WJBQ

Last updated
WJBQ
Broadcast areaSouthern and Western Maine
Frequency 97.9 MHz
BrandingQ97 dot 9
Programming
Format Top 40 (CHR)
Affiliations Compass Media Networks
Ownership
Owner
WBLM, WCYY, WHOM, WPKQ
History
First air date
June 1960 (as WLOB-FM)
Former call signs
WLOB-FM (1960-1971)
WDCS (1971-1980)
WJBQ-FM (1980-1986)
WWGT (6/1986-8/1986)
WWGT-FM (1986-1991)
WCSO (1991-1997)
Technical information
Facility ID 3134
Class B
ERP 16,000 watts
HAAT 271 meters (889 ft)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website wjbq.com

WJBQ (97.9 FM; Q97 dot 9) is a commercial radio station in Portland, Maine. It is owned by Townsquare Media and it airs a Top 40 (CHR) format. The studios and offices are at One City Center in Downtown Portland.

Contents

WJBQ has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 16,000 watts as a Class B station. Its transmitter is on Eagles Nest Road in Gray, Maine, near the Maine Turnpike. The signal can be heard throughout Southwestern Maine, into portions of adjacent New Hampshire, and occasionally in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. [1]

WLOB-FM and WDCS history

In June 1960, the station signed on as WLOB-FM, simulcast with co-owned 1310 WLOB. Over time, WLOB-AM-FM became Portland's highest-rated Top 40 radio stations, although in those days, few people had FM radios and most were listening to 1310 WLOB. WLOB-AM-FM were sold to Portland Broadcasting Corporation on March 3, 1965. [2] The AM and FM simulcast ended on March 1, 1971 when the two stations were acquired by separate companies.

WLOB (AM) went to Aurovideo Incorporated while still maintaining a Top 40 format. Meanwhile, WLOB-FM went to Dirigo Communications Incorporation, changing its call sign to WDCS-FM and switching to a classical music format. [3] The commercial classical station on 97.9 FM lasted nine years.

WJBQ history

WJBQ debuted on July 15, 1974, as a 3,000-watt Top 40 station. It broadcast on 106.3 FM licensed to Scarborough, Maine, just outside Portland. It was simulcast with 1440 AM in nearby Westbrook, Maine. The main competition for WJBQ-AM-FM was then Top 40 station 1310 AM WLOB, which was one of the highest rated Contemporary Hits stations in the country. In its first Arbitron ratings, WJBQ-AM-FM edged WLOB by about three points. As the audience shifted to FM from AM, it meant a gradual decline for WLOB.

WLOB continued as an AM Top 40 station for a while longer, probably because it had the backing of legendary consultant Paul Drew protege Ron Foster and others. Meanwhile, WJBQ was staffed by Wally Brine doing mornings (later at WROR-FM in Boston), Joe McMillan in middays (who went on to WHDH (now WEEI) in Boston and KABL in San Francisco), and Jeff Ryder in the afternoon slot (also the station's program director, who went on to WBBF-Rochester, New York and WOKY-Milwaukee). By 1977, WLOB had changed formats to an older-targeted Adult Contemporary format.

In September 1980, WJBQ's owner John Bride swapped frequencies and formats with Portland classical music station WDCS on 97.9 FM. This would make WJBQ a full-power 50,000-watt facility, with the lower-rated classical programming moving to the 3,000-watt signal at 106.3. The move proved to be profitable for WJBQ. High-profile names like Andy Carey, Brian Phoenix, and Harry Nelson took turns as the station's program directors, and brought it continued high ratings.

In August 1986, Bride sold WJBQ in order to launch independent UHF TV station WPXT. The new owner was former WJTO/WIGY owner Turner Porter, who launched an ambitious full-service adult contemporary format featuring Joe McMillan in morning drive and NBC Talknet at night. It took new call letters, WWGT, or "The Great 98". Jack O'Brien was imported from sister station WERZ in Exeter, New Hampshire as program director. This "AM on FM" approach didn't garner the success that was hoped for, and the station changed format again in November 1987.

The full-service AC format was replaced with CHR as "G-98" with Jon Holiday as the programming consultant. Under Holiday's guidance, the station achieved ratings success and remained CHR as G-98 until 1991. Beginning that year, the station changed on-air slogans several times (as Ocean, Coast, etc.) It remained an AC station with the WCSO call sign for several years. It returned to its Top 40 roots for a 3rd time and original WJBQ call letters in November 1996, under the ownership of Fuller-Jeffrey Radio. Fuller-Jeffrey later sold the station to Citadel Broadcasting. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011. [4]

Previous logo WJBQ logo.png
Previous logo

On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would acquire 53 Cumulus stations, including WJBQ, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global. Townsquare and Dial Global are both controlled by Oaktree Capital Management. [5] [6] The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KROC-FM</span> Radio station in Rochester, Minnesota

KROC-FM is a commercial radio station serving Rochester, Minnesota. The station's transmitter is located near the Minnesota-Iowa border. The station is owned by Townsquare Media. It airs a Top 40 (CHR) music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMMQ</span> Radio station in East Lansing, Michigan

WMMQ is an American classic rock radio station licensed to East Lansing, Michigan. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.

