WKXW

Last updated

WKXW
Nj1015.jpg
Broadcast area New Jersey
Frequency 101.5MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingNew Jersey 101.5
Programming
Language(s) English
Format
Subchannels HD2: Beach Radio (oldies)
Ownership
Owner
WCHR, WPST, WNJE
History
First air date
August 27, 1962;62 years ago (1962-08-27)
Former call signs
  • WBUD-FM (1962–1967)
  • WBJH (1967–1979)
  • WTRT (1979–1980)
  • WKXW-FM (1980–1981)
  • WKXW (1981–2002)
  • WKXW-FM (2002–2006)
Call sign meaning
Two "W's" bookending "Kix" (former branding)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 53458
Class B
ERP
  • 15,500 watts (analog)
  • 617 watts (digital) [2]
HAAT 275 m (902 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 40°16′58.4″N74°41′9.6″W / 40.282889°N 74.686000°W / 40.282889; -74.686000 (WKXW)
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Website

WKXW (101.5 FM, "New Jersey 101.5") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Trenton, New Jersey. The station is owned by Townsquare Media with studios and offices located in Ewing [3] and its transmitter facility, which is shared with WPRB, located near the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence Township in Mercer County, New Jersey. [4]

Contents

History

The station went on the air on August 27, 1962, as WBUD-FM with an easy listening format. Its call sign subsequently changed in 1967 to WBJH, which stood for Bill and Joy Hardin,[ citation needed ] the son and daughter-in-law of the owner. The station's call sign changed to WTRT in 1979 and rebranded as "The New T-101 FM". In 1980, the station's call sign was changed to WKXW-FM, under its new owner Fidelity Communications. It was playing a hot adult contemporary format as "The All New Kix 101 & A 1/2 FM" and later "Kix 101.5". By the late 80s, the station evolved into more of a gold-based adult contemporary format. Its weekend Saturday oldies show evolved into an all oldies format from the 1950s through early 70s on overnights and weekends before the change to its current weekday talk format, which came in 1990 when it was sold to Press Communications. The sale to Millennium Radio Group took place in 2001.

On March 1, 1990, at 5 pm, "New Jersey 101.5", conceived by Sabo Media CEO, Walter Sabo, became the first full-time FM talk station in America targeted for a younger audience. Mark Sheppard, who later went to middays, kicked off the format playing Bill Haley & The Comets' "Rock Around The Clock".

Since the 1990s, the station has a talk and news format during the week, with oldies music on the overnights and weekend. Initially, the oldies format was 1960s-based with a few pre-1964 oldies and a 1970s oldie or two each hour. By the early-to-mid-1990s, more 1970s music was added and by the early-2000s, 1980s music from 1980 to 1982 was added occasionally. Between 2000 and 2005, music from between 1986 and 1989 was added to the lineups. Gradually, at the same time, songs from 1964 and older were gradually reduced in the late-1990s and gone by 2000. In September 2007, 1960s music was removed from the "60s, 70s, and 80s" weekend music programming ID, and nearly all 1960s music had been removed from the playlist. However, in May 2012, "60s" was added back to the weekend music programming ID, coinciding with a limited but steady increase in music airplay focusing on select titles by well-known artists.

In the mid-to-late-1990s, music was ended on weekday overnights and now airs strictly on weekends and some holidays.

The station has, at times, provided a simulcast on various AM and FM stations in the Atlantic City area, beyond the reach of its main transmitter. The most recent simulcast ceased in June 2009 when then-WXKW changed formats to ESPN Sports Radio. The station's morning show was also simulcast for a time on regional cable network CN8 in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with cameras mounted in the radio studio showing the station's personalities on-camera.

In 2011, California-based Oaktree Capital signed a deal to buy Millennium Radio Group; after taking over, Oaktree transferred the Millennium stations to Townsquare Media. [5]

Controversies

In 2008, the station's parent company was sued by a photographer for copyright infringement, and defamation with regards to the online posting of a photocopy of a New Jersey Monthly magazine photograph. Photographer Peter Murphy sent a notice of copyright infringement to the station to remove a photo Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, which had been photocopied from a March 2006 issue of the magazine; the station also posted edited versions of the picture that were submitted by listeners. While the station complied with the takedown request, Carton and Rossi complained on-air about Murphy's conduct, allegedly saying that Murphy was "not to be trusted" and that people "should avoid doing business" with him. Carton and Rossi also alleged that Murphy "was a homosexual." [6] In April 2008, Murphy brought suit for direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright infringement, violation of the DMCA, and defamation of character against Millennium Radio Group, Carton, and Rossi. The Third Circuit ruled that the station's actions did constitute both a violation of the DMCA and copyright infringement, which vacated the district court's judgment. [7]

On July 26, 2018, the station came under fire after hosts Judi Franco and Dennis Malloy referred to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal as "turban man" while on air. [8] The hosts were suspended for 10 days. [9] [10]

In December 2018, Judi Franco garnered controversy when called the state's "Move Over" law "silly" and unnecessary in an opinion piece she posted on the station's website under the headline "Dead cops make bad laws." [11]

