WXBK: Difference between revisions
Wcquidditch (talk | contribs) The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Nash FM branding will be rolled out on Cumulus' other country stations starting tomorrow, and there will soon be magazines, cable shows, and syndicated shows. Also, the call letters will change to WNSH. |
Minor grammatical edits and addition of new reference link re: Nash FM brand |
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city = [[Newark, New Jersey]]| |
city = [[Newark, New Jersey]]| |
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area = [[New York metropolitan area]]| |
area = [[New York metropolitan area]]| |
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branding = Nash FM| |
branding = ''94.7 Nash FM''| |
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slogan = | |
slogan = | |
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frequency = 94.7 [[Megahertz|MHz]] | |
frequency = 94.7 [[Megahertz|MHz]] | |
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website = [http://www.nashfm947.com/ nashfm947.com]| |
website = [http://www.nashfm947.com/ nashfm947.com]| |
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'''WRXP''' (94.7 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]) is a radio station licensed to [[Newark, New Jersey]] |
'''WRXP''' (94.7 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]) is a radio station licensed to [[Newark, New Jersey]] and serving the [[New York City]] metropolitan area. The station airs a [[country music]] format as "94.7 Nash FM," and transmits from a tower located in [[West Orange, New Jersey]]. WRXP is owned by [[Cumulus Media]], and has its studio co-located with sister stations [[WABC (AM)|WABC]] (770 AM) and [[WPLJ]] (95.5 FM) in [[New York City]]; Cumulus purchased the station in January 2013 from its previous owner, [[Family Radio]], which aired religious programming on the station as WFME.<ref>"Done deal: Cumulus closes on WFME." ''Allaccess.com'', January 10, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013. [http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/114116/done-deal-cumulus-closes-on-wfme]</ref><ref>"Cumulus closes on WFME in New York City." ''Radioink.com'', January 10, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.[http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2602813&spid=24698]</ref> |
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==Station history== |
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Cumulus completed its acquisition of this station from [[Family Radio]] in January 2013; the station was previously known as '''WFME (FM)''' under Family Radio ownership.<ref>"Done deal: Cumulus closes on WFME." ''Allaccess.com'', January 10, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013. [http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/114116/done-deal-cumulus-closes-on-wfme]</ref><ref>"Cumulus closes on WFME in New York City." ''Radioink.com'', January 10, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.[http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2602813&spid=24698]</ref> |
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==History== |
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[[Image:WFME (FM) Logo.png|thumb|left|WFME's logo in 2012, under [[Family Radio]] ownership.]] |
[[Image:WFME (FM) Logo.png|thumb|left|WFME's logo in 2012, under [[Family Radio]] ownership.]] |
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The 94.7 FM frequency signed on in 1947 as '''WAAT-FM''', and was owned by the Bremer Broadcasting Company along with sister station WAAT (970 AM, now [[WNYM]]). The following year Bremer launched a television station, WATV on channel 13, New Jersey's first TV outlet. In 1957 the three stations were sold by Bremer to [[National Telefilm Associates]], who changed the operation's [[call letters]] to '''WNTA-FM'''.<ref>"WAAT, WATV (TV) sold to NTA for $3.5 million." ''[[Broadcasting and Cable|Broadcasting - Telecasting]]'', October 7, 1957, pg. 9. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/57-OCR/1957-10-07-BC-0009.pdf]</ref><ref>"NTA Newark purchase gets FCC's approval." ''Broadcasting - Telecasting'', April 7, 1958, pg. 64. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/58-OCR/1958-04-07-BC-0064.pdf]</ref> During this period the station had diversified programming such as [[jazz music|jazz]], [[European classical music|classical music]], and [[easy listening]] music. |
