WQAM

Infobox Radio station
name = WQAM


city = Miami, Florida
branding = "Sportsradio 560 WQAM"
slogan =
airdate = February 1921
frequency = 560 kHz
format = Sports Talk
erp = 5,000 watts (day) 1,000 watts (night)
class = B
affiliations = ESPN Radio Miami Dolphins
Miami Hurricanes [http://www.ispsports.com/radio_network.cfm?school_id=42 ACC Radio Network]
owner = Beasley Broadcast Group
callsign_meaning = We're Quality AM Radio
facility_id =
website = http://www.wqam.com

WQAM (560 AM, "Sportsradio 560") is a South Florida radio station owned by Beasley Broadcast Group. The call letters WQAM were claimed to stand for We Quit At Midnight ... since the station signed off at midnight every night until 6 AM the next morning.

History

The station has claimed to be Florida's first radio station, going on the air in February 1921. [ [http://members.aol.com/jeff560/am9.html AM Broadcasting History - Various Articles] ] However, the station was not licensed as WQAM until January 1923.

The station is famous for its days in the 1960s, under ownership of Storz Broadcasting, when it presented a pop music format and competed vigorously with rival WFUN (at 790 AM). These years were the WQAM "glory years." In 1964, WQAM promoted the Beatles heavily prior to their second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which took place in Miami Beach.

In 1979, after many years as contemporary music station, competition from FM competitors forced the station to switch to a country music format, but not after running a montage of music and sound bites from its Top 40 days.

Around 1992, WQAM became an all-sports station. Former Miami Dolphins player Jim Mandich hosts afternoon drive, 4-7 PM. Former Miami Dolphins player Joe Rose hosts AM drive, 7-10 AM. WQAM was for a short while the local affiliate of the Howard Stern morning show. The "Big O", Orlando Alzugaray hosts early mornings, 5-7 AM as well as 2-4 PM.

WQAM still interrupts its all-sports format to air a general talk show hosted by Neil Rogers from 10 AM-2 PM. It remains the station's highest rated show by far.

Currently, WQAM is the University of Miami Hurricanes and Miami Dolphins flagship station.

ports properties

*Miami Dolphins (1997-2004, 2007-2009)
*Miami Heat (1988-1993, currently on Newsradio 610 WIOD)
*Florida Marlins (1993-2007),currently on 790 The Ticket)
*Florida Panthers (1993-2007, currently on 790 The Ticket)
*University of Miami Hurricanes (1999-Present)
*ESPN Radio's coverage of the Bowl Championship Series and NBA Finals
*Many ESPN Radio talk shows

References

External links

* [http://www.wqam.com WQAM official website]
*AMQ|WQAM
*AML|WQAM
*AMARB|WQAM
* [http://radiopages.net/radio/rickshaw2001.html Rick Shaw Remembers WQAM Tiger Radio (South Florida Radio History article by Rick Shaw)]
* [http://www.560.com WQAM Tribute Site]
* [http://www.neilrogers.com Official Neil Rogers site]