Its programming is carried over the station's translator on 98.3 FM (W252EL) in Cary, North Carolina, as well as WQDR-FM-HD3, which in turn is relayed by translators at 93.3 FM (W227CZ) in Durham, North Carolina, 93.5 FM (W228CV) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and 100.3 FM (W262CZ) in Raleigh, North Carolina.[3]
History
1954 station advertisement
The station was first licensed in 1954 as WMSN, with 500 watts, daytime-only, on 570kHz. The station manager was B. H. Ingle, Sr., pastor of the First Missionary Church and owner of B. H. Ingle & Sons Roofing and Heating Company.[5] Programming was advertised as "Hillbilly, Western, and Gospel music, Associated Press news, weather reports and news of local and county interest".[6] The debut broadcast scheduled for October 17 had to be delayed by eight days due to damage from Hurricane Hazel.[7]
In late 1955 an application was made to transfer station ownership to Merchants & Farmers Radio Station WMSN Inc., for "$8,000 plus other considerations",[8] and in early 1959 the station's call sign was changed to WSHE.[9] One provision of the station sale was that B. H. Ingle would continue to have one half-hour of air time each weekday from 10:30 to 11:00a.m. for a religious program, which was later modified to the last half-hour of each broadcast day. However, as of August 17, 1959, station management barred Ingle from making any further broadcasts, on the grounds that he was carrying on "an attack on many forms of organized religion, and a denunciation of laymen and ministers holding religious beliefs other than which you have".[10]
In 1962 the station was sold by Raleigh Broadcasting Corp. to the Raleigh-Durham Broadcasting Company for $180,000. The station made its debut as WLLE on February 15, 1962,[11] and became known as "Hot 57", Raleigh's home for rhythm and blues. Also known as "Wonderful Willie", WLLE played James Brown, Little Richard, The O'Jays, and Earth Wind & Fire,[12] and it could be heard as far away as Walkertown and Wallace-Rose Hill.[13] Its DJs included Oscar "Daddy O on the Radio" Alexander, Sweet Bob Rogers, Chester "CD" Davis, J. Willie Moore, Big Bill Haywood, Prince Ike Behind the Mike, Jimmy Johnson of JJ's House Party, and Brother James Thomas.[13][12] Ray "Dr. Jocko" Henderson, who later became well known in Detroit, was popular with both black and white listeners in the 1960s. He is credited with helping Raleigh get through difficult times during integration of the schools and the death of Martin Luther King Jr.[13] His style came from Douglas "Jocko" Henderson of Philadelphia and Durham's Dr. Jive of WSRC.[14]
WLLE was the first radio station in the state to interview Coretta Scott King and the first black radio station to interview a grand dragon of the Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.[12] Wallace LaCrosse Hankin bought WLLE in 1966.[15] WLLE became the station for Raleigh's black community, and it was the second most popular AM station.[16]
In 1977 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoked WLLE's license, after an investigation begun in 1973 determined that the station had engaged in improper billing practices.[17] The station was allowed to continue broadcasting while it appealed this ruling, and the legal proceedings did not end until October 1979, when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the license revocation. At this point station owner Wallace L. Hankin was given until January 27, 1980 to find a charitable or non-profit organization to assume station operations, but was unable to meet this deadline, and the station suspended broadcasting.[18] However, a short time later the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh formed Faith Communications, Inc., which was granted a temporary "Interim Operation" authorization to take over the station, with most programming unchanged.[19]
In 1981 the FCC conducted competitive hearing between three applicants to acquire the station, and selected Special Markets Media, Inc., owned by Prentice J. Monroe (75%) and her husband Henry (25%),[20] who continued its well-known R&B format. In the early 1990s, "Let's Talk", hosted by Frank Roberts, aired five nights each week and dealt with the problems of blacks.[16][21]
In 1997, WLLE was purchased by Mortenson Broadcasting of Kentucky, who changed its call letters to WRDT and began airing religious talk.[22] Two years later, the station was picked up by Curtis Media and the call letters were changed once again to WDTF, continuing on with the religious talk format and adding inspirational music to the mix.
In 2003, the station changed its format to current general talk and call letters to WDNZ to match its one-time simulcast partner, Durham-based WDNC. The station continued to air much of the same programs as WDNC, save for mornings and sports broadcasts featuring the Carolina Mudcats, even though both stations had aired Charlotte Bobcats games briefly. All that changed in late 2005 when WDNC broke off the simulcast to become an all-sports station with an entirely separate staff, LMAed by McClatchey Broadcasting, owners of WRBZ, 850 AM.
