WRZE

For the radio station in Dennis, Massachusetts that held the WRZE call sign from 1993 to 2009, see WEII. For the station in the York, Pennsylvania area, see WSBA (AM).
WRZE
Frequency94.1 MHz
BrandingRock 94.1 - 97.9
Programming
FormatClassic rock
Ownership
Owner
WDAR-FM, WDSC, WEGX, WJMX, WJMX-FM, WWRK, WZTF
History
First air date
1998; 26 years ago (1998) (as WGSS)
Former call signs
WAOT (1995–1996, CP)
WGSS (1996–2009)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID3121
ClassA
ERP6,000 watts
HAAT100 meters (330 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
33°43′32.00″N 79°58′19.00″W / 33.7255556°N 79.9719444°W / 33.7255556; -79.9719444
Repeater(s)970 kHz (WWRK)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitetherockfms.iheart.com

WRZE (94.1 FM) is a radio station airing a classic rock format. Licensed to Kingstree, South Carolina, United States, the station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., through licensee iHM Licenses, LLC.[2]

History

In a deal announced in February 1997, Root Communications Ltd. announced plans to buy eight radio stations owned by Florence, South Carolina-based Atlantic Broadcasting, including WGSS.[3] Qantum Communications Inc. purchased Florence's Root Communications Group LP stations in 2003.[4]

WGSS was "94.1 The Light", an urban gospel station, prior to 2009.

At one time, WRZE simulcast WDAR-FM and played adult contemporary music.[5]

In 2012, Sunny 94.1 was flipped to mainstream urban "Swagga". It was also simulcast on WWRK.[6] Later WWRK moved from 1400 to 970 AM.[7][8]

On May 15, 2014, Qantum Communications announced that it would sell its 29 stations, including WRZE, to Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia), in a transaction connected to Clear Channel's sale of WALK AM-FM in Patchogue, New York to Connoisseur Media via Qantum.[9] The transaction was consummated on September 9, 2014.

In August 2017, WRZE, WWRK and the translators began simulcasting WDAR-FM, which took over the urban contemporary format.[10]

On September 14, 2017 WRZE, WWRK and the translators dropped the urban simulcast with WDAR-FM and switched to classic rock, branded as "Rock 94.1 - 97.9 - 105.9". The station airs the syndicated "Rover's Morning Glory".[11]

Call letter history

The station was assigned the call letters WAOT on December 1, 1995. On March 22, 1996, the station changed its call sign to WGSS. On March 26, 2009, the station changed its call sign to WRZE.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WRZE". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WRZE Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ Hager-Van Dyke, Charlene (1997-02-20). "Root Communications Eyes 8 Radio Stations In Carolinas". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  4. ^ "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. 2003-03-16. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
  5. ^ "Florence, SC Metro Survey Area Overview". Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  6. ^ "Station Overview". Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  7. ^ "Call Sign History (WJMX)". Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  8. ^ "Call Sign History (WWRK)". Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  9. ^ Venta, Lance (May 15, 2014). "Qantum Sells To Clear Channel; Connoisseur Expands In Long Island". RadioInsight. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  10. ^ Venta, Lance (August 21, 2017). "iHeart's Swagga Moves & Rebrands In Florence". radioinsight. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  11. ^ Classic Rock Trimulcast Debuts in Florence Radioinsight - September 14, 2017
  12. ^ "WRZE Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.