WQLQ

Last updated
WQLQ
Broadcast area South Bend, Indiana
Frequency 99.9 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingLive 99.9
Programming
Format Alternative rock
Subchannels HD2: 107.9 The Lake (Classic rock)
HD3: WSBT simulcast (Sports)
Affiliations Premiere Networks
United Stations Radio Networks
Ownership
Owner
WSBT, WNSN, WYRX-FM
History
First air date
October 10, 1947 (as WHFB-FM) [1]
Former call signs
WHFB-FM (1947–2016)
Call sign meaning
W QLive 99.9 Q
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 72175
Class B
ERP 50,000 watts
HAAT 124 meters (407 ft)
Translator(s) HD2: 107.9 W300EJ (Benton Harbor)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Listen Live (HD2)
Website live999radio.com
1079thelake.com (HD2)

WQLQ (99.9 FM) is a radio station licensed to Benton Harbor, Michigan targeting the South Bend, Indiana market. WQLQ is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting. Its signal is regularly heard as far as Chicago, Illinois, and as far east as Battle Creek, Michigan.

Contents

As of June 2011, the station has re-imaged from Cat Country 99-9 to Real Country 99-Nine.

Previous to the country format, the then-WHFB-FM acted as a local station serving the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph area, with beautiful music and adult contemporary music formats.

In September 2015, Schurz Communications, which previously held a minority interest in Douglas Road Radio, agreed to acquire full ownership of the company. The transaction is part of the $442.5 million acquisition of Schurz' broadcast interests, including WHFB-FM, by Gray Television. [3] [4] [5] Though Gray initially intended to keep Schurz' radio stations, on November 2, it announced that Mid-West Family Broadcasting would acquire WHFB-FM and Schurz' other South Bend radio stations for $5.5 million. Mid-West Family already owns several stations in the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area, where the station's city of license is located. [6] [7] [8] The sale to Mid-West was consummated on February 16, 2016.

Upon acquiring the station, Midwest Family announced on October 4, 2016, that WHFB would flip to Top 40/CHR as "Live 99.9" the following Tuesday, the 11th. The station began stunting with TV show theme songs on October 7, 2016, which ended with the noon launch on the aforementioned date. The callsign was changed on October 12, 2016 to WQLQ to match. [9] [10]

On July 24, 2024 at noon, after playing "Get Him Back!" by Olivia Rodrigo, WQLQ shifted to alternative rock, retaining the "Live" branding but using the new slogan "The Alternative". Core artists include The Killers, Nirvana, Foo Fighters (whose song "Best of You" was the first under the new format), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer and Pearl Jam. The change came after the flip of the station's HD3 subchannel to a simulcast of sister station WSBT the day prior, and comes after the younger-leaning CHR format failed to overtake Artistic Media Partners' adult-leaning WNDV, only registering a 2.7 in the Fall 2023 ratings books, whereas WNDV held a 7.7. The shift now positions the station closer to Federated Media's active rock WRBR-FM, which held a 5.4 share.

WQLQ-HD2

On January 30, 2019, WQLQ launched a classic rock format on its HD2 subchannel, branded as "95.7 The Lake" (simulcast on translator W239CJ 95.7 FM Benton Harbor). [11] In April 2024, the station moved from 95.7 to 107.9 FM. The Lake is an affiliate of the weekly syndicated Pink Floyd show "Floydian Slip."

WQLQ-HD3

On June 28, 2021, WQLQ launched a country music format, branded as "96.1 The Ton" (simulcast on translator W241AD 96.1 FM South Bend, Indiana). [12]

On July 22, 2024, WQLQ-HD3/W241AD changed their format from country to a simulcast of sports-formatted WSBT 960 AM South Bend. [13]

HD2 translator

WQLQ relays its HD2 subchannel on the following translator:

Broadcast translator for WQLQ-HD2
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
W300EJ107.9 FM Benton Harbor, Michigan 1567122500  m (0  ft)D LMS

WHFB NewCountry99.9 logo.png

Related Research Articles

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

WWMX, known on-air as Mix 106.5, is a commercial radio station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format and is owned by Audacy, Inc. The studios and offices are on Clarkview Road off Jones Falls Expressway.

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

WCBF is an FM radio station licensed to Elmira, New York. It is owned by Seven Mountains Media and airs a country music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRXO-FM</span> Radio station in Oklahoma City

KRXO-FM is a commercial radio station in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is owned by Ty and Tony Tyler's Tyler Media, L.L.C., and it carries a sports radio format. The studios are on East Britton Road the northeast side of Oklahoma City. KRXO-FM is one of two Tyler Media stations in Oklahoma City that air a sports format, the other being KEBC. KRXO-FM has mostly Oklahoma-based sports shows with VSiN programming heard late nights and weekends.

WHBQ-FM is a commercial radio station broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR) format. It is licensed to Germantown, Tennessee, and serves Greater Memphis. It is owned by Flinn Broadcasting with studios on Mount Moriah Road in Southeast Memphis. Despite sharing call letters, WHBQ-FM is not co-owned with WHBQ-TV.

