WQMU
Encyclopedia
name = WQMU|
image =
|
area = Indiana, Pennsylvania
/ Pittsburgh
|
branding =U-92|
slogan = "Today's Best Music"|
airdate = August 14, 1968|
frequency = 92.5(mHz) |
format = Adult Contemporary
erp = 3,000 watt
s|
class = A|
owner = St. Pier Group, LLC (Renda Broadcasting Corporation) |
website = www.u92radio.com |
WQMU is a Adult Contemporary radio station broadcast on 92.5FM, which serves Cambria County, Indiana County, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
, and a portion of Allegheny County. This radio station is the flagship station of Indiana County. The station is owned by Renda Broadcasting
.
In January 1990, WQMU began a relationship with the Transtar Radio Network (now Westwood One), first affiliating with the network's "Niche 29" format of Classic Rock and Top 40. The network later changed the name of the format to "Adult Rock 'n Roll", and the Transtar affiliation was later dropped in favor of another affiliation agreement with the Jones Satellite Network in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The station moved to 92.5 after then owner RMS Media petitioned the FCC for an FM license north of Indiana at 103.3 FM in Brookville. In order for the new station to go on the air, WQMU would have to move its frequency, which took place in 1997.
WQMU was then marketed as "The Planet" and continue to play Adult Rock 'n Roll until 2000. That year, U-92 was born with a U2 tour tie in. Many changes were taking place in the business and airstaff positions, the biggest coming in 2004.
Renda Broadcasting
had already acquired rival stations WCCS
& WLCY
with plans of relocating them to a renovated building at 840 Philadelphia St., in downtown Indiana, PA. In 2004 RMS Media Management finalized the sale of both WQMU and WDAD
to Renda.
In need of additional studio space to accommodate four radio stations (WDAD
, WCCS
, WLCY
, WQMU), Renda Broadcasting acquired the former Gatti Pharmacy building at the corner of 9th and Philadelphia Streets in downtown Indiana, where the four stations and its business operations occupy the first and second floors. It is said by some broadcast engineers to be one of the most state-of-the-art radio facilities in the country, small or large market. However, this is in dispute with some.
WQMU is now marketed as U92.5, using a new logo designed to tie in closely with the changing mascot of IUP
. The new location has 3 studios with ground level windows looking into the busy intersection at 9th and Philadelphia Streets. WQMU is slightly tucked into the building down 9th, but the studio is still visible from the sidewalk.
Crimson Hawk Sports with Sports Director Jack Benedict. Starting in 2007, WQMU became the home for Pittsburgh Penguins
hockey. U92.5 FM is also the local affiliate station for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Football Network.
.
One hour before kickoff of all football games is the Colonial Tailgate Show, which is simulcast on all four Renda Broadcasting radio stations. Michael Bertig hosts the show. Broadcasters Jack Benedict, Bill Otto, Todd Marino, Mark Hilliard, Ward Hilliard, Mark Bertig, and Chuck Clark serve as panelists live from their broadcast sites.
image =
area = Indiana, Pennsylvania
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Indiana is a borough in and the county seat of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,895 at the 2000 census.The borough and the region as a whole promotes itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" because the national Christmas Tree Grower's Association was...
/ Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
|
branding =U-92|
slogan = "Today's Best Music"|
airdate = August 14, 1968|
frequency = 92.5(mHz) |
format = Adult Contemporary
erp = 3,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s|
class = A|
owner = St. Pier Group, LLC (Renda Broadcasting Corporation) |
website = www.u92radio.com |
WQMU is a Adult Contemporary radio station broadcast on 92.5FM, which serves Cambria County, Indiana County, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
, and a portion of Allegheny County. This radio station is the flagship station of Indiana County. The station is owned by Renda Broadcasting
Renda Broadcasting
Renda Broadcasting is a privately held Pittsburgh-based radio broadcasting company founded by chief executive, Tony Renda.Renda Broadcasting operates stations in Pennsylvania, Florida and Oklahoma.-Stations:Pittsburgh*WSHH 99.7 – Adult contemporary...
.
History
WQMU signed on in August 1968 at 103.1 mHz. From the day of its first sign-on until January 1990, WQMU was mostly automated, with formats varying from Beautiful Music to Album Rock, with music delivered on 10-inch reel-to-reel tape. The WQMU call letters alluded to its position statement promising Quality MUsic'. The station did however, air a live morning show program for many of its years, hosted by Mike Cavanagh, who was with the station since its sign-on in 1968 until 2007.In January 1990, WQMU began a relationship with the Transtar Radio Network (now Westwood One), first affiliating with the network's "Niche 29" format of Classic Rock and Top 40. The network later changed the name of the format to "Adult Rock 'n Roll", and the Transtar affiliation was later dropped in favor of another affiliation agreement with the Jones Satellite Network in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The station moved to 92.5 after then owner RMS Media petitioned the FCC for an FM license north of Indiana at 103.3 FM in Brookville. In order for the new station to go on the air, WQMU would have to move its frequency, which took place in 1997.
