WARQ

Last updated
WARQ
WARQ Live 93.5 logo (2021).png
Broadcast area Columbia metropolitan area
Frequency 93.5 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingLive 93.5
Programming
Format Top 40 (CHR)
Subchannels HD2: ALT 99.7 (Alternative rock)
HD3: Worship & Word Network (Christian radio)
HD4: 94.9 The Palm (Adult album alternative)
Ownership
Owner
WHXT, WMFX, WWDM, WSCZ
History
First air date
February 6, 1971;53 years ago (1971-02-06)
Call sign meaning
We ARe Q 93.5 (previous branding)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 58400
Class A
ERP 2,800 watts
HAAT 135 meters (443 ft)
Translator(s) HD2: 99.7 W259CL (Columbia)
HD3: 105.1 W286CT (Columbia)
HD4: 94.9 W235CH (St. Matthews)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Listen Live (HD2)
Listen Live (HD3)
Listen Live (HD4)
Website live935.com
alt997.com (HD2)
worshipandwordnetwork.com (HD3)
949thepalm.com (HD4)

WARQ (93.5 FM) is a commercial radio station in Columbia, South Carolina. It is owned by Alpha Media and it airs a top 40 (CHR) format branded as "Live 93.5" Its studios are on Pineview Road in Columbia, off U.S. Route 378.

Contents

WARQ is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 2,800 watts. The transmitter tower is atop the Capitol Center building at 1201 Main Street. [2] WARQ broadcasts using HD Radio (hybrid) technology. [3] Its HD digital subchannels carry three formats: alternative rock as ALT 99.7, Christian radio from the Worship & Word Network, and adult album alternative as 94.9 The Palm.

History

Easy Listening

The station signed on the air on February 6, 1971. Its original call sign was WXRY. It broadcast in mono with an automated Beautiful Music format. Later, the station converted to FM stereo, still with an Easy Listening music format supplied on reel to reel tape by Schulke. The station played quarter hour sweeps of mostly soft instrumental cover versions of adult hits, along with Broadway and Hollywood show tunes.

In 1983, the station adopted the call letters WCEZ, standing for Columbia and EZ listening music. It used the slogans "The Beautiful Place to Be" and "Easy 93 WCEZ."

Soft AC

Shortly after the sale of WCEZ and sister station WVOC 560 AM to Ridgley Communications, WCEZ abandoned the Easy Listening format, shifting to soft adult contemporary music. It incorporated more vocals and eliminated all but a few instrumentals. WCEZ adopted the moniker "Lite 93.5" and began carrying a satellite-delivered music service supplied by Westwood One known as "Format 41."

Ridgley Communications later filed for bankruptcy protection. A private ownership group, in the fall of 1989, purchased WCEZ and WVOC out of bankruptcy. The group of owners, which included Olympia Networks' Steve Bunyard and broadcast veteran Rick Dames, organized and operated the stations under the Clayton Radio name.

Gold-Based AC

In January 1990, Clayton Radio replaced Format 41 with a Gold-based "WARM" AC format developed by McVay Media. The station adopted the moniker "Star 93.5" and the call letters WAAS. The call letters were designed to put the station at the top of the Arbitron rating service list of stations and stood for "We Are Always Shining." The jingles used by WAAS were customized versions of JAM's "Q-Cuts" package.

By 1992, WAAS was at a crossroads. The station was experiencing financial difficulties as well as a ratings battle with two other ACs in the market, WTCB and WSCQ (now known as WXBT).

Active Rock

That August, the station, in a rather bold move, dropped AC for Active Rock under the "Rock 93.5" handle. Most songs were from the 2000s but the playlist included a few harder-edged classic rock titles as well. The new call letters became WARQ and the station set out to battle established album rock and classic rock hybrid WMFX for the Columbia rock audience.

In early 1995, WARQ was sold to new owners and the studios were moved with new sister station WWDM. When the move was completed, a brief stunt was done on April Fools' Day when WARQ dropped Album Rock for Hip hop as "93 Jamz" for about an hour. After the stunting was done, "Rock 93.5" was relaunched with a new on-air slogan "Real Rock". At that point, the station segued toward a mix of Active Rock and Alternative Rock as a hybrid.

Alternative Rock

WARQ become a full time alternative rock station by early 1996. It dropped the "Real Rock" slogan in the process, switching to "Columbia's Rock Alternative".

In 1999, a new handle known as "Channel 93.5" was adopted by Clear Channel Communications, the stations latest owner. This lasted until 2004, when the "Rock 93.5" moniker was reclaimed after Inner City Broadcasting bought WARQ and its sister stations.

