WNRJ
Encyclopedia
WUSH is a Country
formatted broadcast
radio station
licensed to Poquoson, Virginia
, serving Hampton Roads
. The station is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc.
on the Eastern Shore
. It used to simulcast 93.7 WKOC
(later WKCK) in Chesapeake, VA which would last until early 2004, when the FCC
granted them the green light to move the signal to a transmitter site in Hampton, VA despite objections by Saga Communications
, who filed a petition to keep Sinclair from making the signal move-in official (which the FCC later denied). WEXM briefly had the WKOC calls from December 2003 to February 2004.
This frequency was also home to Sinclair's translator for Alternative rock
music outlet WROX-FM
. In 1995, they fired up the translator which was to help eliminate signal dropout in the downtown area on 96.1. The on-air positioning statement was "106-1 Downtown, 96-1 All Around - 96X." Tidewater Communications, which owned rocker 'FM99' WNOR and '106.9 The Fox' WAFX at the time, filed a petition with the FCC to deny WROX a construction permit. WROX also had a petition to the FCC, which collected more than 3,000 signatures from listeners requesting 96X be granted the go-ahead, which it was by the FCC. The translator signed-off on March 7, 2004.
On March 7, 2004, the 106.1 signal would debut as Adult Hits
WPYA "106.1 Bob-FM". This format was very popular with listeners, and fared much better than sister station WKCK (now WPYA
)'s Country format. The two stations swapped signals and formats and became "Kick 106" on September 23, 2004. That would last until February 2, 2005, when the format, which never had high ratings, was dropped and the station began stunting with Snoop Dogg
's "Drop It Like It's Hot
" for two days straight. The Top 40/CHR format known as WZNR, "The Zone @ 106.1," debuted on February 4, with Kelly Clarkson
's "Since U Been Gone
" being the first song. The station was hoping to fill the market's Mainstream Top 40 void that was left open by WNVZ
in 1993 by giving listeners "All The Hits, Not Just Some Of Them." The station also carried the syndicated morning show, "The Playhouse (radio show)
", which is based out of Portland, Oregon
(the reasoning behind this was most likely that the show's host (PK)'s hometown was Norfolk
).
Even though the format was well received in the area, the station had low ratings. On September 21, 2006, at 12:04 pm (ET), WZNR exited the "Zone" by segueing from the All-American Rejects' "Move Along
" to an introduction to the new "Energy 106.1, Music That Makes You Move" followed by its first song in the new format, Bob Sinclar
's "Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)
." WNRJ's format, branding and logo are also extremely similar to that of Alan Burns' Movin'
format. Although this station was billing themselves as a "Rhythmic Hot AC
," WNRJ was expected to lean slightly towards a Dance direction (as evidenced by the Sinclar track they launched with).
In January 2007, Energy's playlist began to shift towards Rhythmic Contemporary
by incorporating more current R&B/Hip-Hop product into the mix and lessening on Dance and Old School tracks as a way to boost ratings and because of WWHV's flip from Urban to Sports (now WXTG
). During the Summer, they started dropping a majority of Rhythmic product and dismissed the air staff after showing dismal numbers in the Arbitron ratings. On August 27, at Midnight (ET), Energy shifted formats to Adult Top 40, with the current Hot AC Pop/Rock fare mixed in with some of the Rhythmic crossovers that were held over from the previous format.
Energy's new Adult Top 40 format ultimately failed in the ratings, as the station peaked below a 2 share for the market's ratings. Sinclair Communications decided to take station in a different direction by flipping back to their previous country music
format, while going in stunt mode for about 4 days to promote the change. On December 14, 2007, just before 2 pm (ET) and after playing its final song, "Bye Bye Bye
" by NSync, WNRJ began stunting, temporarily playing and repeating Garth Brooks
songs on loop and used the moniker "Garth 106." On December 15, 2007, the station shifted to a loop of Rascal Flatts
songs and changed monikers to "Rascal 106". On December 16, 2007, the station shifted to Kenny Chesney
songs and changed monikers to "Chesney 106". On December 17, 2007, the station looped Martina McBride
songs and changed monikers to "Martina 106". On December 18, 2007, the station shifted to George Strait
songs and changed monikers to "Strait 106".. The Rhythmic AC format would later reappear in Hampton Roads in March of 2011, when WKUS
dropped its simulcast of WKSA to become "MOViN 107.7". Unlike Energy, MOViN concentrates on more classic dance, hip-hop, and R&B tracks, as well as playing very few currents.