WQMU was then marketed as "The Planet" and continue to play Adult Rock 'n Roll until 2000. That year, U-92 was born with a U2 tour tie in. Many changes were taking place in the business and airstaff positions, the biggest coming in 2004.
Renda Broadcasting
Renda Broadcasting
Renda Broadcasting is a privately held Pittsburgh-based radio broadcasting company founded by chief executive, Tony Renda.Renda Broadcasting operates stations in Pennsylvania, Florida and Oklahoma.-Stations:Pittsburgh*WSHH 99.7 – Adult contemporary...
had already acquired rival stations WCCS
WCCS
WCCS is a commercially licensed AM radio station, licensed to Homer City, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, and 25 miles northwest of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. WCCS operates at the federally assigned frequency of 1160 kHz with a maximum daytime power output of 10,000 watts, and...
& WLCY
WLCY
WLCY is a country music formatted radio station serving Indiana, Cambria, Jefferson, Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania. This station broadcasts in a similar style to rival WFGI-FM with playing throwback country hits and current hits....
with plans of relocating them to a renovated building at 840 Philadelphia St., in downtown Indiana, PA. In 2004 RMS Media Management finalized the sale of both WQMU and WDAD
WDAD
WDAD is a radio station in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, serving Indiana, Cambria, and Westmoreland counties. It is owned and operated by Renda Broadcasting. The station broadcasts on AM 1450. Its slogan is "Classic Hits."-History:...
to Renda.
In need of additional studio space to accommodate four radio stations (WDAD
WDAD
WDAD is a radio station in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, serving Indiana, Cambria, and Westmoreland counties. It is owned and operated by Renda Broadcasting. The station broadcasts on AM 1450. Its slogan is "Classic Hits."-History:...
, WCCS
WCCS
WCCS is a commercially licensed AM radio station, licensed to Homer City, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, and 25 miles northwest of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. WCCS operates at the federally assigned frequency of 1160 kHz with a maximum daytime power output of 10,000 watts, and...
, WLCY
WLCY
WLCY is a country music formatted radio station serving Indiana, Cambria, Jefferson, Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania. This station broadcasts in a similar style to rival WFGI-FM with playing throwback country hits and current hits....
, WQMU), Renda Broadcasting acquired the former Gatti Pharmacy building at the corner of 9th and Philadelphia Streets in downtown Indiana, where the four stations and its business operations occupy the first and second floors. It is said by some broadcast engineers to be one of the most state-of-the-art radio facilities in the country, small or large market. However, this is in dispute with some.
WQMU is now marketed as U92.5, using a new logo designed to tie in closely with the changing mascot of IUP
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
. The new location has 3 studios with ground level windows looking into the busy intersection at 9th and Philadelphia Streets. WQMU is slightly tucked into the building down 9th, but the studio is still visible from the sidewalk.
Sports
Since 2006, WQMU has been the voice of IUPIndiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
Crimson Hawk Sports with Sports Director Jack Benedict. Starting in 2007, WQMU became the home for Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
hockey. U92.5 FM is also the local affiliate station for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
Football Network.
Local Sports
High School Sportsnight is a feature on WQMU, which showcases high school football and basketball games in PIAA District VI Heritage Conference. High School Sportsnight is sponsored by the Indiana Regional Medical CenterIndiana Regional Medical Center
Indiana Regional Medical Center is a not-for-profit hospital located in Indiana, Pennsylvania that was founded in 1914. It is one of the eighteen member hospitals of the Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Alliance that was established to provide community based health care via independent community...
.
One hour before kickoff of all football games is the Colonial Tailgate Show, which is simulcast on all four Renda Broadcasting radio stations. Michael Bertig hosts the show. Broadcasters Jack Benedict, Bill Otto, Todd Marino, Mark Hilliard, Ward Hilliard, Mark Bertig, and Chuck Clark serve as panelists live from their broadcast sites.
Programming
Some of U92.5's Programming Includes:- The Awesome 80's Hour (Lunch Hour)
- Morning News Updates
- Weather forecasts throughout the day
On-Air Personnel
- Ashley Pribicko - Weekday morning news updates
- Jack Benedict - IUP sports play-by-play
- John Flickinger - IUP football color analyst
- Todd Marino - High school sports play-by-play
Off-Air Management
- Mark Bertig - Vice President and General Manager
- Jason Hill - General Sales Manager
- Jim DeCesare - Program Director
- Lori Balest - Business Manager
- Travis Williams - Traffic Director
- Todd Marino - Production Director
- Keith Reiter - Assistant Traffic Director