WJQM
Encyclopedia
WWQN is a radio station licensed to Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
and surrounding areas. The station is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting
and simulcasts the country format of sister station WWQM-FM
("Q106.3"). WWQN broadcasts from a tower near Barneveld, Wisconsin
, about 25 miles west of Madison.
began testing the 106.7 FM signal under the call letters WYZM, airing smooth jazz
music normally heard on sister station WMGN
during its "Magic Sunday Morning" program. The smooth jazz was there only temporarily, for on December 1, 2005, WYZM changed to WSLK and began simulcasting the classic hits
format of sister station WHLK ("The Lake at 93-1 and 106-7").
At 4PM on January 26, 2007, WSLK broke away from the "Lake" simulcast and began a rhythmic contemporary
format, identifying themselves as WJQM, or "106.7 Jamz." This move was in direct response to WKPO dropping the Rhythmic format two weeks earlier.
On October 28, 2008, the "Jamz" format and call letters would move to 93.1 FM, displacing the classic rock "Lake" format that had aired on that frequency (and was previously simulcast on 106.7). After a week of simulcasting "Jamz," 106.7 would adopt the WWQN call letters and become a simulcast of country sister station WWQM-FM
("Q106"). The end result would make sense in that the 93.1 signal is directed towards the Madison metro area, while 106.7 wound up with a format that caters more to the rural audience the signal covers (Iowa County
and western Dane County
, an area that the class A signal on 106.3 doesn't quite cover entirely).
The Q106 format would be adjusted in July 2009, when new program director John Sebastian, after 3-1/2 days of on-air stunting with alternate, non-country formats
, instituted a new "Q106.3," which would feature less talk by DJ's, more music, a harder-edged voice imaging, and a broader playlist that includes vintage songs
and pop and rock songs with crossover appeal to contemporary country listeners, such as the first song played post-stunting, Lynyrd Skynyrd's
"Sweet Home Alabama". Sebastian would depart WWQM/WWQN in Summer 2011, after which the station would gradually divert from path he instituted to one with more DJ interaction and brighter imaging, including a rebranding to "Today's Q106".
Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Mount Horeb is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,009 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and surrounding areas. The station is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Mid-West Family Broadcasting is an independently owned broadcasting company based in Madison, Wisconsin. The company owns and manages radio stations in Madison and LaCrosse, WI, Benton Harbor/St Joseph, MI, Springfield, IL and Springfield, MO....
and simulcasts the country format of sister station WWQM-FM
WWQM-FM
WWQM-FM is a radio station licensed to Middleton, Wisconsin and serving the Madison area. Owned and operated by Mid-West Family Broadcasting, the station has aired a country music format since 1981. The station is simulcast on WWQN, at 106.7 FM, which is licensed to Mount Horeb in western Dane...
("Q106.3"). WWQN broadcasts from a tower near Barneveld, Wisconsin
Barneveld, Wisconsin
Barneveld is a village in Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. It is the fourth most populous community in Iowa County, while the second largest village, and largest village located fully within the county. The population was 1,088 at the 2000 census...
, about 25 miles west of Madison.
History
WWQN's history dates back to October 2005, when Mid-West Family BroadcastingMid-West Family Broadcasting
Mid-West Family Broadcasting is an independently owned broadcasting company based in Madison, Wisconsin. The company owns and manages radio stations in Madison and LaCrosse, WI, Benton Harbor/St Joseph, MI, Springfield, IL and Springfield, MO....
began testing the 106.7 FM signal under the call letters WYZM, airing 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 ....
music normally heard on sister station WMGN
WMGN
WMGN is a radio station licensed to and serving the Madison, Wisconsin area. The station has been known on air as "Magic 98" and had its adult contemporary format since 1983. Prior to that, it had been automated Adult Contemporary music as "98 FM", with the call letters WISM-FM...
during its "Magic Sunday Morning" program. The smooth jazz was there only temporarily, for on December 1, 2005, WYZM changed to WSLK and began simulcasting the classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format of sister station WHLK ("The Lake at 93-1 and 106-7").
At 4PM on January 26, 2007, WSLK broke away from the "Lake" simulcast and began a rhythmic contemporary
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
format, identifying themselves as WJQM, or "106.7 Jamz." This move was in direct response to WKPO dropping the Rhythmic format two weeks earlier.
On October 28, 2008, the "Jamz" format and call letters would move to 93.1 FM, displacing the classic rock "Lake" format that had aired on that frequency (and was previously simulcast on 106.7). After a week of simulcasting "Jamz," 106.7 would adopt the WWQN call letters and become a simulcast of country sister station WWQM-FM
WWQM-FM
WWQM-FM is a radio station licensed to Middleton, Wisconsin and serving the Madison area. Owned and operated by Mid-West Family Broadcasting, the station has aired a country music format since 1981. The station is simulcast on WWQN, at 106.7 FM, which is licensed to Mount Horeb in western Dane...
("Q106"). The end result would make sense in that the 93.1 signal is directed towards the Madison metro area, while 106.7 wound up with a format that caters more to the rural audience the signal covers (Iowa County
Iowa County, Wisconsin
Iowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 22,780. Its county seat and largest city is Dodgeville.Iowa County is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and western Dane County
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
, an area that the class A signal on 106.3 doesn't quite cover entirely).
The Q106 format would be adjusted in July 2009, when new program director John Sebastian, after 3-1/2 days of on-air stunting with alternate, non-country formats
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
, instituted a new "Q106.3," which would feature less talk by DJ's, more music, a harder-edged voice imaging, and a broader playlist that includes vintage songs
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
and pop and rock songs with crossover appeal to contemporary country listeners, such as the first song played post-stunting, Lynyrd Skynyrd's
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
"Sweet Home Alabama". Sebastian would depart WWQM/WWQN in Summer 2011, after which the station would gradually divert from path he instituted to one with more DJ interaction and brighter imaging, including a rebranding to "Today's Q106".