History
Antecedents
A broadcasting station of varied music called Sabor Mix occupied on 95.5 MHz, which belonged to the same Corporación Aeropuerto S.A. where it was along with Radio A and R-700, in which it had to be shut down because that station didn't sell. Therefore, the general manager Hugo Salazar Díaz, Mrs. Martha Díaz Láinez Widow's son, in a risky businessman outburst decided to change the format to the station to bet for something newfangled and quality.
Meanwhile, the announcer Juan Carlos Hurtado, who laboured at the Hispanic Music station (Radio A), welcomed the manager who demonstrated his concern about what he wanted a radial product that has quality, popularity and above all that gets to the A1 customers as he called them.
There were many things to do like making an announcers staff and select the themes that will give life to this new project and that they would be the principal protagonists of the radio station...thus Ninoska Cuba (Juan Carlos Hurtado's spouse) joined the project. The new broadcasting station was set to go quietly on-air by 1 December, 15 December or when 1998 starts, but they selected so the radiostation goes on-air by 8 December 1997 for cabalistic question: for John Lennon, Jim Morrison (The Doors) and for being the Announcer's Day.
Long meetings were held among Juan Carlos, Ninoska and Hugo to find the name of the new station. They had the surname "Rock & Pop", the name was missing though. The new radiostation could be called "Radioactiva" ("Radioactive"), "Planeta" ("Planet"), "Andrómeda" ("Andromed"), "Blue", "Onyx", "Oxígeno" ("Oxygen") or "La Clásica" ("The Classic") but none of these names convinced them; till one day the deceased politician and radial administrator Dr. Dagoberto Láinez told Juan Carlos Hurtado that if he had a radiostation which played Spanish Music on (Radio A) and the new one would play on the opposite, so he put "Z" which was the opposite to "A"; and it was that "Z Rock & Pop" was born.
First years
Z Rock & Pop 95.5 FM officially went on-air on 8 December 1997 at 00:00 with the 1970s classic "Venus" by Dutch band Shocking Blue as the first song. In its first years the station bet for the latest in music mixing with the classics of Rock & Pop such in English as in Spanish with genres like rock, pop, R&B, oldies, adult contemporary, AOR, new wave, ballads and reggae. The first DJ's staff was formed with Juan Carlos Hurtado, Ninoska Cuba, Coco Valderrama, Arturo Otoya, Juan Vargas and Luigi Santana. Likewise, the station added to its hourly programming the news micros directed by María Elena Castro (Mariaelena Cruz), and developed by 16 reporters. Timely and truthful information increased the audience at that tim. Whit the voice of Randy Calandra.
The radiostation became competitor of Stereo 100, which played on the classic format; and of Studio 92 and Radio América 94.3 FM for the latest and the best in music. Then by May 2004, the radiostation also had a direct competence which was Oxígeno 102.1 FM, a brand-new station of then which played the same format on.
From 1998, the radiostation decided to innovate with the entry of more DJ's who will form the group, such in sound support, production and contents. In addition, by broadcasting the weekly countdowns where the one-hit wonders were played on, so "The Hot Z" is named for the song which was the number one of the mentioned ranking. Also, the annual countdowns were held and broadcast every 8 December, date of the anniversary of the radiostation, where they selected the "Hot Z" of the year. The ranking lasted until 2005 so the radiostation started broadcasting more classic music, specially from the 80's.
In 2002, the website of the radiostation www.radioz.fm is premiered, where the audience could get some information about the latest music and artists, play games online, laugh with some humorous sketches and specially, vote for songs for any ranking that were set to be played on the radio.
Change to 1980s music
After the broadcasting of the special ranking "Los Últimos 20" ("The Last 20") held on 13–15 May 2005, Z Rock & Pop shut down the weekly countdowns which played current music to broadcast music from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and alternating with some themes of the moment. Therefore, Z Rock & Pop changes its slogan to "Lo mejor de los 80… y más" ("The best of the 80… and more") as a base to broadcasting of 1980s songs. The change caused indignation to many listeners who wanted to hear more actual themes the radiostation used to play on. The last broadcasting of the annual ranking "The Hot Z" was held when the radiostation turned 8 years on-air where Keane's "Everybody's Changing" was the song of that year.
In July 2006, the website of the station changed its structure. The sections like "Chica Zeta" ("Girl Z"), "Hogar" ("Home"), "Tecnología" ("Technology"), among others that were since the website was created so they could be replaced for the new sections like "Wallpapers Z", "Musicómetro" ("Musicometre"), etc. At the end of August of that year, the DJ's Juan Carlos Hurtado, Ninoska and Coco Valderrama left Z Rock & Pop to appear on other broadcasting stations.