The general talk format continued on WDNZ after that point, with the calls changing to WDOX in September 2006. The call letters were a reference to its moniker "Home of the Docs", as it aired programming featuring Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Dr. Joy Browne. In addition, WDOX was also home to local and regional programming such as "State Government Radio" and "Triangle In-Touch". On weekends, the station offered "Million Dollar Music", featuring musical favorites dating back to the 1950s that were no longer played on most oldies formats. The music segments were hosted by longtime Triangle area radio personalities Pat Patterson and Maury O'Dell.[23]
In May 2010, the station changed its call letters to WQDR and its format to classic country to go along with sister station WQDR-FM, which plays contemporary and hit country music.[24] WQDR went off the air beginning April 16, 2011, when its transmitter off South Saunders Street near downtown Raleigh was badly damaged by a tornado.[25]
WFNL's logo for its "Funny 570" format.
Following numerous delays in securing a new transmitter site, the station eventually returned to the airwaves on February 22, 2012, transmitting from one of the towers of sister station's WPTF transmitter site in Cary.[26] At that time, the station began to air an all-comedy format under the moniker "Funny 570", and its call letters were changed to WFNL, which stood for "We're Fun N Laughs".[27] The station initially served as the Triangle affiliate for Premiere Radio Networks' 24/7 Comedy radio network, until it was discontinued on August 3, 2014. At that point WFNL switched to the "Today's Comedy" network feed.[28]
Beginning with the 2015 season, WFNL broadcast East Carolina University Pirates football games and the weekly coaches show. The station inherited this package from sister station WPTK, which had recently changed formats.[29]
In May 2017, WFNL dropped the comedy format, and began simulcasting full-time the news/talk programming of co-owned WPTF in Raleigh.
On November 15, 2017, the station returned to the call letters WQDR and a classic country format, "Just Right Country", featuring songs "from the sixties to the nineties and beyond".
Logo as Hot AC "Star 92.9", 2019-2020
On June 4, 2019, WQDR flipped to hot adult contemporary, branded as "Star 92.9" (in reference to FM translator W225DF that was acquired the previous month, and began simulcasting the new format upon launch). Also timed with the new format, the station took call sign WPLW from its sister hit music station, WPLW-FM. "Star" was the Triangle affiliate of The Bob and Sheri Show.[30]
On December 28, 2020, at Midnight, WPLW and W225DF flipped to classic rock as "Rock 92.9". The first song on "Rock 92.9" was "Tom Sawyer" by Rush.[31] The call sign was changed back once again to WQDR on February 9, 2021, this time referencing WQDR-FM's heritage as a rock station from 1972 to 1984.
In 2024, WQDR became "The Triangle's Rock FM" and dropped the W225DF translator, replacing it with W252EL at 98.3.[32][33]
57WLLE.net
In September 2018, Gary Antwon Williams, a former WLLE employee, started the Internet radio service 57WLLE.net, with soul and R&B from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, recalling the WLLE of the past. Plans call for community affairs programming.[12]
WCLY is a radio station located in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company along with sister radio stations WRAL-FM, WCMC-FM and WDNC, and television stations WRAL-TV and WRAZ-TV. Its studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter tower is just south of downtown Raleigh. Established in 1962 as WNOH, WCLY broadcasts a sports radio format, simulcasting sister stations 620 WDNC and 99.9 WCMC-FM HD2.
WRAL is a commercial radio station licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, and serving the Research Triangle. It is owned by the Capitol Broadcasting Company and broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for part of November and December. Capitol Broadcasting also owns NBC network affiliate WRAL-TV, Fox affiliate WRAZ-TV, and the Durham Bulls minor-league baseball team, along with several other radio stations. WRAL carries the audio of the Six O'Clock News broadcast from sister station WRAL-TV. During tornado warnings, WRAL-FM also simulcasts WRAL-TV's audio of their tornado coverage.
WQDR-FM is a commercial radio station in Raleigh, North Carolina, broadcasting to the Research Triangle. "94.7 QDR" presents a country music radio format and is owned by the Curtis Media Group.
