WQNQ
Encyclopedia
WQNQ is a United States
FM radio station operating on 104.3 MHz serving the Asheville, North Carolina
area. The station currently has a CHR (Top 40)
music format and is owned by Clear Channel
. The station is commonly called "Star 104.3."
WQNQ is licensed in Fletcher, North Carolina
outside of Asheville. The station broadcasts at an effective radiated power of 470 watts from a transmitter located 349 meters (1,145 feet) above the average surrounding terrain.
in October, 1991 with a soft adult contemporary format known as "Delightful 104". The studios were actually located in Marion, North Carolina
. The station was sold to Blue Dolphin Communications in November, 1996. At that time, the station made an attempt to move into the Asheville market as the format was changed to Hot Adult Contemporary as "Mix 104.3" under the new call letters of WMXF. They also switched from live DJ's to satellite which caused a lot of public disapproval. The original company they contracted with was Jones Satellite out of Colorado. Another station in the area--WKBC-FM
--also carried Jones Hot AC during the day and the overnight, meaning both stations played the same songs and had the same DJ's. Jones was dropped for this reason, and for not being contemporary enough, and ABC Radio Networks hot AC was added. When Mix 104 went to satellite they added the Bob and Sheri morning show from WLNK
, which was dropped abruptly by station management, due to public complaints. They added Scott and Todd in the Morning from New York City which was not greeted well due to the market. In late 1998 the studio was moved from Marion to Asheville soon after the tower was moved from Wildcat Mountain outside of Old Fort to a tower outside of Asheville. Because of the mountainous terrain in the Asheville market, the station signal range was still limited.
On September 20th, 1999, the Hot AC format was dropped and 104.3 began to simulcast WQNS
104.9 FM from Waynesville
as WQNQ, with a format change to Classic rock
as "Rock 104". This meant the two stations would cover a larger area than either one could separately. John Boy and Billy
would be heard on the station in the morning. Dawn Creasman made the move from Mix 104. The WMXF
call sign was moved to the co-owned AM in Waynesville as that station switched to Adult Standards
. All three of these Blue Dolphin-owned stations, plus WTZY
, were sold to Clear Channel Communications
by 2001.
In 2005, WQNQ's signal was upgraded and a decision was made to have separate programming. The tower was moved to the Fletcher area, and the city of license was moved closer to Asheville by swapping with sister station WKSF
.The change gave WQNQ a significant boost in listener numbers.
On September 20th, 2010, Star 104.3 segued from its Hot AC format to a CHR format, becoming the market's first station with that format in many years. Prior to this change, listeners who wanted to hear this format had to listen to out-of-market WFBC, located in Greenville, South Carolina
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
FM radio station operating on 104.3 MHz serving the Asheville, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
area. The station currently has a CHR (Top 40)
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
music format and is owned by Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
. The station is commonly called "Star 104.3."
WQNQ is licensed in Fletcher, North Carolina
Fletcher, North Carolina
Fletcher is a town in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,185 at the 2000 census.Fletcher is home to Asheville Regional Airport, which serves Western North Carolina...
outside of Asheville. The station broadcasts at an effective radiated power of 470 watts from a transmitter located 349 meters (1,145 feet) above the average surrounding terrain.
History
104.3 signed on as WDLF in Old Fort, North CarolinaOld Fort, North Carolina
Old Fort is a town in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 959 at the 2008 estimated census. The town is well known for its weekly Mountain Music concerts, attracting large audiences and many musicians from the surrounding areas to Old Fort's downtown each Friday at...
in October, 1991 with a soft adult contemporary format known as "Delightful 104". The studios were actually located in Marion, North Carolina
Marion, North Carolina
Marion is a city in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,943 at the 2008 estimated census. It is the county seat of McDowell County.-Geography:Marion is located at ....
. The station was sold to Blue Dolphin Communications in November, 1996. At that time, the station made an attempt to move into the Asheville market as the format was changed to Hot Adult Contemporary as "Mix 104.3" under the new call letters of WMXF. They also switched from live DJ's to satellite which caused a lot of public disapproval. The original company they contracted with was Jones Satellite out of Colorado. Another station in the area--WKBC-FM
WKBC-FM
WKBC-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Most of its programming comes from Dial Global's Hot AC...
--also carried Jones Hot AC during the day and the overnight, meaning both stations played the same songs and had the same DJ's. Jones was dropped for this reason, and for not being contemporary enough, and ABC Radio Networks hot AC was added. When Mix 104 went to satellite they added the Bob and Sheri morning show from WLNK
WLNK
WLNK, known on the air as "107.9 The Link", is a 100,000 watt radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broadcasts at 107.9 MHz, primarily serving the Charlotte metropolitan area...
, which was dropped abruptly by station management, due to public complaints. They added Scott and Todd in the Morning from New York City which was not greeted well due to the market. In late 1998 the studio was moved from Marion to Asheville soon after the tower was moved from Wildcat Mountain outside of Old Fort to a tower outside of Asheville. Because of the mountainous terrain in the Asheville market, the station signal range was still limited.
On September 20th, 1999, the Hot AC format was dropped and 104.3 began to simulcast WQNS
WQNS
-History:WQNS signed on in the early 70's as WQNS-FM and played "Easy Listening Music". When the station sold, it turned country and was branded Q-105 "Away's Your Country"....
104.9 FM from Waynesville
Waynesville, North Carolina
Waynesville is a town in and the county seat of Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest town in Haywood County and the largest in Western North Carolina west of Asheville. Waynesville is located about or 50 km southwest of Asheville between the Great Smoky and Blue...
as WQNQ, with a format change to Classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
as "Rock 104". This meant the two stations would cover a larger area than either one could separately. John Boy and Billy
John Boy and Billy
John Isley and Billy James, known as John Boy & Billy, named after "John-Boy Harris and brother Bross Harris", are American radio hosts based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their comedic morning program The John Boy & Billy Big Show broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m...
would be heard on the station in the morning. Dawn Creasman made the move from Mix 104. The WMXF
WMXF
WMXF, known as "AM 1400 The Peak", is a news/talk radio station licensed to Waynesville, North Carolina which mostly airs the programming of WWNC in Asheville.-History:...
call sign was moved to the co-owned AM in Waynesville as that station switched to Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
. All three of these Blue Dolphin-owned stations, plus WTZY
WPEK
WPEK , known as "880 the Revolution", is a daytime-only AM radio station in Fairview, North Carolina serving the greater Asheville, North Carolina area.-History:...
, were sold to Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
by 2001.
In 2005, WQNQ's signal was upgraded and a decision was made to have separate programming. The tower was moved to the Fletcher area, and the city of license was moved closer to Asheville by swapping with sister station WKSF
WKSF
WKSF is a country music station licensed to Old Fort, North Carolina. The Clear Channel station broadcasts from a tower on Mount Pisgah, southwest of Asheville at 99.9 FM with an ERP of 48 kW, and a 6 bay antenna...
.The change gave WQNQ a significant boost in listener numbers.
On September 20th, 2010, Star 104.3 segued from its Hot AC format to a CHR format, becoming the market's first station with that format in many years. Prior to this change, listeners who wanted to hear this format had to listen to out-of-market WFBC, located in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
.