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

WMVN is a rhythmic top 40 FM radio station serving the Syracuse and a part of the Utica–Rome market. WMVN is licensed to Sylvan Beach, New York. A separate translator W243AB, serves the city of Westvale, New York, on the 96.5 frequency. The station's studios are located on West Kirkpatrick Street in Syracuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMXC</span> Radio station in Mobile, Alabama

WMXC is a commercial radio station licensed to Mobile, Alabama, and serving the Mobile and Pensacola metropolitan areas. The station broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by iHeartMedia, with the broadcast license held by iHM Licenses, LLC. The studios are co-located with former sister television station WKRG-TV on Broadcast Drive in Mobile. WMXC carries several syndicated shows from co-owned Premiere Networks: Murphy, Sam & Jodi in morning drive time, Delilah in the evening and Ellen K on Saturday mornings.

WSJO is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. The station is owned by Townsquare Media, through licensee Townsquare License, LLC, and broadcasts a Top 40 (CHR) format.

Mid-West Family Broadcasting is an independently owned broadcasting company based in Madison, Wisconsin. The company owns and manages radio stations in Madison, Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Michigan, South Bend/Elkhart, Indiana, Springfield, Illinois, Springfield, Missouri, and Rockford, Illinois. In 2013 Mid-West Family purchased the Maverick stations in Rockford, Illinois and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This added 11 stations starting May 1, 2013 with an LMA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KJMY</span> Radio station in Bountiful–Salt Lake City, Utah

KJMY is a commercial radio station licensed to Bountiful, Utah, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, including Ogden and Provo. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and it broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. The station's studios are located in West Valley City.

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

WNSN is a commercial FM radio station in South Bend, Indiana. It is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting and airs an adult contemporary radio format known as Sunny 101.5. WNSN is usually the market's top rated radio station according to the Nielsen ratings. Sunny 101.5 carries Delilah's syndicated love songs show in the evening from Premiere Networks. Most weekends it features 1980s hits. From mid-November to December 26, WNSN switches to all Christmas music.

WSBT is a commercial radio station in South Bend, Indiana, which airs a sports radio format. It is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting, with studios and offices on East Monroe Street in downtown South Bend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WIBA-FM</span> Radio station in Sauk City, Wisconsin

WIBA-FM (101.5 MHz) is a radio station licensed to Sauk City, Wisconsin, United States, serving Madison and south central Wisconsin. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia and broadcasts a classic rock music format on its primary HD radio, while its HD2 channel carries an oldies format that is simulcast to analog translator station W265CV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJFX</span> Radio station in New Haven, Indiana

WJFX is a Top 40 radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is owned and operated by Adams Radio Group, through licensee ARG of Fort Wayne LLC. WJFX broadcasts three channels in the HD digital format.

WIXY is a commercial radio station broadcasting a country music radio format. Licensed to Champaign, Illinois, United States, the station serves the Champaign-Urbana area. The station is owned by Saga Communications under licensee Saga Communications of Illinois, LLC, and operates as part of its Illini Radio Group. The radio studios and offices are on West Bradley Avenue in Champaign.

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

WZID is an American radio station with an adult contemporary format. WZID is located on Commercial Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. Its signal can be heard as far south as the Massachusetts Turnpike, as far east as southern Maine and as far west as Vermont. WZID also broadcasts in HD Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WASK (AM)</span> Radio station in Lafayette, Indiana

WASK is a commercial AM radio station in Lafayette, Indiana. It broadcasts a sports radio format and is owned by Saga Communications. The studios and transmitter are at 3575 McCarty Lane in Lafayette. Most programming comes from ESPN Radio.

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.

KMIT is a FM radio station licensed to serve Mitchell, South Dakota. The station is owned by Saga Communications of South Dakota, LLC. It airs a country music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WYRX-FM</span> Radio station in Indiana, United States

WYRX-FM is a radio station licensed to Plymouth, Indiana, serving Michiana and the South Bend area. WYRX-FM has a mainstream rock format, simulcasting WIRX, and is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXKB</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Cape Coral, Florida

WXKB is a commercial radio station licensed to Cape Coral, Florida, and serving the Fort Myers-Naples radio market and Southwest Florida. WXKB is owned by the Beasley Broadcast Group and airs a top 40 (CHR) radio format branded as "B-103.9", sometimes called "The Killer B." In afternoon drive time it carries On Air with Ryan Seacrest, syndicated by Premiere Networks.

References

  1. 1971 Broadcasting Yearbook , Broadcasting, 1971. p. B-102. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  2. "Facility Technical Data for WQLQ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. "Schurz Communications to sell WSBT and other TV, radio stations". South Bend Tribune . September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  4. Kuperberg, Jonathan (September 14, 2015). "Gray Acquiring TV, Radio Stations from Schurz for $442.5 Million". Broadcasting & Cable . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  5. "APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  6. "Gray Sells Radio Stations From Schurz Deal". TVNewsCheck. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  7. Venta, Lance (November 2, 2015). "Gray Television Divests Schurz Clusters To Three Buyers". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  8. Allen, Kevin (November 2, 2015). "WSBT Radio Group will have a new owner, again". South Bend Tribune . Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  9. Midwest Family To Launch CHR "Live 99.9" South Bend
  10. Live 99.9 South Bend Debuts
  11. 95.7 The Lake Debuts in Benton Harbor Radioinsight - January 31, 2019
  12. WSBT Reverts To AM Only As 96.1 The Ton Debuts In South Bend Radioinsight - June 28, 2021
  13. Sports Participation Leads to Loss of The Ton For 96.1 South Bend Radioinsight - July 23, 2024

41°57′43″N86°21′04″W / 41.962°N 86.351°W / 41.962; -86.351