WXRC
Encyclopedia
WXRC is a 70s rock-based Classic Hits
radio station located in Charlotte, North Carolina
. The station is licensed to Hickory, North Carolina
and broadcasts with an ERP
of 100 kW.
), with the FM antenna mounted on the WIRC tower in southeast Hickory.
The station was sold along with WIRC in 1977.
In 1980, WXRC replaced their antenna and installed a new more powerful transmitter, raising their Effective Radiated Power to 100 kW.
From the early '80s to 1985, WXRC was "X-Rock", an adult contemporary format using the automated TM (See Jones Radio Networks
) Stereo Rock programming service. In 1985, the station built a new transmitter site to better cover Charlotte and changed to live album-oriented rock
.. Programmed in the first year by local native and Appalachian State Graduate Greg Mull (see K-Rock Fort Meyers and 98 Rock Tampa), the station during the '80s only placed in the top 10 of Charlotte Arbitron ratings during Fall 1985-December 1986. Over the years, WXRC has tried various rock formats, including Triple-A
. At one point the station emphasized hard rock
and heavy metal
, calling itself "The Panther", though the Charlotte football team
was not entirely happy with this name. The switch to the current format was made in 2002.
WXRC was the Howard Stern
outlet in Charlotte from 1998 to 2001. It climbed as high as second in the Charlotte ratings until dropping Stern for Lex and Terry
in 2001. Throughout many changes musically, their playlist today consists mostly of artists from the "classic rock" era including the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
On Sundays Acoustic Storm plays a variety of acoustic-rock.
They are the Charlotte affiliate for the Wolfpack
Radio Network.
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
radio station located in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The station is licensed to Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
and broadcasts with an ERP
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 kW.
History
WXRC signed on in 1962 as the sister station to 630 AM WIRC (now WAIZWAIZ
WAIZ is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format to the Hickory, North Carolina, USA area. The station is currently owned by Newton-Conover Communications, Inc....
), with the FM antenna mounted on the WIRC tower in southeast Hickory.
The station was sold along with WIRC in 1977.
In 1980, WXRC replaced their antenna and installed a new more powerful transmitter, raising their Effective Radiated Power to 100 kW.
From the early '80s to 1985, WXRC was "X-Rock", an adult contemporary format using the automated TM (See Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
) Stereo Rock programming service. In 1985, the station built a new transmitter site to better cover Charlotte and changed to live album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
.. Programmed in the first year by local native and Appalachian State Graduate Greg Mull (see K-Rock Fort Meyers and 98 Rock Tampa), the station during the '80s only placed in the top 10 of Charlotte Arbitron ratings during Fall 1985-December 1986. Over the years, WXRC has tried various rock formats, including Triple-A
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
. At one point the station emphasized hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, calling itself "The Panther", though the Charlotte football team
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
was not entirely happy with this name. The switch to the current format was made in 2002.
WXRC was the Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
outlet in Charlotte from 1998 to 2001. It climbed as high as second in the Charlotte ratings until dropping Stern for Lex and Terry
Lex and Terry
Lex and Terry is a syndicated morning radio hosted by Lex Staley and Terry Jaymes. Currently based in Dallas, Texas, the show is distributed by United Stations Radio Networks. It is heard during weekday mornings on 30 radio stations in the U.S. and on XM 165....
in 2001. Throughout many changes musically, their playlist today consists mostly of artists from the "classic rock" era including the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
On Sundays Acoustic Storm plays a variety of acoustic-rock.
They are the Charlotte affiliate for the Wolfpack
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
Radio Network.