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WROQ, also known as "Rock 101", is a Classic Rock station operating in Greenville-Spatanburg radio market. The station is licensed to Anderson and broadcasts on 101.1 MHZ with a ERP of 100 kw.
[edit] Station history
101.1 signed on as WCAC in 1947 as the sister station to WAIM AM 1230. It was owned by Wilton E. Hall, the publisher of the Anderson Independent and Daily Mail and one-time US Senator from South Carolina. The station is noted for being one of the earliest FM stations in the state. It became WAIM-FM in September of 1980. For many years, the studios were located on the campus of Anderson College in Anderson, South Carolina. The studios were moved from Anderson to Greenville in 1992.
In the Fall of 1982, WAIM-FM changed format to a hybrid of Top 40 (CHR) and Album Rock as WCKN. Known as "Rock 101", the station set off to do battle with then-dominate Top 40 outlet WANS (now WJMZ). In 1984, the station licensed the "Hot Hits" format from consultant Mike Joseph and tightened up the music, playing only 20 current songs and no re-currents or oldies. This approach did not work and was dropped. In 1986, the playlist was broaden and the "Power 101" moniker was adopted.
Despite these attempts, ratings remained in second place to WANS's dominance in the CHR market. In late November of 1987, the station started running promos about "giving the audience what they wanted". On December 1st, the CHR format was dropped for Album Rock (with a strong musical lean toward Classic Rock) and the "Rock 101" name was reclaimed. The WCKN calls were finally dropped for WROQ in February, 1991 as the format shifted toward Active Rock, but keeping the Rock 101 nickname. This approach was successful as the station became a solid Top 5 performer in the ratings for much of the 90s and early 2000s, eventually going to #1 12+ on several occasions during that time.
The station was eventually acquired by Barnstable Broadcasting in 2002. Since Barnstable at the time had also owned WROQ's main competitor WTPT-FM, it was decided to shift the station back toward Classic Rock. This move was meant to allow both stations some breathing room and ratings have strengthened since that time.
The station is owned by Entercom Communications, which acquired Barnstable's group of stations in the market in 2005.
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