Some of the station's personalities have garnered attention for their promotion of anti-vaccination viewpoints (including opposition to COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 vaccine mandates), including morning host Bill Spadea, and host Dennis Malloy of the midday show The Dennis & Judi Show. [12] [13] [14] [15] In September 2022, Spadea and station owner Townsquare Media were sued for defamation by Steven Tobias—a child psychologist who had made appearances on the station to discuss the impact of the pandemic on schools—after Spadea called for him to be "indicted for child abuse" for promoting the wearing of face masks in schools. [16]

New Jersey-centric branding

The station strongly brands its New Jersey-ness, with its announcers frequently self-identifying "New Jersey 101.5" and with its bumper message intoning "Not New York. Not Philadelphia. Proud to be New Jersey!", as well as its branded New Jersey Fast Traffic and New Jersey Instant Weather. The New Jersey-centric nature of the station is emphasized in the traffic reports, in that they refer to traffic direction on bridges and tunnels as "entering New Jersey" or "leaving New Jersey" instead of the more traditional designations of "into the city/inbound" or "out of the city/outbound". As well, current temperatures of different samples of towns in New Jersey are given after the weather reports. Despite the station's branding, the 101.5 signal does not reach the majority of Cape May, Salem and Sussex Counties while the signal's coverage of Atlantic, Bergen, Cumberland and Hudson Counties is poor at best, though digital streaming options do allow full-state and even out-of-state reach of the station through other means.

Townsquare News Network

The station is the flagship broadcasting arm of the Townsquare New Jersey News Network as heard on twelve radio stations throughout the state. The network consists of WPST in Trenton, WOBM-FM in Toms River, WJLK (AM) in Lakewood, WCHR-FM in Manahawkin, WJLK-FM in Asbury Park, WOBM (AM) in Asbury Park, WFPG in Atlantic City, WSJO in Egg Harbor City, WPUR in Atlantic City, and WENJ in Atlantic City. Various bureaus throughout the state share stories with the Ewing headquarters.

Big Joe Henry hosting his annual Talent Show finals, Point Pleasant Beach, August 2008 BigJoeHenryTalentShow2008.jpg
Big Joe Henry hosting his annual Talent Show finals, Point Pleasant Beach, August 2008

Notable alumni

HD Radio

On May 31, 2024, WKXW launched an oldies format branded "Beach Radio" on its HD2 subchannel. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCZX</span> Radio station in New York, United States

WCZX is a radio station licensed to Hyde Park, New York and serving the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York state. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts at 300 watts ERP from the Illinois Mountain master tower in Marlborough, New York with studios on Pendell Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBXX (FM)</span> Radio station in Marshall, Michigan

WBXX is a radio station in Battle Creek, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPST</span> Radio station in Trenton, New Jersey

WPST is a commercial radio station licensed to Trenton, New Jersey, airing a contemporary hit radio format. Owned by Townsquare Media, the station serves Central Jersey, the Delaware Valley, Philadelphia and its northern and eastern suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJLK-FM</span> Radio station in New Jersey, United States

WJLK-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Asbury Park, New Jersey, and serving Monmouth County, Northern Ocean County and Middlesex County. It broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format and is owned by Townsquare Media, along with sister stations WCHR-FM, WOBM, WOBM-FM, and WJLK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDBQ-FM</span> Radio station in Galena, Illinois

WDBQ-FM is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Located near Galena, Illinois, United States, the station serves the Dubuque, Iowa area. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and licensed to Townsquare License, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEOK</span> Radio station in Poughkeepsie, New York

WEOK is a commercial radio station licensed to Poughkeepsie, New York and serving the Mid-Hudson Valley. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and airs a Spanish adult hits format, known as "Juan 95.7".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZAD</span> Radio station in New York, United States

WZAD is country music radio station licensed to Wurtsboro, New York, that serves the Catskill Mountains region, Orange County, New York, and Pike County, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts with 620 watts ERP from a tower between Wurtsboro and Monticello. Its studios are in Poughkeepsie, New York.

WKXP is a commercial radio station licensed to Kingston, New York, and serving the Hudson Valley of New York state. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and it broadcasts a soft adult contemporary radio format from its radio studios in Poughkeepsie, New York. Weekday evenings, WKXP carries the nationally syndicated show "Intelligence for Your Life" with John Tesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSKS</span> Radio station in Fresno, California

KSKS is a commercial radio station in Fresno, California. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and it airs a country music radio format branded as "93.7 Kiss Country". Its studios are at the Radio City building on Shaw Avenue in North Fresno and its transmitter is off Auberry Road in Meadow Lakes, California. KSKS has local DJs during the day, and in the evening, airs the syndicated Nash Nights with Shawn Parr from Nash FM, a subsidiary of Cumulus Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WENJ</span> Radio station in New Jersey, United States

WENJ is a radio station that airs a sports radio format, licensed to Millville. Its transmitter is located in Corbin City, New Jersey, where it shares a tower with WRTQ. The station is affiliated with ESPN Radio. Its studios are in Northfield, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Spadea</span> American businessman and television host

William G. Spadea is an American businessman and television host from New Jersey, who was the Republican nominee for United States Congress in New Jersey's 12th congressional district in 2004. He was Chairman of the College Republican National Committee (1993–95) and was the host of Chasing News. Spadea is a former Republican congressional candidate who became a loyalist to former President Donald Trump. He has spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and vaccines.