From 2000 to 2003, WARQ hosted the Fallout concerts at Finlay Park, featuring popular bands of the time including Incubus and Our Lady Peace. WARQ hosted Fallout again from 2009 to 2012 outside of Jillian's bar in the Vista, and hosted Springout from 2010-'13 there also. Their lineup for Fallout '09 was Atlanta's Collective Soul (for their Collective Soul album, Atlanta's Cartel, and Charleston's Deepfield. In 2010, Fallout had Tennessee's Fuel, Jacksonville's Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and Athens' Dead Confederate. In 2011, Fallout had Canada's Theory of a Deadman and Michigan's Pop Evil. In 2012, Fallout had Mississippi's Saving Abel, Charlotte's Paper Tongues, and Columbia's Weaving the Fate (Villanova). In 2010, WARQ's Springout had California's Papa Roach and Florida's Nonpoint. In 2011, Springout had Kentucky's Cage the Elephant and Atlanta's Manchester Orchestra (for their Simple Math album). In 2012, Springout had Awolnation and Neon Trees. In 2013, Springout had Jacksonville's Shinedown.

Hot AC and Top 40

The station was owned for a short time by YMF Media LLC through licensee YMF Media South Carolina Licensee LLC. In late 2020, it was acquired by Alpha Media (formerly known as L&L Broadcasting). [4] which also bought Urban Contemporary WHXT, Urban AC WWDM, Modern rock WMFX, and Sports WOIC in the Columbia radio market at the time of purchase.

On March 21, 2014, after playing "Say Goodbye" by Theory of a Deadman, WARQ began stunting with a loop directing listeners to co-owned rock station WMFX. On March 24, at Midnight, WARQ ended stunting and changed its format to Hot AC, branded as "Q93.5". [5] However, the station gradually morphed into a Mainstream Top 40 by 2017. [6] On July 2, 2021, WARQ rebranded as "Live 93.5". [7]

HD Radio

WARQ added an HD2 digital subchannel known as "Rock 99.7", launched around Christmas 2016. It feeds an FM translator at 99.7 MHz, playing active rock and modern rock, with only a few minutes of commercials each hour. It airs songs from the 1990s, '00s, '10s, and new alternative rock, like Rock 93.5 did. It later rebranded to ALT 99.7.

WARQ added an HD3 subchannel, airing Christian Radio programming, from the Worship & Word Network. It feeds an FM translator at 105.1 MHz.

An HD4 subchannel was added when co-owned WPCO 1230 AM went silent. That station had played adult album alternative rock on the AM frequency, while it fed an FM translator at 94.9 MHz. Together they were known as "94.9 The Palm." (South Carolina is known as "The Palmetto State.") The AM station was taken off the air in January 2022 and its license was later returned to the FCC. [8] But the programming on the FM translator continues, now fed by WARQ-HD4.

Previous logos

WARQ-FM.png WARQ Q93.5 logo.png

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSRV</span> Radio station in Gainesville, Georgia

WSRV – branded 97.1 The River – is a commercial radio station licensed to Gainesville, Georgia, and serving Metro Atlanta. It is owned by the Cox Media Group. WSRV broadcasts a classic rock radio format. The studios and offices are in the Cox Television and Radio Facility on West Peachtree Street near the Brookwood neighborhood of Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQQL</span> Radio station in Anoka–Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota

KQQL is a commercial radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul radio market and is licensed to suburban Anoka. It plays classic hits and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Utica Avenue South in St. Louis Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLTJ</span> Radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

WLTJ is a commercial radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is owned by the Frischling family through licensee WPNT Media Subsidiary, LLC, and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format.

WEZX is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Scranton, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Times-Shamrock Communications, through licensee Scranton Times, L.P., and broadcasts a classic rock format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXBT</span> Radio station in West Columbia, South Carolina

WXBT is a commercial radio station licensed to West Columbia, South Carolina and serving the Columbia metropolitan area. It airs an urban contemporary radio format, branded as "100.1 The Beat", and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. WXBT carries the nationally syndicated morning show "Big Boy's Neighborhood." WXBT's radio studios are on Greystone Boulevard off Interstate 126, near Riverbanks Zoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWEG</span> Radio station in Myersville, Maryland

WWEG is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Myersville, Maryland. The station is owned by Manning Broadcasting, Inc. and broadcasts a classic hits format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLXC</span> Radio station in Columbia, South Carolina

WLXC is an urban adult contemporary radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina that serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast with an ERP of 6 kW. The station goes by the name Kiss 103.1 and its current slogan is "Columbia’s Best Variety of R&B."Its studios are located at the Tower building in Downtown Columbia, South Carolina and the transmitter is in Columbia northeast of downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMFX</span> Radio station in St. Andrews, South Carolina