The station debuted as WUSH, "US106, America's Country" at 5 pm on December 18, 2007. Two days later, though, the station took the WUFH call sign. The station continued to ID as "WUSH," signaling a possible goof with either the station or the FCC. The call letters were corrected on January 2, 2008.
On August 15, 2008, the FCC granted a request from Sinclair Communications to move the antenna and increase the power of WUSH. Owner Bob Sinclair also made the announcement on-air at 5 pm. The new tower started broadcasting on May 29, 2009 with 11,000 watts in Portsmouth, Virginia
.
In 2011, WUSH began branding with a "new country" format and identifying as "US106-1", although station sweepers and IDs still use "US106."
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...
formatted broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
radio station
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 to Poquoson, Virginia
Poquoson, Virginia
Poquoson is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula, in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 12,150 according to the 2010 Census...
, serving Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
. The station is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc.
History
WUSH originally signed on the air in 2001 as WEXM in Exmore, VirginiaExmore, Virginia
Exmore is a town in Northampton County on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. Exmore was named after the number of railroad stops left until reaching Cape Charles, the southernmost point of the Eastern Shore peninsula...
on the Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore of Virginia
The Eastern Shore of Virginia consists of two counties on the Atlantic coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The region is part of the Delmarva Peninsula and is separated from the rest of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay. Its population was 45,553 as of 2010...
. It used to simulcast 93.7 WKOC
WPYA
WNOB is an Adult Hits formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Chesapeake, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WNOB is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc.Its community of license is Chesapeake, Virginia and studios are in Norfolk, Virginia...
(later WKCK) in Chesapeake, VA which would last until early 2004, when the FCC
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...
granted them the green light to move the signal to a transmitter site in Hampton, VA despite objections by Saga Communications
Saga Communications
Saga Communications is a broadcasting company that owns and operates stations in 26 markets in the United States. The company, which is based in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, primarily operates radio stations , but it also operates 9 television stations Saga Communications is a broadcasting...
, who filed a petition to keep Sinclair from making the signal move-in official (which the FCC later denied). WEXM briefly had the WKOC calls from December 2003 to February 2004.
This frequency was also home to Sinclair's translator for Alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
music outlet WROX-FM
WROX-FM
WROX-FM is a Modern Rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Exmore, Virginia, serving the Norfolk/Virginia Beach metro area and the Eastern Shore of Virginia.-Format Tweak:...
. In 1995, they fired up the translator which was to help eliminate signal dropout in the downtown area on 96.1. The on-air positioning statement was "106-1 Downtown, 96-1 All Around - 96X." Tidewater Communications, which owned rocker 'FM99' WNOR and '106.9 The Fox' WAFX at the time, filed a petition with the FCC to deny WROX a construction permit. WROX also had a petition to the FCC, which collected more than 3,000 signatures from listeners requesting 96X be granted the go-ahead, which it was by the FCC. The translator signed-off on March 7, 2004.
On March 7, 2004, the 106.1 signal would debut as Adult Hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
WPYA "106.1 Bob-FM". This format was very popular with listeners, and fared much better than sister station WKCK (now WPYA
WPYA
WNOB is an Adult Hits formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Chesapeake, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WNOB is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc.Its community of license is Chesapeake, Virginia and studios are in Norfolk, Virginia...
)'s Country format. The two stations swapped signals and formats and became "Kick 106" on September 23, 2004. That would last until February 2, 2005, when the format, which never had high ratings, was dropped and the station began stunting with Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
's "Drop It Like It's Hot
Drop It Like It's Hot
"Drop It Like It's Hot" is a 2004 rap number-one hit single by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell. Snoop performs the chorus and the second and third verses , while Pharrell performs the first verse....
" for two days straight. The Top 40/CHR format known as WZNR, "The Zone @ 106.1," debuted on February 4, with Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
's "Since U Been Gone
Since U Been Gone
"Since U Been Gone" is a song written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald for American singer Kelly Clarkson. The song was released as the second single from her second album, Breakaway in the US and Australia and was released as the first single in Europe...
" being the first song. The station was hoping to fill the market's Mainstream Top 40 void that was left open by WNVZ
WNVZ
WNVZ is a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WNVZ is owned and operated by Entercom.-1967 to 1972 , Country as WTID-FM:...
in 1993 by giving listeners "All The Hits, Not Just Some Of Them." The station also carried the syndicated morning show, "The Playhouse (radio show)
The Playhouse (radio show)
The Playhouse was a Portland, Oregon-based syndicated morning drive time radio show which debuted on February 12, 2000. It originally aired weekday mornings between 5-10am on then-flagship radio station KXJM , with the last four hours of the show being broadcast live online with fully produced...
