WMXL

Last updated
WMXL
WMXL Mix 94.5 logo.png
Broadcast area Lexington Metro Area
Central Kentucky
Frequency 94.5 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingMix 94.5
Programming
Format Adult contemporary
Subchannels HD2: Country (iHeartCountry Top 20)
Ownership
Owner
WBUL-FM, WKQQ, WLAP, WLKT, WWTF
History
First air date
1940;84 years ago (1940) (as WLAP-FM)
Former call signs
WLAP-FM (1940-1992)
Call sign meaning
"Mix Lexington"
Technical information
Facility ID 68208
Class C1
ERP 85,000 watts
HAAT 194 meters (636 ft)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
HD2: Listen Live
Website mymix945.iheart.com

WMXL (94.5 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Lexington, Kentucky. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., who determines its programming in New York using automation, non-local talent, and airs an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December.

Contents

WMXL has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 85,000 watts, from a height of 194 meters (636 ft) above average terrain (HAAT). That gives it a nearly 90-mile broadcasting radius. Its signal is heard as far south as London, as far east as Morehead, as far north as Cincinnati and as far west as Louisville. The transmitter is on Russell Cave Road near Huffman Mill Pike in Lexington, amid the towers for other FM and TV stations. [1] WMXL-FM was the fifth station in the Lexington radio market to begin broadcasting using HD Radio technology, after WUKY, WKQQ, WBUL-FM, and WLKT. [2] The HD-2 digital subchannel plays country music.

History

WLAP-FM

In 1940;84 years ago, the station signed on as WLAP-FM. It was the FM counterpart to WLAP 630 AM. The two stations mostly simulcast WLAP's programming. In the 1940s and 50s, WLAP-AM-FM were CBS Radio Network affiliates. They carried the line up of CBS dramas, comedies, news, sports, soap operas, game shows and big band broadcasts during the "Golden Age of Radio." In the 1960s, the two stations played contemporary hits.

Logo used until 2016 Mix94.5.png
Logo used until 2016

In 1974, the simulcast ended. The AM station moved to a full service, adult contemporary sound, while WLAP-FM remained as at Top 40 outlet. The station was automated, without disc jockeys. It used TM's Stereo Rock format as "The New WLAP 94 and a 1⁄2, The Music FM" for many years. After transitioning to live programming in 1987, saw its peak of popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, shifting to a more rhythmic contemporary or "Churban" direction. At that time, the station was known as "The New Power 94 and a 1⁄2, WLAP-FM". It was programmed by Lexington native Gregory "Barry Fox" Peddicord. In 1991, Dale O'Brian was named Program Director.

Mix 94.5

On April 1, 1992, O'Brian oversaw a shift to Hot Adult Contemporary music and the name Mix 94.5. The station switched its call sign to WMXL to reflect its "Mix" name.

Dale O'Brian served as morning show host and program director for much of the early 1990s and was named Billboard Magazine's "Personality of the Year" in 1996. O'Brian left for the programming position at Z104 in Washington, DC in July 1996. At that point, Rick O'Shea arrived to guide the morning show, and Doug Hamand was given control of the programming. The O'Shea version of the station's Breakfast Club also featured local radio legend Matt Jaeger and former Miss Kentucky Kristie Hicks.

Other popular Mix 94.5 air talent during this period included Barry Fox and longtime Lexington air talent Mike Graves. Fox served as music director before assuming programming duties, and the station prospered during the late 1990s.

O'Shea left the station in 1998 and Matt Jaeger took over the lead role on the morning show, continuing to dominate the Lexington adult audience. It was during this time period that the station's owner, Jacor Broadcasting, began to replace live air talent with out-of-town recorded shows from within the company. As a result, audience share began to slowly erode, and WMXL has thus never been a market leader under iHeartMedia (which, as Clear Channel Communications, absorbed Jacor in 1999). Station programming today comes from iHeartMedia's "Premium Choice" "Soft Rock" program feed.

Adult Contemporary

Barry Fox left Lexington to program WDJX in Louisville, and was replaced by T.R. Fox, who arrived from Rochester, New York. This Fox, no relation to Barry, programmed the station for several years, before giving way to the return of Dale O'Brian. T.R. Fox oversaw the shift from Hot AC to Mainstream Adult Contemporary.