The 94.7 FM frequency signed on in 1947 as '''WAAT-FM''', and was owned by the Bremer Broadcasting Company along with sister station WAAT (970 AM, now [[WNYM]]). The following year Bremer launched a television station, WATV on channel 13, New Jersey's first TV outlet. In 1957 the three stations were sold by Bremer to [[National Telefilm Associates]], who changed the operation's [[call letters]] to '''WNTA-FM'''.<ref>"WAAT, WATV (TV) sold to NTA for $3.5 million." ''[[Broadcasting and Cable|Broadcasting - Telecasting]]'', October 7, 1957, pg. 9. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/57-OCR/1957-10-07-BC-0009.pdf]</ref><ref>"NTA Newark purchase gets FCC's approval." ''Broadcasting - Telecasting'', April 7, 1958, pg. 64. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/58-OCR/1958-04-07-BC-0064.pdf]</ref> During this period the station had diversified programming such as [[jazz music|jazz]], [[European classical music|classical music]], and [[easy listening]] music. |
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WFME's programming was also heard on two [[broadcast translator|translator stations]]: '''W213AC''' (90.5 FM) in [[Hyde Park, New York]]; and '''W247AE''' (97.3 FM) in [[East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania]]. As a result of the license status change, the translators can no longer legally rebroadcast WFME's broadcast signal and as a result both translator stations are currently silent as of February 2012. |
WFME's programming was also heard on two [[broadcast translator|translator stations]]: '''W213AC''' (90.5 FM) in [[Hyde Park, New York]]; and '''W247AE''' (97.3 FM) in [[East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania]]. As a result of the license status change, the translators can no longer legally rebroadcast WFME's broadcast signal and as a result both translator stations are currently silent as of February 2012. |
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== |
===Sale to Cumulus and flip to country=== |
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On January 6, 2012, Family Radio applied to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) to change the license of WFME from [[Non-commercial educational|noncommercial]] to [[commercial broadcasting|commercial]]. This move followed the sales by Family Radio of stations in the [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] (WKDN-FM, now [[WWIQ]]) and [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]-[[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]] (WFSI, now [[WLZL]]) markets, and quickly prompted conjecture from radio industry monitors that WFME would be sold next.<ref name=tri1>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Tom|title=New York scramble?: Is New York-market WFME (94.7) for sale? Family Radio applies to change its crown jewel to commercial operation.|url=http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/tri-01092012.html|accessdate=10 January 2012|newspaper=TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info|date=9 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=tri2>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Tom|title=Gotham guessing game: Yes, Family Radio’s New York-market WFME (94.7) will be for sale. But not just yet.|url=http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/tri-01102012.html|accessdate=10 January 2012|newspaper=TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info|date=10 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=ri1>{{cite web|last=Venta|first=Lance|title=WFME Applies to Go Commercial, Prepares for Sale|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/55227/wfme-applies-to-go-commercial-prepares-for-sale/|work=Radio Insight|accessdate=10 January 2012|date=7 January 2012}}</ref> The application was approved on February 7, 2012.<ref>http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1434672</ref> |
On January 6, 2012, Family Radio applied to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) to change the license of WFME from [[Non-commercial educational|noncommercial]] to [[commercial broadcasting|commercial]]. This move followed the sales by Family Radio of stations in the [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] (WKDN-FM, now [[WWIQ]]) and [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]-[[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]] (WFSI, now [[WLZL]]) markets, and quickly prompted conjecture from radio industry monitors that WFME would be sold next.<ref name=tri1>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Tom|title=New York scramble?: Is New York-market WFME (94.7) for sale? Family Radio applies to change its crown jewel to commercial operation.