WCOL-FM
Encyclopedia
WCOL-FM is a country music
radio station
in Columbus, Ohio
owned by Clear Channel Communications
. Its brand identifier is Continuous Country Favorites, 92.3 WCOL. The call sign
represents the city of license (W-Columbus). The country format
has been in place since February 14, 1994, when it transitioned from an oldies
format (sometimes known as "Cool 92").
. From the late 1970s and through the 1980s, the station used the WXGT call letters and played rock-oriented Top 40 as "92X". During this period, then-locally famous Suzy Waud anchored evening broadcasting. When the country format was ushered in, the station stunted
over the course of several days by broadcasting a computerized numeric countdown
.
92X FM (WXGT) launched the careers of several major market disc jockeys during the 1980s, ncluding Smokin' Joe Dawson (later at B96
in Chicago), Gary Spears (also later at B96 and also at KIIS-FM
in Los Angeles), and Doug Ritterling, whose on-air name was Doug Ritter and who later went to KITS
, Live 105 in San Francisco. WXGT dominated the Contemporary Hits Radio format in Columbus, Ohio during most of the decade.
The WCOL call sign had also been used on an AM band station, which was the area's primary Top 40 station in the 1960s and early 1970s and was branded as "The New WCOL" and "Super 'COL" It briefly returned to its Top 40 roots in the early 1990s simulcasting "Cool 92" and in automated form as "Real Oldies 1230" from 2003 to 2004. That station is now known as WYTS and is a combination conservative/sports talk radio station.
WCOL is one of four Country music outlets in Columbus, the most of any radio market in Ohio, as it faces competition with WHOK-FM
, WCLT-FM
, and WNKK for Country music listenership in Columbus. However, WCOL is the only Country station in Columbus that covers the entire metropolitan area with a full powered signal.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
. Its brand identifier is Continuous Country Favorites, 92.3 WCOL. The call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
represents the city of license (W-Columbus). The country format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
has been in place since February 14, 1994, when it transitioned from an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format (sometimes known as "Cool 92").
History
WCOL-FM first came on the air in 1948. In the early 1970s, it carried religious programming in the daytime and rock music in the evening. During the 1970s, WCOL-FM was known as "Stereo Rock 92" and largely played album-oriented rockAlbum-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
. From the late 1970s and through the 1980s, the station used the WXGT call letters and played rock-oriented Top 40 as "92X". During this period, then-locally famous Suzy Waud anchored evening broadcasting. When the country format was ushered in, the station stunted
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
over the course of several days by broadcasting a computerized numeric countdown
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of counting backward to indicate the seconds, days, or other time units remaining before an event occurs or a deadline expires. Typical events for which a countdown is used include the launch of a rocket or spacecraft, the detonation of a bomb, the start of a race, and the...
.
92X FM (WXGT) launched the careers of several major market disc jockeys during the 1980s, ncluding Smokin' Joe Dawson (later at B96
WBBM-FM
WBBM-FM, known on air as "B96", is a Rhythmic Contemporary outlet in Chicago, Illinois with a Rhythmic based playlist. The station is owned by CBS Radio and broadcasts at 96.3 MHz with an ERP of 4.2 kW. WBBM's main competition is WKSC-FM "103.5 Kiss FM", as well as urban rivals WGCI-FM &...
in Chicago), Gary Spears (also later at B96 and also at KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM is a Los Angeles, California, USA-based radio station with a partial Top 40 musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KIIS is also simulcasted on KVVS in Rosamond, at 105.5 MHz...
in Los Angeles), and Doug Ritterling, whose on-air name was Doug Ritter and who later went to KITS
KITS
KITS is a San Francisco, California, USA-based radio station broadcasting at 105.3 MHz. The station is owned by CBS Radio and programs a modern rock format. The station also broadcasts on HD channel L2, locally on Comcast cable channel 986, and is streaming online.-Hot Hits:The station's...
, Live 105 in San Francisco. WXGT dominated the Contemporary Hits Radio format in Columbus, Ohio during most of the decade.
The WCOL call sign had also been used on an AM band station, which was the area's primary Top 40 station in the 1960s and early 1970s and was branded as "The New WCOL" and "Super 'COL" It briefly returned to its Top 40 roots in the early 1990s simulcasting "Cool 92" and in automated form as "Real Oldies 1230" from 2003 to 2004. That station is now known as WYTS and is a combination conservative/sports talk radio station.
WCOL is one of four Country music outlets in Columbus, the most of any radio market in Ohio, as it faces competition with WHOK-FM
WHOK-FM
WHOK-FM is an FM radio station licensed to Lancaster, Ohio, located at 95.5 MHz. The station operates from a facility located in downtown Columbus, Ohio.-Station history:...
, WCLT-FM
WCLT-FM
WCLT-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Its brand identifier is Today's Country and Your All-Time Favorites, T-100. Licensed to Newark, Ohio, USA, the station serves the Columbus area. The station is currently owned by Wclt Radio and features programing from Fox News...
, and WNKK for Country music listenership in Columbus. However, WCOL is the only Country station in Columbus that covers the entire metropolitan area with a full powered signal.
External links
- There is an active history site for "The New WCOL," the AM version that dominated Columbus radio ratings in the 1960s and 1970s: http://www.mikeadams.org/wcol.html