WSJO is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. The station is owned by Townsquare Media, through licensee Townsquare License, LLC, and broadcasts a Top 40 (CHR) format.

Nassau Broadcasting Partners LP was a company based in Princeton, New Jersey that owned radio stations in New England and the Mid-Atlantic United States. Nassau's stations, which included both AM and FM frequencies, were located in Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company was owned and headed by Louis F. Mercatanti. Nassau was predominantly an operator of radio stations in medium and small markets. Nassau formerly owned radio station WCRB in Waltham, a Boston suburb, and located in the Boston market, the 11th largest radio market in the US, according to BIA Financial Network. However that station was sold to WGBH in 2009. Nassau operated radio stations in substantially all of the major formats. The company's most common format was classic rock/classic hits. On October 13, 2011 Nassau Broadcasting entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after their senior lenders petitioned for an involuntary Chapter 7 liquidation in September. The stations were auctioned to various bidders in May 2012 subject to bankruptcy judge and FCC approval. Nassau's last station, WPLY in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, lost its license in 2014 after having shut down in 2011.

WWAC is a commercial radio station licensed to Ocean City, New Jersey, and serving the Atlantic City area of the Jersey Shore. It is owned by Enrico S. Brancadora, broadcasting a country music radio format. WWAC is co-owned with WIBG-FM, a classic hits station licensed to Avalon, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPGG</span> Radio station in Atlantic City, New Jersey

WPGG is a commercial radio station licensed to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts a talk radio format. WPGG's studios and offices are on Tilton Road in Northfield, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOBM-FM</span> Radio station in Toms River, New Jersey

WOBM-FM is a commercial radio station known as "92.7 WOBM", licensed to Toms River and serving Ocean County, New Jersey. It airs an adult contemporary radio format.

KAWO is a commercial radio station located in Boise, Idaho. KAWO airs a country music format branded as "Wow Country 104.3". Until 2007, the station was called "My Country 104.3" and its call letters were KTMY.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJIM-FM</span> Radio station in Lansing, Michigan

WJIM-FM is a radio station in Lansing, Michigan, broadcasting a top 40 (CHR) format. It is owned by Townsquare Media and has an ERP of 45,000 watts, making it a class B radio station

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOBM (AM)</span> Radio station in Asbury Park, New Jersey

WOBM is an adult contemporary AM radio station serving southern Monmouth and northern Ocean County, New Jersey. Licensed to Asbury Park, its studios are located in Toms River and its transmitter is in Tinton Falls. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.

<i>Murphy v. Millennium Radio Group LLC</i>

Murphy v. Millennium Radio Group LLC is a 2011 U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals case concerning the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), copyright infringement, and defamation with regards to the online posting of a photocopy of a magazine photograph. After New Jersey radio station WKXW 101.5 copied onto its website a magazine picture of two of the station's talk show hosts, Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, the photographer of the picture, Peter Murphy, brought a suit against station owner Millennium Radio Group, as well as Carton and Rossi. The Third Circuit ruled that the station's actions did constitute both a violation of the DMCA and copyright infringement, which vacated the district court's judgment.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WKXW". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "FCC 335-FM Digital Notification [WKXW]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. September 11, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  3. ↑ "N.J. 101.5FM studio is renamed after longtime radio personality Jim Gearhart". The Star-Ledger. November 2, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  4. ↑ "FM Query Results for WKXW". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Oaktree closes on Millennium-NJ, files to transfer stations to Townsquare Media". Radio-Info.com. July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  6. ↑ Murphy v. Millennium Radio Group LLC , 08-1743 (US District Court, D. New Jersey2010).
  7. ↑ Murphy v. Millennium Radio Group LLC , 10-2163 (3rd Circuit2011).
  8. ↑ Lartey, Jamiles (July 26, 2018). "New Jersey radio hosts suspended for calling attorney general 'turban man'". The Guardian.
  9. ↑ The Latest: Sikh group says radio station should apologize - AP NEWS
  10. ↑ "NJ 101.5 suspends hosts after they called NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal 'turban man'".
  11. ↑ Cervenka, Susanne (December 5, 2018). "NJ 101.5 host Judi Franco 'trampling on the graves' of police, trooper union says". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  12. ↑ Tully, Tracey; Otterman, Sharon; Hoffman, Jan (January 16, 2020). "How Anti-Vaccine Activists Doomed a Bill in New Jersey". The New York Times.
  13. ↑ Diamond, Michael L. "No, the COVID vaccine doesn't have a microchip. How NJ doctors are fighting misinformation". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Cryan, slate win in District 20". New Jersey Globe. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  15. ↑ Nelson, Blake (July 18, 2021). "Twitter suspends N.J. lawmaker for questioning vaccine mandates. He wants an apology". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Child Psychologist Sues 'NJ 101.5' And Host Bill Spadea". Insideradio.com. September 16, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  17. ↑ Beach Radio Heads to Trenton Radioinsight - May 31, 2024
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.