|url=http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/tri-01092012.html|accessdate=10 January 2012|newspaper=TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info|date=9 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=tri2>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Tom|title=Gotham guessing game: Yes, Family Radio’s New York-market WFME (94.7) will be for sale. But not just yet.|url=http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/tri-01102012.html|accessdate=10 January 2012|newspaper=TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info|date=10 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=ri1>{{cite web|last=Venta|first=Lance|title=WFME Applies to Go Commercial, Prepares for Sale|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/55227/wfme-applies-to-go-commercial-prepares-for-sale/|work=Radio Insight|accessdate=10 January 2012|date=7 January 2012}}</ref> The application was approved on February 7, 2012.<ref>http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1434672</ref> |
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The sale rumors were confirmed on October 16, 2012, when Family Radio announced that it would sell WFME to [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]-based [[Cumulus Media]] for what was then an undisclosed price. The sale price was confirmed a few days later to be $40 million, which will be incremented, should Cumulus relocate the station's transmitter to New York City. In addition, Family Radio acquired WDVY (106.3 FM) in [[Mount Kisco, New York]] from Cumulus.<ref>{{cite web|title=BALH - 20121019ACU|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101519367&formid=314&fac_num=20886|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=7 December 2012}}</ref> The FCC approved the sale January 4, 2013, making 94.7 FM a sister station to Cumulus' two existing New York market stations, [[WABC (AM)|WABC]] and [[WPLJ]]. Four days later, on January 8, 2013, Cumulus completed the purchase of WFME. Family Radio programming on 94.7 FM ended on January 11, 2013; prior to signing off of the frequency, station manager Charlie Menut stated that the network's programming would be transferred to 106.3 FM, which became the new [[WFME (FM)|WFME]] on January 15, and that efforts to acquire an AM frequency that would cover the New York City area were being made.<ref>Menut, Charles. Aircheck of Family Radio sign-off on WFME (FM), January 11, 2013. ''Formatchange.com''. Retrieved January 12, 2013. [http://formatchange.com/wfme-signs-off/]</ref><ref>Camping, Harold E. "What is happening with Family Radio?" ''Familyradio.com''. Retrieved January 11, 2013. [http://www.familyradio.com/announcement_11_11.html]</ref> |
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The switch of 94.7 FM from Family Radio, though, occurred on January 11, 2013, as the station began a simulcast of new sister station WPLJ; final implementation of a new format was expected to occur sometime thereafter. Prior to signing off at 94.7, station manager Charlie Menut stated Family Radio programming would be transferred to 106.3 FM, which became the new [[WFME (FM)]] on January 15. Menut also stated that the ministry is working toward acquiring an AM frequency which would cover the New York City area;<ref>Menut, Charles. Aircheck of Family Radio sign-off on WFME (FM), January 11, 2013. ''Formatchange.com''. Retrieved January 12, 2013. [http://formatchange.com/wfme-signs-off/]</ref> this is similar to a message found on Family Radio's website and credited to co-founder [[Harold Camping]].<ref>Camping, Harold E. "What is happening with Family Radio?" ''Familyradio.com''. Retrieved January 11, 2013. [http://www.familyradio.com/announcement_11_11.html]</ref> |
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On January 14 |
On January 14, WFME adopted the WRXP [[call sign]], which was used on 101.9 FM (the present [[WFAN-FM]]) under two different owners and two different stints as an [[alternative rock]] station. Three days earlier, on January 11, the 94.7 FM signal began a simulcast of its new sister station, [[WPLJ]]; the simulcast ended on January 18 in favor of [[stunting (broadcasting)|stunting]] with a self-described "Wheel of Formats." The stunting continued until 9:47 AM the following Monday (January 21), when WRXP adopted a new [[country music]] format branded as "94.7 Nash FM," leading off the new format with [[Randy Houser|Randy Houser's]] "[[How Country Feels (song)|How Country Feels]]" and [[Alan Jackson|Alan Jackson's]] "[[Gone Country]]."