WWRT
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| WWRE | |
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| City of license | Berryville, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Berryville, Virginia Winchester, Virginia |
| Branding | "Rock 104-9 105-5" |
| Slogan | "Everything That Rocks" |
| Frequency | 105.5 MHz |
| First air date | 1979 |
| Format | Active Rock |
| ERP | 3,000 watts |
| HAAT | 91 meters |
| Class | A |
| Facility ID | 60363 |
| Callsign meaning | WW REal |
| Former callsigns | WWOO (1979-1987) WAPP (1987-2002) WWRE (2002-Present) |
| Owner | Mid-Atlantic Network, Inc. being sold to Centennial Broadcasting |
| Sister stations | WINC-AM, WINC-FM, WWRT |
| Website | everythingthatrocks.fm |
| WWRT | |
| City of license | Strasburg, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Strasburg, Virginia Front Royal, Virginia |
| Branding | "Rock 104-9 105-5" |
| Slogan | "Everything That Rocks" |
| Frequency | 104.9 MHz |
| First air date | early 40's |
| Format | Active Rock |
| ERP | 4,100 watts |
| HAAT | 65.7 meters |
| Class | A |
| Facility ID | 60362 |
| Callsign meaning | play on the WWRE calls |
| Former callsigns | WESI (1986-1992) WBPP (1992-2002) WWRT (2002-Present) |
| Owner | Mid-Atlantic Network, Inc. being sold to Centennial Broadcasting |
| Sister stations | WINC-AM, WINC-FM, WWRE |
| Website | everythingthatrocks.fm |
WWRE and WWRT are Active Rock formatted radio stations broadcasting from Berryville, Virginia, and Strasburg, Virginia, respectively. Both stations broadcast as one by simulcasting each other, allowing programming to be "in sync" on each station.
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[edit] 105.5 History
WWRE signed on in 1979 as WWOO-FM. Owned by then WYII (now WICL) owner Ken Smith. "Music 105" was the first station in the Winchester, VA area to broadcast 24-hours a day. At its sign-on, WWOO played a large mix of top 40 music.
Money problems silenced WWOO in the Spring of 1981, but by the Fall of 1981, WWOO returned with a country/bluegrass format.
Calls changed in 1987 to WAPP (APPle) and the first time "Apple Country" would be heard on the Winchester airwaves. Former WUSQ morning host Jenny Lynn got her start at WAPP.
In 1989, WAPP was bought by the company that owned Strasburg station WESI. The combined stations flipped to a Light Adult Contemporary format.
[edit] 104.9 History
WWRT-FM signed on as WESI-FM in the Fall of 1986 with a "Beautiful Music" format. WESI was branded as "Lite 105". The format remained the same until 1989 when WESI owners Rick Leverrier and Jeff Southmayd bought Berryville station WAPP. In 1989, the combined stations flipped to a Light Adult Contemporary format.
[edit] Combined 104.9/105.5 History
In 1989, the Berryville studios of the combined 104.9 and 105.5 were closed and moved to the already open WESI studios in Strasburg.
The combined "Lite 105" switched to Oldies on February 24, 1992 and the 104.9 calls were flipped to WBPP. Branding was also changed to "Good Time Rock and Roll...104-9, 105-5, WAPP". Most programming came from ABC Radio's "Oldies Radio" network.
For live broadcasts, WAPP/WBPP used an old hearse.
In 1997, Mid-Atlantic (owners of WINC-AM/WINC-FM, bought WAPP/WBPP and took the stations dark for 3 weeks in 1997. The stations came back as "Apple Country", the second time 105.5 broadcasted that branding.
"Apple Country" never attracted any listeners from cross-town country powerhouse WUSQ, but it had a loyal, though small, following. Former WUSQ morning show host Jenny Lynn worked mornings for the new "Apple Country" station, but it wasn't enough.
After only 5 years, WAPP/WBPP switched their calls and format on April 15, 2002. After a stint of playing Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job and Shove It" and a DJ "holding the station hostage", the new format became Classic Rock under the branding "Real Classic Rock".
In 2003, The Virginia Association of Broadcasters awarded then morning host Joe Sanchez, the "Best Morning Show in a Medium Market" honors.
In 2005, nationally syndicated "Bob and Tom" became the morning hosts and Joe Sanchez was moved to afternoons.
"Real Classic Rock" placed consistently ahead of crosstown classic/new rocker WFQX in the Arbitron ratings.
Both of the 104.9 and 105.5 signals can be heard across the Winchester area, but come in the clearest in the towns nearest to their towers, due to the terrain of the area.
[edit] Mid-Atlantic Sale
On April 13, 2007, media websites DCRTV in Washington DC and SVRTV in Winchester, VA reported that WWRE-FM and WWRT-FM, along with sisters WINC-AM and WINC-FM in Winchester and WBQB-FM and WFVA-AM in Fredericksburg, VA, had been sold to Centennial Broadcasting based in Roanoke, VA. No further information has been released.
On May 17, 2007, it was finally reported and confirmed that Centennial Broadcasting had bought the stations for $36 Million. According to a Winchester Star article, no changes would be made at any of the stations in format or staff.
Five months later, WWRT/WWRE Program Director and Midday DJ Kym McKay, moved to WWEG (in nearby Hagerstown) to take a midday shift there. WWRT/WWRE dropped nationally syndicated "Bob & Tom". That program was replaced with former morning DJ and current afternoon DJ Joe Sanchez. and then Joe sanchez was released, the station went downhill, and we get to "hear" dead air at least three times a day... and let's not forget the morning guy has a tendency to play commercials over the songs... one good thing... they do play social distortion
[edit] Format Flip
On September 17th, 2007, the station began "stunting" by playing "everything" rock with a new Active Rock format to follow. The station also dropped their branding as "Real Classic Rock". On September 20th, 2007 at 12 Noon, the station became "Rock 104-9 105-5" with the slogan "Everything That Rocks". The station launched a new website at everythingthatrocks.fm.
[edit] External links
- Rock 104-9/105-5 Website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WWRE
- Radio Locator information on WWRE
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WWRE
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WWRT
- Radio Locator information on WWRT
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WWRT
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