WHRP
Encyclopedia
WHRP is a radio station
licensed
to serve Gurley, Alabama
, USA. The station is owned by Cumulus Media
and the license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC.
music format to the Huntsville, Alabama
, market.
Notable personalities on WHRP include local weekday hosts Toni Terrell with the "At Work Network" mid-days, Big O (aka The Mayor of Soul) Saturday mornings with Classic Soul on "The Time Tunnel", and Huntsville radio veteran Kevin "The Nighthawk" Williams weekends. Notable syndicated hosts include Tom Joyner
of The Tom Joyner Morning Show, Michael Baisden
of The Michael Baisden Show and Keith Sweat
of The Keith Sweat Hotel.
Notable former on-air personnel include Bobby Wonder, Nia Noelle and Ronnie Rio.
Former WXQW mid-day host Chuck Boozer, apparently local, was actually the evening host at WWMG-FM in Charlotte, North Carolina
. Boozer recorded his WXQW air shift in about forty minutes on a computer in Charlotte as digital voice tracks for later playback on the air in Huntsville. This use of "voice tracking" is a practice common to many Clear Channel-owned radio stations, as then-WXQW was at that time.
from the Federal Communications Commission
on January 19, 1995
. The new station was assigned the call letters WDJU by the FCC on March 14, 1995.
In June 1995, control of permit holder Digesu Broadcasting, Inc., was transferred from Frank Digesu Sr. to R. Parker Griffith
and Thomas H. Griffith. The transfer was approved by the FCC on August 9, 1995. In October 1995, Digesu Broadcasting, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Griffith Broadcasting, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on November 30, 1995, and the transaction was consummated on the same day. The new owners had the FCC change the callsign for the station, still under construction, to WXQW on November 10, 1995.
WXQW received its license to cover
from the FCC on June 3, 1996.
In June 1997, Griffith Broadcasting, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Southern Star Communications, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on August 8, 1997, and the transaction was consummated on October 2, 1997. Southern Star Communications is a regional operating company of Capstar Broadcasting Corporation. On October 1, 1997, the station flipped formats from adult contemporary to oldies
music.
In December 2005, Cumulus Media purchased this station (then known as WXQW) and sister station WWXQ (now WVNN
) from the Capstar TX Limited Partnership division of Clear Channel Communications for a reported $3.3 million. On December 21, 2007
, WXQW switched to the WHRP call letters of its sister station
and that former WHRP was assigned new call letters WWFF-FM
.
Several other unrelated stations have held the WHRP call letters over the years, including the current WQKR
(1270 AM, Portland, Tennessee
) which was known as WHRP from 1986 to 1990 and WRJR
(670 AM, Claremont, Virginia
) which was known as WHRP from 2000 to 2001.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to serve Gurley, Alabama
Gurley, Alabama
Gurley is a town in Madison County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 876.-History:...
, USA. The station is owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
and the license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC.
Programming
WHRP broadcasts an urban adult contemporaryUrban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
music format to the Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, market.
Notable personalities on WHRP include local weekday hosts Toni Terrell with the "At Work Network" mid-days, Big O (aka The Mayor of Soul) Saturday mornings with Classic Soul on "The Time Tunnel", and Huntsville radio veteran Kevin "The Nighthawk" Williams weekends. Notable syndicated hosts include Tom Joyner
Tom Joyner
Thomas "Tom" Joyner is an American radio host, host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and also founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation, and BlackAmericaWeb.com.-Early life:...
of The Tom Joyner Morning Show, Michael Baisden
Michael Baisden
Michael Baisden is an American author, motivational speaker, host of the TV One talk show Baisden After Dark, and host of his own nationally-syndicated radio show.-Career:...
of The Michael Baisden Show and Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat is an American R&B/soul, singer-songwriter, record producer, radio personality and a major contributor to the new jack swing era.-Music career:...
of The Keith Sweat Hotel.
Notable former on-air personnel include Bobby Wonder, Nia Noelle and Ronnie Rio.
