WHBQ (AM)
Broadcast area | Memphis metropolitan area |
---|---|
Frequency | 560 kHz |
Branding | Sports 56 WHBQ |
Programming | |
Format | Sports |
Affiliations | |
Ownership | |
Owner | Flinn Broadcasting Corporation |
KXHT, WGSF, WHBQ-FM, WIVG, WMPS, WMSO, WOWW | |
History | |
First air date | March 25, 1925 |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 21727 |
Class | B |
Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 35°15′12.00″N 90°2′51.00″W / 35.2533333°N 90.0475000°W |
Translator(s) | 98.5 W253DF (Memphis) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | sports56whbq |
WHBQ (560
History
On March 25, 1925, WHBQ first signed on the air. It was among the earliest stations in Memphis and had its studios in the historic
After the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) went into effect in 1941, WHBQ switched to 1400 kHz, powered at 250 watts.[3] WHBQ moved its studios to Hotel Gayoso. In the 1940s, WHBQ became a network affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System. At the end of the 1940s, WHBQ moved to its current spot on the dial, 560 kHz.[4] It got a boost in power to 5,000 watts days and 1,000 watts nights.
General Teleradio (later RKO General), the broadcasting arm of the General Tire and Rubber Company, purchased the WHBQ stations in March 1954,[5] and later turned the AM counterpart into a leading Top 40 station. Its reputation was developed by Dewey Phillips, a disc jockey who played rhythm and blues music on his night time show, "Red, Hot and Blue." In 1954, Phillips played a recording of "That's Alright Mama" by Elvis Presley, a young truck driver and budding musician, marking the first time an Elvis recording was broadcast on the radio.[6]
For many years, WHBQ was considered a "farm team" for RKO's larger stations. Young, aspiring DJs, such as Rick Dees and game show host Wink Martindale worked there with hopes of being moved up to RKO's larger markets, like Boston, New York City, San Francisco, or the biggest Top 40 station in the chain, KHJ in Los Angeles. In the 1960s, under the guidance of programmer Bill Drake, WHBQ became Boss Radio, known for playing the hottest hits with the most popular DJs.
Disc jockey
By the early 1980s, the once-mighty Top 40 station could no longer compete with the increasing popularity of FM-band contemporary music stations. WHBQ tried playing
In 1988, RKO sold WHBQ to Flinn Broadcasting, a local media company. Flinn tried oldies again, then
In October 2020, WHBQ began simulcasting on FM translator W253DF (98.5 FM) in Memphis; its previous FM simulcast, WPGF-LP (87.7), dropped its simulcast with WHBQ and began stunting with Christmas music as "Santa @ 87.7". The arrangement lasted until the end of December 2020; in January 2021, it began running a rock format known as "Drake Hall Memphis Radio."[10] WPGF-LP had until July 2021 to convert to digital and end its radio operations.[11]
Programming
WHBQ serves as the Memphis area home for the
The station's hosts include: Peter Edmiston, Anthony Sain, Dave Woloshin, Greg Gaston, Eli Savoie, Gabe Kuhn, Brett Norsworthy, and John Hardin. Nights and weekends, WHBQ carries programming from Fox Sports Radio.
Weekly programming includes:
- Mornings with Greg & Eli - Hosts: Greg Gaston and Eli Savoie - 7am - 10am
- Wolo & Friends - Host: Dave Woloshin - 10 am - 11am
- Happy Hour with Johnny Radio - Host: John Hardin - 11am - 1pm
- Sportstime with Gabe and Stats - Hosts: Gabe Kuhn and Brett Norsworthy - 3pm - 6pm
Previous logo
(WHBQ's logo under previous simulcast with WPGF-LP)
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WHBQ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1935 page 56
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1941 page 138
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 278
- ISBN 978-0-375-50907-0.
- ^ Elvis-Collectors.com "George Klein's Ratings Fraud" by Elvis Jock, retrieved 8-17-17
- ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1985 page B-252
- ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1993 page B-335
- ^ "Drake Hall Memphis Radio Debuts on 87.7 WPGF-LP".
- ^ Santa Comes To Memphis As WHBQ Moves FM Signal Radioinsight - October 21, 2020
External links
- Official website
- Puttin' on the Hits – E-bookby John Long
- WHBQ in the FCC AM station database
- WHBQ in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W253DF in the FCC FM station database
- W253DF at FCCdata.org
- FCC Information for WPGF-LP
- [3] George Klein Radio Ratings Fraud (2008)