WQKL
| |
|---|---|
| Branding | ann arbor's 107one |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult album alternative |
| Affiliations | United Stations Radio Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WLBY, WTKA, WWWW-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | February 14, 1967 (as WPAG-FM) |
Former call signs | WAMX (4/3/89-12/24/92) WPAG-FM (2/14/67-4/3/89) |
Call sign meaning | KooL 107 (previous branding) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 47117 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,000 watts |
| HAAT | 88 meters (289 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°16′41″N 83°44′32″W / 42.27806°N 83.74222°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www |
WQKL (107.1
Despite its low power, it can be heard in many of the western Detroit suburbs as a result of its transmitter being 289 feet tall and located on the roof of Ann Arbor's tallest building. WSAQ in Port Huron and WTLZ in Saginaw both occupy the same frequency to the east and north respectively, and interference often occurs in northeast areas.
History
WPAG-FM
WPAG has had two lives on the FM dial. The Federal Communications Commission originally authorized WPAG-FM to operate at 98.7 FM in 1947. But with few people owning FM radios in those days, management gave up the license in 1953. (In 1961, WBFG in Detroit took over the 98.7 frequency in southeast Michigan.) On February 14, 1967, WPAG was given FCC permission to resurrect its FM station at the current 107.1 frequency, but it was not until 1969 that the station finally went to air.[4]
As with the original WPAG-FM, the new station originally
By 1980, the population of Ann Arbor had topped 100,000, and due to FCC rules, WPAG-FM would only be able to simulcast a small portion of the AM programming. The first decision was to convert the eclectic Americana country shows on WPAG-FM into a full-time format, but after a few months that was ditched in favor of automated Top 40. But this format also failed to catch on, and by the summer of 1982, WPAG-FM had reverted to a full-time easy listening/beautiful music sound. Through all these changes, the station had few listeners.
Mix 107 and Kool 107
In 1987, WPAG-FM was acquired by
In the fall of 1998, Kool 107 dropped virtually all of the pre-1965 music on its
ann arbor's 107one
On June 25, 2004, "Kool 107" signed off for good and then Program Director Rob Walker and General Manager Bob Bolak created ann arbor's 107one. WQKL's ratings have since improved. Martin Bandyke served as WQKL Morning host from 2006 - 2022. Bandyke is a longtime veteran of
WQKL tags its format as "It's Different Here" The format is a Triple A/Adult Rock mix including artists such as
In August 2006, it was announced that Clear Channel's radio stations in Ann Arbor and Battle Creek would be traded to Cumulus in exchange for rocker
Programming
WQKL is known for "New Music Mondays" and "Featured Artist Fridays." During Featured Artist Fridays, the station plays a certain artist once an hour through the whole day to celebrate a new album, an artists' birthday, an event in music history or an artist coming to the area. Featured Artist Friday tends to avoid playing the same everyday songs from the artist and focus on new tracks, album tracks, covers they've done, demos and live music. In addition, weekends feature a wide range of eclectic music programs, including the syndicated
WQKL and
While the station's ratings overall (ages 12+) are fairly average, WQKL has done very well in its target demographic of adults aged 25–54; in spring 2009, both major survey companies ranked the station #1 in this demo, ahead of its country-music powerhouse sister station WWWW-FM and of Detroit's
WQKL partners with Bank Of Ann Arbor to present Sonic Lunch, a weekly free, live concert series almost every Thursday between Memorial Day and Labor Day at Liberty Plaza in downtown Ann Arbor. 2024 will be the 17th season for Sonic Lunch.
Martin Bandyke was let go from WQKL in February 2009 due to budget cuts, but, in a surprising move given the current radio climate, was rehired a few weeks later due to an outcry from listeners (who even started a protest group on the social networking website Facebook) and advertisers. Bandyke returned to WQKL on March 2, 2009, and remained in the morning slot until his semi-retirement in December 2022. (1) Bandyke still contributes to the station and continues to host his Sunday program called "Fine Tuning" which features a wider, more eclectic mix of music than the station normally programs, reminiscent of Bandyke's show at WDET. WQKL welcomed Detroit radio vet Scott Vertical as the new Morning host at the start of 2023.
As of May 2024, the weekday on-air lineup at WQKL consists of: Scott Vertical 6-10 a.m., Kelly Brown 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Mark Copeland 3-7 p.m., along with Derek Allen and Cojo taking turns from 7-10 p.m.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WQKL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Station Info". WQKL-FM. August 9, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ "WQKL-FM 107.1 MHz - Ann Arbor, MI". radio-locator.com. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1987 page B-141
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID 47117 (WQKL) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WQKL in Nielsen Audio's FM station database