WKQI

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**WKQI**

Broadcast area	Detroit, Michigan
Branding	"Channel 955"
Slogan	Detroit's Hit Music (Space)
First air date	February 12, 1949
Frequency	95.5 (MHz)
Format	CHR
ERP	100,000 watts
Class	B
Owner	Clear Channel Communications
Website	Channel 955

WKQI, known as "Channel 9-5-5," is a top 40 music radio station in Detroit, Michigan, owned by Clear Channel Communications. WKQI transmits its signal with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts from an antenna 430 feet in height located at the intersection of Greenfield Road and 10 mile Rd. in suburban Oak Park in Oakland County.

[edit] History

The station were the only two with any audience to speak of. After being sold to Combined Communications (which later became Gannett Broadcasting) in 1979, WLDM changed its call letters to WCZY in 1980 and evolved from beautiful music to soft adult contemporary as "Cozy-FM." WCZY's format continued to evolve into a brighter and more contemporary sound over the next several years; by 1984, the station was full-fledged top 40, and adopted the name "Z95.5" that year. Also by that time, Detroit radio legend Dick Purtan had come over from CKLW-AM to host the morning show. Z95.5 fought with 96.3 WHYT and 99.5 WDTX (later WDFX) for Detroit's CHR audience in the late 1980s. For a time, Z95.5 also simulcast its programming on AM 1500 (former top 40 giant WJBK which later went country as WDEE and then Christian as WLQV) as part of a ploy to "return Dick Purtan to the AM dial." It lasted only a few years.

Although "Z95.5" was successful in the ratings, consistently scoring in Detroit's top 10 and even outperforming WHYT for a time, the station was never as successful revenue-wise as it had been as an easy-listening outlet, and in 1989, WCZY changed its calls to WKQI, "Q95," and tweaked its format from CHR to hot adult contemporary. The station's ratings continued to be high throughout the 1990s. Dick Purtan was an investor in the new station and stayed on as Q95's morning host until 1996, when he left for oldies 104.3 WOMC, where he has remained since. Following Purtan's departure, WKQI became "Q95-5, Detroit's Continuous Hit Music Station," hired former Partridge Family star Danny Bonaduce as the morning show host, and started to move its format back toward CHR.

By 2000, the station was owned by AMFM; Clear Channel took control of the station that year when it merged with AMFM. Also by then, the station was embroiled in a heated hit-music battle with ABC/Disney's 93.1 WDRQ. WDRQ won the battle for several years, but after Clear Channel repositioned WKQI as "Channel 9-5-5" in February 2002, WKQI once again took the ratings lead over DRQ. WDRQ's falling ratings culminated in its format switch to "Variety Hits" as "Doug-FM" on April 1, 2005, which left WKQI to have the CHR market to itself in Detroit. Subsequently, WKQI reclaimed its top 10 showing in Detroit's Arbitron ratings.

WKQI is currently the home of the popular "Mojo in the Morning" show. Big Boy, is a popular draw at night. Afternoon drive host Beau Daniels is also be familiar to Detroiters who grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s as "Bo the Jammer" on WHYT. Also Michelle Taylor and Devediah.

Capitalizing on the popularity of MySpace, WKQI rebranded itself as "Detroit's Hit Music Space" in September 2006.

[edit] Criticism

Despite its popularity, the station has received criticism. Many workplaces have banned the station since much of the hip hop music played has crude lyrics. In addition, its playlist consists almost entirely of hip hop, R&B, and rhythmic-friendly pop, causing some to argue that it should be classified as Rhythmic Contemporary. The station rarely plays any rock-based or non-urban mainstream CHR hits. Many recent hits, such as "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter, "You and Me" by Lifehouse, "Lips of an Angel by Hinder, "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol, and "Over My Head (Cable Car)" and "How to Save a Life" by The Fray have received very little if any airplay on the station (despite the fact that the Hinder song reached number one on Radio & Records' CHR/Pop airplay chart). These songs have made it into high rotation on the competing hot adult contemporary station WDVD, which promotes itself as "today's best hits without the rap." However, WDVD plays virtually no R&B or rhythmic-friendly pop unlike other Hot AC stations. WKQI's superior ratings performance would indicate that perhaps hip hop music is more popular, especially in a heavily urban-leaning market like Detroit, but many inner city residents don't listen to the station, due to other stations more involved such as WJLB and WHTD.