WEXT
Encyclopedia
WEXT is a radio station
broadcasting an adult album alternative
format. Licensed to Amsterdam, New York, USA, the station serves Albany, New York
. The station is currently owned by WMHT Educational Telecommunications and features programing from American Public Media, National Public Radio and Public Radio International
.
format. In 1979, the call letters changed to WMVQ, which now programmed a MOR format. In 1984, WMVQ changed formats to soft rock
. In late 1988, the format was changed to oldies
with the call letters WKOL-FM,
which was known as Cool 97.7. In late 1989, the station flipped to adult contemporary.
On December 26, 1994, the station flipped to classical music
as WBKK W-Bach after playing Christmas music
under the AC format. As a commercial station, the station originally ran using the KDFC DAT
service, switching to the now-defunct SW Classical network and eventually to a service provided by WCRB
in Boston, Massachusetts.
On August 4, 2005, the station became a simulcast of WMHT-FM
after GEM Associates sold the station to WMHT Educational Telecommunications for $1.5 million. In April 2006, WBKK split off from the simulcast of WMHT-FM with a classical music format carrying shorter pieces than its sister station.
On July 7, 2007, WMHT-FM dropped their classical service on WBKK and launched a new adult album alternative
format under the Exit 97.7 branding and the WEXT calls. The station highlights a lot of local music, calling it "Local 518" (in reference to the station's area code). Featured programs include the children's rock and roll program called "The Peanut Butter Jam."
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...
broadcasting an adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
format. Licensed to Amsterdam, New York, USA, the station serves Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. The station is currently owned by WMHT Educational Telecommunications and features programing from American Public Media, National Public Radio and Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
.
History
WEXT began operations as WCSS-FM in 1975 airing a top 40/oldiesOldies
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. In 1979, the call letters changed to WMVQ, which now programmed a MOR format. In 1984, WMVQ changed formats to soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
. In late 1988, the format was changed to 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....
with the call letters WKOL-FM,
which was known as Cool 97.7. In late 1989, the station flipped to adult contemporary.
On December 26, 1994, the station flipped to classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
as WBKK W-Bach after playing Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
under the AC format. As a commercial station, the station originally ran using the KDFC DAT
Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As...
service, switching to the now-defunct SW Classical network and eventually to a service provided by WCRB
WCRB
WCRB is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Lowell, Massachusetts and based in the Brighton area of Boston, which serves the Greater Boston area. It broadcasts a classical music format; it existed as a commercial station from the early 1950s until December 2009, and as a listener-supported...
in Boston, Massachusetts.
On August 4, 2005, the station became a simulcast of WMHT-FM
WMHT-FM
WMHT-FM is the callsign of a classical music and NPR radio station licenced to Schenectady, New York, broadcasting on 89.1 MHz with 11 kW ERP from the Helderberg Mountains antenna farm in New Scotland, New York...
after GEM Associates sold the station to WMHT Educational Telecommunications for $1.5 million. In April 2006, WBKK split off from the simulcast of WMHT-FM with a classical music format carrying shorter pieces than its sister station.
On July 7, 2007, WMHT-FM dropped their classical service on WBKK and launched a new adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
format under the Exit 97.7 branding and the WEXT calls. The station highlights a lot of local music, calling it "Local 518" (in reference to the station's area code). Featured programs include the children's rock and roll program called "The Peanut Butter Jam."