WMQA-FM

WMQA-FM, "KOOL 95.9," is an American FM radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Minocqua, Wisconsin, the station began broadcasting in 1975.

The station features news from FOX Radio Networks and programming Dial Global. WMQA-FM uses Dial Global's Kool Gold format outside of the live and local morning show.

With a 25,000-watt signal, the station covers a portion of northwestern Wisconsin and some of the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, including the Wisconsin cities of Minocqua, Rhinelander, Lac du Flambeau, Tomahawk, and Eagle River.

From its sign-on in 1975 until 1992, the station operated under the calls WWMH (We're Woodruff, Minocqua [and] Hazelhurst), with a mixture of easy listening and country music. An AM sister station, 1570 WFBZ (later WMYM and WMQA-AM, now WLKD) was added in 1981. 1992 brought a change in calls to the current WMQA-FM and a power increase from 5,000 to 25,000 watts.

WMQA-FM was formerly a Soft Adult Contemporary music station, also satellite-fed from Jones (except for the morning show), using the brand names "Soft Rock 96", followed by Northern Lites 96 WMQA. On August 29, 2008, the station dropped the AC format and "Northern Lites" name to become "Oldies 95.9." The station's competition in the Oldies format is WRJO-FM in Eagle River. WRJO (when local and not airing Citadel Media's Classic Hits programming) is more 50's and 60's oriented and WMQA's Dial Global programming leans more toward 60's and 70's (and some early '80s) with a more upbeat and personality presentation.

External links

• Oldies 95.9, The Northwoods' Greatest Hits
• Mention of the format change to Kool 95.9 and audio of the format flip
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WMQA
• Radio-Locator information on WMQA
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WMQA