Former WXQW mid-day host Chuck Boozer, apparently local, was actually the evening host at WWMG-FM in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. Boozer recorded his WXQW air shift in about forty minutes on a computer in Charlotte as digital voice tracks for later playback on the air in Huntsville. This use of "voice tracking" is a practice common to many Clear Channel-owned radio stations, as then-WXQW was at that time.
History
This station received its original construction permitConstruction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
from the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on January 19, 1995
1995 in radio
The year 1995 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:* January 1- KAEV in Lake Arrowhead, California changes to KCXX with an alternative rock format.* April - KJJO in Minneapolis, Minnesota flips to smooth jazz as KMJZ....
. The new station was assigned the call letters WDJU by the FCC on March 14, 1995.
In June 1995, control of permit holder Digesu Broadcasting, Inc., was transferred from Frank Digesu Sr. to R. Parker Griffith
Parker Griffith
Parker Griffith, M.D. is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party, having switched from the Democratic Party on December 22, 2009, but lost the Republican primary and his term ended in January 2011.-Early life, education and...
and Thomas H. Griffith. The transfer was approved by the FCC on August 9, 1995. In October 1995, Digesu Broadcasting, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Griffith Broadcasting, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on November 30, 1995, and the transaction was consummated on the same day. The new owners had the FCC change the callsign for the station, still under construction, to WXQW on November 10, 1995.
WXQW received its license to cover
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
from the FCC on June 3, 1996.
In June 1997, Griffith Broadcasting, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Southern Star Communications, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on August 8, 1997, and the transaction was consummated on October 2, 1997. Southern Star Communications is a regional operating company of Capstar Broadcasting Corporation. On October 1, 1997, the station flipped formats from adult contemporary to oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
music.
In December 2005, Cumulus Media purchased this station (then known as WXQW) and sister station WWXQ (now WVNN
WVNN-FM
WVNN-FM is a News/Talk formatted radio station in Trinity, Alabama. Owned by Cumulus Media, it simulcasts on WVNN licensed to Athens, Alabama. This combo primarily serves the Huntsville, Alabama, market, though it can also be heard in the Florence/Muscle Shoals market...
) from the Capstar TX Limited Partnership division of Clear Channel Communications for a reported $3.3 million. On December 21, 2007
2007 in radio
The year 2007 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 8: Nanci "The Fabulous Sports Babe" Donnellan returns to radio after a six-year absence, filling in for local hosts in Florida....
, WXQW switched to the WHRP call letters of its sister station
WWFF-FM
WWFF-FM is an American radio station licensed to New Market, Alabama, and serving the Huntsville, Alabama, market. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and its broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC...
and that former WHRP was assigned new call letters WWFF-FM
WWFF-FM
WWFF-FM is an American radio station licensed to New Market, Alabama, and serving the Huntsville, Alabama, market. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and its broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC...
.
Several other unrelated stations have held the WHRP call letters over the years, including the current WQKR
WQKR
WQKR is a radio station broadcasting an adult standards/middle of the road music format. Licensed to Portland, Tennessee, USA, the station is currently owned by Venture Broadcasting LLC and features programing from Citadel Media and Talk Radio Network...
(1270 AM, Portland, Tennessee
Portland, Tennessee
Portland is a city in Sumner and Robertson counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, and is also a part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area The population was 10,986 according to 2007 estimates by the US census bureau.-History:...
) which was known as WHRP from 1986 to 1990 and WRJR
WRJR
WPMH is a Christian Talk formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Portsmouth, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WPMH is owned by The Walt Disney Company, brokered to Christian broadcaster Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corporation.-History:...
(670 AM, Claremont, Virginia
Claremont, Virginia
Claremont is an incorporated town in Surry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 343 at the 2000 census.- History :A granite marker in a circle in the center of town commemorates the landing here on May 5, 1607, of English settlers...
) which was known as WHRP from 2000 to 2001.