Under Program Director Dale O'Brian, WMXL was one of the first stations in the country to go with "All Christmas music" during the month of December. In later years, the station began to start Christmas music earlier. These days, from early November until December 26 of each year, WMXL flips to a Christmas format for the holiday season, branding itself as "MixMas on Mix 94.5." In 2023, MixMas began on October 31, which was the earliest that WMXL has ever started Christmas music in the history of the station, and the first non-stunting all-Christmas station in the United States that year (another station had flipped 12 days prior, but that station was later revealed to be stunting in anticipation of a change in format). [3] [4] WMXL's flip to Christmas music was ten days prior to its parent company iHeartMedia's other stations. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMYI</span> Hot adult contemporary radio station in San Diego

KMYI is a commercial radio station in San Diego, California, airing a hot adult contemporary music format. It is owned by iHeartMedia. Its studios are located in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood on the northeast side, and the transmitter is located in La Jolla. It broadcasts from the KGTV Tower, shared with several other San Diego FM stations and KGTV. KMYI is the oldest continuously operating FM station in the San Diego metropolitan area.

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

KRFX is a commercial radio station in Denver, Colorado, serving the Denver metropolitan area. It is owned by iHeartMedia, and airs a classic rock radio format. The KRFX studios and offices are located on South Monaco Street in the Denver Tech Center. The station transmitter is atop Lookout Mountain, near Golden, more than 7,000 feet above sea level and 1,135 feet in height above average terrain. Its effective radiated power is 100,000 watts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMJI</span> Classic hits radio station in Cleveland, Ohio

WMJI is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, featuring a classic hits format dubbed "Majic 105.7". Owned by iHeartMedia, the station serves Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. WMJI's studios are located in downtown Cleveland's Gateway District at the Six Six Eight Building, while the transmitter resides in the Cleveland suburb of Parma. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WMJI broadcasts over two HD Radio channels and is available online via iHeartRadio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHLK</span> Adult hits radio station in Cleveland, Ohio

WHLK is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, known as "106.5 The Lake" and carrying an adult hits format. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station serves Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. WHLK's studios are located at the Six Six Eight Building in downtown Cleveland's Gateway District while the station transmitter is in nearby Parma. Along with a standard analog transmission, WHLK broadcasts over three HD Radio channels and is available online via iHeartRadio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMYX-FM</span> Hot adult contemporary radio station in Milwaukee

WMYX-FM is a commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US. Calling itself "99-1 The Mix", it was the first station in the U.S. to use the "Mix" moniker. WMYX-FM has been airing roughly the same hot adult contemporary radio format since late 1981. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., along with sister stations WXSS-FM and WSSP. WMYX's studios and transmitter are co-located in Hales Corners. The playlist consists of current hits and recent hits from the 2000s and 2010s. WMYX is responsible for the activation of the Milwaukee metropolitan area Emergency Alert System.

WREW is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Fairfield, Ohio, and serving the Cincinnati metropolitan area. The station broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format and is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. The studios and offices are on Kennedy Avenue, in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati where they have been since August of 2021.

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

KDMX is a radio station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in Texas. It is currently owned and operated by iHeartMedia, and airs a hot adult contemporary format. The station's studios are located along Dallas Parkway in Farmers Branch, and the transmitter site is in Cedar Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KYYY</span> Radio station in Bismarck, North Dakota

KYYY is a commercial radio station licensed to Bismarck, North Dakota, and serving the Bismarck–Mandan region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFLZ-FM</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Tampa, Florida

WFLZ-FM is a commercial radio station in Tampa, Florida. It airs a contemporary hit radio radio format and is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. The station's studios and offices are located on Gandy Boulevard in South Tampa. Local DJs are heard on weekdays, with syndicated shows, including American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest, the iHeartRadio Countdown, the Remix Top 30 with Hollywood Hamilton and On The Move with Enrique Santos, heard on weekends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRFX</span> Classic rock radio station in Kannapolis–Charlotte, North Carolina