<ref>[http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/79293/cumulus-acquires-94-7-wfme-new-york/ "94.7 NashFM New York Debuts,"] from RadioInsight, 1/21/2013</ref> The launch of "94.7 Nash FM" gave the New York City radio market its first full-time country station since February 5, 1996, when [[WKTU|WYNY]] flipped to [[Rhythmic AC]].<ref>[http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/21/new-york-radio-gets-a-new-country-station/ "New York Radio Gets a New Country Station,"] from ''The New York Times'', 1/21/2013</ref> The launch is also Cumulus' first step in establishing "Nash FM" (the name alludes to the country music mecca of [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]) as a nationwide multimedia brand for country music, with the brand eventually appearing on other Cumulus-owned stations as well as syndicated and online content and possibly cable television.<ref>[http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/79538/is-cumulus-planning-a-national-country-brand/ "Is Cumulus Planning A National Country Brand?"] from RadioInsight, originally reported 11/19/2012 and updated 1/21/2013</ref><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323301104578255954253053478.html "New York Gets a Little Country,"] from ''Wall Street Journal'', 1/21/2013</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:40, 22 January 2013
| File:947Nashfm.png | |
| Broadcast area | New York metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 94.7 MHz |
| Branding | 94.7 Nash FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WABC, WPLJ | |
| History | |
First air date | 1947 (as WAAT-FM) |
Former call signs | WAAT-FM (1947–1958) WNTA-FM (1958–1962) WJRZ-FM (1962–1964) WFME (1964–2013) |
Call sign meaning | Rock eXPerience (alludes to the former rock programming on 101.9 FM from 2008-2011 and again in 2012) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 28204 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 23,500 watts |
| HAAT | 207 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°47′17″N 74°15′19″W / 40.78806°N 74.25528°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | nashfm947.com |
WRXP (94.7 FM) is a radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey and serving the New York City metropolitan area. The station airs a country music format as "94.7 Nash FM," and transmits from a tower located in West Orange, New Jersey. WRXP is owned by Cumulus Media, and has its studio co-located with sister stations WABC (770 AM) and WPLJ (95.5 FM) in New York City; Cumulus purchased the station in January 2013 from its previous owner, Family Radio, which aired religious programming on the station as WFME.[1][2]
Station history

The 94.7 FM frequency signed on in 1947 as WAAT-FM, and was owned by the Bremer Broadcasting Company along with sister station WAAT (970 AM, now WNYM). The following year Bremer launched a television station, WATV on channel 13, New Jersey's first TV outlet. In 1957 the three stations were sold by Bremer to National Telefilm Associates, who changed the operation's call letters to WNTA-FM.[3][4] During this period the station had diversified programming such as jazz, classical music, and easy listening music.
National Telefilm split up its holdings in 1961, with WNTA-TV (now WNET) being sold to a New York City-based nonprofit educational group, and the WNTA radio stations going to Communications Industries Broadcasting.[5] The new owners changed the calls to WJRZ-FM[6] and initially retained the station's previous format, but in 1963 began leasing airtime to Family Radio.[7] In 1964 the station was renamed WFME, and in early 1966 Family Radio bought 94.7 FM outright and began airing its religious programming around-the-clock.[8]
WFME's local programming consisted of community announcements; weekend public affairs; and weather and traffic inserts during Family Radio's Rise and Rejoice morning show. WFME originated a portion of the network's overnight program Nightwatch, hosted by station manager/chief engineer Charlie Menut. The rest of the station's schedule originated from Family Radio headquarters in Oakland, California.[9]
WFME's programming was also heard on two translator stations: W213AC (90.5 FM) in Hyde Park, New York; and W247AE (97.3 FM) in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. As a result of the license status change, the translators can no longer legally rebroadcast WFME's broadcast signal and as a result both translator stations are currently silent as of February 2012.
