WORC-FM
Encyclopedia
WORC-FM is a radio station
serving Worcester County
and most of eastern Massachusetts
with an oldies
format. It broadcasts on 98.9 MHz and is under ownership of Cumulus Media
.
by continuously playing Old Time Rock and Roll
). Following original owner Alan Okun's death on December 31, 1996, the station, along with AM sister station WGFP
, was sold to Bengal Atlantic Communications in 1997, who in turn sold them to Chowder Broadcasting soon afterward. Chowder switched WXXW to a classic rock
format in 1998; this was followed by a call change to WORC-FM, reflecting its newly-common ownership with WORC, that September.
Montachusett Broadcasting, owner of WXLO
, acquired WORC-FM in 1999; several months later, the stations were sold to Citadel Broadcasting
. Citadel subsequently acquired competing classic rock station WWFX
, and as a result reverted WORC-FM to oldies, this time on a full-time basis, on May 26, 2000. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media
on September 16, 2011.
: The 70s with Casey Kasem
on Saturdays at 7 a.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m.
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...
serving Worcester County
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
and most of eastern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
with 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. It broadcasts on 98.9 MHz and is under ownership of 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
The station signed on April 8, 1994 as WXXW, though it did not formally launch its initial format, a blend of hot talk and oldies, until April 11 (in the interim, the station stuntedStunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
by continuously playing Old Time Rock and Roll
Old Time Rock and Roll
"Old Time Rock and Roll" is the title of a song by Bob Seger featured on his 1978 album Stranger in Town and released as a single in 1979. It is a nostalgic look at the music of a previous generation. The song was featured in the Tom Cruise film Risky Business and gained widespread fame because of...
). Following original owner Alan Okun's death on December 31, 1996, the station, along with AM sister station WGFP
WGFP
WGFP is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Webster, Massachusetts, USA, the station serves the Worcester area. The station is currently owned by Just Because, Inc....
, was sold to Bengal Atlantic Communications in 1997, who in turn sold them to Chowder Broadcasting soon afterward. Chowder switched WXXW to 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...
format in 1998; this was followed by a call change to WORC-FM, reflecting its newly-common ownership with WORC, that September.
WXLO
WXLO is a Hot Adult Contemporary radio station that serves the Worcester, Massachusetts market, broadcasting on the FM band at a frequency of 104.5 MHz. The station is licensed in Fitchburg, Massachusetts to Cumulus Media...
, acquired WORC-FM in 1999; several months later, the stations were sold to Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
. Citadel subsequently acquired competing classic rock station WWFX
WWFX
WWFX is a radio station branded as "100 FM The Pike" serving the Worcester vicinity with classic hits songs from the 1960s to the 1980s. It broadcasts on 100.1 MHz/Channel 261 and is under ownership of Cumulus Media....
, and as a result reverted WORC-FM to oldies, this time on a full-time basis, on May 26, 2000. Citadel merged with 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...
on September 16, 2011.
Programming
WORC-FM broadcasts American Top 40American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
: The 70s with Casey Kasem
Casey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem is an American radio personality and voice actor who is best known for being the host of the nationally syndicated Top 40 countdown show American Top 40, and for voicing Shaggy in the popular Saturday morning cartoon franchise Scooby-Doo.Kasem, along with Don Bustany and...
on Saturdays at 7 a.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m.