WDCG is a commercial Top 40 (CHR) station licensed to Durham, North Carolina, and serving the Raleigh-Durham radio market. Its studios are located on Smoketree Court in Raleigh's Highwoods Office Park and owned by iHeartMedia, along with WNCB, W237BZ, WRDU, and WTKK. The transmitter site for the station is in Apex.
WDNC is a sports radio station licensed to Durham, North Carolina but based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Owned and operated by Capitol Broadcasting Company as part of a cluster with NBC affiliate WRAL-TV, Fox affiliate WRAZ, and sister radio stations WCLY, WCMC-FM and WRAL, the station's studios are in Raleigh, and the transmitter site is in Durham. WDNC is branded as The Buzz and is affiliated with ESPN Radio. In addition, WDNC is the flagship station for the Duke Blue Devils and is the local affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets.
WCHL is a commercial AM radio station in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It is owned by the Chapel Hill Media Group and it has a format of news, talk, sports and adult album alternative music. It is a network affiliate of CBS News Radio. Much of its programming is geared towards the Chapel Hill–Carrboro community, with a focus on local news and community-affairs programming. The studios are on South Estes Drive in Chapel Hill.
WTKK, known as "106.1 FM Talk", is a radio station that is licensed to Knightdale, North Carolina and serves the Raleigh-Durham media market. WTKK airs a talk radio format and is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. Sister stations include WDCG, WNCB, and WRDU. The station's studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter site is in Garner.
Curtis Media Group is a broadcast media company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The company owns and operates several North Carolina radio stations and television networks.
WBBB, is an adult hits radio station based in Raleigh, North Carolina, owned by Curtis Media Group. Its studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter tower is near Garner close to Lake Wheeler.
WKIX-FM is a classic hits formatted radio station located in Raleigh, North Carolina, that plays hit music from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s as "KIX 102". Its studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter tower is in Cary.
WKIX is an AM radio station with an oldies format, licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group, and serves the Research Triangle area.
WPTF is a commercial radio station broadcasting a news/talk radio format. Licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, the station serves the Research Triangle area. It is owned by the Curtis Media Group, with studios located on Highwoods Boulevard in Raleigh.
WTSB is a commercial AM radio station in Selma, North Carolina, and serving the Raleigh-Durham area. The station is owned by Truth Broadcasting Corporation and broadcasts a full service, Southern gospel radio format. It airs local news and information and high school sports as well as reports from the North Carolina News Network.
WCMC-FM is a sports radio station based in Raleigh, North Carolina and licensed to nearby Holly Springs. Its studios are located in north Raleigh along with WRAL-FM, an adult contemporary music station, two sports talk stations WDNC and WCLY (simulcasted on HD2 and HD3. All are owned and operated by Capitol Broadcasting Company which also owns NBC television affiliate WRAL-TV, Fox affiliate WRAZ-TV, and the Durham Bulls minor-league baseball team, among other properties.
WPLW-FM is a contemporary hit radio station licensed to Goldsboro, North Carolina, which is east of the Raleigh-Durham Triangle. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group. Its studios are located in Raleigh, and its transmitter is near Princeton, North Carolina.
WKXU is a classic hits formatted commercial radio station licensed to Hillsborough, North Carolina, and serving the Research Triangle, including Durham and Raleigh. The station simulcasts the "KIX 102, Carolina's Greatest Hits" programming of hit music from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s that originates from WKIX-FM in Raleigh. The station is owned by New Century Media Group. According to FCC ownership filings, New Century Media Group is 100% owned by Donald W. Curtis, chairman and CEO of Curtis Media Group.
WPCM is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a contemporary Christian radio format. Licensed to Burlington-Graham, North Carolina, the station covers the Greensboro metropolitan area and part of the Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area. It is owned by Chuck Marsh, through licensee Triad Media Partners, Inc., and calls itself "Hope 104.5." The studios and offices are on North Main Street in Kernersville, North Carolina.
WGBR is a radio station licensed to Goldsboro, North Carolina, United States. The station is owned by New Age Communications, Ltd.
WDUR is an Indian/South Asian radio station in Durham, North Carolina, owned by Ravi Cherukuri, through licensee Arohi Media LLC. The station plays primarily Bollywood Hits while embracing the rest of the South Asian culture through news, Tamil/Telugu Music and much more.
WNCB, known as "B93.9", is a country music radio station that serves the Raleigh-Durham market of North Carolina. It is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc., whose sister stations include WDCG, WTKK, WRDU, and W237BZ.
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