WERG
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 90.5 WERG | |
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| City of license | Erie, Pennsylvania |
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| Branding | 90.5 WERG |
| Slogan | "Erie's Rock Alternative" |
| Frequency | 90.5 (MHz) |
| First air date | 1972 |
| Format | Alternative |
| ERP | 3,000 Watts |
| Class | D |
| Callsign meaning | Education Radio Gannon |
| Owner | Gannon University |
| Website | http://www.wergfm.com |
WERG (90.5 FM) is an alternative music formatted college radio station in Erie, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Gannon University. Its transmitter is located in Summit Township.
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[edit] History
WERG began in 1970 after a group of college engineering students wanted to establish a radio station on campus. Rev. Thomas McSweeney assumed the position of faculty advisor for the channel, and in December 1972, WERG hit the air on 89.1 FM.
Originally located in the basement of the Zurn Science Center, WERG's offices were moved to the now-former Schuster Theatre in 1977. The studio remained in Zurn.
In 1980, Pittsburgh's WTAE AM donated a Westinghouse transmitter to the station, allowing Gannon's students to transmit over the air throughout the entire city of Erie. The channel relocated to 89.9 FM.
During much of the 1980s, WERG was known as Rock 89. The station operated a normal weekly rock format and paused on weekends for Super Soul Saturday.
Looking for a new identity to bring in the 1990s and a new modern rock format, WERG changed its on air name to Energy FM 90 on Aug. 29, 1989.
WERG technology improved with the addition of compact disc players in the studios in 1990.
During the 90s, WERG played popular modern rock music.
In Sept. 2000, the station's offices and studio were relocated from Schuster Theatre and the Zurn Science Center to the Walker Building.
On June 30, 2005, at 9:50 a.m., WERG flipped its radio dial location from 89.9 to 90.5 FM after FCC approval had been given to relocate the station's 3,000-watt tower to WQLN.
[edit] Programming
[edit] Weekday Programming
- The Morning Wake-Up 7-9 a.m.
- WERG Mid-days 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Afternoon Drive 4-6 p.m.
- WERG Evenings 6 p.m.-Midnight
- WERG Overnite Midnight-7 a.m.
[edit] Weekly Specialty Programs
- Fazed Cookies Mondays 9 p.m.-Midnight
- The Tuesday Top 30 Tuesdays 6-9 p.m.
- The Prime Time Sports Guys Thursdays 6-9 p.m.
[edit] Weekend Programming
- Super Soul Saturday from Saturday at 12 a.m. until Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Festa Italiana Sundays 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Potencia Latina Sundays 12-3 p.m.
- The Polka Party Sundays 3-7 p.m.
- Services from the First United Methodist Church of Erie Sundays 7-8 p.m.
- Lino At Large Sundays 8-8:30 p.m.
- Lincoln Radio Journal Sundays 8:30-9 p.m.
[edit] Super Soul Saturday
Though Super Soul Saturday has been part of WERG since the beginning, the weekend format block has existed since 1979.
For 33 hours every weekend, a variety of soul, R&B, gospel, blues, jazz, rap, club and hip-hop music is broadcast on WERG.
[edit] Super Soul Saturday personalities
- Winston "Sony" Ellis (1975), worked at WUFO and WKBW in Buffalo, NY;
- Steve Collins (1975), worked 1330 AM WRIE and K104 (WCCK) in Erie before leaving to work at KDIA and KBLX in San Francisco, California and Berkley, California
- Harry Hairston (1977), worked for WQLN-FM, WSEE 35 and WICU before joining Fox 2 in Detroit, Michigan
- James "Jim Christopher" Eaton, worked at WQLN, 1450 WEYZ, WLVU Stereo 99, Q1400 WBLQ and currently does weekend shifts at WXKC Classy 100
- Several current staff members were employed with Q1400 WBLQ in the eighties, including Homer "Lee" Smith, Bobby K, Timmie Mack, Danny "Mr. J" Jones, The Captain, John "Chilly J" Norton, Dorothy Smith, and DJ Nilla
- Mike Carbone (Mike West) joined Super Soul Saturday with broadcast experience at WBLK FM in Buffalo and CING-FM in Toronto, Canada, was awarded Top Mix DJ in the US in 1990 by the Westwood One Radio Network after winning their nationwide Club Mix Competition
[edit] External links
- WERG official website
- WERG History
- Super Soul Saturday History
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WERG
- Radio Locator information on WERG
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WERG
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