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WSTR (FM)
Encyclopedia
WSTR is an Atlanta FM radio station airing an Hot Adult Contemporary format during the week and a 1990's pop music format on weekends. It is owned by Lincoln Financial Media
, and has Smyrna, Georgia
as its city of license
.
94Q also featured a Smooth jazz
music program called "Jazz Flavors," which eventually served as the genesis for WJZF "Jazz Flavors 104.1," Atlanta's first smooth-jazz radio station (now WALR-FM
), and later on, "WJZZ 107.5" (now WAMJ).
At midnight on November 16, 1989, its name was changed to "Star 94" after obtaining the call sign "WSTR" from a Sturgis, Michigan radio station (now WBET-FM). The station's format bordered between Hot AC and Top 40 (CHR)
, best described as "Adult Top 40" (a hybrid of Hot AC and Top 40). The station avoided most hip hop
and rhythmic
-oriented music hitting the Top 40 charts. Between 2007 and 2009, WSTR began to incorporate more hip hop songs in its playlist but remained more pop and rock oriented than most Top 40 (CHR)
-style stations. In September 2010, the station began shifting towards a Hot AC format, therefore Nielsen BDS
moved WSTR from the CHR (Top 40) to the Adult Top 40 (Hot AC) panel, as the station became more identified with a Hot AC playlist. It also changed its on air slogan to "Your Life...Your Music," to emphasize its acknowledged shift to Hot AC. In February 2011, Star 94 began programming an all 1990's weekend called the "Big 90's Weekend" in response to the all-1980's weekends on WSB-FM
.
Several influential air personalities have worked at the Atlanta station, including American Idol
s Ryan Seacrest
. Seacrest interned on the night show with Tom Sullivan
, who trained him in all areas of broadcasting then gave him his first "on air" shift of his career, before moving to weekends. He did this while attending Dunwoody High School in nearby Dunwoody, GA.
WSTR FM shares a tower with WPBA TV 30, and in fact shares the same antenna
with WSB-FM
98.5 and WVEE FM 103.3. The three radio station
s' transmitter
s are diplexed together, so that they all feed to the antenna instead of into each other.
WSTR broadcasts in HD Radio
. It carries a simulcast of WQXI's sports talk format on HD-3.
Additional staff:
Former staff:
The station's general manager, Mark Kanov, has worked at the station since the late 1960s announced his retirement for late July 2008.
Captain Herb Emory currently doing morning and afternoon traffic at WSB-AM and also host the Bellamy Strictland 120 Nascar show on weekends.
Lincoln National Corporation
Lincoln National Corporation is a Fortune 200 American holding company, which operates multiple insurance and investment management businesses through subsidiary companies...
, and has Smyrna, Georgia
Smyrna, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,999 people, 18,372 households, and 9,498 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,949.9 people per square mile . There were 19,633 housing units at an average density of 1,412.6 per square mile...
as its city of license
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
.
History
94.1 was once WGST-FM and was given away in the 1950s as FM did not take off. In the 1960s, WDJK appeared to occupy 94.1 as a brand new station, associated with WYNX (AM-1550) in Smyrna. Within two years, the station was sold to the owners of WQXI (AM-790), which was Atlanta's leading Top 40 Rock station. FM-94.1 then became easy listening WKXI. By 1969 the station had adopted WQXI-FM as its call letters, and in mid-1977 the station was officially rechristened 94Q (WQXI-FM). It became one of Atlanta's dominant FM stations and remained so until 1987, when its audience share began to dwindle. Various tweaks were made to the music mix, followed by an outright change of direction in early 1989 that competed head-to-head with then-dominant CHR WAPW/Power 99 (now WWWQ). 94Q was soundly beaten, and the station began to purge most of its management and on-air talent.94Q also featured a Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
music program called "Jazz Flavors," which eventually served as the genesis for WJZF "Jazz Flavors 104.1," Atlanta's first smooth-jazz radio station (now WALR-FM
WALR-FM
WALR-FM is an urban adult contemporary-formatted radio station owned by Cox Media Group. WALR-FM is licensed to Greenville and broadcasts on a class C0 100-kilowatt signal on the 104.1 megahertz frequency...
