WPZS

WPZS

City of license	Harrisburg, North Carolina
Broadcast area	Charlotte/Metrolina
Branding	"Praise Charlotte"
Slogan	"Charlotte's Inspiration Station"
Frequency	92.7 MHz (also on HD Radio)
First air date	1995 (as WCCJ)
Format	Urban Gospel
ERP	10,500 watts
HAAT	154 meters
Class	C3
Facility ID	28898
Callsign meaning	play on Praise (branding)
Former callsigns	WCCJ (1995-2001) WCHH (2001-2004) WQNC (2004-2012)
Owner	Radio One
Sister stations	WQNC, WOSF
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	praisecharlotte.com

WPZS "Praise Charlotte" is an Urban Gospel radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina that is owned and operated by Radio One with the tagline "Charlotte's Inspiration Station". It is simulcast on sister WQNC.^[1] The station's studios are located in South Charlotte near the Carowinds, and the transmitter site is in Matthews.

History

The station signed on as WCCJ in 1995 with a commercial-free free-form rock format. Due to low advertising rates, in 1995, the station changed to smooth jazz,^[2] and would flip again to rhythmic oldies in 1999.

On April 2, 2001, WCCJ flipped to mainstream urban as Hot 92.7, with new call letters WCHH, taking on Urban/Hip hop station WPEG.^[3] It did well in the ratings at first, knocking WPEG down to 6th place in the market,^[4] but later declined, so it was flipped to Urban AC on January 21, 2004 as "Q92.7", along with a call letter change to WQNC. WQNC took over Tom Joyner's show from longer standing Urban AC rival WBAV-FM soon after that.^[5] WBAV subsequently answered back by signing on as an affiliate for a new syndicated show hosted by Joyner's rival, Steve Harvey.

My 92.7 ident used until 2012.

On May 15, 2008, WQNC added two talk shows: the New York City based "Keeping It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton," and the "Warren Ballentine Show." ^[6]

In October 2009, WQNC changed to a more contemporary sound, dropping the talk show hosts other than Joyner, and adding energetic music from such artists as Usher, Patti LaBelle and Whitney Houston.^[7] The slogan was "R&B from the 80s, 90s, and Now", although some 70s disco/soul/R&B songs remained on the playlist.^[8]

On August 31, 2011, Radio One announced its intention to sell off their Charlotte stations to Davis Broadcasting,^[9] but in April 2012, the deal fell through, and Radio One decided to keep the stations.^[10]

On August 27, 2012, WQNC began directing listeners on air and online to sister station WNOW-FM. Imaging teased that something 'inspirational' was coming.

On September 13, 2012, at Midnight, WQNC began simulcasting sister WPZS. WQNC and WPZS also swapped call letters on the same day.^[1][11][12] The two stations provide a strong combined signal with 60 percent overlap.

WPZS recently increased power to 10.5 kW and height to 154 meters. Construction was completed in October 2013.^[13]

Line-Up

^[14]

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Praise Charlotte Takes Over 92.7". Retrieved 2012-10-30. 
2. ↑ Tim Funk, "James Back to Interview Colleagues," The Charlotte Observer, June 20, 1995.
3. ↑ Mark Washburn, "WCCJ Goes Hip-hop As Ratings Fade Out for Rhythmic Oldies with New Sound," The Charlotte Observer, April 3, 2001.
4. ↑ Mark Washburn, "Radio Competitor Leaves Favorite Singing Sad Song," The Charlotte Observer, July 28, 2001.
5. ↑ Mark Washburn and Tonya Jameson, "No. 1 Morning Radio Show Swaps Stations in Charlotte," The Charlotte Observer, January 23, 2004.
6. ↑ Mark Washburn, "Sharpton to Headline New Format at Radio Station," The Charlotte Observer, May. 14, 2008.
7. ↑ http://www.yes.com/#WQNC
8. ↑ http://my927charlotte.com/
9. ↑ "Davis Broadcasting To Purchase WQNC and WPZS". allaccess.com. 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2012-11-01. 
10. ↑ "Battle on way for urban radio" from The Charlotte Observer (August 17, 2012)
11. ↑ "Call Sign History (WQNC)". Retrieved 2012-10-30. 
12. ↑ "Call Sign History (WPZS)". Retrieved 2012-10-30. 
13. ↑ "FM Query Results (WPZS)". Audio Division (FCC) USA. Retrieved 2012-11-01. 
14. ↑ http://praisecharlotte.com/djs

External links

• Query the FCC's FM station database for WPZS
• Radio-Locator information on WPZS
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WPZS

Coordinates: 35°07′30″N 80°43′30″W / 35.125°N 80.725°W / 35.125; -80.725