WSMW
Encyclopedia
WSMW is a Variety Hits
station licensed to Greensboro, North Carolina
and serves the Piedmont Triad
region, including High Point
and Winston Salem
. The Entercom outlet broadcasts at 98.7 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW (a signal so large it reaches as far as Charlotte
, Raleigh
, and Roanoke, Virginia
).
call sign W4MDE. In the early 60s WMDE moved to 98.7, a frequency used from 1948 to 1950 by WCTP. Early formats on WMDE included classical music
, middle of the road and jazz
. In 1966 WMDE played country music
and aired Tobacco Radio Network
news. Suburban Broadcasting sold WMDE to Mido Broadcasting in 1973 and the station became WPET-FM, airing Southern gospel
music.
Starting November 1, 1973, the station went Top 40 as WRQK, known as "K-99". The station leaned toward classic rock
in 1980, when it was also called "Heart of Gold". Later the name became "99-RQK."
In 1985 the station changed to WKSI "98-7 Kiss FM," under consultant Randy Kabrich—still playing Top 40 and enjoying the "hey day" of 80's top 40. The station was programmed during the mid/late 80's by Big Steve Kelly and then Dale O'Brian. Big Steve left the station for Cleveland in the late 80's and O'Brian was named PD/Operations Manager. The station enjoyed the reputation of being one of the best sounding Top 40's in the Carolina's. The station would evolve to a Modern-leaning Adult Top 40 by 1995 (after a brief stint as a country station "98-7 Kiss Country"). The station would also change its slogan to "The Point" in 1997 and by 2002 changed it again to "The Zone" and its calls to WOZN. In 2005 the station would change their call letters to WSMW and join the list of stations embracing the Variety Hits
concept by introducing "Simon" to the market. The slogan is a reference to the children's game "Simon Says," but it also refers to whatever the jockless station plays in its music library.
The station is partially dedicated to playing music of every genre, era, and style. Music ranging from today's hits to 80's music and older classics are played. Several slogans, such as "Random Rules" or "We play everything" demonstrate this dedication to a wide variety of music.
Jack FM
JACK FM is the alternative name and on-air brand of 60 radio stations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. Jack stations play a mix of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles. Jack's slogan "playing what we want" can also be...
station licensed to Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
and serves the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
region, including High Point
High Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
and Winston Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. The Entercom outlet broadcasts at 98.7 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW (a signal so large it reaches as far as Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, and Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
).
History
On January 9, 1958, WMDE signed on at 98.5. Owner Hall Electronics had used the ham radioAmateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
call sign W4MDE. In the early 60s WMDE moved to 98.7, a frequency used from 1948 to 1950 by WCTP. Early formats on WMDE included classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, middle of the road and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. In 1966 WMDE played country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and aired Tobacco Radio Network
Tobacco Radio Network
Tobacco Radio Network was a radio network owned and operated by Capitol Broadcasting Company of Raleigh, North Carolina. Begun in 1942, the network was dedicated to educating and keeping farmers informed of the latest agricultural news, stories, and market standings...
news. Suburban Broadcasting sold WMDE to Mido Broadcasting in 1973 and the station became WPET-FM, airing Southern gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
music.
Starting November 1, 1973, the station went Top 40 as WRQK, known as "K-99". The station leaned toward 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...
in 1980, when it was also called "Heart of Gold". Later the name became "99-RQK."
In 1985 the station changed to WKSI "98-7 Kiss FM," under consultant Randy Kabrich—still playing Top 40 and enjoying the "hey day" of 80's top 40. The station was programmed during the mid/late 80's by Big Steve Kelly and then Dale O'Brian. Big Steve left the station for Cleveland in the late 80's and O'Brian was named PD/Operations Manager. The station enjoyed the reputation of being one of the best sounding Top 40's in the Carolina's. The station would evolve to a Modern-leaning Adult Top 40 by 1995 (after a brief stint as a country station "98-7 Kiss Country"). The station would also change its slogan to "The Point" in 1997 and by 2002 changed it again to "The Zone" and its calls to WOZN. In 2005 the station would change their call letters to WSMW and join the list of stations embracing the Variety Hits
Jack FM
JACK FM is the alternative name and on-air brand of 60 radio stations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. Jack stations play a mix of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles. Jack's slogan "playing what we want" can also be...
concept by introducing "Simon" to the market. The slogan is a reference to the children's game "Simon Says," but it also refers to whatever the jockless station plays in its music library.
The station
The station later added a morning show hosted by Jeff Wicker. Jeff was voted "best triad radio personality" for 2007 (GoTriad.com) Currently the morning show is hosted by Sean Sellers, a Henderson North Carolina native who cut his teeth in Triangle radio including a long stint at G-105.The station is partially dedicated to playing music of every genre, era, and style. Music ranging from today's hits to 80's music and older classics are played. Several slogans, such as "Random Rules" or "We play everything" demonstrate this dedication to a wide variety of music.