WRNO-FM
Encyclopedia
WRNO-FM is an Interactive Talk
formatted radio station
serving New Orleans, Louisiana
. The Clear Channel Communications
station broadcasts at 99.5 MHz with an effective radiated power
of 100 kilowatts.
radio service in the 1980s and 1990s called WRNO Worldwide
, now owned by a Christian broadcaster.
On November 13, 2006, at 4:00 AM (CST), after signing off with The Doors
' "The End," WRNO flipped to an interactive Talk radio format as "The New 99.5FM.com." As explained in the official mission statement posted at its website, "The station is committed to providing listeners with everything they need to know on the radio at 99.5 FM and on demand at thenew995fm.com." On the same day Sister station KHEV would pick up "the Rock of New Orleans" slogan and use it as their new slogan for their flip from gospel to Active Rock
.
On April 1, 2008, the station switched to "Rush Radio," all day repeats of The Rush Limbaugh Show
and a tape loop of Rush's theme song, the instrumental from My City Was Gone
by The Pretenders
, during times when the show was not playing. The stunt was to celebrate the acquisition of the show from longtime affiliate WWL. The station resumed its regular schedule on April 7 and now only plays Limbaugh live except for one Saturday replay.
The Limbaugh program had previously aired on WRNO Worldwide, which Limbaugh called "The EIB World Service" on the air (in joking reference to the BBC World Service
). The stations are no longer co-owned.
Notable programming includes Jim Bohannon
's America in the Morning, Denny Schaffer
on Morning Rush, Glenn Beck Program
, The Rush Limbaugh Show
, The Sean Hannity Show
, John Osterlind
, Dennis Miller
, and Dave Ramsey
. Osterlind was known as "Ozone" during stints at WAAF Worcester MA and WRKO Boston MA.
Notable station alumni include Bill Burkett, E.Alvin Davis, Joe Clark, Bobby Reno (now on WTIX FM owned by Michael Costello, Joe's brother), Captain Humble, Doug Christian, and Russ Boney.
WRNO alumni also include former PD Michael Costello "Michael In The Morning"/"M&M" (brother of late WRNO founder/owner Joseph Mark Costello III); Jim White; DJ-turned-actor ; Soxless Scott Seagraves; Jeff "JD The DJ" Douglas, famous for his "Rock 'n' Roll Flight To Midnight"; Tom Owens; Jimbo Roberts :Johnny Tyler; "Weerd" Wayne Watkins; Mary London; and writer-producer Vance DeGeneres
. (Douglas and Costello are currently jocks at WTIX-FM
, which Costello is owner.) Steve Suter (Now on Magic 101.9) did the Morning show with sidekick Kevin Carlile. They became the "Morning Dudes" are were hired away to Baton Rouge after 2 years.'
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
formatted 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...
serving New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The 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...
station broadcasts at 99.5 MHz with an effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 100 kilowatts.
History
Although its previous slogan was "We're the Rock of New Orleans," the station's call letters stand for "Westbank Radio New Orleans." The station operated a popular business selling rock t-shirts, records and other music related items called the WRNO "Rock Shop" on the ground level of the studio. Since its inception in 1967, WRNO endured many incarnations with different rock music formats, finally adopting the Classic rock format in 1997. WRNO was also home to a popular shortwaveShortwave
Shortwave radio refers to the upper MF and all of the HF portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used...
radio service in the 1980s and 1990s called WRNO Worldwide
WRNO (shortwave)
WRNO is a commercial shortwave radio station which began international broadcasting on 18 February 1982 and continued broadcasting through the early 1990s from Metairie, Louisiana...
, now owned by a Christian broadcaster.
On November 13, 2006, at 4:00 AM (CST), after signing off with The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
' "The End," WRNO flipped to an interactive Talk radio format as "The New 99.5FM.com." As explained in the official mission statement posted at its website, "The station is committed to providing listeners with everything they need to know on the radio at 99.5 FM and on demand at thenew995fm.com." On the same day Sister station KHEV would pick up "the Rock of New Orleans" slogan and use it as their new slogan for their flip from gospel to Active Rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
.
