WVAZ
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| WVAZ | |
| City of license | Oak Park |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Chicagoland |
| Branding | V-103 |
| Slogan | "Today's R&B and Classic Soul" |
| Frequency | 102.7 FM (MHz) (Also on HD Radio) 102.7 HD-2 for Gospel |
| First air date | October 1988 |
| Format | Urban AC |
| ERP | 6,000 watts |
| Class | B |
| Callsign meaning | The V from WVAZ is used in "V-103" branding. Originally, the call letters meant, "We're Variety from A to Z" to match their one-time "Best Variety of Hits & Dusties" moniker. |
| Owner | Clear Channel Communications |
| Sister stations | WGCI, WGRB, WKSC, WLIT, WNUA, WVON |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | WVAZ website |
WVAZ, known locally as "V-103", is an urban adult contemporary that is licensed to Oak Park. WVAZ is owned by Clear Channel, alongside sister stations WGCI and WGRB-AM. In 2005, WVAZ began broadcasting in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity.
Contents |
[edit] History
The station signed on in 1950. They were a black owned radio station and by the 1970s they were known as WBMX and an urban contemporary featuring soul hits, dance music and contemporary jazz. The station would become the launching pad for the radio career of syndicated personality Doug Banks (who would also hone his skills at the stations eventual replacement WVAZ) and was owned by Sonderling Broadcasting.
They continued as an urban contemporary station in the 1980s competing with WGCI 107.5. In the late 1980s the station was sold to Broadcast Partners. They continued with an urban format. In October 1988, the station evolved to more of an urban adult contemporary format. Broadcast Partners sold the station in 1997 to Chancellor Media. Chancellor also owned former rival WGCI which had stayed a mainstream urban station.
Chancellor sold 3 other stations but kept WVAZ and WGCI. WGCI remained a mainstream urban station while WVAZ plays the role as the urban adult contemporary station. Chancellor would restructure into AMFM, Inc., in 1999 and in 2000 merge with Clear Channel.
Currently, WVAZ is the largest radio affiliate (market size) to carry Tom Joyner, which airs opposite Steve Harvey on sister station WGCI. There was discussion of dropping Joyner in late 2007 to make room for Doug Banks; however, Banks moved his show to afternoon drive time instead, leaving Joyner's show intact. To date, Chicago is the largest market where Tom Joyner is syndicated due to a lack of popularity in New York City and Los Angeles.
[edit] Current line up
Weekdays
- Tom Joyner Morning Show 5-10AM
- Middays with Troi Tyler 10AM-2PM
- Doug Banks and DeDe McGuire, 2-6 PM
- Ramonski Luv & Joe Soto 6PM-9PM
- Irene Mojica 9PM-1AM
- Sundance 1AM-5AM
Friday Nights
- Davante Stone 9PM-12AM
[edit] Station management
- General Manager Earl Jones
- Program Director Derrick D. Brown
