733 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bamberg is located at ....
was moved from 92.7 to 92.1, which required WBLR-FM to move from 92.1 to 95.3. As a result, WBLR-FM became WKWQ when it moved.
In the beginning WKWQ had featured a 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...
format, but changed to Album Rock as "K-95 Rock" in 1986 and started to target nearby Columbia. However, it did not have an adequate signal to compete with the others stations in town. In 1988, the station changed again to Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
as "Hot 95" in an attempt to compete with Urban powerhouse WWDM
WWDM
WWDM is a Urban Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Sumter, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 101.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
, but failed. During this period, the tower was moved closer to Columbia, but the signal problems remained.
WKWQ moved from 95.3 to 93.1 in early 1991. The station was re-launched as K-93, but was still handicapped by a smaller signal as well as underfunded ownership. The station eventually went to satellite programming using Satellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered network to provide complete live 24-hour a day music programming to local stations, under several different formats...
's "The Touch" Adult Urban Contemporary format and was paired with sister station WKSO (now known as WHXT
WHXT
WHXT is an urban contemporary radio station licensed to Orangeburg, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 103.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 9.2 kW...
) located in Orangeburg
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Orangeburg, also known as "The Garden City," is the principal city in and the county seat of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city is also the fifth oldest city in the state of South Carolina. The city population was 12,765 at the 2000 census, within a Greater Orangeburg...
.
This arrangement lasted until 1999 when WKWQ broke off from the simulcast with WKSO and flipped to Urban Oldies as "Majik 93.1", taking the new call letters of WZMJ. Unfortunately, Majic 93.1 never took off due to a weak signal as well as strong competition from Jammin' Oldies outlet WSCQ (now known as WXBT
WXBT
WVOC-FM is a news/talk station licensed to West Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 100.1 MHz with an ERP of 5.9 kW...
), which launched a few months later. In 2000, the format was changed to 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,...
.
The station, as well as sister Urban Contemporary outlet, WHXT was sold in 2003 to Inner City Broadcasting.
Shortly after the sale, the station changed format to Young 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...
as 93.1 The Hound. Although it was designed as a flanker to protect sister station WWDM from Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
's Country outlet WCOS-FM
WCOS-FM
WCOS-FM is a Country music radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 97.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
from being #1 in the ratings, 93.1 The Hound managed to gain a small audience. However, in 2005, after the sign-on of Double O Radio
Double O Radio
Double O Radio is a privately held media corporation with corporate headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina. The chief executive officer is Terry Bond. Double O Radio owns several radio stations in the United States....
's New Country outlet WWNU
WWNU
WWNU is a soft adult contemporary radio station licensed to Irmo, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Double O Radio outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 92.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 15 kW...
, the station moved sister AM's WOIC
WOIC
WOIC is a News/Talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina. It serves the Columbia market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 1230 kHz with an effective radiated power of 1 kW full time...
ESPN Radio format to WZMJ, while WOIC was re-launched as a Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
outlet.