WKXW-FM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**WKXW-FM**

Broadcast area	Trenton, New Jersey
Branding	New Jersey 101.5
Frequency	101.5 MHz (FM)
Format	oldies/news
Owner	Millennium Central New Jersey License Holdco, LLC
Website	nj1015.com

WKXW-FM, better known as New Jersey 101.5, is the highest-rated and most listened-to radio station in New Jersey. Licensed to Trenton on 101.5 MHz FM, it is also simulcast on WXKW (formerly known as WIXM) 97.3 MHz FM in southern New Jersey and can be heard live online on the station's website. It is owned by Millennium Radio Group. Its transmitter is located near the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence Township (Mercer County)|.

1 History
2 Ratings
3 The taxpayer revolt of 1990
4 Current on-air personalities
5 Traffic reports
6 Millennium Radio News Network
7 Millennium Radio News Team
8 Before NJ 101.5
9 Controversy
10 External link

[edit] History

Since 1990, the station has a talk and news format during the week, with oldies on the weekend. The station has strongly branded its New Jersey-ness, with its announcers frequently self-identifying "New Jersey 101.5" and with its bumper message intoning “Not New York … Not Philadelphia … Proud to be New Jersey!”

[edit] Ratings

New Jersey 101.5's ratings success can be attributed to several factors, including:

Radio stations in New York City and Philadelphia tend to avoid New Jersey issues, news, politics, etc.
New Jersey has no VHF network television affiliate, from which residents would otherwise obtain this information
New Jersey has no other centrally located high power radio station

This leaves New Jersey 101.5 with a virtual monopoly of New Jersey listeners who are not served by any other broadcast outlet. No other radio station, neither any in New York City nor any in Philadelphia, is listened-to by more people in New Jersey than New Jersey 101.5.

[edit] The taxpayer revolt of 1990

The station had its greatest influence in 1990 when it helped lead a taxpayer revolt against then-Governor James Florio's pushing through of substantial tax increases. Florio was defeated for re-election three years later.

[edit] Current on-air personalities

Jim Gearhart – morning drive, deep-voiced radio populist, reverb added, simulcast on Comcast's CN8 cable television network from 1996 to 2004
"Dennis and Judi" - 10am - 2pm, Midday personalities for the past eight years.
"The Jersey Guys" Craig Carton and Ray Rossi – afternoon drive, guy talk and shock jock
"Nights with Michele" Michele Pilenza
"Jersey Late Nights with Tommy G."
Big Joe Henry – oldies music Friday nights and weekends, retro disc jockey with reverb, corny jokes, sound effects, "Livin' large and lovin' life"

[edit] Traffic reports

The station carries detailed traffic reports every 15 minutes, usually with separate reports for north and south Jersey. Weather forecasts come from Alan Kasper during the week, and Joe Cioffi on the weekends. During winter storms, both increase in frequency along with long lists of school closings.

[edit] Millennium Radio News Network

The station is the flagship broadcasting arm of the Millennium Radio News Network as heard on twelve different radio stations throughout New Jersey. The network consists of WOBM-FM in Toms River, WOBM-AM in Lakewood, WCHR-FM in Monmouth County, WJLK-FM in Monmouth County, WADB-AM in Monmouth County, WFPG-FM in South Jersey, WSJO-FM in Trenton, WXKW-FM in South Jersey, WPUR-FM in Atlantic City, WBUD-AM in Trenton and WENJ-FM in Atlantic City. The news team is lead by news director and chief anchor Eric Scott. Various bureaus throughout the state share stories with the Ewing headquarters.

[edit] Millennium Radio News Team

Eric Scott: News Director/Anchor
Annette Petriccione: Assistant News Director
Tom Mongelli: Ocean/Monmouth County Bureau Chief/Anchor
Joe Cutter: Anchor
Raquel Williams: Anchor
Dave Polaski: Anchor
Kevin McArdle: Statehouse Correspondent
David Matthau: Investigative Reporter
Martin DiCaro: Street Reporter
Janet Fried: Monmouth County Reporter/Anchor
Hank Weisbecker: South Jersey Reporter/Anchor
Matthew Passy: Morning Producer/Anchor
Rosetta Key: Ocean County Reporter/Anchor
Kevin Williams: Network Sports Anchor
Tripp Rogers: Anchor/Reporter
Jason Allentoff: Anchor/Reporter
Liz Jeresi: Anchor

[edit] Before NJ 101.5

A station at the 101.5 frequency first went on the air in 1962 as WBUD and was owned by Dick Hardin. Its call letters subsequently changed to WBJH and then WTRT before becoming WKXW in 1980 under owner Fidelity Communications. It was playing an adult contemporary format as "Kicks 101 and a half" before the change to its current talk format. The sale to Millennium Radio Group took place in 2001.

Prominent radio personalities that have worked at the station include John and Ken (now at KFI Los Angeles), Scott and Casey (now at KTRS St. Louis), Deminski and Doyle (now at WKRK Detroit), Brooke and Roberta (who left for greener pastures but never recaptured their 101.5 magic), and Mary Walter. The station's unique format was created in 1990 by consultant and New Jersey native Walter Sabo with programmers Jay Sorensen and Perry Michael Simon, Press Broadcasting chief Bob McAllan, and then-GM John Dziuba. Subsequent program directors include Leigh Jacobs (now an executive at Clear Channel Radio's research operation) and Eric Johnson.

[edit] Controversy

Craig Carton earned controversy in 2005 when the New Jersey Acting Governor Richard Codey physically confronted Carton for disparaging remarks that Carton had made about Codey's wife suffering from postpartum depression. The governor never apologized for this incident, although many believe he clearly should have. Many felt that Codey should have acted more responsibly, not letting his emotions get the better of him, especially being a man in his position of leadership. [1]
Carton and Rossi were criticized later in the same year for derogatory remarks about Asian Americans [2] regarding Jun Choi, the 2005 Democratic candidate for Mayor of Edison Township.