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WHQC
WHQC (96.1 FM, Hits 96.1) is a commercial radio station licensed to Shelby, North Carolina, and serving the Charlotte metropolitan area (Metrolina). It broadcasts a contemporary hit radio format branded as Hits 96.1. It is owned by iHeartMedia with studios in the Wood Ridge Center office complex off Billy Graham Parkway in south Charlotte. WHQC's primary competitor is 95.1 WNKS, owned by Beasley Broadcast Group.
WHQC has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for most American radio stations. It is licensed to broadcast in the HD Radio format. The HD2 subchannel carries contemporary worship music from "Air1" on FM translator W262BM at 100.3 FM. The HD3 subchannel airs a contemporary Christian format called "HIS Radio", on FM translator W243BY at 96.5 FM.
The station signed on the air in 1948. The original call sign was WOHS-FM, the sister station to WOHS 730 AM (now WZGV). Because WOHS was a daytimer, required to go off the air at sunset, WOHS-FM was able to continue broadcasting into the evening. At first, WOGH-FM was only powered at 2,600 watts, a fraction of its current output, and was only heard within about 20 miles (32 km) of Shelby.
In 1978, the station increased its signal power. The boost allowed it to cover most of the lucrative Charlotte radio market. It became WXIK. The station began playing a Top 40 format as "K-96" that was heavy on "deep cut" rock hits. Air staff at WXIK included longtime PD/MD Jeffrey Owens, Andy Foster, Vince Goolio, J. Worthington Smith, Eddie Bridges, Dawne Conrad, Don Richards, Rusty Price, Kent Dorsey, Scott Miller, Jeff Champion, and Bob Davis.
On February 27, 1987, the station boosted its signal to a full 100,000 watts, allowing it to cover the entire Charlotte area, including its farthest suburbs. At the same time, the station adopted a gold-based adult contemporary format under new call letters WWMG and the "Magic 96" branding. By the spring of 1989, the station flipped to oldies.
As WWMG, the station was Charlotte's radio home of the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1991 to 1995. The oldies format remained successful for nearly two decades but in the early 2000s, the station saw a drop in its ratings.
At midnight on September 1, 2004, after playing "American Pie" by Don McLean, WWMG began stunting with a wide range of music featuring the word "kiss" in the titles. At 3 pm the following day, WWMG flipped to rhythmic contemporary, branded as "96.1 The Beat". The WIBT call letters were chosen shortly afterwards, even though it created confusion between it and Charlotte station WBT, which also has a spot on the FM dial as well.
Despite the dispute over its call sign, WIBT became a success story when it went to #1 in the Fall 2004 Arbitron ratings. As a rhythmic contemporary formatted station, WIBT was in competition with long-time heritage urban station WPEG and mainstream contemporary station WNKS, both of whom are sister stations. Although its music tended to favor hip-hop, WIBT played pop and dance crossovers that were hits.
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WHQC
WHQC (96.1 FM, Hits 96.1) is a commercial radio station licensed to Shelby, North Carolina, and serving the Charlotte metropolitan area (Metrolina). It broadcasts a contemporary hit radio format branded as Hits 96.1. It is owned by iHeartMedia with studios in the Wood Ridge Center office complex off Billy Graham Parkway in south Charlotte. WHQC's primary competitor is 95.1 WNKS, owned by Beasley Broadcast Group.
WHQC has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for most American radio stations. It is licensed to broadcast in the HD Radio format. The HD2 subchannel carries contemporary worship music from "Air1" on FM translator W262BM at 100.3 FM. The HD3 subchannel airs a contemporary Christian format called "HIS Radio", on FM translator W243BY at 96.5 FM.
The station signed on the air in 1948. The original call sign was WOHS-FM, the sister station to WOHS 730 AM (now WZGV). Because WOHS was a daytimer, required to go off the air at sunset, WOHS-FM was able to continue broadcasting into the evening. At first, WOGH-FM was only powered at 2,600 watts, a fraction of its current output, and was only heard within about 20 miles (32 km) of Shelby.
In 1978, the station increased its signal power. The boost allowed it to cover most of the lucrative Charlotte radio market. It became WXIK. The station began playing a Top 40 format as "K-96" that was heavy on "deep cut" rock hits. Air staff at WXIK included longtime PD/MD Jeffrey Owens, Andy Foster, Vince Goolio, J. Worthington Smith, Eddie Bridges, Dawne Conrad, Don Richards, Rusty Price, Kent Dorsey, Scott Miller, Jeff Champion, and Bob Davis.
On February 27, 1987, the station boosted its signal to a full 100,000 watts, allowing it to cover the entire Charlotte area, including its farthest suburbs. At the same time, the station adopted a gold-based adult contemporary format under new call letters WWMG and the "Magic 96" branding. By the spring of 1989, the station flipped to oldies.
As WWMG, the station was Charlotte's radio home of the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1991 to 1995. The oldies format remained successful for nearly two decades but in the early 2000s, the station saw a drop in its ratings.
At midnight on September 1, 2004, after playing "American Pie" by Don McLean, WWMG began stunting with a wide range of music featuring the word "kiss" in the titles. At 3 pm the following day, WWMG flipped to rhythmic contemporary, branded as "96.1 The Beat". The WIBT call letters were chosen shortly afterwards, even though it created confusion between it and Charlotte station WBT, which also has a spot on the FM dial as well.
Despite the dispute over its call sign, WIBT became a success story when it went to #1 in the Fall 2004 Arbitron ratings. As a rhythmic contemporary formatted station, WIBT was in competition with long-time heritage urban station WPEG and mainstream contemporary station WNKS, both of whom are sister stations. Although its music tended to favor hip-hop, WIBT played pop and dance crossovers that were hits.