WMRQ-FM
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| City of license | Waterbury, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Hartford, Connecticut |
| Branding | "Radio 104.1 WMRQ" |
| Frequency | 104.1 MHz (also on HD Radio) 104.1 HD2-Tropical music "Bomba FM" |
| Translator(s) | 97.1 W246CC (Bolton, relays HD2) 99.5 W258AL (Clinton, relays HD2) 104.5 W283BS (Bridgeport, relays HD2) |
| First air date | 1967 (as WWCO-FM) |
| Format | Modern rock |
| ERP | 14,000 watts |
| HAAT | 255 meters |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 74295 |
| Former callsigns | WURH (12/20/07 - 5/15/09) WPHH (10/01/03-12/20/07) WMRQ (3/29/95-10/01/03) WYSR (9/04/92-3/29/95) WIOF (1970s-9/04/92) WWCO-FM (12/67-before 12/72)[1] |
| Owner | Red Wolf Broadcasting |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | radio1041.fm |
WMRQ is an alternative rock station based in Hartford, Connecticut. The city of license is Waterbury, Connecticut. WMRQ-FM broadcasts at 104.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 14 kW from West Peak in Meriden, Connecticut (on a tower with WKSS), its studios are located at 131 New London Turnpike, Suite 101 in Glastonbury, Connecticut. The station broadcasts on HD Radio.
History
The station began broadcasting in 1967 as country formatted WWCO-FM, owned by Merv Griffin. In 1972, the station changed call letters to WIOF and rebranded as "Nashville, Connecticut, W-104". In 1978, the station dropped country to become Adult Contemporary formatted "Magic 104". During the switch to Magic 104, WIOF also upgraded its signal by moving its transmitter from near its studios in Prospect to West Peak in Meriden, CT. Lou Terri was the Program Director and midday host until his death in an automobile accident in 1989. Steve Wiersman later became Program Director until 1994. Morning announcers included Bill Cleveland, Greg O'Brien and Ray Petraca. Jack Carney, who was also the voice of WVIT Channel 30 at the time, hosted the afternoon show. Jim Scott did nights, Rick O'Connor did middays, later replaced by Ron O'Brien (a.k.a. Ron O). Weekend DJ's included Greg LaPorta between 1990 and 1992. In 1992, they rebranded as "Star 104.1", WYSR. Other DJ's on Star 104.1 were Brett Provo-Mornings later Afternoons (now Afternoon Drive / Production Director at WMAS Springfield, MA), Paul DeFrancisco-Afternoons, Jay Hanson-weekends (now WFMX Skowhegan, ME), Long John-Weekends (WEBE108 Westport, CT alumni), Jim Severine (WGMX & KC-101 Alumni), Rich Kilbourne (a.k.a. Big Rich Baker-News, WKCI Hamden, CT alumni), Cathy Foxx-Middays, Neil Jackson-Mornings, Lee Gordon-Production Director, Race Bannon, who stayed on after October 31, 1994 for what became "Radio 104 Modern Rock". Bud Fisher became WMRQ's first sales manager. Bud had appeared on Magic 104 as "Gary Hunter". Ron O became WYSR PD after Steve Wiersman departed, until October 31, 1994, when the format changed to "Modern Rock" and all programming staff was released; Lee Gordon remained as Production Director. On October 31, 1994, the format flipped to modern rock/alternative outlet WMRQ "Radio 104". Personalities such as "Jake & Beth", Dee Snider and Bubba The Love Sponge were on the station in the mornings at various points during the station's history, with Wilcow, Chaz, The Carlito Show, and Logan following after the mornings. The station also hosted popular annual events such as "The Big Day Off" and "104fest." Due to struggling ratings, WMRQ was flipped to WPHH, Power 104.1, in September 2003.
As a station playing Hip Hop and R&B music, WPHH solidified its position as the only Mainstream Urban station in the Hartford/New Haven market; its main competitor was Urban-leaning Rhythmic CHR WZMX (93.7 FM). Nicole Siedman served as Program Director for a short period until 2004. Mychal Maguire assumed the Program Director position thereafter. Spank Buda served as Assistant Program Director and night host for the entire duration of WPHH. Popular events included the "Hoop It Up" basketball tournament and the "Legends of Hip Hop" concert. Other DJ's on Power 104.1 were Mia Mendez, DJ Showtime, TT Torrez, DJ Londonn, and PJ.
On October 25, 2007, 104.1 again changed music formats. They returned to the previous Modern Rock format. The station was programmed similar to WRFF in Philadelphia. [1]
On December 20, 2007 104.1 changed its calls to WURH. [2]
During May 2008, and almost six months after Clear Channel launched "FM 104-One" (WURH 104.1 Waterbury, CT), the station finally named a PD, Becky Pohotsky, who had been the station's APD/MD and de facto PD for most of its existence.
On August 4, 2008, Clear Channel placed the station's assets into an entity called the Aloha Station Trust in order to sell off the station. This was due to Clear Channel being above the ownership limits set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These limits were imposed when Clear Channel was officially taken private by Bain Capital Partners on July 30, 2008.
On Feb. 19, 2009, Ledyard, Conn.-based Red Wolf Broadcasting Corp. announced that it had agreed to buy WURH for 8 million dollars. Red Wolf's owner, John Fuller, said the station would join his other radio properties, including WBMW (106.5 FM) and WWRX (107.7 FM), both of which serve the New London, Conn., market. On May 14, 2009, local ownership Red Wolf Broadcasting took over control of the station. Their first action was to revert the station back to its WMRQ call letters, and modified name "Radio 104.1", which call was used by the station from 1995 to 2003, during its first run with Modern Rock.
Under the direction of Brian Ram, who serves as WMRQ's VP/Programming, the alternative rock lineup includes "Fisch in the Morning" (morning drive), Amy Grey (middays), Holden (afternoons), and Michael Maze (nights), plus weekend programs "Digital Takeover with DJ Darth Fader" and "HomeBrew Local Music Show".
In November 2009, a Spanish tropical format, "Bomba 97.5" ("The Bomb") was launched on WMRQ-HD2. The format was initially simulcast on 60-watt Bolton, CT translator W248AB on 97.5. More recently, Red Wolf moved the translator to the 97.1 FM frequency (W246CC) to provide more coverage and more power. Bomba 97.1 FM is now 100 watts, reaching as far as Springfield, MA. In addition, the station added translators in Clinton and Bridgeport.
HD Radio
- WMRQ-HD1 (Radio 104.1)
- WMRQ-HD2 (Bomba FM) Spanish Tropical
Translators
References
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<references />, or <references group="..." />External links
- WMRQ Website
- Dee Snider Radio - archives of morning show
- Bomba 97.1 Website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WMRQ
- Radio-Locator information on WMRQ
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WMRQ
- Query the FCC's FM station database for W246CC
- Radio-Locator information on W246CC
- Query the FCC's FM station database for W285DE
- Radio-Locator information on W285DE
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- ↑ I have a 5th Anniversary promotion card from W104 Nashville,Conn.U.S.A. post marked 7 Dec 1972 from Middlebury, Conn.