WMFX is a commercial FM radio station licensed to St. Andrews, South Carolina, and serving the Columbia metropolitan area. The Alpha Media outlet broadcasts a classic rock radio format, with a few alternative rock artists also in the playlist. The station goes by the name Fox 102.3 and its current slogan is "Columbia's Rock Station." Its radio studios and offices are located on Pineview Drive in Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWDM</span> Radio station in Sumter, South Carolina

WWDM is an urban adult contemporary radio station licensed to Sumter, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Alpha Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100 kW from a transmitter east of Fort Jackson. The station goes by the name 1013 The Big DM and its current slogan is "Your #1 Station for R&B". Its studios are located in Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHXT</span> Radio station in Orangeburg, South Carolina

WHXT is a mainstream urban radio station licensed to Orangeburg, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Alpha Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 9.2 kW. The station goes by the name Hot 103.9/93.9 and its current slogan is "Columbia's #1 Choice for Blazin' Hip-Hop and R&B." Its studios are on Pineview Road in Columbia, while the transmitter tower is located west of St. Matthews, South Carolina, southeast of Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHMH-FM</span> Rock radio station in Sauk Rapids–St. Cloud, Minnesota

WHMH-FM is a commercial radio station in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, broadcasting an active rock radio format. The station is owned by Tri-County Broadcasting, calling itself "Rockin' 101" and commonly referred to as "The Red House". Its main competitor is KXXR "93X".

WPCO was a radio station in Columbia, South Carolina. Last owned by Alpha Media, it broadcast an adult album alternative (AAA) format. Its studios were on Pineview Road in Columbia, with a transmitter tower located near Bicentennial Park along the Congaree River in downtown Columbia. It was also heard on FM translator W235CH at 94.9 MHz, using the translator's dial position as its moniker, "94.9 The Palm."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQKS-FM</span> Radio station in Montgomery, Alabama

WQKS-FM, also known as Kiss-FM 96.1, is an adult contemporary formatted radio station that serves the Montgomery Metropolitan Area, licensed to Montgomery, Alabama. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. The station's transmitter is located in Montgomery. The station's studios are located on Wall St. in Midtown Montgomery.

WOKV-FM is a radio station in Atlantic Beach, Florida, United States, serving the Jacksonville metropolitan area. It airs a news/talk format branded as "News 104.5 WOKV". The station is owned by Cox Media Group and broadcasts from studios and a transmitter in the Southside district of Jacksonville.

KRGI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a new country format. Licensed to Grand Island, Nebraska, United States, the station serves the Grand Island-Kearney area. The station is currently owned by Legacy Communications, LLC and features programming from ABC Radio, Premiere Radio Networks and Jones Radio Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KJJZ</span> Radio station in California, United States

KJJZ is a radio station licensed to Indian Wells, California and broadcasting to the greater Coachella Valley and the Morongo Basin, including Palm Springs. Owned by Marker Broadcasting, it broadcasts an oldies radio format. The studios are on Merle Drive in Palm Desert.

WDBR is a commercial radio station licensed to Springfield, Illinois, and serving Central Illinois. It is owned by Saga Communications as part of its Capitol Radio Group, and broadcasts a Top 40 (CHR) radio format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRMS-FM</span> Radio station in Osage Beach, Missouri

KRMS-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Osage Beach, Missouri, United States. The station, originally established in April 1964, is currently owned and operated by Viper Communications, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRNH</span> Radio station in Kerrville, Texas

KRNH is a radio station licensed to Kerrville, Texas. The station broadcasts a country music format and is owned by Lyndell Grubbs, through licensee Radio Ranch, LLC.

K296GB is a radio station located in North Highlands, California. The station's license is held by the Educational Media Foundation; its programming is provided by iHeartMedia. The station broadcasts a country music format branded as 107.1 The Bull. The station's programming can also be heard on KYRV's HD2 HD Radio subchannel and the iHeartRadio apps.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WARQ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/WARQ
  3. ↑ HD Radio Guide for Columbia, South Carolina
  4. ↑ "L&L Broadcasting Expands to Columbia, SC".
  5. ↑ WARQ Columbia Flips to Hot AC
  6. ↑ "Login to All Access | Breaking Radio News and Free New Music".
  7. ↑ WARQ Goes Live Radioinsight - July 2, 2021
  8. ↑ "Notification of Cancellation of the WPCO Station License". January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.

34°00′04″N81°02′06″W / 34.001°N 81.035°W / 34.001; -81.035

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.