", which is based out of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
(the reasoning behind this was most likely that the show's host (PK)'s hometown was Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
).
Even though the format was well received in the area, the station had low ratings. On September 21, 2006, at 12:04 pm (ET), WZNR exited the "Zone" by segueing from the All-American Rejects' "Move Along
Move Along (song)
"Move Along" is the title track and second single taken from The All-American Rejects' second studio album of the same name. "Move Along" is the band's most enduring single. The track stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 50 for 39 weeks because of the amount of time it took to surface...
" to an introduction to the new "Energy 106.1, Music That Makes You Move" followed by its first song in the new format, Bob Sinclar
Bob Sinclar
Bob Sinclar, originally spelled "Sinclair" - , is a French record producer, House music DJ, remixer and owner of the label Yellow Productions.- Career history :...
's "Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)
Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)
"Rock This Party " is a song by Bob Sinclar, co-produced by regular partner Cutee B and featuring Dollarman and Big Ali on vocals...
." WNRJ's format, branding and logo are also extremely similar to that of Alan Burns' Movin'
Movin' (brand)
"Movin'" is a brand name used for a variety of rhythmic AC and top 40 radio stations in numerous broadcast markets in the United States...
format. Although this station was billing themselves as a "Rhythmic Hot AC
Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
Rhythmic adult contemporary is a format used on stations in the United States and Canada. It usually gears toward an older audience, ages 25 to 54. Stations using this format play disco from the 1970s and early 1980s, dance/pop music, adult-friendly hip hop/old school tracks, R&B, dance/freestyle...
," WNRJ was expected to lean slightly towards a Dance direction (as evidenced by the Sinclar track they launched with).
In January 2007, Energy's playlist began to shift towards 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...
by incorporating more current R&B/Hip-Hop product into the mix and lessening on Dance and Old School tracks as a way to boost ratings and because of WWHV's flip from Urban to Sports (now WXTG
WXTG-FM
WXTG-FM is a Sports Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Virginia Beach, Virginia, serving the Southside of Hampton Roads. WXTG-FM is owned and operated by Red Zebra Broadcasting.-History:...
). During the Summer, they started dropping a majority of Rhythmic product and dismissed the air staff after showing dismal numbers in the Arbitron ratings. On August 27, at Midnight (ET), Energy shifted formats to Adult Top 40, with the current Hot AC Pop/Rock fare mixed in with some of the Rhythmic crossovers that were held over from the previous format.
December 2007 relaunch
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, while going in stunt mode for about 4 days to promote the change. On December 14, 2007, just before 2 pm (ET) and after playing its final song, "Bye Bye Bye
Bye Bye Bye
"Bye Bye Bye" is the first single released from American boyband 'N Sync's second album, No Strings Attached. Released in early 2000, it is a reference to the group's break from their manager Lou Pearlman and their record label, RCA...
" by NSync, WNRJ began stunting, temporarily playing and repeating Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
songs on loop and used the moniker "Garth 106." On December 15, 2007, the station shifted to a loop of Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
songs and changed monikers to "Rascal 106". On December 16, 2007, the station shifted to Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
songs and changed monikers to "Chesney 106". On December 17, 2007, the station looped Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
songs and changed monikers to "Martina 106". On December 18, 2007, the station shifted to George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
songs and changed monikers to "Strait 106".. The Rhythmic AC format would later reappear in Hampton Roads in March of 2011, when WKUS
WMOV-FM
WMOV-FM is a Rhythmic AC formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WMOV-FM is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.-Simulcast:The station used to simulcast the format on WKSA...
dropped its simulcast of WKSA to become "MOViN 107.7". Unlike Energy, MOViN concentrates on more classic dance, hip-hop, and R&B tracks, as well as playing very few currents.
The station debuted as WUSH, "US106, America's Country" at 5 pm on December 18, 2007. Two days later, though, the station took the WUFH call sign. The station continued to ID as "WUSH," signaling a possible goof with either the station or the FCC. The call letters were corrected on January 2, 2008.
On August 15, 2008, the FCC granted a request from Sinclair Communications to move the antenna and increase the power of WUSH. Owner Bob Sinclair also made the announcement on-air at 5 pm. The new tower started broadcasting on May 29, 2009 with 11,000 watts in Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
.
In 2011, WUSH began branding with a "new country" format and identifying as "US106-1", although station sweepers and IDs still use "US106."