WGRR
Encyclopedia
WGRR is a Classic Hits
radio station
in the Cincinnati, Ohio
market (Arbitron
#28) on the FM dial
at 103.5, owned by Cumulus Media
.
) when founded in the 1950s by Fort Hamilton Broadcasting which aired middle of the road and beautiful music
through the 1960s. In 1973 the calls were changed to WYCH and again in 1978 to WOKV playing soft rock until a format switch to all disco
in 1979. During this time it was known as "The Chicken" in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing. As disco lost steam in the 80s, it switched to contemporary rock in early 1981 only to switch again to urban contemporary by years end as WBLZ. That format and call sign remained until 1990.
WGRR began broadcasting in January 1990 as Cincinnati's first FM oldies station, Oldies 103.5.
The lineup then was Ken Matthews (morning drive), Tony Michaels and Gina Ruffin Moore (news), Toni Mason (traffic) Steve Allan (program director and late mornings), John Hall (production director and early afternoons), Marty "with the Party" Thompson (assistant program director and afternoon drive), "Rockin' Ron" Schumacher (nights) and "Slim" Kim Karson (overnights). J.D. Hughes stayed at WGRR after its transformation from urban WBLZ to work weekends, and remains affiliated with the station.
The current lineup at WGRR consists of Chris O'Brien and Janeen Coyle ("Married with Microphones") mornings with news and traffic from Angie Irick, Rockin' Ron Schumacher middays, Keith Mitchell afternoons and Wendy Walker nights. WGRR has been home to many popular local air personalities, among them Jim "The Music Professor" Labarbara, voted by his peers as one of the Top 40 radio personalities of all time. Jim is also a member of the Rock Jock Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Ohio Radio/Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He was replaced in early 2007 by current program director Keith Mitchell, formerly PD of WMOJ-FM (Mojo 94.9).
WGRR was formerly owned by CBS Radio
, and was sold to Entercom Communications
on August 21, 2006, along with CBS Radio's other Cincinnati stations. Entercom (which later exited the market) then traded the station to Cumulus Media
Partners in exchange for the frequency 94.9 FM and WYGY
.
In early 2007, WGRR adopted a new logo to reflect its updated format, which shifted from "Oldies" from the 1960s and 1970s to "Classic Hits", an updated version of the format that includes music from the 1980s.
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...
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 the Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
market (Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
#28) on the FM dial
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
at 103.5, owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
.
History
Originally WHOH (Hamilton's FM sister to WMOHWMOH
WMOH is a radio station broadcasting a talk format. Licensed to Hamilton, Ohio, USA, the station serves the Cincinnati area. The station is currently owned by Vernon R. Baldwin, Inc...
) when founded in the 1950s by Fort Hamilton Broadcasting which aired middle of the road and beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
through the 1960s. In 1973 the calls were changed to WYCH and again in 1978 to WOKV playing soft rock until a format switch to all disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
in 1979. During this time it was known as "The Chicken" in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing. As disco lost steam in the 80s, it switched to contemporary rock in early 1981 only to switch again to urban contemporary by years end as WBLZ. That format and call sign remained until 1990.
WGRR began broadcasting in January 1990 as Cincinnati's first FM oldies station, Oldies 103.5.
The lineup then was Ken Matthews (morning drive), Tony Michaels and Gina Ruffin Moore (news), Toni Mason (traffic) Steve Allan (program director and late mornings), John Hall (production director and early afternoons), Marty "with the Party" Thompson (assistant program director and afternoon drive), "Rockin' Ron" Schumacher (nights) and "Slim" Kim Karson (overnights). J.D. Hughes stayed at WGRR after its transformation from urban WBLZ to work weekends, and remains affiliated with the station.
The current lineup at WGRR consists of Chris O'Brien and Janeen Coyle ("Married with Microphones") mornings with news and traffic from Angie Irick, Rockin' Ron Schumacher middays, Keith Mitchell afternoons and Wendy Walker nights. WGRR has been home to many popular local air personalities, among them Jim "The Music Professor" Labarbara, voted by his peers as one of the Top 40 radio personalities of all time. Jim is also a member of the Rock Jock Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Ohio Radio/Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He was replaced in early 2007 by current program director Keith Mitchell, formerly PD of WMOJ-FM (Mojo 94.9).
WGRR was formerly owned by CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
, and was sold to Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
on August 21, 2006, along with CBS Radio's other Cincinnati stations. Entercom (which later exited the market) then traded the station to Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
Partners in exchange for the frequency 94.9 FM and WYGY
WYGY
WYGY is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to the suburb of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, it serves the Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1993 under the call sign WAAR...
.
- More information: 2006 Cincinnati radio station reorganization.
In early 2007, WGRR adopted a new logo to reflect its updated format, which shifted from "Oldies" from the 1960s and 1970s to "Classic Hits", an updated version of the format that includes music from the 1980s.