WXMP
Encyclopedia
WIXO is a radio station
in Peoria, Illinois
. It is owned by Townsquare Media, which also owns several other radio stations in the market. Originally on 99.9 MHz before 2006, it moved to 105.7, a much higher-power license that reaches a large portion of Central Illinois.
The name is based on several factors, one being the frequency (105.7) and the other being the fact that it recently relocated from 99.9 having been under the name 99X, and the "X" in the name had become an inherent part of the station. The "X" in the previous name had come from the call letters WIXO. The station features the active rock
music format. Also, on the original frequency, the slogan 99X Rocks! had been used and appeared on the station logo, and the phrase became commonly used as the station name. Thus, the new frequency uses the phrase "105.7 The X Rocks!", which can also be seen on the new logo.
programmed WWTO in the early 1970s. In 1976, the station changed its callsign to WWCT and made its debut as an album rock station. Calling itself simply "106" or "WWCT" early on, by the 1990s it was using the nickname "Rock 106". Some of their well known positioning statements included "Rockin' With The Best" and "The Home Of Rock n Roll." Much of their time was spent downtown on both Jefferson St. and 1111 Main St. They moved uptown in 1997 to War Memorial Dr. near Northwoods Mall.
In late 1998 Bruce Foster sold the station to Kelly Communications. Kelly took over immediately with an LMA and brought in satellite programming in lieu of local jocks. A Peoria Journal Star article talking about the station's DJs located in Dallas became fodder for competitor WGLO. In the summer of 1999, Kelly Communications decided to offer a lower price than what was originally negotiated in the sale. Foster decided to back out of the deal. In what amounts to a legendary story, a group of jocks from the old WWCT days went to the transmitter site on a Friday afternoon and took back control of the station with the words "We're back, and we're pissed off!" Through the weekend a great number of former jocks, local leaders, and even competing radio station personnel took part in an anything-goes broadcast from the transmitter site in rural Tazewell County, Illinois
.
In the late eighties and early nineties it was considered one of Americas best Rock stations. It was also known for its morning shows starting with Ken and Jim (a.k.a. Johnson and Tofte), Greg Dwyer and Bill Michaels
, and Ray Lytle and Jon Lamb with Pete McMurray (aka Pete on the Street) who were proclaimed one of Americas best morning shows by Radio & Records
magazine. From 1991 to 1992, Rock 106 simulcast with sister Macomb station WJEQ as Rock 106 & 103. WJEQ split away from 106 in the Spring of 1992 calling itself Classic 103. Lytle and Lamb syndicated in 1994 to WQLZ
in Springfield from the WWCT Studios. For a short time in the late 1990s, Howard Stern
was heard in the morning after previously airing on WFXF-FM
, but the show moved to 102.3 FM
in 1999.
In 2000 WWCT was bought by AAA Entertainment Radio Group, moved towards an active rock
format, and was named "Rock 105.7" towards the end of the format on 105.7 in 2003.
AAA Entertainment exited the Peoria market in September 2006 during a shakeup in Peoria radio ownership, selling 101.1 at Glasford, Illinois
to Independence Media Holdings, who moved the WXMP
callsign and format there, and selling 105.7 was to Regent Communications
, owners of 99.9 WIXO at Bartonville, Illinois
.
in February, 1997, and was known as 99X, Peoria's Modern Rock Alternative. It featured the alternative
music format. Original DJ's included Ian Chase, Jeff Williams
, Stephanie Aaron, and Jay Wolfe
.
At the old frequency, the station could be heard in a small area Peoria, Illinois
. With the move, it can now be heard in an area around three times larger than it originally could.
In the wake of the WIXO move to 105.7, WWCT
, which was originally at 105.7 itself, moved from 96.5 to 99.9.
(RDS), which will show the following information on radios capable of receiving RDS information.
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...
in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. It is owned by Townsquare Media, which also owns several other radio stations in the market. Originally on 99.9 MHz before 2006, it moved to 105.7, a much higher-power license that reaches a large portion of Central Illinois.
