WCKQ went on the air in 1965 as WTCO-FM, an FM companion to the daytime-onlyAM station WTCO (1450 AM), allowing that station to air 24-hour programming. In 1978, WTCO-AM-FM came under the principal ownership of Lowell Caulk. He undertook a drastic change in programming in 1980, changing calls to WCKQ and adopting a rock music format.
The simulcast arragenement between the two stations wound end in 1979, when the AM station split off into a country music station as WKXJ. George E. Owens Jr. would acquire WCKQ and the again-WTCO in 1985.[3]
In 1997, WTCO and WCKQ were purchased by Commonwealth Broadcasting, owned by Steven Newburry. The two, plus WGRK-FM, would be sold in 2014 to Forcht Broadcasting, owners of the WAIN stations in nearby Columbia, Kentucky.[6]
Programming
WCKQ features a small sampling of locally–originated programming as part of its schedule. Center to its lineup is wake-up program Rob Collins in the Morning. Airing weekdays 6–10 a.m., the program is run by the eponymous host, who has been with the station since 1992.[2] WCKQ also airs some sports programming. It serves as the local affiliate for the UK Sports Network, airing Kentucky Wildcats sports, as well as the home of Taylor County High School athletics.[1]