WZPW
Encyclopedia
WZPW is a radio station
in Central Illinois
with a rhythmic contemporary
music format. WZPW in Peoria, Illinois
broadcasts at 92.3 MHz with an Effective radiated power
(ERP) of 19,500 watt
s and is owned by Townsquare Media.
WBGE (B-92), but by the end of the decade they would start incorporating Rhythmic pop
, shifting the station's format direction. WBGE was sold in early 2000 to become what was the first of two radio stations for AAA Entertainment in the Peoria market. It spent less than a year as an Urban AC station known as "Cool 92" before flipping to CHR/Rhythmic in the fall of 2000 as POWER 92. The call letters were changed to WZPW.
In 2001 WZPW began expanding its format into the Bloomington area, where they were heard on WRPW. In early 2002, WZPW upgraded its signal to 19 kW and moved to a new tower near Kickapoo, Illinois
. By 2006, WZPW and WRPW stopped simulcasting after AAA sold WZPW to Regent Broadcasting (the predecessor to Townsquare Media). AAA kept WRPW, however, later selling it and its sister properties in Bloomington, Illinois
to Great Plains Media. In September 2007, the Rhythmic format on WRPW ceased to exist as Great Plains Media relaunched the radio station with an FM Talk format as "Cities 92-9," leaving WZPW as the only surviving part of the previously-successful simulcast.
The station currently broadcasts Radio Data System
information, identifying on-screen as "Today's Hottest Music, POWER 92-3" and also identifying the title and artist of the currently playing song.
The station is also an affiliate of the syndicated Sunday Nite Slow Jams.
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 Central Illinois
Central Illinois
Central Illinois is a region of the U.S. state of Illinois that consists of the entire central section of the state, divided in thirds from north to south. It is an area of mostly flat prairie. The western section was originally part of the Military Tract of 1812 and forms the distinctive western...
with a rhythmic contemporary
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
music format. WZPW in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
broadcasts at 92.3 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 19,500 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s and is owned by Townsquare Media.
History
WZPW originally signed on the air in October 1990 as Urban ContemporaryUrban 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...
WBGE (B-92), but by the end of the decade they would start incorporating Rhythmic pop
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
, shifting the station's format direction. WBGE was sold in early 2000 to become what was the first of two radio stations for AAA Entertainment in the Peoria market. It spent less than a year as an Urban AC station known as "Cool 92" before flipping to CHR/Rhythmic in the fall of 2000 as POWER 92. The call letters were changed to WZPW.
In 2001 WZPW began expanding its format into the Bloomington area, where they were heard on WRPW. In early 2002, WZPW upgraded its signal to 19 kW and moved to a new tower near Kickapoo, Illinois
Kickapoo Township, Peoria County, Illinois
Kickapoo Township is located in Peoria County, Illinois. The population was 3,573 at the 2000 census. Kickapoo Township changed its name from Orange Township on an unknown date, but the best guess is 1850.- External links :***...
. By 2006, WZPW and WRPW stopped simulcasting after AAA sold WZPW to Regent Broadcasting (the predecessor to Townsquare Media). AAA kept WRPW, however, later selling it and its sister properties in Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
to Great Plains Media. In September 2007, the Rhythmic format on WRPW ceased to exist as Great Plains Media relaunched the radio station with an FM Talk format as "Cities 92-9," leaving WZPW as the only surviving part of the previously-successful simulcast.
The station currently broadcasts Radio Data System
Radio Data System
Radio Data System, or RDS, is a communications protocol standard for embedding small amounts of digital information in conventional FM radio broadcasts. RDS standardises several types of information transmitted, including time, station identification and programme information.Radio Broadcast Data...
information, identifying on-screen as "Today's Hottest Music, POWER 92-3" and also identifying the title and artist of the currently playing song.
Programming line-up
As of Aug 2011, the on-air lineup of WZPW consisted of:- Mornings: Jason's Morning Grind W/ Jason Parkinson, Producer Kylie & Intern Chad
- Middays: Mark Long
- Afternoons: Amanda
- Evenings: Jay Williams
- Weekends: Lord Mic
The station is also an affiliate of the syndicated Sunday Nite Slow Jams.
External links
- Power 92.3 WZPW official website
- Power 92.3 at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....