), and later on, "WJZZ 107.5" (now WAMJ).
At midnight on November 16, 1989, its name was changed to "Star 94" after obtaining the call sign "WSTR" from a Sturgis, Michigan radio station (now WBET-FM). The station's format bordered between Hot AC and Top 40 (CHR)
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
, best described as "Adult Top 40" (a hybrid of Hot AC and Top 40). The station avoided most hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
and rhythmic
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
-oriented music hitting the Top 40 charts. Between 2007 and 2009, WSTR began to incorporate more hip hop songs in its playlist but remained more pop and rock oriented than most Top 40 (CHR)
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
-style stations. In September 2010, the station began shifting towards a Hot AC format, therefore Nielsen BDS
Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems
Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, better known as BDS, is a service that tracks monitored radio, television and internet airplay of songs based on the number of spins and detections...
moved WSTR from the CHR (Top 40) to the Adult Top 40 (Hot AC) panel, as the station became more identified with a Hot AC playlist. It also changed its on air slogan to "Your Life...Your Music," to emphasize its acknowledged shift to Hot AC. In February 2011, Star 94 began programming an all 1990's weekend called the "Big 90's Weekend" in response to the all-1980's weekends on WSB-FM
WSB-FM
WSB-FM is an Atlanta radio station. Along with several other Atlanta radio stations, WSB-FM is owned by Cox Enterprises' Cox Media Group subsidiary, and is the group's flagship FM station...
.
Several influential air personalities have worked at the Atlanta station, including American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
s Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
. Seacrest interned on the night show with Tom Sullivan
Tom Sullivan
Thomas, Tom, or Tommy Sullivan may refer to:*Thomas Sullivan , American author of short stories and novels*Thomas Crook Sullivan , American general during the American Civil War...
, who trained him in all areas of broadcasting then gave him his first "on air" shift of his career, before moving to weekends. He did this while attending Dunwoody High School in nearby Dunwoody, GA.
WSTR FM shares a tower with WPBA TV 30, and in fact shares the same antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
with WSB-FM
WSB-FM
WSB-FM is an Atlanta radio station. Along with several other Atlanta radio stations, WSB-FM is owned by Cox Enterprises' Cox Media Group subsidiary, and is the group's flagship FM station...
98.5 and WVEE FM 103.3. The three 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...
s' transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
s are diplexed together, so that they all feed to the antenna instead of into each other.
WSTR broadcasts in HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
. It carries a simulcast of WQXI's sports talk format on HD-3.
On-air staff
The current staff includes:- Cindy and Ray in the Morning; 5:30-9am hosted by Cindy Simmons and Ray Mariner
- Heather Branch; 9am-2pm
- Chase DanielsChase DanielsChase Daniels is an on-air personality for WSTR Star 94 Atlanta.Chase was born on Long Island, New York where he began listening to Kid Kelly on Z100 and decided radio is what he wanted to do. His career started at a radio station in Jacksonville, Florida where he was quickly promoted within the...
; 2pm-7pm - Tim Orff; 7pm-12am
- Ryan SeacrestRyan SeacrestRyan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
; Sunday 8pm-12am American Top 40
Additional staff:
- Rob Stadler (News Director and Morning Newsman)
- Michael Chase (Music Director)
- Doug Miller (Production Director)
- Casey Tate (Cindy and Ray Producer)
Former staff:
- Chris Carter, former traffic reporter
- Darik At Night, former evening personality. Hosted by Darik Kristofer (now at WIAD-FM)
- Kristen Gates, former weekender, morning/afternoon show producer. Former mornings @ WKHX. Currently mornings WUBL
- Bender, former weekend/fill-in personality
- Billy Brown, former evening personality
- Mike "Superphat Mikey" Dennison, former co-host of The Morning Mess (as of 3/5/2009)
- Craig Hunt, former afternoon personality
- Tripp West, former mid-day personality currently @ 94.9 WUBL in Atlanta
- J. Bird, former weekend/fill-in personality
- Eileen Kimble, former weekend personality
- Nikki Knight, former evening personality
- Eric Lauer, former weekend personality
- Derek James, former weekend personality (now a television anchor and meteorologist for FOX Charlotte)
- Vikki Locke, former morning personality (now at WSB-FMWSB-FMWSB-FM is an Atlanta radio station. Along with several other Atlanta radio stations, WSB-FM is owned by Cox Enterprises' Cox Media Group subsidiary, and is the group's flagship FM station...
