WQFM (FM)
| Broadcast area | Scranton - Wilkes-Barre - Northeastern Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 92.1 MHz |
| Branding | QFM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Hot Adult Contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Times-Shamrock Communications |
| WEJL, WEZX, WFUZ, WLGD, WPZX | |
| History | |
First air date | October 31, 1973 |
Former call signs | WMJW (1973–1988) WEAY (1988–1994) WTZR (1994–1996) WQFM (1996–2010) WFUZ (2010–2020)[1] |
Call sign meaning | Heritage call letters originally used by Milwaukee sister station WLDB |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 66366 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 660 watts |
| HAAT | 303 meters (994 ft) |
| Translator(s) | See § Translators |
| Repeater(s) | 100.1 WQFN (Forest City) 106.9 WEZX-HD2 (Scranton) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | q92nepa.com |
WQFM (92.1 FM, "QFM") is a commercial radio station licensed to Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. Owned by Times-Shamrock Communications, it simulcasts a hot adult contemporary format with sister station WQFN 100.1 in Forest City. The studios are on Penn Avenue in Scranton. The two stations serve the Wilkes-Barre - Scranton area of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
WQFM and WQFN are Class A stations. WQFM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 660 watts. Its transmitter is on Sterling Street in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania.[3] WQFN has an ERP of 6,000 watts. Its transmitter is on Salem Mountain Road, near U.S. Route 6 in Carbondale.[4] Programming is also heard on two FM translators: 96.1 in Clarks Summit and 102.1 in Scranton.
History
[edit]WMJW, WEAY, WTZR
[edit]On October 31, 1973, the station signed on the air as WMJW.[5] It was owned by Thunder Broadcasting and carried an automated adult contemporary format. In 1988, it changed its call sign to WEAY and switched again in 1994 to WTZR.
WQFM Oldies
[edit]The call letters became WQFM in 1996. It played oldies of the 1960s and 70s, known as "Oldies 92 and 100", then switched to Hot Adult Contemporary, branded as QFM and later The Q. On June 30, 2008, the station dropped the Hot AC format and began playing music exclusively from The Beatles. On July 3, 2008, the station switched back to an oldies format, branded as "Cool 92.1 and 100.1".
In addition, it was the flagship station of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins minor league hockey team until 2009. Tom Grace was the play-by-play announcer for the "Baby Pens" for the majority of the franchise's existence prior to the 2007–2008 season, when former local TV weatherman Scott Stuccio replaced him.
WFUZ Alternative Rock
[edit]On September 16, 2010, WQFM changed its format to alternative rock, branded as FM 92.1 and changed its call letters to WFUZ. It later began simulcasting the sports radio format, including ESPN Radio, from co-owned AM 630 WEJL. WFUZ returned to alternative rock as Fuzz 92.1 on September 19, 2012.[6] It switched its branding to Alt 92.1 on February 25, 2017.[7]
The station each summer held a small concert at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton, beginning in 2013. It was known as "Fuzz Fest," showcasing local and nation bands, especially groups that were looking to break through.[8]
Return to WQFM
[edit]On November 4, 2020, WFUZ dropped its alternative rock format and began playing Christmas music. On December 28, 2020, the station flipped to a 90's-leaning hot AC format as Q92.1, reinstating the WQFM calls.[9][10] On November 15, 2021, co-owned 100.1 WQFN Forest City ended its simulcast of sports radio station 630 WEJL.[11] It began simulcasting the Hot AC format on WQFM.
On April 1, 2022, WQFM dismissed its DJs and rebranded as QFM. Additionally, the station dropped its focus on 90's hits and segued to a straight Hot AC format with current hits.[12]
Translators
[edit]| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W241AZ | 96.1 FM | Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania | 145790 | 85 | 228.5 m (750 ft) | D | 41°28′1″N 75°41′12″W / 41.46694°N 75.68667°W (NAD27) | LMS |
| W274AO | 102.7 FM | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 143052 | 250 | −78.3 m (−257 ft) | D | 41°24′34″N 75°40′1″W / 41.40944°N 75.66694°W (NAD27) | LMS |
Previous logo
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "WQFM-FM 92.1 MHz - Nanticoke, PA". Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WQFM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WQFM
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WQFN
- ^ Information from Broadcasting Yearbook 1976 page C-170
- ^ Wilkes-Barre Gets Fuzzy
- ^ WFUZ Rebrands as Alt 92.1
- ^ "92.1 Fuzz Fest". The 570. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ^ WFUZ Begins Stunting As Christmas 92.1 Radioinsight - November 4, 2020
- ^ "Q92.1 Brings 90s And Now To Scranton/Wilkes-Barre". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- ^ Q92.1 Wilkes-Barre Adds Simulcast On 100.1 Scranton Radioinsight - November 17, 2021
- ^ WQFM Rebrands As QFM With Playlist Shift Radioinsight - April 1, 2022
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 66366 (WQFM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WQFM in Nielsen Audio's FM station database