WHXR

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WHXR 106.7 North Windham, Maine & WHXQ 104.7 Kennebunk, Maine, or The Bone, is a FM Radio station licensed to North Windham, ME; with studios in Portland .

[edit] History

The station was originally known as WLAM-FM, and featured an adult standards format known as "The Jewel". The station was simulcast on sister stations WLAM 870 and WZOU 1470 in Lewiston. Portland radio legend Bud Sawyer was one of WLAM's morning hosts.

The station ended up in the hands of WMTW Broadcast Group, and in May 2001, the station's format changed to news/talk. The call letters of WLAM-FM became WMTW-FM, with WLAM becoming WMTW, and WZOU picking up the WLAM call letters and format for several months before reverting to a simulcast of WMTW-FM. The new station was known as "Newsradio WMTW", and featured mostly AP all-news programming.

Despite advertising campaigns on co-owned WMTW-TV, the all-news format on WMTW-FM suffered low ratings. In late 2003, WMTW Broadcast Group was sold to Nassau Broadcasting. Shortly afterward, Nassau acquired Mariner Broadcasting. It became evident that changes were in the works for the Portland market.

In April 2004, Nassau pulled the plug on the WMTW all-news trimulcast. WMTW-FM gained a simulcast partner in York County's 104.7 WQEZ, and both stations relaunched as classic rock-formated "104.7/106.7 The Bone". WMTW-FM became WHXR, with WQEZ becoming WHXQ. The station attempted to go head-to-head with existing classic rock station WBLM, and added the Howard Stern show during the mornings.

However, with Stern's decision to leave terrestrial radio, WHXR/WHXQ's mornings were put in disarray. Finally, in March 2006, WHXR/WHXQ added the Michigan-based "Free Beer and Hot Wings" morning show. During summer 2006, WHXR/WHXQ expanded their playlist to become an active rock station.