WKPO
Encyclopedia
WWHG is a radio station
licensed to Evansville, Wisconsin
and serving the areas of Madison
and Janesville
. The station is owned by Good Karma Broadcasting and began a new album-oriented rock
(AOR) music format as "105-9 The Hog" on January 13, 2007, after several years with a Rhythmic Top 40 format.
with the call letters WMJB. (Madison, Janesville, Beloit) Adopting the calls WKPO, the station was known as "Power 105-9" with a more pop/dance sound featuring hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s with less repetition. By 2000, it had evolved into a full blown Rhythmic CHR format. In December of 2001 the station became known as "105-9 KPO" soon after becoming "Hot 105-9" with the same format. As a rhythmic station, WKPO fared better in the Janesville
] area (where its signal was at its strongest), although it did have some success in the Madison
area as its format was unique to that market.
At Midnight January 10, 2007, WKPO abruptly dropped Rhythmic Top 40. After looping "Hip Hop Is Dead" by Nas
all day January 10th, the station reverted to a stunt
of different music from different formats, with voiceovers suggesting any one of them could be the new format that would launch on January 13, 2007. At 10AM on the 13th, WKPO's new format was unveiled: album-oriented rock
as "105.9 The Hog," promising "Everything that rocks, not just from one decade." "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC
and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
were the first two songs played on the new "105-9 The Hog."
The new format and the "Hog" imaging are a direct copy of Saga Communications
-owned WHQG
in Milwaukee
("102.9 The Hog"). Indeed, "105-9 The Hog" airs the Bob and Brian
show--a program that originates from WHQG--during its morning drive time. (The show had aired on sister station WTLX
since 2003.)
Coinciding with the format switch, the station's call letters changed from WKPO to WWHG (although in the days immediately after the flip, the station did identify themselves with the calls "WHGG"http://rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070115/NEWS/101150043/-1/NEWSNOW).
However, the Rhythmic format would make a surprise return to the Madison radio market on January 26, 2007 when WSLK dropped their simulcast of WHLK to become WJQM
, "106.7 Jamz." When the Wisconsin State Journal
asked Keith Williams, general manager of WWHG, about the format being picked up by another outlet in the market, he said has no regrets about switching off the rap music, but he said he'll listen to the new hip-hop station. "I love the format," Williams said. "I wish them the best of luck."
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...
licensed to Evansville, Wisconsin
Evansville, Wisconsin
Evansville is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,039 at the 2000 census . According to the 2010 census there are 5,012 people Since 2000, Evansville's population has increased over 21%...
and serving the areas of Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
and Janesville
Janesville, Wisconsin
Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat of Rock County and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 62,998.-History:...
. The station is owned by Good Karma Broadcasting and began a new 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...
(AOR) music format as "105-9 The Hog" on January 13, 2007, after several years with a Rhythmic Top 40 format.
History
Prior to its flip to Rhythmic Top 40 in the Fall of 1997 following a period of stunting in which the station played only TV theme songs, the station's format was first Adult Contemporary, then classic rockClassic 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...
with the call letters WMJB. (Madison, Janesville, Beloit) Adopting the calls WKPO, the station was known as "Power 105-9" with a more pop/dance sound featuring hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s with less repetition. By 2000, it had evolved into a full blown Rhythmic CHR format. In December of 2001 the station became known as "105-9 KPO" soon after becoming "Hot 105-9" with the same format. As a rhythmic station, WKPO fared better in the Janesville
Janesville, Wisconsin
Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat of Rock County and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 62,998.-History:...
] area (where its signal was at its strongest), although it did have some success in the Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
area as its format was unique to that market.
At Midnight January 10, 2007, WKPO abruptly dropped Rhythmic Top 40. After looping "Hip Hop Is Dead" by Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
all day January 10th, the station reverted to a stunt
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
of different music from different formats, with voiceovers suggesting any one of them could be the new format that would launch on January 13, 2007. At 10AM on the 13th, WKPO's new format was unveiled: 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...
as "105.9 The Hog," promising "Everything that rocks, not just from one decade." "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
were the first two songs played on the new "105-9 The Hog."
The new format and the "Hog" imaging are a direct copy of Saga Communications
Saga Communications
Saga Communications is a broadcasting company that owns and operates stations in 26 markets in the United States. The company, which is based in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, primarily operates radio stations , but it also operates 9 television stations Saga Communications is a broadcasting...
-owned WHQG
WHQG
WHQG Radio is a mainstream rock FM radio station licensed to and serving the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area. The station is owned by Saga Communications...
in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
("102.9 The Hog"). Indeed, "105-9 The Hog" airs the Bob and Brian
Bob and Brian
Bob And Brian is a talk radio show based at WHQG in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that broadcasts weekdays from 5:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. and repeats as a week-in-review show on Saturday mornings.It is syndicated throughout Wisconsin, and can be heard for free via streaming audio from the official site...
show--a program that originates from WHQG--during its morning drive time. (The show had aired on sister station WTLX
WTLX
WTLX is a radio station serving the Madison, Wisconsin area. The station is owned by Good Karma Broadcasting, LLC, and runs a Sports Talk format....
since 2003.)
Coinciding with the format switch, the station's call letters changed from WKPO to WWHG (although in the days immediately after the flip, the station did identify themselves with the calls "WHGG"http://rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070115/NEWS/101150043/-1/NEWSNOW).
However, the Rhythmic format would make a surprise return to the Madison radio market on January 26, 2007 when WSLK dropped their simulcast of WHLK to become WJQM
WJQM
WWQN is a radio station licensed to Mount Horeb, Wisconsin and surrounding areas. The station is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting and simulcasts the country format of sister station WWQM-FM...
, "106.7 Jamz." When the Wisconsin State Journal
Wisconsin State Journal
The Wisconsin State Journal is a daily newspaper published in Madison, Wisconsin by Lee Enterprises. The newspaper, the second largest in Wisconsin, is primarily distributed in a 19 county region in south-central Wisconsin...
asked Keith Williams, general manager of WWHG, about the format being picked up by another outlet in the market, he said has no regrets about switching off the rap music, but he said he'll listen to the new hip-hop station. "I love the format," Williams said. "I wish them the best of luck."