WFBQ
Encyclopedia
WFBQ is a radio station
in Indianapolis, Indiana
, USA, owned by Clear Channel Communications
. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 94.7 MHz, FM channel 234. The studios are located at 6161 Fall Creek Road on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The transmitter and antenna are located on the northwest side of Indianapolis. It is the flagship station of the popular nationally syndicated program The Bob and Tom Show.
) and WFBM-TV (now WRTV
).
In 1957, the three WFBM stations were sold to Time-Life
, Inc. In 1961 WFBM-AM/WFBM-FM were sold to Fischer Communications who also owned WAZY-AM/WAZY-FM in Lafayette and WGBF-AM/WGBF-FM in Evansville. In 1972, WFBM-TV became WRTV
. In August 1973, WFBM-AM became Top 40 WNDE. WFBM-FM had become Oldies
-formatted WFBQ earlier that same year. One year later, WFBQ became "Rock N' Stereo" (the FM Top 40 counterpart to AM sister WNDE
) using an automation package called "Stereo Rock" produced by TM Productions of Dallas. On Valentine's Day, 1978, "Rock N' Stereo" was dropped in favor of Album-Oriented Rock
and live DJs.
, at 7 AM. After several years of a classic rock
lean, WFBQ changed to classic rock by 2005
, when competitor WKLU
defected to classic hits
.
It also has two sister stations, WNDE (originally WFBM-AM) and WRZX (originally WXTZ-FM).
It has been the flagship station of The Bob & Tom Show
(syndicated by Clear Channel Communications
since 1995) since 1983.
It was the flagship station for Indianapolis Colts
game broadcasts http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=broadcast_dynamic&id=73 from 1998 through the 2007 Super Bowl. The rights have since been acquired by Emmis Communications
' WLHK
WFBQ is the State Primary Source for the Indiana Emergency Alert System. http://www.wndu.com/eas/EASSTATE.pdf
concert in Noblesville, Indiana
, frontman Axl Rose
(a Lafayette
native) spotted a fan wearing a Q95 t-shirt and proceeded to claim to have listened to the station while growing up and that the "station saved [his] fuckin' life".
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 Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, USA, 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...
. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 94.7 MHz, FM channel 234. The studios are located at 6161 Fall Creek Road on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The transmitter and antenna are located on the northwest side of Indianapolis. It is the flagship station of the popular nationally syndicated program The Bob and Tom Show.
History
WFBQ began operation as WFBM-FM in 1955 as the sister station to WFBM-AM (now WNDEWNDE
WNDE, branded as "SportsRadio 1260 WNDE", is an AM radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications in Indianapolis, Indiana. The station operates on the AM radio frequency of 1260 kHz...
) and WFBM-TV (now WRTV
WRTV
WRTV, channel 6, is the ABC television affiliate in Indianapolis, Indiana; it is owned by McGraw-Hill. Its transmitter is located on the northwest side of Indianapolis at 8001 Township Line Road. Its studios are found at 1330 N...
).
In 1957, the three WFBM stations were sold to Time-Life
Time-Life
Time–Life is a creator and direct marketer of books, music, video/DVD, and multimedia products. Its products are sold throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia through television, print, retail, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct sales....
, Inc. In 1961 WFBM-AM/WFBM-FM were sold to Fischer Communications who also owned WAZY-AM/WAZY-FM in Lafayette and WGBF-AM/WGBF-FM in Evansville. In 1972, WFBM-TV became WRTV
WRTV
WRTV, channel 6, is the ABC television affiliate in Indianapolis, Indiana; it is owned by McGraw-Hill. Its transmitter is located on the northwest side of Indianapolis at 8001 Township Line Road. Its studios are found at 1330 N...
. In August 1973, WFBM-AM became Top 40 WNDE. WFBM-FM had become 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....
-formatted WFBQ earlier that same year. One year later, WFBQ became "Rock N' Stereo" (the FM Top 40 counterpart to AM sister WNDE
WNDE
WNDE, branded as "SportsRadio 1260 WNDE", is an AM radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications in Indianapolis, Indiana. The station operates on the AM radio frequency of 1260 kHz...
) using an automation package called "Stereo Rock" produced by TM Productions of Dallas. On Valentine's Day, 1978, "Rock N' Stereo" was dropped in favor of Album-Oriented Rock
Album-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...
and live DJs.
Station broadcasting information
The station broadcasts with 58 kilowatts of both vertical and horizontal power. More information can be found at the WFBQ FM query page at the FCC website. 58 kW makes WFBQ the most powerful FM station in Indiana.Programming
WFBQ changed to a Album Rock format on February 14, 19781978 in radio
The year 1978 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:* May 6 – Bob Kingsley, producer of the syndicated "American Country Countdown," takes over as host. He replaces Don Bowman, who had hosted for the first 4½ years...
, at 7 AM. After several years of a 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...
lean, WFBQ changed to classic rock by 2005
2005 in radio
The year 2005 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*April 29 - KFRC 610 AM in San Francisco, switches formats as a result of ownership change. KFRC becomes KEAR, the "Sound of the New Life", a listener-supported, gospel/religious only station. It had been previously KFRC from...
, when competitor WKLU
WKLU
WKLU is a radio station licensed to Brownsburg, Indiana, and serving the Indianapolis metropolitan area. The station is an affiliate of K-Love.- History :...
defected to classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
.
It also has two sister stations, WNDE (originally WFBM-AM) and WRZX (originally WXTZ-FM).
It has been the flagship station of The Bob & Tom Show
The Bob & Tom Show
The Bob & Tom Show is a syndicated US radio program established by Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold at radio station WFBQ in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 7, 1983, and syndicated nationally since January 6, 1995....
(syndicated 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...
since 1995) since 1983.
It was the flagship station for Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
game broadcasts http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=broadcast_dynamic&id=73 from 1998 through the 2007 Super Bowl. The rights have since been acquired by Emmis Communications
Emmis Communications
Emmis Communications is a media conglomerate based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company owns radio stations and magazines in the United States, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.-History:...
' WLHK
WLHK
WLHK -- "97-1 Hank FM" -- is an FM radio station owned by Emmis Communications in Indianapolis, Indiana. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 97.1 mHz, FM channel 246. The studios are located on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. The transmitters, according to the FCC, are...
WFBQ is the State Primary Source for the Indiana Emergency Alert System. http://www.wndu.com/eas/EASSTATE.pdf
Legacy
At a 1991 Guns N' RosesGuns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
concert in Noblesville, Indiana
Noblesville, Indiana
Noblesville is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Indiana, United States, located just north of Indianapolis. The population was 51,969 at the 2010 census making it the 14th largest city/town in the state, up from 19th in 2007...
, frontman Axl Rose
Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years...
(a Lafayette
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
native) spotted a fan wearing a Q95 t-shirt and proceeded to claim to have listened to the station while growing up and that the "station saved [his] fuckin' life".