WQBR (AM)
| City of license | Ypsilanti, Michigan |
|---|---|
| First air date | 1968 |
| Format | College radio |
| Former callsigns | WEMU-AM (1968-1976); WHUR (1976-1982); WQBR (1982-2008) |
| Owner | Eastern Michigan University |
| Webcast | www.eagleradio.org |
| Website | Official website |
WQBR-AM is the student radio station of Eastern Michigan University. Originally broadcasting via carrier current at 640 AM and receivable throughout EMU's campus (including the dorms), the signal has since switched to 610 AM, and can no longer be heard more than ten feet from the transmitter site in the Quirk Building. Students can still receive the station on Eastern Michigan University Cable Channel 19, however. WQBR airs from September through April, on a mixed schedule (usually 8:00 am to 10:00 pm [EST] weekdays throughout the school year) from studios located in the Quirk Building.[1][2][3]
History
Originally WQBR was on the air in 1968 as WEMU-AM, sharing facilities with WEMU-FM. To distinguish it from the FM station, the call letters were soon changed to WHUR (taken from the University's former nickname, the Hurons) and a separate studio was built in another wing of Quirk Hall. In 1976, when WEMU-FM moved to King Hall, WHUR relocated into WEMU's former studios. The staff voted to change the call letters to WQBR (Quirk Broadcast Radio).
During this period, programming aired daily between 4pm and 1am. The student DJ's were encouraged to feature music based on their own tastes. Therefore, WQBR's playlist included AOR, Top 40, progressive rock, R&B, punk and disco selections. The station also covered campus activities and sports with several daily newscasts. A sales department sold advertising to local businesses.
By 1978, WQBR was added to the University's developing cable radio and TV service and was simulcast onto 96.7 FM. This greatly improved sound quality of the broadcasts although, initially, the service was available in only a few campus residential buildings.
By 1982, it was using the slogan "Fast Tracking Through The 80s". Alumni from this period include Chuck Cordell (WIOG, Saginaw, Michigan); John Konczal (WMTR-FM, Archbold, Ohio); Rob McLean (WTBQ, Warwick, New York) and Leah Miller (KUKQ, Tempe, Arizona).
The FM was dropped in the early 90's and replaced by University Cable Channel 10. In 1992, due to interference by CFCO, a station in Sarnia, Ontario at 630 AM, WQBR moved to 610 AM.[4]
In 2008, WQBR moved all operations to the Halle Library and changed the name of WQBR to Eagle Radio and began streaming at www.eagleradio.org. In 2009, Eagle Radio held its first annual Rock-O-Matic Showcase at a local venue in Ypsilanti, MI. The Rock-O-Matic showcase features local talent to perform for an audience. [5]
As of January 2013, Eagle Radio features 23 shows, ranging from hard rock, to rap/hip-hop, to talk, to classical and many other genres. Live shows are programmed from Monday through Friday at various times from 8am to midnight, with "Eagle Radio 24" (automatic music) filling in on the weekends and during the week when no live DJ is present.[6]
References
External links
- Official website
- WQBR Student radio contact information
- Productionhub listing for Eastern Michigan University
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