WSWD
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- For Mojo, the station previously at 94.9 FM and now located at 100.3 FM, see WMOJ.
| Format | Alternative, mainstream, and triple-A rock music
<tr><th>Callsign meaning</th><td>WSWD (The Sound)</td></tr> |
|---|---|
| Owner | Entercom Communications
<tr><th>Website</th><td>94.9 The Sound</td></tr> |
WSWD, better known as 94.9 The Sound, is a new FM radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio that began broadcasting on November 9 2006. The station features a blend of three traditional radio formats: alternative rock, mainstream rock, and adult album alternative rock music.
The station broadcasted 9,490 songs in a row at its launch, a commercial-free programming stunt that took 22 days to complete. It finished on December 1, 2006, when the station's official on-air staff and programming debuted.
The new station replaces WAQZ, last known as 97.3 Everything Alternative. Starting on November 9, 2006, 97.3 FM switched to WYGY, a new top 40 country music station.
Contents |
[edit] History of WAQZ
The alternative station in Cincinnati was formerly known as WAQZ. As one of the only alternative FM stations to ever serve the Cincinnati area, WAQZ has a varied history. The independently owned WOXY (97X), based in Oxford, Ohio, was the first alternative station in the region, as it launched in 1983. However, WOXY did not serve the entire Cincinnati area, so some listeners could not pick up the signal. In the early 1990s, as bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and Green Day dominated the music scene, there was an increasing demand for a higher-powered alternative station to serve all of Greater Cincinnati.
[edit] Channel Z (107.1 FM)
Jacor Communications, now Clear Channel, eventually answered this demand. The call letters WAQZ originated on May 15, 1991, when local station WRBZ (broadcast at 107.1 FM) changed its call letters to WAQZ. At this time, the station carried a top 40 format. In 1992 and early 1993, the station carried a hard rock format. Finally, later in 1993, WAQZ picked up a new alternative format called Channel Z.<ref name=mike>B., Mike. Greater Cincinnati and Dayton Radio - Station History. November 4, 2006.</ref>
According to Cincinnati CityBeat, Channel Z offered an "exciting lineup of real music and real music information."<ref name=citybeat>McFarland, Todd. "Z Means Zip". Cincinnati CityBeat. September 3, 1998.</ref> The tagline for Channel Z at 107.1 FM was "The New Music Revolution," and the station was centered around alternative music. This format lasted for seven years.
The alternative format on 107.1 FM was in trouble by 1998. On August 11, 1998, the format of WAQZ at 107.1 FM flipped from alternative to top 40.<ref name=mike>B., Mike. Greater Cincinnati and Dayton Radio - Station History. November 4, 2006.</ref> The station's on-air staff and announcers began referring to the station as simply 107 FM and acknowledged that the alternative format was discarded.<ref name=citybeat>McFarland, Todd. "Z Means Zip". Cincinnati CityBeat. September 3, 1998.</ref>
Finally, on September 29, 1998, at 5 PM eastern time, WAQZ at 107.1 FM played its last song, "Closing Time" by Semisonic. Immediately after the song ended, WAQZ became KISS 107 FM, with new call letters WKFS, and permanently switched to the top 40 format.<ref name=mike>B., Mike. Greater Cincinnati and Dayton Radio - Station History. November 4, 2006.</ref>
[edit] Channel Z (97.3 FM)
Throughout the rest of 1998, 1999, and early 2000, Oxford's 97X was again the only alternative music offering in the entire Greater Cincinnati region, leaving many potential listeners of alternative music out of the signal's range.