Sale to Cumulus and flip to country
On January 6, 2012, Family Radio applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change the license of WFME from noncommercial to commercial. This move followed the sales by Family Radio of stations in the Philadelphia (WKDN-FM, now WWIQ) and Washington-Baltimore (WFSI, now WLZL) markets, and quickly prompted conjecture from radio industry monitors that WFME would be sold next.[10][11][12] The application was approved on February 7, 2012.[13]
The sale rumors were confirmed on October 16, 2012, when Family Radio announced that it would sell WFME to Atlanta-based Cumulus Media for what was then an undisclosed price. The sale price was confirmed a few days later to be $40 million, which will be incremented, should Cumulus relocate the station's transmitter to New York City. In addition, Family Radio acquired WDVY (106.3 FM) in Mount Kisco, New York from Cumulus.[14] The FCC approved the sale January 4, 2013, making 94.7 FM a sister station to Cumulus' two existing New York market stations, WABC and WPLJ. Four days later, on January 8, 2013, Cumulus completed the purchase of WFME. Family Radio programming on 94.7 FM ended on January 11, 2013; prior to signing off of the frequency, station manager Charlie Menut stated that the network's programming would be transferred to 106.3 FM, which became the new WFME on January 15, and that efforts to acquire an AM frequency that would cover the New York City area were being made.[15][16]
On January 14, WFME adopted the WRXP call sign, which was used on 101.9 FM (the present WFAN-FM) under two different owners and two different stints as an alternative rock station. Three days earlier, on January 11, the 94.7 FM signal began a simulcast of its new sister station, WPLJ; the simulcast ended on January 18 in favor of stunting with a self-described "Wheel of Formats." The stunting continued until 9:47 AM the following Monday (January 21), when WRXP adopted a new country music format branded as "94.7 Nash FM," leading off the new format with Randy Houser's "How Country Feels" and Alan Jackson's "Gone Country."[17] The launch of "94.7 Nash FM" gave the New York City radio market its first full-time country station since February 5, 1996, when WYNY flipped to Rhythmic AC.[18] The launch is also Cumulus' first step in establishing "Nash FM" (the name alludes to the country music mecca of Nashville) as a nationwide multimedia brand for country music, with the brand eventually appearing on other Cumulus-owned stations as well as syndicated and online content and possibly cable television.[19][20]
References
- ^ "Done deal: Cumulus closes on WFME." Allaccess.com, January 10, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013. [1]
- ^ "Cumulus closes on WFME in New York City." Radioink.com, January 10, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.[2]
- ^ "WAAT, WATV (TV) sold to NTA for $3.5 million." Broadcasting - Telecasting, October 7, 1957, pg. 9. [3]
- ^ "NTA Newark purchase gets FCC's approval." Broadcasting - Telecasting, April 7, 1958, pg. 64. [4]
- ^ "Changing Hands." Broadcasting, November 6, 1961, pg. 78. [5]
- ^ "For the record." Broadcasting, April 2, 1962, pg. 129. [6]
- ^ "Family Stations sign to program on WJRZ-FM." Broadcasting, April 8, 1963, pg. 53. [7]
- ^ "For the record." Broadcasting, January 31, 1966, pg. 37. [8]
- ^ WFME Program Guide
- ^ Taylor, Tom (9 January 2012). "New York scramble?: Is New York-market WFME (94.7) for sale? Family Radio applies to change its crown jewel to commercial operation". TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Taylor, Tom (10 January 2012). "Gotham guessing game: Yes, Family Radio's New York-market WFME (94.7) will be for sale. But not just yet". TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Venta, Lance (7 January 2012). "WFME Applies to Go Commercial, Prepares for Sale". Radio Insight. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1434672
- ^ "BALH - 20121019ACU". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- ^ Menut, Charles. Aircheck of Family Radio sign-off on WFME (FM), January 11, 2013. Formatchange.com. Retrieved January 12, 2013. [9]
- ^ Camping, Harold E. "What is happening with Family Radio?" Familyradio.com. Retrieved January 11, 2013. [10]
- ^ "94.7 NashFM New York Debuts," from RadioInsight, 1/21/2013
- ^ "New York Radio Gets a New Country Station," from The New York Times, 1/21/2013
- ^ "Is Cumulus Planning A National Country Brand?" from RadioInsight, originally reported 11/19/2012 and updated 1/21/2013
- ^ "New York Gets a Little Country," from Wall Street Journal, 1/21/2013
External links
- Cumulus Media corporate website
- Facility details for Facility ID WRXP ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database