WRFX is a commercial radio station licensed to Kannapolis, North Carolina and serving the Charlotte metropolitan area. Owned by iHeartMedia, it airs a classic rock radio format, and calls itself "99.7 The Fox." The radio studios and offices are on Woodridge Center Drive in South Charlotte. WRFX is the flagship station for the John Boy and Billy Big Show, a nationally syndicated morning show heard around the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNBL (FM)</span> Radio station in South Bristol, New York

WNBL is a commercial FM radio station licensed to South Bristol, New York, and serving the Rochester metropolitan area. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs an 80's hits radio format, known as Big 107.3. WNBL is a Class A station, operating at 650 watts. WNBL's transmitter is in South Bristol, New York, near the Bristol Mountain Ski Resort. The studios and offices are on Chestnut Street in Rochester, at Five Star Bank Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBUL-FM</span> Radio station in Lexington, Kentucky

WBUL-FM is one of four country music radio stations serving the Lexington, Kentucky radio market. The station broadcasts with an ERP of 100,000 watts, with a nearly 100-mile broadcasting radius. The station is heard as far south as London, as far east as Grayson, as far north as Cincinnati and as far west as Louisville. iHeartMedia, Inc. currently owns the station. WBUL-FM was the third station to begin broadcasting HD Radio in Lexington after WUKY and WKQQ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMTX</span> Radio station in Tampa, Florida

WMTX is a commercial radio station in Tampa, Florida, known as "Mix 100.7". It has an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by iHeartMedia, with its studios and offices on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. WMTX serves as the primary Emergency Alert System station for the Tampa Bay area.

WYDB is a commercial radio station broadcasting a conservative talk radio format. Licensed to Englewood, Ohio, the station serves the Dayton metropolitan area. It is owned and operated by the Delmarva Educational Association, with studios and offices on North High Street in Columbus, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLKT</span> Radio station in Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

WLKT is a commercial radio station licensed to Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. who determines its programming in New York using automation, non-local talent, and airs a Top 40 (CHR) radio format. The station's studios are located on Nicholasville Road in south Lexington, and its transmitter is located in rural far east Fayette County, Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMGA</span> Radio station in Kenova, West Virginia

WMGA is a classic hits and oldies formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Kenova, West Virginia, serving Huntington, West Virginia, Ironton, Ohio, and Ashland, Kentucky. WMGA is licensed to Fifth Avenue Broadcasting Company, Inc.

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

WWTF is a commercial radio station broadcasting an active rock and alternative rock radio format. Licensed to Georgetown, Kentucky, United States, WWTF serves the Lexington Metro Area. The station is currently owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. WWTF programming is simulcast on FM translator W249DJ at 97.7 MHz. Since most listening to rock music is on FM, the station uses its FM dial position to identify itself, as "97.7 Lexington's Rock Alternative."

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

WLAP is a commercial AM radio station in Lexington, Kentucky, serving the Central Kentucky region. It airs a news/talk format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Nicolasville Road in Lexington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSDF</span> Variety hits radio station in Louisville, Kentucky

WSDF is a radio station broadcasting an adult hits format under the branding "100.5 FM". Licensed to Louisville, Kentucky, United States, the station serves the Louisville area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and features programming from iHeart subsidiary Premiere Networks. The station is also broadcast on HD radio. The station's studios are located in the Louisville enclave of Watterson Park and the transmitter site is in east Louisville, southwest of the I-64/I-265 interchange.

WSEK-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Burnside, Kentucky, it serves the south-central region of the state, specifically the Somerset and Lake Cumberland areas. It can also be received in London and Corbin, and as far north as the Lexington area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and features programming from Premiere Networks.

References

  1. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/WMXL
  2. ↑ http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=100 HD Radio Guide for Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
  3. ↑ Venta, Lance (2023-10-31). "No trick: WMXL becomes first all-Christmas station of 2023" . Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  4. ↑ "November Blizzard: Christmas Flips Are Busting Out All Over The Dial". Insideradio.com. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  5. ↑ Venta, Lance (2023-11-10). "iHeartMedia Launches Christmas Music On Over 85 Stations". Radio Insight. Retrieved 2023-11-13.

38°07′23″N84°26′38″W / 38.123°N 84.444°W / 38.123; -84.444

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.