The name is based on several factors, one being the frequency (105.7) and the other being the fact that it recently relocated from 99.9 having been under the name 99X, and the "X" in the name had become an inherent part of the station. The "X" in the previous name had come from the call letters WIXO. The station features the active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
music format. Also, on the original frequency, the slogan 99X Rocks! had been used and appeared on the station logo, and the phrase became commonly used as the station name. Thus, the new frequency uses the phrase "105.7 The X Rocks!", which can also be seen on the new logo.
WWTO & WWCT
The original 105.7 was operating as Drake-ChenaultDrake-Chenault
Drake-Chenault Enterprises was a radio syndication company that specialized in automation on FM radio stations. The company was founded in the late-1960s by radio programmer and deejay Bill Drake , and his business partner, Lester Eugene Chenault...
programmed WWTO in the early 1970s. In 1976, the station changed its callsign to WWCT and made its debut as an album rock station. Calling itself simply "106" or "WWCT" early on, by the 1990s it was using the nickname "Rock 106". Some of their well known positioning statements included "Rockin' With The Best" and "The Home Of Rock n Roll." Much of their time was spent downtown on both Jefferson St. and 1111 Main St. They moved uptown in 1997 to War Memorial Dr. near Northwoods Mall.
In late 1998 Bruce Foster sold the station to Kelly Communications. Kelly took over immediately with an LMA and brought in satellite programming in lieu of local jocks. A Peoria Journal Star article talking about the station's DJs located in Dallas became fodder for competitor WGLO. In the summer of 1999, Kelly Communications decided to offer a lower price than what was originally negotiated in the sale. Foster decided to back out of the deal. In what amounts to a legendary story, a group of jocks from the old WWCT days went to the transmitter site on a Friday afternoon and took back control of the station with the words "We're back, and we're pissed off!" Through the weekend a great number of former jocks, local leaders, and even competing radio station personnel took part in an anything-goes broadcast from the transmitter site in rural Tazewell County, Illinois
Tazewell County, Illinois
Tazewell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 135,394, which is an increase of 5.4% from 128,485 in 2000. Its county seat and largest city is Pekin. The majority of the population live in the suburbs and bedroom communities...
.
In the late eighties and early nineties it was considered one of Americas best Rock stations. It was also known for its morning shows starting with Ken and Jim (a.k.a. Johnson and Tofte), Greg Dwyer and Bill Michaels
Dwyer and Michaels
Greg Dwyer and Bill Obenauf, aka Bill Michaels, are the radio personalities and website authors known as Dwyer and Michaels. On air together since the late 1980s, they write, host and produce a popular morning show in the U.S. Midwest currently running on WXLP-FM in the Quad Cities. Their show was...
, and Ray Lytle and Jon Lamb with Pete McMurray (aka Pete on the Street) who were proclaimed one of Americas best morning shows by Radio & Records
Radio & Records
Radio & Records was a trade publication providing news and airplay information for the radio and music industries. It originally started out as an independent trade from 1973 to 2006 until VNU Media took over in 2006, up until its final issue in 2009.-History:The company was founded in 1973 and...
magazine. From 1991 to 1992, Rock 106 simulcast with sister Macomb station WJEQ as Rock 106 & 103. WJEQ split away from 106 in the Spring of 1992 calling itself Classic 103. Lytle and Lamb syndicated in 1994 to WQLZ
WQLZ
WQLZ is a radio station licensed to serve Taylorville, Illinois, serving the Springfield, Illinois area. The station plays an active rock format. Its current morning show is the syndicated "The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show". The station is built to appeal to the Springfield, Illinois market...
in Springfield from the WWCT Studios. For a short time in the late 1990s, Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
was heard in the morning after previously airing on WFXF-FM
WPMJ
WPMJ is a radio station licensed for Chillicothe, Illinois in the Peoria, Illinois, area. The station has been owned by CRCI, L.L.C...
