WKHX-FM

Last updated
WKHX-FM
Broadcast area Atlanta metropolitan area
Frequency 101.5 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingNew Country 101.Five (5)
Programming
Format Country music
Affiliations Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
November 11, 1959
(64 years ago)
 (1959-11-11)
Former call signs
  • WBIE-FM (1959–81)
  • WKHX (1981–87)
Call sign meaning
"Kicks"
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 73161
Class C0
ERP 100,000 watts
HAAT 329 meters (1,079 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
33°48′26″N84°20′22″W / 33.80722°N 84.33944°W / 33.80722; -84.33944
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Listen live via iHeart
Website www.newcountry1015.com

WKHX-FM (101.5 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Marietta, Georgia, featuring a country music format known as "New Country 101.Five". Owned by Cumulus Media, the station serves the Atlanta metropolitan area. WKHX-FM's studios are located in Sandy Springs, while the transmitter is located west of Emory University, in unincorporated DeKalb County. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WKHX-FM broadcasts in HD Radio, and is available online.

Contents

History

The station signed on as WBIE-FM on November 11, 1959 [2] under the ownership of Marietta Broadcasting. Initially, WBIE simulcast the variety programming of its sister station AM 1080 WBIE, but in February 1968 it adopted a full-time country music format. [3] The station manager at the time, James M. Wilder, has a technology laboratory building named after him at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta.[ citation needed ]

Initially, WBIE-FM was powered at 3,500 watts, only heard in and around Marietta. In the 1970s, WBIE-FM boosted its power to the legal maximum of 100,000 watts, and became audible in Metro Atlanta. [4] Its AM companion at 1080 switched its format to Adult Standards and its call sign to WCOB. The power boost made WBIE-FM a candidate to be bought by a large broadcasting company anxious for a strong FM signal in the growing Atlanta radio market.

"Kicks 101.5" debuted in November 1981 after Capital Cities Communications purchased WBIE-FM. Capital Cities switched WBIE-FM's call letters to WKHX and made the station a contender in the Atlanta ratings. In 1987, WKHX programming began to be simulcast on Capital Cities-owned AM 590, formerly known as WAGA and WPLO. [5] The AM station became WKHX, while 101.5 added an FM suffix, becoming WKHX-FM. Today, AM 590 is Christian radio WDWD, owned by Salem Media.

Capital Cities took over ABC, including its television and radio stations, in 1985. In 1995, ABC bought WKHX-FM's rival country station, WYAY. Eventually, WYAY switched to news programming, and today is Christian Contemporary-formatted WAKL after being sold to the Educational Media Foundation in 2019. In December 2006, WKHX-FM got a new country music competitor in WUBL, owned by Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia).

WKHX-FM and other ABC Radio stations were acquired by Citadel Broadcasting in 2007, which was absorbed into Cumulus Media in September 2011. [6] In October 2011, WKHX-FM modified its playlist from playing only "new country" music to mixing in some older hits from the 1990s to the present. [7]

On November 13, 2019, WKHX began running liners promoting a "big announcement" to come at 3 p.m. the following day. Several liners had a wolf-howling sound effect, a nod to rumors on radio news websites (based on web domains registered by Cumulus as far back as September) that the station was to rebrand as "The Wolf". At the promised time, the station rebranded, but instead as "New Country 101.Five", and also introducing a new morning show host, JJ Kincaid, to team with existing co-host Dallas McCade, with the show being branded as "Kincaid and Dallas". [8] [9]

WKHX-FM logo.png

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WALR-FM</span> Radio station in Palmetto–Atlanta, Georgia

WALR-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Palmetto, Georgia and serving Metro Atlanta. It is owned by the Cox Media Group and airs an urban adult contemporary radio format. The studios are co-located with other Cox-owned radio stations and WSB-TV in Midtown Atlanta on West Peachtree Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNNX</span> Classic alternative station in College Park, Georgia

WNNX is a commercial radio station licensed to College Park, Georgia, featuring a classic alternative format as "99X". Owned by Cumulus Media, the station serves the Atlanta metropolitan area. WNNX's studios are located in Sandy Springs, while the transmitter resides atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Downtown Atlanta. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WNNX is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAKL (FM)</span> Radio station in Gainesville, Georgia

WAKL is a non-commercial FM Christian contemporary radio station licensed to Gainesville, Georgia. Owned by the Educational Media Foundation, WAKL serves the Atlanta metropolitan area as the local affiliate for the national K-Love network. Besides a standard analog transmission, WAKL broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNGC</span> Radio station in Arcade–Athens, Georgia

WNGC is a radio station in North Georgia that plays country music; it was at 95.5 from 1968-1999. It is owned by Cox Media Group and is part of Cox Radio. Its city of license is Arcade with studios in Athens. Its transmitter is in Lula, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSCS</span> Radio station in Fort Worth–Dallas, Texas

KSCS is a commercial radio station licensed to Fort Worth, Texas, and serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts a hot country music radio format. The studios are in the Victory Park district in Dallas just north of downtown. KSCS and sister station WBAP are responsible for activation of the North Texas Emergency Alert System when hazardous weather alerts, disaster area declarations, and AMBER Alerts for child abductions are issued.

