WYUU
Encyclopedia
WYUUWYUU (92.5 FM
, is a radio station
broadcasting from Safety Harbor
, Florida
and serving the Tampa
/St. Petersburg, Florida
area. The station plays a Tropical Latin
format branded as "Maxima FM."
, suddenly dropped its long-standing format for oldies and became "U92" with WYUU as its new call letters. This change was done to fill a market hole created by WFLZ, which dropped its oldies format and "Z93" moniker to become a Top-40 station known as "The Power Pig" in September 1989. The station broadcast an oldies format slightly different from the "oldies" stations of today (which play 60's and 70's centered "oldies") in that it played a more 50's and 60's-centric play list, but it updated its format and added 70s music over time. Tampa Bay's WYUU U92 92.5 fm 1989 to 1998 also was the host station for the arbitron award winning "Dr. Chuck Stevens Original Breakfast With The Beatles" Radio show. Dr. Chuck Stevens was also awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America / RIAA with both Gold, Platinum and multi Platinum record award plaques, as the first American Radio Personality to debut the single release on Capitol records "Free As A Bird"
In 2002, however, another change took place at WYUU. Sister station WRBQ
(104.7, also known as Q105), which aired a country format at the time, swapped formats with WYUU. This was done at the behest of U92 program director Mason Dixon, who was once a popular personality on Q105 when it was a Top-40 powerhouse throughout the 1980s and wanted to return there (not to mention WRBQ boasts a stronger signal). WYUU thus became a country station and was dubbed "Outlaw 92.5." It was a NASCAR
Nextel Cup Series radio affiliate and also brought the The Cowhead Show
(morning drive, 6am-10am) over from WRBQ.
However, Outlaw 92.5 found itself as the third country station in a two country station market when Clear Channel’s Thunder 103.5 (WTBT) flipped to Country as U.S. 103.5 (WFUS
) on April 14, 2005. With sister station 99.5 WQYK-FM
also playing country in the market, it became obvious to many observers that something had to give, particularly with country stations out of Polk County (97.5 WPCV
) and Sarasota (106.5 WCTQ
) edging into the fringes of the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater market. Finally, on August 7, 2005, WYUU flipped formats following its broadcast of the Indianapolis Brickyard 400 NASCAR race. After three commercials, an announcement told listeners that a new format had come to the signal: La Nueva 92.5, The Latin Sound of Tampa Bay. It became the second tropical station of Infinity (now CBS Radio) after WLZL
in Washington, D.C.
/Baltimore
, which also signed on the same year.
In October, 2008, WYUU was branded as Maxima 92.5 changing to a more rhythmic format in terms of leaning, but still reported by Mediabase
& Nielsen BDS as a tropical station.
WYUU uses Sylvia Villagran as the official "imaging voice" for the station.
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"...
, is a 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...
broadcasting from Safety Harbor
Safety Harbor, Florida
Safety Harbor is a city on the west shore of Tampa Bay in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It was incorporated in 1917. The population was 17,203 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 17,550....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and serving the Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
/St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
area. The station plays a Tropical Latin
Tropical music
Musica tropical or tropical music is a broad term for vocal and instrumental music with "tropical" flavor usually associated with the Afro-Caribbean music. It is part of an even broader category of Latin music. Usually it is an upbeat dance music, but also includes ballads. It features complex,...
format branded as "Maxima FM."
History
In late 1989, 92.5, then a classical station using the call letters WXCRWXCR
WXCR is a radio station licensed to serve New Martinsville, West Virginia. The station is owned by Seven Ranges Radio Company, Inc. It airs a Classic rock music format...
, suddenly dropped its long-standing format for oldies and became "U92" with WYUU as its new call letters. This change was done to fill a market hole created by WFLZ, which dropped its oldies format and "Z93" moniker to become a Top-40 station known as "The Power Pig" in September 1989. The station broadcast an oldies format slightly different from the "oldies" stations of today (which play 60's and 70's centered "oldies") in that it played a more 50's and 60's-centric play list, but it updated its format and added 70s music over time. Tampa Bay's WYUU U92 92.5 fm 1989 to 1998 also was the host station for the arbitron award winning "Dr. Chuck Stevens Original Breakfast With The Beatles" Radio show. Dr. Chuck Stevens was also awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America / RIAA with both Gold, Platinum and multi Platinum record award plaques, as the first American Radio Personality to debut the single release on Capitol records "Free As A Bird"
In 2002, however, another change took place at WYUU. Sister station WRBQ
WRBQ
WRBQ-FM is a commercial classic hits music formatted radio station in Tampa, Florida.-History:Formerly WPKM and later WEZX, 104.7 switched to a rock ’n roll format as Q105 in December 1973, home to the Q-Morning Zoo, Cleveland Wheeler, Scott Shannon, Dave Saint, Jack Harris, Bill Garcia, Uncle...
(104.7, also known as Q105), which aired a country format at the time, swapped formats with WYUU. This was done at the behest of U92 program director Mason Dixon, who was once a popular personality on Q105 when it was a Top-40 powerhouse throughout the 1980s and wanted to return there (not to mention WRBQ boasts a stronger signal). WYUU thus became a country station and was dubbed "Outlaw 92.5." It was a NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nextel Cup Series radio affiliate and also brought the The Cowhead Show
The Cowhead Show
The Cowhead Show is an American radio program hosted by Mike "Cowhead" Calta and broadcast live Monday through Friday on WHPT in the Tampa Bay area, Florida and re-broadcast on Rock105 Jacksonville from 7p to 11p....
(morning drive, 6am-10am) over from WRBQ.
However, Outlaw 92.5 found itself as the third country station in a two country station market when Clear Channel’s Thunder 103.5 (WTBT) flipped to Country as U.S. 103.5 (WFUS
WFUS
WFUS is a country music radio station in Tampa, Florida. It has been the flagship station of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2004.WFUS is one of the eight stations in the Tampa Bay market owned by Clear Channel Communications....
) on April 14, 2005. With sister station 99.5 WQYK-FM
WQYK-FM
WQYK-FM is a commercial country music radio station in Tampa, Florida. It is currently under ownership of CBS Radio.-External links:*...
also playing country in the market, it became obvious to many observers that something had to give, particularly with country stations out of Polk County (97.5 WPCV
WPCV
WPCV 97.5 FM, , is a country music station owned and operated by Hall Communications. WPCV is licensed in Winter Haven, Florida, with studios in Lakeland, and transmitting facilities east of Haines City....
) and Sarasota (106.5 WCTQ
WCTQ
WCTQ is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Sarasota, Florida, USA, it serves the Sarasota / Bradenton area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications....
) edging into the fringes of the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater market. Finally, on August 7, 2005, WYUU flipped formats following its broadcast of the Indianapolis Brickyard 400 NASCAR race. After three commercials, an announcement told listeners that a new format had come to the signal: La Nueva 92.5, The Latin Sound of Tampa Bay. It became the second tropical station of Infinity (now CBS Radio) after WLZL
WLZL
WLZL is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish language format. Licensed to the suburb of Bowie, Maryland, it serves the Baltimore, Maryland/Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by CBS Radio. Its transmitter is located near Crofton, Maryland.-History:WLZL signed on...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
/Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, which also signed on the same year.
In October, 2008, WYUU was branded as Maxima 92.5 changing to a more rhythmic format in terms of leaning, but still reported by 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...
& Nielsen BDS as a tropical station.
WYUU uses Sylvia Villagran as the official "imaging voice" for the station.