WZNY
Encyclopedia
WZNY, known on-air as "Y102.3", is a Top 40 radio station in the United States, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to Augusta, Georgia
, broadcasting on 102.3 MHz with an ERP
of 1.5 kW
.
North Augusta, South Carolina
) and simulcasted the country
format that the AM had from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight under the "Big Gus" nickname. The station went to 24 hour operations in 1970.
In early 1973, WGUS-FM's simulcast with the AM was replaced with an automated beautiful music
format and the station became known as "102G". This lasted until the late 70s, when the station switched back to country. As of 1989, the station continued to simulcast 1380 WGUS.
In 1990, the station dropped its country format for CHR
as "Power 102" under the WOPW call letters in an attempt to go after longtime CHR powerhouse, WBBQ. This failed and the station switched back to country, becoming Froggy 102. A brief return to its former name of Big Gus preceded its most successful change. The station became WEKL as "Eagle 102" and a classic rock format was adopted in July 1994.
On August 13, 2007, WEKL traded frequencies with sister country outlet WIBL (105.7 The Bull), moving the WEKL format to the much stronger signal at 105.7. The station was re-launched as "Eagle 105.7", while WIBL moved to 102.3, becoming "102.3 The Bull."
On April 1, 2010, the station dropped its Country format for Top 40, becoming Y102.3, a reference to the former branding of Clear Channel Top 40 station Y-105 (105.7, now WEKL
). This move displaced the country format that had displaced Y105 years earlier while it was on 105.7. The station started advertising the night before by following people on Twitter, and announced "the return of Y in the CSRA". The station kicked off its launch on 102.3 by playing 5000 songs in a row commercial-free. When competitor WHHD
attempted a 5000 songs promotion, Y102.3 doubled the launch to 10,000 songs in a row. At the conclusion of the promotion the station introduced advertising.
The station is owned by Aloha Station Trust, the entity formed to operate and sell the former Clear Channel Communications
stations that were required to be divested for the Clear Channel privatization transaction. With the launch of the new format, Aloha Station Trust applied to the FCC for the former Y-105 callsign, WZNY. The callsign change was approved by the FCC.
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) to Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, broadcasting on 102.3 MHz with an ERP
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 1.5 kW
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:...
.
History
102.3 signed on as WGUS-FM in late 1967. The station was the FM sister to 1380 WGUS (now WNRRWNRR
WNRR is a radio station broadcasting an Talk Radio/News Talk format. Licensed to North Augusta, South Carolina, USA, the station is currently owned by MMTC, LLC....
North Augusta, South Carolina
North Augusta, South Carolina
North Augusta is a city in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States, on the north bank of the Savannah River. The population was 21,348 at the 2010 census. The city is included in the Central Savannah River Area and is also part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.- History :North...
) and simulcasted the country
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...
format that the AM had from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight under the "Big Gus" nickname. The station went to 24 hour operations in 1970.
In early 1973, WGUS-FM's simulcast with the AM was replaced with an automated beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
format and the station became known as "102G". This lasted until the late 70s, when the station switched back to country. As of 1989, the station continued to simulcast 1380 WGUS.
In 1990, the station dropped its country format for 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...
as "Power 102" under the WOPW call letters in an attempt to go after longtime CHR powerhouse, WBBQ. This failed and the station switched back to country, becoming Froggy 102. A brief return to its former name of Big Gus preceded its most successful change. The station became WEKL as "Eagle 102" and a classic rock format was adopted in July 1994.
On August 13, 2007, WEKL traded frequencies with sister country outlet WIBL (105.7 The Bull), moving the WEKL format to the much stronger signal at 105.7. The station was re-launched as "Eagle 105.7", while WIBL moved to 102.3, becoming "102.3 The Bull."
On April 1, 2010, the station dropped its Country format for Top 40, becoming Y102.3, a reference to the former branding of Clear Channel Top 40 station Y-105 (105.7, now WEKL
WEKL
WEKL, also known as "Eagle 105.7" is a Classic rock radio station located in Augusta, Georgia. The station is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast on 105.7 FM with an effective radiated power of 100 kW.- History :...
). This move displaced the country format that had displaced Y105 years earlier while it was on 105.7. The station started advertising the night before by following people on Twitter, and announced "the return of Y in the CSRA". The station kicked off its launch on 102.3 by playing 5000 songs in a row commercial-free. When competitor WHHD
WHHD
WHHD is a contemporary hit radio station serving the Augusta, Georgia metro area. It is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group Incorporated and is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to Clearwater, South Carolina to broadcast at 98.3 FM with a effective radiated power of...
attempted a 5000 songs promotion, Y102.3 doubled the launch to 10,000 songs in a row. At the conclusion of the promotion the station introduced advertising.
The station is owned by Aloha Station Trust, the entity formed to operate and sell the former Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
stations that were required to be divested for the Clear Channel privatization transaction. With the launch of the new format, Aloha Station Trust applied to the FCC for the former Y-105 callsign, WZNY. The callsign change was approved by the FCC.
CHRs in Augusta
- Early 1960s–1994 — WBBQ 104.3 FM "Q104.3"/"WBBQ AM & FM Augusta"
- 1990–1991 — WOPW 102.3 FM "Power 102"
- 1994–2004 — WZNY 105.7 FM "Y105"
- 1999–2003 — WAEGWAEGWAEG is a commercial smooth jazz radio station in Evans, Georgia, broadcasting to the Augusta, Georgia area. The station is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast on 92.3 FM, with an effective radiated power of 6 kW....
/WAEJ 92.3/100.9 FM "92.3 and 100.9, The Beat" - 2006–present — WHHDWHHDWHHD is a contemporary hit radio station serving the Augusta, Georgia metro area. It is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group Incorporated and is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to Clearwater, South Carolina to broadcast at 98.3 FM with a effective radiated power of...
98.3 FM "HD98.3" - 2010–present — WZNY 102.3 FM "Y102.3"
External links
- Y102.3 Hit Music Now — official website