) - Mike Macho, currently on WKHX-FMWKHX-FMWKHX-FM, known as "Kicks 101.5", is an Atlanta FM radio station that plays country music. Its city of license is Marietta, Georgia. "Kicks" debuted in 1980 after Capital Cities Communications purchased the station. WKHX used to simulcast on AM 590, which is now Radio Disney...
- Jamie Massey, now at KNIXKNIXKNIX-FM is an FM radio station broadcasting a Country music format. The station is based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Clear Channel Communications station broadcasts at 102.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 98 kW....
Phoenix, AZ, formerly mornings @ WUBL - Shannon Murphy, former co-host of The Morning Mess (as of 3/5/2009,Now co-host of the Mojo In The Morning Show on WKQI-Detroit Channel 955 from 6AM-10AM Eastern Standard Time. www.mojointhemorning.com
- Jim Larsin, former weekend personality (went to WSB-FM, then retired from radio)
- Dallas McCade (known as Madison Chase on Star 94 and its predecessor 94Q) is currently doing mornings with Cadillac Jack on WKHX in Atlanta. Previously co-hosted mornings with Rhubarb Jones at WYAY,Eagle 106.7(Now True Oldies 106.7)
- Steve McCoySteve McCoySteve McCoy is an American radio personality best known for his show with Vikki Locke in Atlanta, Georgia for over 18 years. The duo was twice nominated for the Marconi Award. McCoy came to Atlanta in 1981 to work at legendary top 40 WZGC FM...
, former morning personality - Mike Oliver, former traffic reporter (Deceased 12/09)
- Marc "Marco" Orem, former host of The Morning Mess (as of 3/5/2009)
- Nudge, former evening personality now nationally syndicated Nudge@night
- Ryan SeacrestRyan SeacrestRyan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
is now on American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
and has a syndicated morning radio show out of Los Angeles, CA. - Tracy St. George, formerly on WWWQ Atlanta All The Hits Q100, moved to West Palm Beach, FL. to take the afternoon slot at WRMF 97.9
- Kevin Steele, now Program Director of WNGC, WGMG & WPUP/Cox Radio Athens, GA had worked weekends on WKHX
- Tom SullivanTom Sullivan (radio and television personality)Tom Sullivan is an Atlanta, Georgia radio and television personality.- Biography :Sullivan has been in radio since his senior year in high school, and with WSTR Star94 since graduation...
, former morning personality (now co-hosting WXIA-TVWXIA-TVWXIA-TV, virtual channel 11.1 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Atlanta, Georgia. Popularly known by its 11 Alive moniker, WXIA is owned by the Gannett Company in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WATL...
Atlanta and Company) - Wendy Threatt, former afternoon traffic reporter (Now doing afternoon traffic on WSB-AM and WSB-FMWSB-FMWSB-FM is an Atlanta radio station. Along with several other Atlanta radio stations, WSB-FM is owned by Cox Enterprises' Cox Media Group subsidiary, and is the group's flagship FM station...
) - Mike Stiles (former morning show producer also worked as Billy Ray Evans on WYAY) Now runs Sketchworks Comedy. Recently filled-in on WGST.
The station's general manager, Mark Kanov, has worked at the station since the late 1960s announced his retirement for late July 2008.
Captain Herb Emory currently doing morning and afternoon traffic at WSB-AM and also host the Bellamy Strictland 120 Nascar show on weekends.
External links
- Star 94 official website
- Star94.FM - Listen Live to Star94 FM
- Lincoln Financial Media