The last years
Although it only focused on 1980s music, Z Rock & Pop also played some songs of the moment between 2005 and 2009 such as the following:
- 2005
The Rolling Stones - Streets of Love
Keane - This Is the Last Time
Keane - Bend and Break
Robbie Williams - Tripping
Bon Jovi - Have a Nice Day
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
Santana feat. Michelle Branch & The Wreckers - I'm Feeling You
Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends
- 2006
Daniel Powter - Bad Day
Dixie Chicks - Not Ready to Make Nice
Yusuf - Heaven/Where True Love Goes
Roxette - One Wish
Bob Sinclar feat. Steve Edwards - World, Hold On (Children of the Sky)
Scissor Sisters feat. Elton John - I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
- 2007
Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder
Bon Jovi - Lost Highway
Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere
Muse - Starlight
Mika - Relax, Take It Easy
- 2008
Miguel Ríos - Memorias de la Carretera
Coldplay - Viva la Vida
Rata Blanca - Mujer Amante (Live)
The Killers - Read My Mind
The Killers - Human
- 2009
Julio Andrade - Bajo el Sol de California
Nosequien y Los Nosecuantos - La Tierra del Sol
Libido - Nadie Sabe Lo Que Vendrá
Libido - Malvada
Michael Jackson - This Is It
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
Pedro Suárez-Vértiz feat. Juan Diego Flórez - Nadia
Pedro Suárez-Vértiz - Amazonas
Gustavo Cerati - Déjà Vu
Muse - Uprising
In November 2007, some DJ's of the recently disappeared Radio A became part of Z Rock & Pop such as Karla Fernández, Marco Antonio Vásquez and the return of the DJ's Hibar Saldaña (who went back to the radiostation after 7 months) and Michael Phun, who was back on Z Rock & Pop after 5 years. Hence, during the period November 2007-August 2008, Z Rock & Pop had a DJ's staff in which all were part of its sister station Radio A except Leo Pro, this is because the current DJ Felipe Alfredo had been part of that broadcasting station during 1997–2003. By that month, the DJ's Rocky Rodríguez, Elizabeth Rodríguez and Tito Bernaza left Z Rock & Pop to become part of a brand-new sister station Radiomix (radiostation that substituted Radio A).
In the middle of 2008 the weekly countdowns were back but for this time as "La Esencia de la Semana" ("The Essence of the Week") where it broadcast the most ordered songs from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, as well as some new songs. This weekly countdown lasted until the end of February 2009.
In February 2009, the radiostation was sold to a Monsefú radio entrepreneur Higinio Capuñay Sarpán. As a result of that, on 1 March some Z Rock & Pop's subsidiary stations were replaced by a Cumbia radiostation "La Karibeña", causing depression to the "fanatics" who loved the good music because Z was the only station which difussionated Rock & Pop music. The website of Z Rock & Pop was changed from www.radioz.fm to www
However, in July 2009 Z Rock & Pop started to play Spanish Ballads on, a fact that occasioned that the audience are indignators by wondering why a Rock & Pop station could play that genre in which isn't its format. As a result of complaints about the wrong genre the station played on, Z Rock & Pop was back to its original format at the beginning of August 2009. In that month, DJ Coco Valderrama was back to Z Rock & Pop's microphones till December 2009.
Nonetheless, whilst Z Rock & Pop sponsored a concert that was set by 19 January 2010 which was of Thrash Metal band Metallica, an upcoming Capuñay's brand-new radiostation was announced to go on-air by the end of December 2009 on 95.5 MHz. This occasionates that many listeners wonder what could happen with the concert if the sponsored station disappeared. But in the middle of December 2009, every DJ was gradually taking leave of their listeners because the broadcasting station was going to change its format. In consequence, in the night of 30 December 2009, the radiostation presenter Mariley Paredes presented the last song for the station which was "Por Qué No Se Van" ("Why Don't They Go") by Los Prisioneros ("The Prisoners"). Afterwards, exactly at 20:00, the brand-new station of Reggaeton-Salsa-Cumbia format called "La Kalle" went on-air. The off-the-air of Z Rock & Pop caused much anger and depression to many listeners or "fanatics" who loved good music and who wanted to enjoy the Rock & Pop music of all time.
The return
Due to many complaints by the radiostation audience, on 26 January 2010 Z Rock & Pop was released as "Zeta Online" via www
By the period 2010–2012, Z Rock & Pop was gradually expanding its signal throughout the country. Such signal was listened in Chachapoyas, Huancayo, La Oroya, Tarapoto, Pucallpa, Iquitos, Ica, Tacna, Camaná, inter alia. On 23 May 2012 the signal of Z Rock & Pop returned to Lima through 96.1 MHz at the audience's request who needed to listen to good music.