WCZX is a radio station licensed to Hyde Park, New York and serving the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York state. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts at 300 watts ERP from the Illinois Mountain master tower in Marlborough, New York with studios on Pendell Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie.

WLOB is a commercial radio station licensed to Portland, Maine. The station is owned by Atlantic Coast Radio and airs a Talk radio format. The studios and transmitter are on Warren Avenue in Portland. WLOB transmits with 5,000 watts using a directional antenna to protect other stations on its frequency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBXX (FM)</span> Radio station in Marshall, Michigan

WBXX is a radio station in Battle Creek, Michigan.

The Big JAB is the name of 2 sports radio stations in western and southern Maine, owned by Atlantic Coast Radio. It is heard on 1440 AM and 96.3 FM. The stations air local sports talk hosts Monday through Friday. Fox Sports Radio provides programming nights and weekends. In July 2017 Atlantic Coast Radio purchased a 250-watt translator at 92.5 MHz from Augusta, Maine-based Light of Life Ministries to further augment its Portland-area FM signal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEOK</span> Radio station in Poughkeepsie, New York

WEOK is a commercial radio station licensed to Poughkeepsie, New York and serving the Mid-Hudson Valley. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and airs a Spanish-language adult hits radio format, known as "Juan 95.7."

WRRV is a commercial radio station licensed to Middletown, New York and serving Orange County, including parts of the mid Hudson Valley and Catskills Mountains. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts an alternative rock radio format. WRRV's programming is simulcast on 96.9 WRRB Arlington, New York which serves the Mid-Hudson Valley, north of WRRV's signal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBACH</span> Classical music radio network in Maine (1991–2017)

WBACH was a radio network in the American state of Maine, active from 1991 to 2017. Airing on four stations at its peak, the network broadcast a classical music format from studios in Kennebunk.

WOKQ is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. The station serves the Merrimack Valley, the New Hampshire Seacoast, and York County, Maine, including the cities of Manchester and Portsmouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBLM</span> Classic rock radio station in Portland, Maine

Atlantic Coast Radio, LLC is a radio company located in the state of Maine, owned by longtime broadcaster J. J. Jeffrey. It was incorporated in 1982 and has a staff count of approximately twenty. Prior to the current radio group, Jeffrey was a partner in Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting with Bob Fuller. Fuller-Jeffery's portfolio included WBLM and WOKQ but the company was dissolved in 1997 when Citadel Broadcasting bought the group. Its studios are located at 779 Warren Ave. in Portland, Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCYY</span> Radio station in Biddeford, Maine

WCYY is a commercial radio station licensed to Biddeford, Maine, and serving the Portland metropolitan area. Its target audience are men between 18 and 44. The station airs an active/alternative rock radio format and is owned by Townsquare Media. It carries the syndicated morning show Toucher and Rich from WBZ-FM in Boston. WCYY studios are at One City Center in Portland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAAL</span> Radio station in Binghamton, New York

WAAL is a commercial radio station licensed to Binghamton, New York. It airs a classic rock radio format and is owned by Townsquare Media. WAAL is the oldest FM radio station in the Binghamton metropolitan area. It is an affiliate of the New York Giants Radio Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRKI</span> Radio station in Brookfield–New Haven, Connecticut

WRKI is a commercial radio station licensed to Brookfield, Connecticut, serving Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven Counties in Connecticut. From its tower at more than 1200 feet above sea level WRKI's 29,500-watt signal can be heard in such large Connecticut cities as Bridgeport, Danbury, Stamford and New Haven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHOM</span> Radio station in the United States

WHOM is an American radio station which airs an adult contemporary radio format. WHOM is owned by Townsquare Media and transmits from atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire, its community of license. Mount Washington is the tallest peak in the Northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJIM-FM</span> Radio station in Lansing, Michigan

WJIM-FM is a radio station in Lansing, Michigan, broadcasting an adult leaning Top 40 (CHR) format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBCK</span> Radio station in Battle Creek, Michigan

WBCK is a radio station in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States, owned by Townsquare Media. WBCK has a news-talk format.

WINE is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting Brazilian Portuguese programming. Licensed to Brookfield, Connecticut, it serves the Danbury area. The station is owned by Townsquare Media; the International Church of the Grace of God programs the station under a local marketing agreement as part of its "Nossa Radio" network, with a full acquisition pending.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KLYV</span> Radio station in Dubuque, Iowa

KLYV is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR) format branded as Y105, serving the Dubuque, Iowa, United States, area. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and licensed to Townsquare License, LLC.

References

  1. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/WJBQ
  2. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1966 (PDF). 1966. p. 66. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  3. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1973 (PDF). 1973. p. 90. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus". All Access. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official". RadioInsight. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes". All Access. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.

43°51′07″N70°19′37″W / 43.852°N 70.327°W / 43.852; -70.327

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.