WQKS-FM

Infobox Radio station


name = WQKS-FM
city = Montgomery, Alabama
area =
branding = "Q-96.1"
slogan = "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
frequency = 96.1 MHz
format = Oldies
erp = 900 watts
haat = 250 meters
class = A
facility_id = 43628
owner = Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC
webcast = [http://nick11.surfernetwork.com/WQKS Listen Live]
website = http://www.q961fm.com|

WQKS-FM (96.1 FM, "Q-96.1") is an oldies music formatted radio station in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2008 it adopted its current oldies format after years of broadcasting as classic hits "Alice 96.1" since early 2000.

Q-96.1 live streaming audio can be heard via the station website. The station's imaging as of 2008 is very much like radio station identifications of the 1960s and 1970s, the heyday of Top 40 and MOR radio.

History

96.1 has only been in existence a relatively short time, but has featured several sets of call letters and various formats over the past two decades.

From its origins in the early 1990s, the station was created and owned by Al Stroh and the now-defunct Montgomery Broadcast Properties. This frequency began as WLNE-FM ("We're Light N Easy") with beautiful music and standards in 1991. Later, 96.1 moved towards Lite AC as "Lite FM 96".

Around 1994, the station switched to the popular "Arrow" (All Rock and Roll Oldies) format and changed the calls to WRWO. In 1997, the call letters changed to WQKS and the station became known as Kiss 96 -- with an urban contemporary format. WQKS debuted another new format in late 1998, this time all 1980s music. The calls were still WQKS but the slogan changed to "The 80's Channel, Kiss 96.1". The request line number still spells out KISS to this very day.

WQKS made yet another format tweak in early 2000 into "Rockin' hits of the 80's, 90's and 70's" with the slogan "Alice 96.1". Alice was a successful station for most of its eight years, particularly on weekends with its popular "Alice Shuffle" format -- the musical predecessor of Q-96.1.

On Monday, August 25, 2008, WQKS dropped its rockin' hits format for oldies, adopting the moniker "Q-96.1".

Ownership

In March 2004 the station was bought in a group purchase of four Montgomery outlets by Bluewater Broadcasting. Three other stations are in the Bluewater Broadcasting facilities in Montgomery: WBAM-FM, WJWZ-FM, and WACV-AM.

Programming

Q-96.1 has an extensive playlist of nearly two thousand songs that draws from five decades of rock and pop history. Notable on-air personalities include former Miami market morning disc jockey Greg Budell, local songstress Susan Woody, and longtime Montgomery personality Skipper. Budell hosts the morning show and has a daily "Q-nundrum" contest; Woody takes requests during her midday shift; and Skipper anchors the afternoon drive shift. On the weekends, the programming shifts to the "1000-Song Weekend," reminiscent of the original iPod shuffle made popular on Alice.

Q-96.1 continues to carry Troy University Football every football season.

References

External links

* [http://www.q961fm.com/ WQKS official website]
*FMQ|WQKS
*FML|WQKS
*FMARB|WQKS