On March 31, 2000, Infinity Broadcasting, now known as CBS Radio, picked up where Jacor Communications left off in 1998 by re-introducing WAQZ as Channel Z at 97.3 FM, replacing the former classic rock station on that frequency, WYLX. When the station flipped formats, "Bawitdaba" by Kid Rock was played continuously for about three days.<ref name=mike>B., Mike. Greater Cincinnati and Dayton Radio - Station History. November 4, 2006.</ref>
Initial criticism of the new Channel Z targeted its primarily mainstream rock playlist, which included bands that were already being played on Cincinnati's mainstream rock station, WEBN, such as Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Staind, Nickelback, and Creed.<ref name=enq2003>Kiesewetter, John. WAQZ cranks up new tower of power. May 2, 2003.</ref>
In 2001, WAQZ began broadcasting Howard Stern's morning radio show, which significantly increased its ratings.<ref name=mike>B., Mike. Greater Cincinnati and Dayton Radio - Station History. November 4, 2006.</ref> Later, the station would also pick up syndication of Loveline at night, which previously aired in Cincinnati on WEBN.
[edit] New Rock 97.3
On March 4, 2003, WAQZ received a new name, New Rock 97.3.<ref name=mike>B., Mike. Greater Cincinnati and Dayton Radio - Station History. November 4, 2006.</ref> The station also received a higher capacity broadcasting tower. Most of the on-air staff at the station survived the switch. The new name was chosen to place more focus on the frequency itself, allow the station to include "more cuts, and go deeper with artists," and put the format of the station in its name. All of these steps were taken to attract more listeners.<ref name=enq2003>Kiesewetter, John. WAQZ cranks up new tower of power. May 2, 2003.</ref>
The early criticism of WAQZ, which targeted its mainstream rock playlist, was eventually addressed by Infinity Broadcasting in 2003 and 2004. At this time, more experimental bands such as Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, and The Killers reached high rotation.<ref name=enq2003>Kiesewetter, John. WAQZ cranks up new tower of power. May 2, 2003.</ref>
The format of WAQZ remained the same until December 16, 2005, when Howard Stern signed off from FM radio to make the move to Sirius Satellite Radio. After his final broadcast, WAQZ played "Train In Vain" by The Clash.
[edit] 97.3 Everything Alternative
Immediately after "Train In Vain", WAQZ announced its new name, 97.3 Everything Alternative.<ref name=mike>B., Mike. Greater Cincinnati and Dayton Radio - Station History. November 4, 2006.</ref> The premise of the modified format was to have a "shuffle" of alternative music, similar to that of an iPod. Most of the on-air staff and music played on WAQZ remained the same. However, some deeper cuts and lesser known songs from the 1980s and 1990s were added to the existing playlist.
At the beginning of January 2006, WAQZ began syndicating Rover's Morning Glory to replace Howard Stern in the morning. Throughout the next eleven months, WAQZ continued to expand its on-air playlist and remained "on shuffle" for the most part, although it also featured live DJs, some requests, and countdown shows.
Despite the attempt to save WAQZ's alternative format with the "on shuffle" premise, the station ultimately could not survive. Some listeners predicted the demise of the format as early as 2005, when alternative stations in New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, Seattle, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. all switched to other formats.<ref name=nytimes>Leeds, Jeff. "Fade Out: New Rock is Passe on Radio". New York Times. April 28, 2005.</ref>
For the alternative stations that remained, WAQZ included, Howard Stern's show may have been the only thing keeping the format on the air. As a 2005 article in Billboard Radio Monitor explained, "Infinity will likely flip more stations from alternative to another format to coincide with Howard Stern's January 2006 exit."<ref name=billboard>Heine, Paul. "Hollander: A Radio Shift Is Underway". Billboard Radio Monitor. September 27, 2005.</ref> Although WAQZ kept its alternative format through most of 2006, the end was approaching.
