WAVF
Encyclopedia
WKZQ-FM is an Alternative rock
radio station licensed to Forestbrook, South Carolina
and serves the Grand Strand
area. The NextMedia
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to broadcast at 96.1 MHz with an effective radiated power
(ERP) of 8,500 watts. The station's current slogan is "New Rock."
The format and call sign WKZQ-FM had been on the 101.7 FM frequency since the late 1970s before a frequency swap on September 23, 2008.
WKZQ-FM signed on July 3, 1969. Originally on the 101.7 frequency, WKZQ was established as a "beautiful music" automated station, operating out of the back room of its big sister AM rocker, WTGR. At one point WKZQ played middle of the road music during the day, and Top 40 at night when WTGR had to go off the air. In the mid-1970s General Manager Bill Hennecy transitioned to an oldies format with limited live announcers in AM drive (Hennecy), afternoons (J. Patrick Milan), and night (Tom Walters). Other day parts were automated until Hennecy hired Greg Fowler who took the FM station live and progressively formatted it to a mix of Top 40 and oldies with female Personality Linda King.
During the 1980s WKZQ had a full-time Top 40 format. WTGR became WKZQ-AM and began simulcasting the FM. In 1985, Marv Clark was morning host and The Freakin' Deacon was also a DJ. When the FM station increased power from 3,000 to 50,000 watts in 1989, the format changed to rock
.
On March 11, 1997, Tony Hirsh announced he was buying WKZQ-AM and WKZQ-FM from Tom Rogers, president of Grand Strand Broadcasting, which had owned both stations since each signed on.
Under the direction of Hennecy and Fowler Q-102 overtook its sister station and went on to become Billboard Magazine's Station of the Year and won numerous Brandon 'Station of the Year' awards. Notable rock jocks who passed through KZQ were Sirius Satellite Radio
host and programmer, Human Numan (who was known as Shotgun Jeff Stone), the late Bob Decay (killed in auto accident in late 70's), Kenn Heinlein (WLS' Citizen Kenn), The Freakin' Deacon, Brian Phillips, Jay Charland, Mike Urben, John Van Pelt, Chuckie Boo Boo "Boo" Baron (who was named by James Brown!), Bob Chase, Mike Willis, Scott Summers, Marv Clark, Henry Kaye, Chris William, Al Mason, John Kilgo, Ray Mariner, Jack Boston, and Fowler, who left to become manager of country sensation, Alabama. As of May 21, 2009, Milan, Van Pelt, Deacon, and Bob Scarborough can be heard online at QRockRadio, along with Banana Jack, a more recent WKZQ staffer.
In the 1990s, with other stations playing classic rock
, WKZQ changed its emphasis to new rock also making the addition of a female in the APD/Music director position- On Air 7-Midnight Summer James (SUMMER) who continues to perform On Air Radio/TV in the Los Angeles & San Diego markets along with imaging stations across the country.
January 2002 Mad Max and Special-K joined KZQ and hosted the Mad Max Morning Show until Special K's exit in February 2005. Mad Max and Special-K brought KZQ back into popularity with #1 ratings and various awards including "Best Of The Beach" from the local Sun News as well as numerous Radio and Records "Best Stunts" awards. The Mad Max Morning Show heavly featured phone pranks, on location stunts as well as listener contests. Abbi along with Jerzee Boy were added to the show in the spring of 2005. Mad Max left KZQ in May of 2006.
The station won Radio and Records magazine's 2007 Industry Achievement Award for best Alternative Station for markets 100 and up. It was the station's second nomination in three years and the first win. Finalists also included WJSE, KQXR
, WBTZ
, KXNA
, and WSFM.
In September 2008, WKZQ swapped frequencies with WAVF
, abandoning its historic frequency of 101.7 MHz, and migrated to 96.1 MHz.
As of 2010 the stations personalities include Mase, Dr. J, and Crash. They claim to bring you rock n roll via "karate" or "hot choppins." On Monday nights the station runs specialty programs 'The Flight Test' and new local music program Electric Dynamite. Both shows are favorites to win state and national awards for "Best radio program" and "Achievement in sexual longevity."
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
radio station licensed to Forestbrook, South Carolina
Forestbrook, South Carolina
Forestbrook is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,391 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Forestbrook is located at ....
and serves the Grand Strand
Grand Strand
The Grand Strand refers to a large stretch of beaches on the East Coast of the United States extending from Little River to Georgetown in the U.S. State of South Carolina. It consists of 60+ miles along an essentially uninterrupted arc of beach land, beginning around the Little River and...
area. The NextMedia
NextMedia
NextMedia may refer to:* Next Media, Hong Kong media company* NextMedia Group, American media company* nextmedia, Australian publisher...
