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WBON (92.1
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 ...
) is a
commercial radio Commercial broadcasting (also called private broadcasting) is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship, for example. It was the United States' first model ...
station
licensed A license (American English) or licence (Commonwealth English) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another part ...
to
Destin, Florida Destin is a city located in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. It is a principal city of the Crestview–Fort Walton Beach–Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,931 at the 2020 census, up from 12,305 at th ...
, and serving
Fort Walton Beach Fort Walton Beach, often referred to by the initialism FWB, is a city in southern Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 20,922, up from 19,507 in 2010. It is a principal city of the Crestviewâ ...
and the
Emerald Coast The Emerald Coast is an unofficial name for the coastal area in the US state of Florida on the Gulf of Mexico that stretches about through five counties—Escambia County, Florida, Escambia, Santa Rosa County, Florida, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa Co ...
. Owned and operated by
JVC Broadcasting JVC Broadcasting (also known as JVC Media) is a privately owned company headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York that owns five radio stations on Long Island, New York Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New ...
, it features a
mainstream rock Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada. Format background Mainstream rock stations represent a cross between classic rock, active rock and alternativ ...
radio format. WBON has an
effective radiated power Effective radiated power (ERP), synonymous with equivalent radiated power, is an IEEE standardized definition of directional radio frequency (RF) power, such as that emitted by a radio transmitter. It is the total power in watts that would ha ...
(ERP) of 19,000 watts, its
transmitter In electronics and telecommunications, a radio transmitter or just transmitter (often abbreviated as XMTR or TX in technical documents) is an electronic device which produces radio waves with an antenna (radio), antenna with the purpose of sig ...
is off Hollywood Boulevard NW in Fort Walton Beach.


History

The station
signed on A sign-on (or start-up in Commonwealth countries except Canada) is the beginning of operations for a radio broadcasting, radio or television station, generally at the start of each day. It is the opposite of a sign-off (or closedown in Commonw ...
the air in 1981 as WMMK. In 2004, the
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 ...
changed to WWRK, and changed again the following year to WFFY. The station has served the area as a Rhythmic Top 40 station since then, at first branded as "Fly 92.1". On December 21, 2011, station owner Quantum Broadcasting sold its stations in the Ft. Walton Beach market, including WFFY, to Apex Broadcasting. On February 17, 2012, at 5 pm CST after playing "
Stay Fly "Stay Fly" is the first single from hip hop music, hip hop group Three 6 Mafia's 2005 album ''Most Known Unknown''. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 to become the group's biggest hit. The track, which sa ...
" by
Three 6 Mafia Three 6 Mafia is an American hip-hop group from Memphis, Tennessee, formed in 1991. Emerging as a horror-themed underground hip-hop group, they went on to enjoy mainstream success. The group's 1995 debut album ''Mystic Stylez'' became an influen ...
, Apex dropped the Fly 92.1 branding and relaunched WFFY as CHR "Q92", with
Kelly Clarkson Kelly Brianne (born Kelly Brianne Clarkson, April 24, 1982), known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Rising to fame after winning the American Idol season 1, first season of ''Ameri ...
's '' Stronger'' the first song played. The call sign was later changed to WECQ to reflect the change in branding. Apex Broadcasting sold WECQ – along with sister stations WHWY, WWAV, and
WZLB WZLB (103.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a hot talk radio format. Licensed to Valparaiso, Florida, the station serves the Ft. Walton Beach area. History The station went on the air as WQUH in November 1974. On April 1, 1992, WQUH shifted ...
— to Community Broadcasters effective December 1, 2016, at a purchase price of $5.9 million. On December 22, 2020, Community Broadcasters sold the entire Fort Walton Beach cluster to
JVC Broadcasting JVC Broadcasting (also known as JVC Media) is a privately owned company headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York that owns five radio stations on Long Island, New York Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New ...
for almost $2.3 million, which later closed on February 1, 2021. On August 24, 2021, WECQ went jockless and began promoting that "changes" would be coming to the station on September 1 at noon. At that time, after again playing ''Stronger'' by Kelly Clarkson (as a near-bookend to the format's launch), followed by "
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" (or "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)") is a ballad by American rock band Green Day, released in December 1997 as the second single from their fifth studio album, ''Nimrod'' (1997). It is one of their most po ...
" by
Green Day Green Day is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, with drummer Tré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their majo ...
, the station changed their format to active rock, branded as "Rock 92.1"; the format had been revealed by JVC on the 30th of the month, and carries a typical active rock playlist, along with a decent amount of guitar-based alternative rock crossover songs, with
Foo Fighters The Foo Fighters are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Initially founded as a one-man project by former Nirvana (band), Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the band comprises vocalist/guitarist Grohl, bassist Nate Mendel, gu ...
(whose song "
Monkey Wrench A monkey wrench is a type of smooth-jawed adjustable wrench, a 19th century American refinement of 18th-century English coach wrenches. It was widely used in the 19th and early 20th century. It is of interest as an antique among tool collectors ...
" was the first under the new format),
Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973. Credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene, Van Halen was known for their energetic live performances and the virtuosity of their guit ...
,
Mammoth WVH Mammoth (also known as Mammoth WVH) is an American rock music, rock band formed and fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen. The band name is a reference to Van Halen#1972–1977: Formation and early history, Mammoth, an earlier band that featured his ...
,
Shinedown Shinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed by singer Brent Smith in 2001 after the dissolution of his previous band, Dreve. Smith, still under contract with record label Atlantic Records, recruited the band's original ...
,
The Offspring The Offspring is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Garden Grove, California, in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Dexter Holland, Bryan "Dexter" Holland, ...
,
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...
and
Incubus An Incubus () is a demon, male demon in human form in folklore that seeks to have Sexuality in Christian demonology, sexual intercourse with sleeping women; the corresponding spirit in female form is called a succubus. Parallels exist in many c ...
listed as artists to be heard. On December 20, 2024, at 10 am, WECQ rebranded as "92.1 The Bone"; the station changed its call sign to WBON effective January 27, 2025.


References


External links


WBON official website
* {{coord, 30, 24, 38, N, 86, 37, 22, W, type:landmark_region:US-FL, display=title 1981 establishments in Florida Active rock radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1981
BON Bon or Bön (), also known as Yungdrung Bon (, ), is the indigenous Tibetan religion which shares many similarities and influences with Tibetan Buddhism.Samuel 2012, pp. 220–221. It initially developed in the tenth and eleventh centuries but ...