However, the relaunch didn't thrive because on the frequency 96.1 MHz in Lima was in dispute: Z Rock & Pop could be attained to be heard but another youth format station that was owned by a concert organiser company interfered Z Rock & Pop's signal, making both to sound at the same time on the same frequency. Because of that, Radio Miraflores S.A. entered into a judgement against Corporación Universal and Kandavu Producciones (Kandavu Productions) to get the frequency. In consequence, 6 September would be the last day that Z Rock & Pop broadcasting its signal in Lima, causing much depression to the audience again.
In 2013, the coverage was gradually reducing due to low ratings the station had. The majority of its frequencies were taken over by its sister stations like Exitosa (Successful), La Hot (radiostation which lasted till the beginning of 2014) and La Kalle (station that replaces La Hot at the beginning of 2014). In the other hand, the annual ranking "La Hot Z del Año" ("The Hot Z of the Year") was back after 8 years one day before Z Rock & Pop turned 16 years on-air. In the mentioned countdown, the song "Memoria" ("Memory") by French band Indochine was crowned as the song of that year.
Present time
Z Rock & Pop offers all the best Rock & Pop from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's as well as the current ones at all its styles. It broadcasts in some cities in Peru through its assigned frequencies, as on internet via www
On 12 August 2015, Z Rock & Pop's signal returned to Lima via 98.7 MHz. That is because numerous listeners made the reiterated request of the return to the dial. The Signal could be heard clearly in the East zone of the city. [1] In addition, Z Rock & Pop's signal returned to its frequency in Piura (89.5 MHz), as well as in Mollendo via 93.9 MHz. In a few days towards the end of August 2015, the signal returned to Iquitos via 107.1 MHz.
By this new stage of the radio station, it commenced to play Eurodance in its programming along with Rock, Pop, Oldies and rest of genres, including soft music in "Z Sunset" (Monday to Friday 18:00-19:00) and "La Balada de Tu Vida" ("The Ballad of Your Life") (Sundays 18:00-20:00). On October 2, 2015, Mariley Paredes returned to the microphones of Z Rock & Pop booth again to lead the radio program "Entre Zeteros" ("Amongst "Z" Lovers") by replacing the announcer Karim Juliet who was sacked off the broadcasting station.
In November 2015, the radio station stopped broadcasting in Cusco where it appeared on 88.3 MHz to be replaced by its sister station La Kalle. On the other hand, the radio station is announcing a ranking for its 18 years of broadcasting by the day of its anniversary (8 December). Furthermore, from Saturday 21 November 2015, the announcer Juan Carlos Hurtado is back to Z Rock & Pop replacing César André in the mornings. But it lasted almost one week until César André reappeared on "Café con Z" ("Coffee with Z"), causing the audience wonder what happened with Juan Carlos Hurtado.
In the middle of December 2015 its signal in Piura was shut down so Radio Inspiración (Radio Inspiration) returned to its frequency (89.5 MHz). However, there are some rumors that its owner (Higinio Capuñay) had bought the frequency of 105.5 so that Z Rock & Pop could broadcast on that frequency due to complaints of its listeners who lived in Lima: that the sound was heard too weak, that there were interferences with another radio station, etc.
At the end of January 2016, Gino Lozano and Julio Zeta announced their departure of the radio station, leaving Mariley Paredes as an only announcer of Z Rock & Pop. The program "Z Sunset" is now broadcasting from Monday to Thursday at the same schedule (18;00-19;00) from March 2016. In mid-April 2016, the frequency in Lima (98.7 MHz) stopped broadcasting its signal. Recently on 5 May 2016, all its frequencies were substituted by a Latin-American music station; so the radio station shut down its signal in the cities where it used to broadcast on (Arequipa, Chiclayo, Ica, Mollendo and Tacna) to continue broadcasting via internet. From that point, no presenters are heard on the radiostation any longer.
At the beginning of August 2016, DJ Felipe Alfredo announced his departure of Z Rock & Pop to commence his new stage of his life.
In the middle of August 2016, the radiostation was back to normal: the ballads are played on again 24 hours a day along with Rock, Pop, Oldies, and rest of genres, including a little bit of Eurodance. However, most of the radiostation's old id's are played on 24 hours a day such as Es Música (Is Music), Mas y mejor música de los 80 (More and better 80's music), a bit of La esencia de los 80 (The essence of the 80's) along with some of the latest ids of the radiostation such as Marca Original (Original Brand). Also, there are some rumours that the radiostation could broadcast back on the FM. On the last days of 2016, Randy Calandra, the ex-DJ of the radiostation who is now the Exitosa's voiceover, announced that on 31 December from 20:00 La Caja de Año Nuevo (The New Year's Box) will be broadcast with the best mixes by DJ Z. Besides, there are rumours that Randy Calandra would be the official voiceover of the radiostation, this is due to an advertisement which features his voice with some songs from the 80's, 90's and today's.
From May 2017, Hispa Rock & Pop and Domingo 80 y Z (Sundays 80 & Z, then changed to Domingo Clasico) are back to the station.