[edit] The end of WAQZ
- Further information: 2006 Cincinnati radio station reorganization
On August 21 2006, Entercom Communications bought WAQZ, along with several other stations, from CBS Radio. On October 30 2006, Entercom abruptly fired the entire on-air staff at WAQZ, including "Razor", Jimmy "The Weasel", "Notorious", Miss Sally, and others.<ref name=post1>Bird, Rick. "Deals shake up FM radio". Cincinnati Post. November 1 2006.</ref>
On November 2 2006, Entercom's plans became clear. A new alternative station would launch at 94.9 FM, while WYGY would be moved to 97.3 FM. WYGY was formerly "The Star", located at 96.5 FM and owned by Cumulus Media, but was traded to Entercom in exchange for WGRR. Entercom would re-launch WYGY on 97.3 as "The Wolf", a top 40 country station, in order to appeal to a younger demographic than its other country station, WUBE ("B-105").<ref name=enq1>Kiesewetter, John. "Country music station WYGY moving again, changing name". Cincinnati Enquirer. November 2, 2006.</ref>
The final song to play on WAQZ was "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage" by Panic! At the Disco, at 11:58 a.m. EST, then the frequency switched to its new country format.
[edit] Launch of WSWD
[edit] First moments
On Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 12 p.m. EST, 94.9 The Sound began broadcasting. The call letters for the new station are WSWD, ending the legacy of the alternative station WAQZ. The first song played on 94.9 The Sound was "Welcome To Paradise" by Green Day at 12:02 p.m. EST, beginning a programming stunt that consisted of 9,490 songs in a row without commercials or DJ interruption.
On December 1, 2006 at 5 p.m. EST, WSWD ended its initial 9,490 song promotion. At this time, the station announced that it would begin officially airing with commercials and on-air DJs. The first song played after the 9,490 song promotion was "Wonderwall" by Oasis.
[edit] Current programming
94.9 The Sound features a blend of alternative, mainstream, and adult album alternative rock, as well as hot adult contemporary.<ref name=soundsite>94.9 The Sound official web site. November 9, 2006.</ref> According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the station airs "a hybrid rock format aimed at luring listeners from longtime rock leader WEBN."
Entercom's vice president Mike Fredrick said the new station was specifically created for Cincinnati. Fredrick also explained that 94.9 The Sound will be "more sophisticated" than WEBN, with all local and live DJs. This is in contrast to WEBN's "outlaw, in-your-face radio station" that features a mix of live and pre-recorded DJs.<ref name=enq2>Kiesewetter, John. "Radio station switches to rock". Cincinnati Enquirer. November 9, 2006.</ref>
In December 2006, a new morning show will debut on the station, which Fredrick says is similar in concept to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He describes the show as "a little wittier, not your typical rock and roll station."<ref name=enq2>Kiesewetter, John. "Radio station switches to rock". Cincinnati Enquirer. November 9, 2006.</ref>
In the weeks to come, more details about the future of 94.9 The Sound will inevitably surface.
[edit] See also
- WYGY (The Wolf), the country station now at 97.3 FM
- WKFS (KISS), the top 40 station now at 107.1 FM
- WOXY (97X), the alternative station formerly at 97.7 FM and now online
- CBS Radio
- Entercom Communications
- Howard Stern
- Loveline
- Rover's Morning Glory
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| FM Radio Stations in the Cincinnati, Ohio Market (Arbitron #28)
By Frequency: 88.1 | 88.3 (WAIF) | 88.3 (WJVS) | 88.5 | 88.7 | 89.1 | 89.3 | 89.5 | 89.7 | 89.9 | 90.1 | 90.9 | 91.3 | 91.7 | 92.5 | 93.3 | 93.7 | 94.1 | 94.9 | 95.9 | 96.5 | 97.3 | 97.7 | 98.5 | 99.1 | 99.3 | 99.5 | 100.3 | 101.1 | 101.9 | 102.7 | 103.5 | 103.9 | 103.9 | 104.3 | 105.1 | 105.9 | 106.5 | 107.1 | 107.5 By Callsign: W217BI | WAIF | WAKW | WAOL | WAXZ | WEBN | WFCJ | WFTK | WGRR | WGUC | WHKO | WHSS | WIOK | WIZF | WJVS | WJYC | WKFS | WKID | WKRQ | WLHS | WLMH | WKRY | WMKV | WMOJ | WMUB | WNKR | WNKU | WNLT | WOBO | WOFX | WOXY | WPFB | WRBI | WRRM | WSCH | WSWD | WUBE | WVMX | WVXU | WXEG | WYGY |
