WDWS-FM (107.9 FM, "107.9 The Rooster") is a

commercial Commercial may refer to: * (adjective for) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and services ** (adjective for) trade, the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information or money * a dose of advertising ...

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 a

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

format.

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 ...

Arcola, Illinois Arcola is a city in Douglas County, Illinois, Douglas County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,927 at the 2020 census. The city was founded in 1855, when the Illinois Central Railroad was built through the county. The railroad itsel ...

, the station is owned by '' The News-Gazette'', and serves the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area.

History

On , 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. The original

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 ...

was WZNX. It changed its call sign to WKJR on November 1, 1994. On May 5, 1997, the station again changed its call sign to WXET before finally changing them to WUIL on May 7, 2008, upon its switch to a

rhythmic contemporary Rhythmic contemporary, also known as Rhythmic Top 20, Rhythmic Top 30, Rhythmic Top 40, Rhythmic CHR or rhythmic crossover, is a primarily American music-radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and upbeat R&B hit ...

format from

hot adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

. Pendleton Broadcasting signed a LMA deal with owner Champaign Partners to operate Top 40/Rhythmic WUIL (107.9 JAMZ). The long-term deal started May 1, 2009 and carries an option to buy the station from Champaign Partners for $1.5 million. In June 2010, WUIL was sold to the News-Gazette, which also owns

WDWS WDWS (1400 AM broadcasting, AM) is a commercial radio, commercial radio station in Champaign, Illinois, calling itself "Newstalk 1400 & 93.9FM DWS." It airs a talk radio, news/talk radio format and is owned by ''The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urban ...

and WHMS. The station relaunched as "U-Rock 107.9", playing various rock formats. The switch was made with station General Manager Mike Haile's introduction of "Ladies and Gentlemen...rock and roll." The station had a popular contest where it allowed listeners to submit and air their "Perfect Ten" rock songs. The station then played these selections on Thursdays. In March 2013, WUIL applied to change its call sign to WKIO, signaling a format change. WKIO ClassicHits107

On March 26, 2013, WUIL changed formats from rock to classic hits, branded as "Classic Hits 107.9" under the new WKIO call sign. In early 2023, WKIO conducted a listener survey and added more recent music (Smashing Pumpkins, etc.) to its standard playlist and in response to "more music, less talk," replacing the popular The Bob and Tom Show with The Ashley and Brad Show in the daily morning slot. On June 1, 2024, after Champaign Multimedia Group completed their acquisition of Neuhoff Media's Decatur stations, the WKIO callsign would move to the Neuhoff-acquired former WCZQ on 105.5 FM, with 107.9 taking on new callsign WDWS-FM; on June 18, the branding and part of the format would make its official move to said frequency, shifting to 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 with the move, with the two stations temporarily simulcasting as a means of transition. Upon the completion of the move the station was expected by several radio news outlets to flip to a simulcast of AM sister station

, a move seemingly confirmed with the callsign change. On July 5, 2024, WDWS-FM ended its simulcast with WKIO and instead launched a country music format, branded as "107.9 The Rooster".Rooster Lands in Champaign/Urbana
Radioinsight - July 5, 2024

Former U-Rock air staff

* Orion Buckingham * Dave Loane * Brian Moline * Mark Reynolds * Lee Marcus * Ethan VanDeveer * Patti Good

References

External links

* {{Country Radio Stations in Illinois DWS-FM Radio stations established in 1991 Champaign County, Illinois Douglas County, Illinois