WIWF
Encyclopedia
WIWF is a commercial radio station
located in Charleston, South Carolina
, broadcasting to the Lowcountry
area on 96.9 MHz. WIWF airs a Country music
format branded as "96.9 The Wolf."
). The station became WXTC-FM by the 70s and was known as "Ecstasy", a beautiful music
station until the early 1980s. WXTC-FM switched to soft adult contemporary and later smooth jazz
and 70s oldies (as WJZK). The former call letters, WSUY, and former soft AC format were moved from what is now WALC
.
96.9's adult contemporary format was dropped on Thursday, October 11, 2007. The station then continued playing music, interspaced with liners directing listeners to sister station WSSX.
The next day, a country music
format was launched as "96.9 The Wolf." This came shortly before Citadel Broadcasting
moved their Charleston country outlet, WNKT
, to their cluster in the Columbia, South Carolina
market. With the change to The Wolf, Citadel Broadcasting had a country music
station in the Charleston market, even after WNKT
was moved, to compete with rival country music station WEZL
. However, the changes left Charleston without any adult contemporary radio stations. Shortly after the flip to country, the WSUY call letters were changed to WIWF. WXLY
102.5 FM soon became an adult contemporary station. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media
on September 16, 2011.
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...
located in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, broadcasting to the Lowcountry
South Carolina Lowcountry
The Lowcountry is a geographic and cultural region located along South Carolina's coast. The region includes the South Carolina Sea Islands...
area on 96.9 MHz. WIWF airs a Country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format branded as "96.9 The Wolf."
History
WCSC-FM signed on the air April 1, 1948 as the FM sister to WCSC (now WSPOWSPO
-External links:**...
). The station became WXTC-FM by the 70s and was known as "Ecstasy", a beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
station until the early 1980s. WXTC-FM switched to soft adult contemporary and later smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
and 70s oldies (as WJZK). The former call letters, WSUY, and former soft AC format were moved from what is now WALC
WALC
WALC is a radio station located in Charleston, South Carolina. The station is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast with 13.5 kW on 100.5 FM...
.
96.9's adult contemporary format was dropped on Thursday, October 11, 2007. The station then continued playing music, interspaced with liners directing listeners to sister station WSSX.
The next day, a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format was launched as "96.9 The Wolf." This came shortly before Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
moved their Charleston country outlet, WNKT
WNKT
WNKT is a Sports Talk radio station licensed to Eastover, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 107.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 40 kW...
, to their cluster in the Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
market. With the change to The Wolf, Citadel Broadcasting had a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station in the Charleston market, even after WNKT
WNKT
WNKT is a Sports Talk radio station licensed to Eastover, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 107.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 40 kW...
was moved, to compete with rival country music station WEZL
WEZL
WEZL is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Charleston, South Carolina, USA, the station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications....
. However, the changes left Charleston without any adult contemporary radio stations. Shortly after the flip to country, the WSUY call letters were changed to WIWF. WXLY
WXLY
WXLY is a radio station in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Owned by Clear Channel Communications and broadcasting at 102.5 FM, the station airs an adult contemporary format using the brand name Y102.5 and the slogan "Songs you can sing along with."- History :102.5 signed on the air July 17, 1962...
102.5 FM soon became an adult contemporary station. Citadel merged with 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...
on September 16, 2011.