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) to broadcast at 96.1 MHz with an effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
(ERP) of 8,500 watts. The station's current slogan is "New Rock."
The format and call sign WKZQ-FM had been on the 101.7 FM frequency since the late 1970s before a frequency swap on September 23, 2008.
WKZQ History
During the 1980s WKZQ had a full-time Top 40 format. WTGR became WKZQ-AM and began simulcasting the FM. In 1985, Marv Clark was morning host and The Freakin' Deacon was also a DJ. When the FM station increased power from 3,000 to 50,000 watts in 1989, the format changed to rock
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
.
On March 11, 1997, Tony Hirsh announced he was buying WKZQ-AM and WKZQ-FM from Tom Rogers, president of Grand Strand Broadcasting, which had owned both stations since each signed on.
Under the direction of Hennecy and Fowler Q-102 overtook its sister station and went on to become Billboard Magazine's Station of the Year and won numerous Brandon 'Station of the Year' awards. Notable rock jocks who passed through KZQ were Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
host and programmer, Human Numan (who was known as Shotgun Jeff Stone), the late Bob Decay (killed in auto accident in late 70's), Kenn Heinlein (WLS' Citizen Kenn), The Freakin' Deacon, Brian Phillips, Jay Charland, Mike Urben, John Van Pelt, Chuckie Boo Boo "Boo" Baron (who was named by James Brown!), Bob Chase, Mike Willis, Scott Summers, Marv Clark, Henry Kaye, Chris William, Al Mason, John Kilgo, Ray Mariner, Jack Boston, and Fowler, who left to become manager of country sensation, Alabama. As of May 21, 2009, Milan, Van Pelt, Deacon, and Bob Scarborough can be heard online at QRockRadio, along with Banana Jack, a more recent WKZQ staffer.
In the 1990s, with other stations playing classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
, WKZQ changed its emphasis to new rock also making the addition of a female in the APD/Music director position- On Air 7-Midnight Summer James (SUMMER) who continues to perform On Air Radio/TV in the Los Angeles & San Diego markets along with imaging stations across the country.
January 2002 Mad Max and Special-K joined KZQ and hosted the Mad Max Morning Show until Special K's exit in February 2005. Mad Max and Special-K brought KZQ back into popularity with #1 ratings and various awards including "Best Of The Beach" from the local Sun News as well as numerous Radio and Records "Best Stunts" awards. The Mad Max Morning Show heavly featured phone pranks, on location stunts as well as listener contests. Abbi along with Jerzee Boy were added to the show in the spring of 2005. Mad Max left KZQ in May of 2006.
The station won Radio and Records magazine's 2007 Industry Achievement Award for best Alternative Station for markets 100 and up. It was the station's second nomination in three years and the first win. Finalists also included WJSE, KQXR
KQXR
KQXR is a commercial radio station licensed in Payette, Idaho, broadcasting to the Boise, Idaho metro area on 100.3 FM. The station was acquired in March, 1998 by the Journal Broadcast Group with studios located at 5257 Fairview Avenue #260, Boise, Idaho 83706."The X" -- as the station is commonly...
, WBTZ
WBTZ
WBTZ is a commercial radio station in Plattsburgh, New York, broadcasting to the Burlington, Vermont / Plattsburgh, New York / Montreal, Quebec area on 99.9 FM....
, KXNA
KXNA
KXNA is a radio station broadcasting an alternative format. Licensed to Springdale, Arkansas, USA, it serves the Fayetteville area. The station is currently owned by Butler Broadcasting Company, LLC....
, and WSFM.
In September 2008, WKZQ swapped frequencies with WAVF
WAVF
WKZQ-FM is an Alternative rock radio station licensed to Forestbrook, South Carolina and serves the Grand Strand area. The NextMedia outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 96.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 8,500 watts...
, abandoning its historic frequency of 101.7 MHz, and migrated to 96.1 MHz.
As of 2010 the stations personalities include Mase, Dr. J, and Crash. They claim to bring you rock n roll via "karate" or "hot choppins." On Monday nights the station runs specialty programs 'The Flight Test' and new local music program Electric Dynamite. Both shows are favorites to win state and national awards for "Best radio program" and "Achievement in sexual longevity."