WWPL
Encyclopedia
WWPL is a radio station
licensed to Smithfield, North Carolina
broadcasting a contemporary hit radio
format. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group
.
before picking up the WEQR letters and adult contemporary format of what is now WYMY
in 1990. WEQR simulcast WEQQ
in Pinetops
with a hot adult contemporary format and the name "The Double Q".
Beasley Broadcast Group
sold WEQR to Curtis Media in the mid-1990s.
WEQQ became WKTC in 1998 and WEQR continued with the format until 2001, when the station began simulcasting WKXU; the country music
format and WKIX letters moved from 96.9 FM. Branding during this time included Kicks 102.3 and Country 102.
The station swapped call letters with 97.7 FM in Kinston
in 2006, becoming WWNF. The country music format also moved to 97.7 FM, and on February 1, 2007, WWNF began to simulcast Raleigh
oldies
station WWMY.
WWNF became WKIX once again late in 2008.
WKIX planned to move its tower to Little Creek Church Road near Clayton
in Johnston County
, and there was talk of a format change. It was not known whether Curtis would have to sell one of its stations to make the move. According to Radio-Locator, the transmitter site has not changed.
WKIX and WWMY swapped letters early in 2010. WWMY ended its simulcast with WKIX-FM on October 23, 2010 and began stunting
with future simulcast partner WKXU, as part of a change in city of license from Goldsboro to Smithfield
. On October 27, WWMY became WWPL, and WKXU became WPLW. On October 31, the stunting ended and both stations debuted their new rhythmic contemporary format as "Pulse 102". The format is described as "sort of the hip-hop and R&B that has crossed over into Top 40." Its primary target audience is women aged 25 to 34, and is expected to compete with Radio One station K 97.5
and Clear Channel's G105 and 93.9 Kiss FM, who ironically transitioned from Rhythmic AC to Rhythmic Top 40 after Pulse 102 signed on. The stations are playing 10,000 songs in a row and promise fewer commercials than other stations. Artists include Lady Gaga
, Enrique Iglesias
and Ke$ha
. By October 2011
, WPLW & WWPL were both added to the Mediabase
contemporary hit radio
panel.
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 Smithfield, North Carolina
Smithfield, North Carolina
Smithfield is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. In 2008, the estimated population was 12,965. It is the county seat of Johnston County...
broadcasting a contemporary hit radio
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...
format. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group
Curtis Media Group
Curtis Media Group is a broadcast media company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. The company owns and operates several North Carolina radio stations and four radio networks.-AM:*WPTF 680 AM *WQDR 570 AM...
.
History
WOKN was urban contemporaryUrban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
before picking up the WEQR letters and adult contemporary format of what is now WYMY
WYMY
WYMY "96.9 La Ley" is a Spanish language radio station licensed to Goldsboro, North Carolina, which is east of the Raleigh-Durham Triangle. It plays a contemporary hit radio format...
in 1990. WEQR simulcast WEQQ
WPWZ
WPWZ is a radio station broadcasting a Mainstream Urban format. Licensed to Pinetops, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Rocky Mount area. The station is currently owned by First Media Radio.In 2009, a signal increase to 50,000 watts is planned....
in Pinetops
Pinetops, North Carolina
Pinetops is a town in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area...
with a hot adult contemporary format and the name "The Double Q".
Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. , based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. As of January 2011, the company owned 17 AM stations and 28 FM stations. -History:...
sold WEQR to Curtis Media in the mid-1990s.
WEQQ became WKTC in 1998 and WEQR continued with the format until 2001, when the station began simulcasting WKXU; the 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...
format and WKIX letters moved from 96.9 FM. Branding during this time included Kicks 102.3 and Country 102.
The station swapped call letters with 97.7 FM in Kinston
Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
in 2006, becoming WWNF. The country music format also moved to 97.7 FM, and on February 1, 2007, WWNF began to simulcast 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...
oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
station WWMY.
WWNF became WKIX once again late in 2008.
WKIX planned to move its tower to Little Creek Church Road near Clayton
Clayton, North Carolina
Clayton is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. A very small portion of the town extends into Wake County. As of 2010, Clayton's population was 9,676 people. Since 2000, it had a population growth of 38.80 percent. Much of that growth can be attributed to the town's close...
in Johnston County
Johnston County, North Carolina
-Major highways:* Interstate 40* Interstate 95* U.S. Highway 70* U.S. Highway 301* U.S. Highway 701-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 121,965 people, 46,595 households, and 33,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were...
, and there was talk of a format change. It was not known whether Curtis would have to sell one of its stations to make the move. According to Radio-Locator, the transmitter site has not changed.
WKIX and WWMY swapped letters early in 2010. WWMY ended its simulcast with WKIX-FM on October 23, 2010 and began stunting
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
with future simulcast partner WKXU, as part of a change in city of license from Goldsboro to Smithfield
Smithfield, North Carolina
Smithfield is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. In 2008, the estimated population was 12,965. It is the county seat of Johnston County...
. On October 27, WWMY became WWPL, and WKXU became WPLW. On October 31, the stunting ended and both stations debuted their new rhythmic contemporary format as "Pulse 102". The format is described as "sort of the hip-hop and R&B that has crossed over into Top 40." Its primary target audience is women aged 25 to 34, and is expected to compete with Radio One station K 97.5
WQOK
WQOK is a Mainstream Urban formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Carrboro, North Carolina, serving the Raleigh/Durham area. WQOK is owned and operated by Radio One.-History:...
and Clear Channel's G105 and 93.9 Kiss FM, who ironically transitioned from Rhythmic AC to Rhythmic Top 40 after Pulse 102 signed on. The stations are playing 10,000 songs in a row and promise fewer commercials than other stations. Artists include Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
and Ke$ha
Kesha
Kesha village is a small village nestled in the mountains of Yongshun County, northwestern Hunan province, China, located at latitude 29 05' 50", longitude 109 57' 9". The name is pronounced in Standard Chinese. The official language is Manderin Chinese....
. By October 2011
2011 in radio
The following events occurred in radio broadcasting in 2011.-Events:*January 1: 2 Knoxville stations change formats as WDLF and WYLV flip to K-LOVE and Air 1 , and a few Pittsburgh station change formats, as ESPN Radio moves from WEAE to WBGG, and Radio Disney moves from WWCS to the renamed WDDZ,...
, WPLW & WWPL were both added to the Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
contemporary hit radio
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...
panel.