, but the show moved to 102.3 FM
WDQX
WDQX is an FM radio station, licensed to 102.3 MHz in Morton, Illinois near Peoria. It is owned by JMP Media, a part of Triad Broadcasting of California...
in 1999.
In 2000 WWCT was bought by AAA Entertainment Radio Group, moved towards an active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
format, and was named "Rock 105.7" towards the end of the format on 105.7 in 2003.
WXMP
AAA replaced WWCT with "Mix 105.7" and the callsign WXMP, and marketed the station as a Bloomington-Normal station for some time despite the station being licensed to Peoria.AAA Entertainment exited the Peoria market in September 2006 during a shakeup in Peoria radio ownership, selling 101.1 at Glasford, Illinois
Glasford, Illinois
Glasford is a village in Peoria County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,076 at the 2000 census. Glasford is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Glasford is located at ....
to Independence Media Holdings, who moved the WXMP
WXMP
WIXO is a radio station in Peoria, Illinois. It is owned by Townsquare Media, which also owns several other radio stations in the market...
callsign and format there, and selling 105.7 was to Regent Communications
Regent Communications
Townsquare Media is an American radio broadcaster, based in Greenwich, Connecticut., after it acquired sister companies Gap Broadcasting and GapWest Broadcasting, it owned 171 radio stations in 36 radio markets, with concentration in the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Mountain...
, owners of 99.9 WIXO at Bartonville, Illinois
Bartonville, Illinois
Bartonville is a village in Peoria County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,310 at the 2000 census. Bartonville is a suburb of Peoria and is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
WIXO
WIXO debuted as the first station on the 99.9 frequency for Bartonville, IllinoisBartonville, Illinois
Bartonville is a village in Peoria County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,310 at the 2000 census. Bartonville is a suburb of Peoria and is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in February, 1997, and was known as 99X, Peoria's Modern Rock Alternative. It featured the alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
music format. Original DJ's included Ian Chase, Jeff Williams
Jeff Williams
Jeffrey Francis Williams is an Australian-born, left-handed pitcher who was best known for playing for the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. He is a specialist set-up pitcher, or closer.-Olympics:...
, Stephanie Aaron, and Jay Wolfe
Jay Wolfe
- Early life :Wolfe was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia to Donald and Emogene Moore Wolfe. He graduated from Parkersburg South High School in 1973...
.
At the old frequency, the station could be heard in a small area Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. With the move, it can now be heard in an area around three times larger than it originally could.
In the wake of the WIXO move to 105.7, WWCT
WWCT
WWCT is an FM broadcasting station licensed for Bartonville, Illinois. Through most of its history, the WWCT callsign was associated with Peoria's 105.7 frequency allocation; the call sign and related format was moved to 96.5 in 2003, then 99.9 in 2006...
, which was originally at 105.7 itself, moved from 96.5 to 99.9.
Radio Data System (RDS)
WIXO uses the Radio Data SystemRadio Data System
Radio Data System, or RDS, is a communications protocol standard for embedding small amounts of digital information in conventional FM radio broadcasts. RDS standardises several types of information transmitted, including time, station identification and programme information.Radio Broadcast Data...
(RDS), which will show the following information on radios capable of receiving RDS information.
- Program Service (PS): 1057theX
- Dynamic Program Service (DPS): ARTIST | Title
- Radio Text (RT): Now Playing Title by ARTIST
See also
- WWCTWWCTWWCT is an FM broadcasting station licensed for Bartonville, Illinois. Through most of its history, the WWCT callsign was associated with Peoria's 105.7 frequency allocation; the call sign and related format was moved to 96.5 in 2003, then 99.9 in 2006...
— former 105.7 and current 99.9 - WYLD-FM — formerly used the WIXO callsign in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
External links
- JD the DJ: Airchecks — includes rare airchecks from New Orleans' WIXO.