KTCK-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Flower Mound, Texas, and serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. It simulcasts a sports radio format, along with sister station KTCK. KTCK-AM-FM are owned by Cumulus Media with studios on East Lamar Boulevard in Arlington. Weekdays feature local Dallas-based sports shows, while Fox Sports Radio is heard late nights and weekends. KTCK-AM-FM are the flagship stations for the Dallas Stars Radio Network.

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

WDWD is a Christian talk station serving the metro Atlanta market. It airs "The Eric Metaxas Show", "Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson", "Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah" and "The Narrow Path" hosted by Steve Gregg. It is owned by Salem Media Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WELJ</span> Radio station in New York, United States

WELJ branded as "104.7 WELJ", is a commercial radio station licensed to Montauk, New York, and serving Eastern Long Island, and Southeastern Connecticut. It is owned by BOLD Broadcasting and airs a soft adult contemporary radio format. Its radio studios and offices are on Waverly Avenue in Holtsville, New York.

KLVP is a non-profit radio station licensed to Aloha, Oregon, and serving the Portland metropolitan area. The station is owned, and the broadcast license held, by the Educational Media Foundation. It airs the national contemporary Christian radio format known as "K-Love."

WHLL – branded as Nueva 98.1 – is a commercial radio station broadcasting a Spanish-language latin pop format licensed to Springfield, Massachusetts. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station serves the Springfield metropolitan area; and the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The WHLL studios are located at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, alongside sister stations WMAS-FM and WWEI, while the station transmitter, shared with WMAS-FM, resides in Springfield's Brightwood neighborhood. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WHLL simulcasts over low-power analog Springfield translator W251CT (98.1 FM) and on the second HD Radio channel of WMAS-FM, and streams online via Audacy.

WJZN was a radio station licensed to serve Augusta, Maine, United States. The station, established in 1932 as WRDO, was owned by Townsquare Media; it broadcast an alternative rock format simulcast from WCYY in Portland prior to going silent in May 2023. WJZN's programming was also heard on W240DH in Augusta.

KBOI is a commercial AM radio station in the western United States, located in Boise, Idaho. It is owned by Cumulus Media and airs a news/talk radio format. Studios and offices are on Bannock Street in Downtown Boise, while its six-tower transmitter site is located southwest of the city.

<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">WILZ</span> Radio station in Michigan, United States

WILZ is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format in Saginaw, Michigan, owned by Cumulus Media. The station is the local affiliate of morning comedy program The Bob and Tom Show, music show Nights with Alice Cooper and Michigan State Spartans football and men's basketball games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFBE</span> Radio station in Flint, Michigan

WFBE is a commercial radio station licensed to Flint, Michigan. It is owned by Cumulus Media and it broadcasts a country music format. Its studios are on Taylor Drive in Mundy Township, using a Flint address. In morning drive time, B95 carries the syndicated Kincaid and Dallas show from co-owned WKHX-FM Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTVL</span> Radio station in Waterville, Maine, United States

WTVL was a commercial AM radio station licensed to serve Waterville, Maine, and serving Kennebec County. The station was owned by Townsquare Media and until January 2023, it broadcast an adult standards radio format, playing softer hits from the 1950s, '60s, '70s, and '80s. The station featured the music of Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Nat King Cole and Dionne Warwick in its playlist.

WFTD is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Marietta, Georgia, United States and serving the Atlanta metropolitan area. The station is owned by Prieto Broadcasting, Inc. and airs a Regional Mexican format. Programming is also heard on FM translator W243DQ at 96.5 MHz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCSF</span> Radio station in Colorado Springs, Colorado

KCSF is a radio station serving the Colorado Springs area with a sports format. It is under ownership of Cumulus Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLXX</span> Radio station in Richmond, Kentucky

WLXX is a commercial radio station licensed to Richmond, Kentucky, and serving the Lexington metropolitan area. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. It subscribes to the nationally syndicated JACK FM radio service, using the slogan "Playing What We Want!" The playlist is mostly rock hits from the 1980s, '90s and early 2000s, but includes pop and novelty hits from the last 50 years. Unlike most music stations, WLXX does not have DJs, but uses the prerecorded voice of Howard Cogan to make humorous and sometimes sarcastic quips. The station Program Director is Anthony "Twitch" Longo.

KARN is a commercial AM radio station in Little Rock, Arkansas, owned and operated by Cumulus Media. It airs a sports radio format known as "920 AM The Sports Animal." The station's studios are located on Wellington Hills Road in West Little Rock. The transmitter tower is located off North Hills Boulevard in North Little Rock. KARN broadcasts at 5,000 watts, using a directional antenna at night to avoid interfering with other stations on AM 920. KARN is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast a digital HD signal.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for WKHX-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "not found" (PDF).
  3. "Atlanta Radio Time Warp 1968".
  4. "getimportletter_exh".
  5. Greg Hardison
  6. "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal (subscription required). September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  7. "Kicks 101.5 skews older with more 1991-2005 cuts (Welcome back, Garth Brooks and Travis Tritt!) | Radio & TV Talk". Archived from the original on 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  8. "WKHX RELAUNCHES AS NEW COUNTRY 101.5; JJ KINCAID JOINS DALLAS IN MORNINGS". November 14, 2019.
  9. Lance (2019-11-14). "WKHX Becomes New Country 101.5". Format Change Archive. Retrieved 2024-01-25.