On April 1, 2008, the station switched to "Rush Radio," all day repeats of The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
and a tape loop of Rush's theme song, the instrumental from My City Was Gone
My City Was Gone
"My City Was Gone" is a song by the rock group The Pretenders. The song originally appeared in October 1982 as the B-side to the single release of "Back on the Chain Gang"; the two-sided single was the comeback release for the band following the death of founding bandmember James Honeyman-Scott...
by The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, during times when the show was not playing. The stunt was to celebrate the acquisition of the show from longtime affiliate WWL. The station resumed its regular schedule on April 7 and now only plays Limbaugh live except for one Saturday replay.
The Limbaugh program had previously aired on WRNO Worldwide, which Limbaugh called "The EIB World Service" on the air (in joking reference to the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
). The stations are no longer co-owned.
Notable programming includes Jim Bohannon
Jim Bohannon
James E. "Jim" Bohannon is an American broadcaster who has worked in both television and radio.During the 1980s he was a fill-in for Larry King when King had his popular nighttime national radio program. He also does much work with the Smithsonian Associates...
's America in the Morning, Denny Schaffer
Denny Schaffer
Denny Schaffer is a radio talk show host based in Atlanta. He currently hosts a new morning show on WRNO-FM in New Orleans. He previously hosted an evening show on WGKA/920 in Atlanta from 9 - 11 pm which WGKA moved to 8- 10 pm a few months before Denny was offered his current gig in New...
on Morning Rush, Glenn Beck Program
Glenn Beck Program
The Glenn Beck Program is an American talk radio show hosted by commentator Glenn Beck on Premiere Radio Networks. Since its inception as a nationally syndicated show in 2002, the program has become one of the highest rated radio programs...
, The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
, The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show is a talk radio show hosted by Sean Hannity on Citadel Media and Premiere Radio Networks. The program is broadcast live every weekday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m...
, John Osterlind
John Osterlind
John Osterlind is an American radio broadcaster.Osterlind was born in Norwalk, Connecticut. He graduated from Roger Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1985 and from Dean Jr College in Franklin, Massachusetts in 1987, where he was on their college station 88.3 FM WGAO...
, Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
, and Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey
David L. Ramsey III is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker.Ramsey's syndicated radio program The Dave Ramsey Show is promoted with a tagline that "It's about your life and your money," and it is heard on over 450 radio stations throughout the...
. Osterlind was known as "Ozone" during stints at WAAF Worcester MA and WRKO Boston MA.
Notable station alumni include Bill Burkett, E.Alvin Davis, Joe Clark, Bobby Reno (now on WTIX FM owned by Michael Costello, Joe's brother), Captain Humble, Doug Christian, and Russ Boney.
WRNO alumni also include former PD Michael Costello "Michael In The Morning"/"M&M" (brother of late WRNO founder/owner Joseph Mark Costello III); Jim White; DJ-turned-actor ; Soxless Scott Seagraves; Jeff "JD The DJ" Douglas, famous for his "Rock 'n' Roll Flight To Midnight"; Tom Owens; Jimbo Roberts :Johnny Tyler; "Weerd" Wayne Watkins; Mary London; and writer-producer Vance DeGeneres
Vance DeGeneres
Vance Elliott DeGeneres is an American actor, musician, film producer and screenwriter, known for his work in television...
. (Douglas and Costello are currently jocks at WTIX-FM
WTIX-FM
WTIX-FM is an oldies outlet serving the New Orleans area. The station is owned by Michael A. "Michael In The Morning" Costello and operates at 94.3 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW...
, which Costello is owner.) Steve Suter (Now on Magic 101.9) did the Morning show with sidekick Kevin Carlile. They became the "Morning Dudes" are were hired away to Baton Rouge after 2 years.'
Former engineers
- Kevin Duplantis - Of WWL and WEZBWEZBWEZB, aka B-97 today, is a mainstream Contemporary hit radio radio station in New Orleans, Louisiana. The station is owned by Entercom and they broadcast their format at 97.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 99 kW...
fame. Now with WJXB-FMWJXB-FMWJXB-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. The station is owned by South Central Communications....
& WIMZ-FMWIMZ-FMWIMZ-FM is a classic rock radio station based in Knoxville, Tennessee at 103.5 FM. Its broadcast area reaches into southeastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, western North Carolina, north Georgia and far northwest South Carolina.-Tower:...
in Knoxville, TennesseeKnoxville, TennesseeFounded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region... - Joe Pollet - Still with Entercom New Orleans
- Tom Courtney (radio) - Clear Channel.