WQSM
Encyclopedia
WQSM is a licensed FM
class C1 hot adult contemporary radio station
based in Fayetteville, North Carolina
, USA
. Owned and operated by Cumulus Media
, Q98 has offices and studios located at 1009 Drayton Road in downtown Fayetteville. Its transmitter is located near Bragg Boulevard in Fayetteville.
for his father, was one of the few to realize that FM had a future. In 1969, when WFNC-FM became WQSM and began playing country music
, few cars had FM radios and WQSM began selling converters to potential listeners.
On Monday March 8, 1976, WQSM gave up its country music format and switched formats with its sister station WFNC/940 AM (now 640 AM). WQSM started playing top 40 music and WFNC took over the country music format. Basically the air talent of both stations just switched studios. WQSM continued to play top 40 music until 1989. One of the Sunday afternoon staples was "American Top 40
" with Casey Kasem
which aired from 12 to 3PM, later to 4PM. The AM carried "American Country Countdown" with Don Bowman, then Bob Kingsley. WQSM used the slogan Q98, WQSM Fayetteville. [12]
For nearly 14 years ending on October 18, 1989, WQSM played Top 40, starting with the automated TM (See Jones Radio Networks) Stereo Rock format. Q98 took 18 months to reach number one, and in April 1982, the station had 25.4 percent of listeners 12 and over in Cumberland County
, the largest market share for any FM station in the country.
After Scott McLeod was hired as program director, the station gradually began moving in a more adult direction. With a switch to adult contemporary music from the 1960s through the present, "Q-98" became "Magic 98". Owner Cape Fear Broadcasting had to file suit in federal court when Raleigh
-based Voyager Communications claimed it had the exclusive right to use the Magic name in North Carolina. Voyager finally agreed to let the name be used "in exchange for a nominal licensing fee."
The Q98 name was back by 1992.
The syndicated Bob and Sheri
show made its debut on WQSM in 1998. 10 years later, Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch celebrated their own anniversary by helping Q98 celebrate 30 years. Q98 had considered a local morning show in 2002 but good ratings made the station take a second look.
The station, also, carries the nationally syndicated Open House Party
with John Garabedian
on Saturday nights. The show was aired until around 2004, when it was taken off of the air in favor of a locally produced show. Open House Party made a return on December 7, 2005. On the night of March 26, 2011, Q98 began broadcasting Open House Party from 7:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M. Before, March 26, 2011, the station would broadcast Open House Party from 7:00 P.M. to Midnight.
In September 1999, Cumulus Broadcasting announced plans to buy WQSM, WRCQ
, WFNC
and WFNC-FM from Cape Fear. This sale was challenged by Ocean Broadcasting of Wilmington, North Carolina
because it would give Cumulus 6 FMs and an AM in Wilmington, and about 55 percent of market revenue. By the time the deal was completed in 2001, Cumulus properties also included WKQB. When WFNC stopped doing daily editorials, WQSM was one of the stations that aired taped editorials instead.
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
class C1 hot adult contemporary 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...
based in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Owned and operated 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...
, Q98 has offices and studios located at 1009 Drayton Road in downtown Fayetteville. Its transmitter is located near Bragg Boulevard in Fayetteville.
History
WFNC-FM signed on in 1947 and was the only FM station in Fayetteville for many years. Victor Dawson, who started out managing WFNCWFNC (AM)
WFNC is an AM radio station in Fayetteville, North Carolina broadcasting on frequency 640. The station has a conservative talk format and is under ownership of Cumulus Media.-History:...
for his father, was one of the few to realize that FM had a future. In 1969, when WFNC-FM became WQSM and began playing 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...
, few cars had FM radios and WQSM began selling converters to potential listeners.
On Monday March 8, 1976, WQSM gave up its country music format and switched formats with its sister station WFNC/940 AM (now 640 AM). WQSM started playing top 40 music and WFNC took over the country music format. Basically the air talent of both stations just switched studios. WQSM continued to play top 40 music until 1989. One of the Sunday afternoon staples was "American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
" with Casey Kasem
Casey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem is an American radio personality and voice actor who is best known for being the host of the nationally syndicated Top 40 countdown show American Top 40, and for voicing Shaggy in the popular Saturday morning cartoon franchise Scooby-Doo.Kasem, along with Don Bustany and...
which aired from 12 to 3PM, later to 4PM. The AM carried "American Country Countdown" with Don Bowman, then Bob Kingsley. WQSM used the slogan Q98, WQSM Fayetteville. [12]
For nearly 14 years ending on October 18, 1989, WQSM played Top 40, starting with the automated TM (See Jones Radio Networks) Stereo Rock format. Q98 took 18 months to reach number one, and in April 1982, the station had 25.4 percent of listeners 12 and over in Cumberland County
Cumberland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 302,963 people, 107,358 households, and 77,619 families residing in the county. The population density was 464 people per square mile . There were 118,425 housing units at an average density of 181 per square mile...
, the largest market share for any FM station in the country.
After Scott McLeod was hired as program director, the station gradually began moving in a more adult direction. With a switch to adult contemporary music from the 1960s through the present, "Q-98" became "Magic 98". Owner Cape Fear Broadcasting had to file suit in federal court when Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
-based Voyager Communications claimed it had the exclusive right to use the Magic name in North Carolina. Voyager finally agreed to let the name be used "in exchange for a nominal licensing fee."
The Q98 name was back by 1992.
The syndicated Bob and Sheri
The Bob and Sheri Show
The Bob and Sheri Show is a syndicated U.S. radio program hosted by Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch at radio station WLNK in Charlotte, North Carolina...
show made its debut on WQSM in 1998. 10 years later, Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch celebrated their own anniversary by helping Q98 celebrate 30 years. Q98 had considered a local morning show in 2002 but good ratings made the station take a second look.
The station, also, carries the nationally syndicated Open House Party
Open House Party
Open House Party is an American radio show hosted on Saturday nights by John Garabedian that promotes itself as "the biggest party on the planet". It focuses on playing contemporary hit radio music, also known as Top 40. The show differentiates itself from most Top 40 stations because it plays a...
with John Garabedian
John Garabedian
John H. Garabedian is an American radio personality and disc jockey, known as the host of Open House Party. He has been involved in Massachusetts radio and television stations for around fifty years. John lives in Southborough, Massachusetts....
on Saturday nights. The show was aired until around 2004, when it was taken off of the air in favor of a locally produced show. Open House Party made a return on December 7, 2005. On the night of March 26, 2011, Q98 began broadcasting Open House Party from 7:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M. Before, March 26, 2011, the station would broadcast Open House Party from 7:00 P.M. to Midnight.
In September 1999, Cumulus Broadcasting announced plans to buy WQSM, WRCQ
WRCQ
WRCQ is a radio station broadcasting an Active Rock music format. Licensed to Dunn, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Fayetteville area. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media.-History:...
, WFNC
WFNC (AM)
WFNC is an AM radio station in Fayetteville, North Carolina broadcasting on frequency 640. The station has a conservative talk format and is under ownership of Cumulus Media.-History:...
and WFNC-FM from Cape Fear. This sale was challenged by Ocean Broadcasting of Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
because it would give Cumulus 6 FMs and an AM in Wilmington, and about 55 percent of market revenue. By the time the deal was completed in 2001, Cumulus properties also included WKQB. When WFNC stopped doing daily editorials, WQSM was one of the stations that aired taped editorials instead.