WJBQ
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| 97.9 WJBQ | |
| City of license | Portland, Maine |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Cumberland County, Maine |
| Slogan | Q 97.9, or The Q |
| Frequency | 97.9 |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Former callsigns | WLOB 1971-1974, WCDS 1974-1980, WCSO 1990-1997[1] |
| Owner | Citadel Broadcasting |
| Sister stations | WBLM, WCYY, WHOM, WJBQ |
| Website | [2] |
WJBQ (FM 97.9; on air slogan Q97.9) is a radio station in Portland, Maine, United States, which airs a contemporary hit radio format.
[edit] Programming
The station carries the syndicated Open House Party and American Top 40
[edit] History
WJBQ got its start as a humble 3,000 watt Top 40 station at 106.3 FM (Scarborough) and 1440 AM (Westbrook) in April 1974. Its main competition was longtime AM Top 40 leader WLOB, which was nationally recognized as having some of the highest ratings (on a percentage basis) in the country. In its first Arbitron ratings, WJBQ edged WLOB by about three points which was the beginning of the end for the latter station.
WLOB's demise took a while, probably because it had the backing of legendary consultant Paul Drew protege Ron Foster and others. Meanwhile, WJBQ was staffed by local favorites Wally Brine doing mornings (now WROR/Boston), Joe McMillan in middays (who went on to WHDH (now WEEI) and KABL in San Francisco), and Jeff Ryder in the afternoon slot (also the station's program director, who went on to WBBF Rochester, NY and WOKY Milwaukee). By 1977, WLOB had changed formats to an older-targeted Adult Contemporary format.
In September of 1980, WJBQ's owner John Bride swapped frequencies and formats with floundering Portland classical station WDCS on 97.9. This would make WJBQ a full-power 50,000 watt facility. The move proved to be profitable for the station. High-profile names like Andy Carey, Brian Phoenix, and Harry Nelson took turns as the station's programming directors, and brought it continued high ratings.
In August of 1986, Bride sold WJBQ in order to launch independent UHF TV station WPXT. The new owner was former WJTO/WIGY owner Turner Porter, who launched an ambitious full-service adult contemporary format featuring Joe McMillan in morning drive and NBC Talknet at night and new call letters: WWGT, or "The Great 98". Jack O'Brien was imported from sister station WERZ as program director. This "AM on FM" approach didn't garner the success that was hoped for, and the station changed format again in November 1987. The A/C format was replaced with CHR as "G-98" with Jon Holiday at the programming helm. Under Holiday's guidance the station achieved big ratings success. The station changed on air slogans several times (as Ocean, Coast, etc.) with the WCSO calls for about seven years before returning to its Top 40 roots for a 3rd time and original WJBQ call letters in 1996 under the ownership of Fuller-Jeffrey Radio who later sold to Citadel Broadcasting.
WJBQ, now known as Q97-dot-9, enjoyed quick success, and has held the position as the leading contemporary radio station in the Portland market for over a decade.
[edit] External links
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