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VOCM-FM is a Canadian
radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...
broadcasting at 97.5
MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...
from St. John's,
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the populatio ...
. Owned by
Stingray Group Stingray Group Inc. (formerly Stingray Digital and Stingray Digital Group) is a Canadian music, media and technology company based in Montreal, Quebec, with offices in Toronto, Ontario, as well as in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, ...
, the station is branded as ''97.5 K-Rock'' and broadcasts a
classic rock Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...
format, although some 2000s
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
songs have become part of the mix.


History

Originally launched in September 1982, it was called ''VO Stereo'' and later as ''97.5 VOFM'' and in the mid-1990s as ''Magic 97''. After a limited success with its
easy listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to the 1970s. It is related to middle of the road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit s ...
format in the early 1980s as ''VO Stereo'', a management decision was undertaken to pursue a younger audience. The late 1980s under the direction of manager Gary Butler and music Director Pat Murphy, the station began programming a mix of new and classic rock with great success. In less than two years, the station vaulted from last place to the number one FM station in St. John's with a predominantly young male audience. Although pleased with the results, management set about to build a stronger audience that would include more female listeners. In 1990, Celebration Saturdays was introduced to station listeners. It was a three-hour block of party-themed music sponsored by Bender's On George, a local nightclub, hosted by Mike Campbell and later Mike Thomas (Mickey T). Its success led to the creation of the Celebration Roadshow on Friday nights starting in the summer of 1996. Celebration Saturdays was the last show aired on "Magic" before the switch to ''97.5 K-Rock''.


K-Rock (2002–present)

By early 2002, soon after Newcap bought the VOCM stations from the Butler family, its audience had apparently dipped enough that Newcap changed the format to
classic rock Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...
, a format where research indicated untapped potential. Sure enough, it soon became the top-rated FM station in the St. John's market. Unexpectedly, much of its audience came from
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
station CKIX-FM, also a Newcap property. It was enough that this station was promptly reformatted as well; it became a Top 40/CHR station, serving much of the audience lost after the end of "Magic". The first song ever played on "K-Rock" was " Layla", by
Derek and the Dominos Derek and the Dominos was an English–American blues rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by singer-guitarist Eric Clapton, keyboardist-singer Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. All four members had previously playe ...
. On Sundays from 8am to 1pm, ''The Homebrew Show'' hosted by Sam Whiffen plays traditional Newfoundland, Celtic and Irish music not only on this station, but on all other K-Rock stations throughout the province. Other K-Rock shows heard provincewide include ''K-Rock Mornings with Campbell, Candice & JLaC'' on weekday mornings and ''Saturday in Big Tom's Shed'' hosted by JLaC.


Rebroadcasters

The sole rebroadcaster of the station licensed as such is VOCM-FM-1
Clarenville Clarenville is a town on the east coast of Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Clarenville was incorporated in 1951. It is located in the Shoal Harbour valley, fronting an arm of the Atlant ...
, which broadcasts at 100.7 MHz.Decision CRTC 87-931
/ref> Three other separately-licensed Stingray stations in the province (
CKXD-FM CKXD-FM (98.7 FM) is a Canadian radio station broadcasting from Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, at 98.7 MHz with a classic rock format branded on-air as ''97.5 K-Rock''. History The station launched between 1973 and 1974 as CJCR at 1350 kHz ...
Gander, CKXG-FM
Grand Falls-Windsor Grand Falls-Windsor is a town located in the central region of the island of Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, with a population of 13,853 at the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 census. The town i ...
and
CKXX-FM CKXX-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting from Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador on 103.9 MHz with a classic rock format branded on-air as ''97.5 K-Rock''. It is currently owned by Stingray Group. History CKXX-FM launched by the no ...
Corner Brook Corner Brook ( 2021 population: 19,316 CA 29,762) is a city located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Corner Brook is the fifth largest settlement in Newfoundland and Labrado ...
) also feature the K-Rock brand and format, and as of 2022 rebroadcast the content of VOCM-FM except that they insert local advertising. CKXG-FM and CKXX-FM both have their own rebroadcasters: CKXG-FM-1 Lewisporte and CKXX-FM-1 Stephenville.


Unusual callsign

VOCM-FM is one of two Canadian FM stations with a
call sign In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...
beginning with the
ITU prefix The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) allocates call sign prefixes for radio and television stations of all types. They also form the basis for, but may not exactly match, aircraft registration identifiers. These prefixes are agreed upo ...
"VO". VOCM-FM and its sister station VOCM are among just four radio stations in Canada still bearing call signs beginning with "VO" (the other two being VOAR and
VOWR VOWR (800 kHz) is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The station is operated by the Wesley United Church of Canada with studios and offices at 101 Patrick Street. VOWR is a C ...
), issued to the Dominion of Newfoundland before its
confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...
into Canada in 1949. VOCM-FM first went on the air in 1982, well after Newfoundland became a Canadian province. But it took the historic callsign of its sister station VOCM, which FM stations in Canada may do, by adding the "-FM" suffix.


References


External links


K-RockVOCM-FM
at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the
Canadian Communications Foundation The Canadian Communications Foundation (CCF) was a Canadian nonprofit organization which documented the history of broadcasting in Canada, particularly radio and television networks, programs and broadcasters. The organization was established in ...
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vocm-Fm Radio stations in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Classic rock radio stations in Canada Stingray Group radio stations Radio stations established in 1982 1982 establishments in Canada