WNBL (107.3
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
FM 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 ...
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
South Bristol, New York, and serving the
Rochester metropolitan area. It is owned by
iHeartMedia
iHeartMedia, Inc., or CC Media Holdings, Inc., is an American mass media corporation headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It is the holding company of iHeartCommunications, Inc., formerly Clear Channel Communications, Inc., a company founded by ...
and airs an
1980s' hits radio format
A radio format or programming format (not to be confused with broadcast programming) describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. The radio format emerged mainly in the United States in the 1950s, at a time when Radio broadcasting, ...
, known as ''Big 107.3''. WNBL is a
Class A station, operating at 650 watts. WNBL's
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 in
South Bristol, New York, near the
Bristol Mountain Ski Resort. The studios and offices are on Chestnut Street in Rochester, at
Five Star Bank Plaza
Five Star Bank Plaza is a high-rise building located in Rochester, New York, United States, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. It is the sixth tallest building in Rochester and was originally built as Marine Midland Plaza. Site preparation ...
.
In addition to its 80's music format WNBL also carries
Rochester Knighthawks
The Rochester Knighthawks (also known as the K-Hawks) are an American professional box lacrosse team based in Rochester, New York, that competes in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The team plays its home games at Blue Cross Arena.
The Knighth ...
games.
History
Early years as Smooth Jazz and Rhythmic CHR
The station now known as WNBL was granted a construction permit in 1991, as WFUD. On January 26, 1996, it signed on as WRCD, licensed to
Honeoye Falls. WRCD was a
sister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio or television stations operated by the same company, either by direct ownership or through a management agreement.
Radio sister stations will often have different formats, and somet ...
to WMAX-FM (now
WKGS
WKGS (106.7 FM broadcasting, FM) – branded "KISS-FM (brand), KISS 106-7" – is a contemporary hit radio station licensed to Irondequoit, New York, and serves the Rochester, New York, Rochester area. Facility ID:3205 The iHeartMedia outlet br ...
), operating from the WMAX studios at 412 State Street in downtown Rochester and using a transmitter site in
Bloomfield, on the southeastern edge of the Rochester market. Under original owner Auburn Cablevision, WRCD used a satellite-delivered
smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is commercially oriented crossover jazz music. Although often described as a "genre", it is a debatable and highly controversial subject in jazz music circles. As a radio format, however, smooth jazz radio became the successor to e ...
format from
Sony
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...
's SW programming service.
In 1997, Auburn Cablevision sold WMAX-FM and WRCD to
Jacor Communications
Jacor Communications was a media corporation, existing between 1987 and 1999, which owned many radio stations in the United States. In 1998, Jacor was purchased by Clear Channel Communications, now iHeartMedia, for $2.8 billion.
Jacor Communicat ...
. On February 19, 1998, at midnight, Jacor rearranged the formats on its new acquisitions. WRCD's smooth jazz was replaced by 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 called "Jam'n 107.3." On March 1, 1998, WRCD changed its
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 ...
to WMAX-FM, as the former WMAX-FM on 106.7 became WYSY.
Kiss 107, rhythmic oldies, '80s hits
The "Jam'n" branding and format gave way to a more mainstream
Top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...
format as "Kiss 107" in December 1998. In 1999, Clear Channel Communications (now
iHeartMedia
iHeartMedia, Inc., or CC Media Holdings, Inc., is an American mass media corporation headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It is the holding company of iHeartCommunications, Inc., formerly Clear Channel Communications, Inc., a company founded by ...
) bought the station. On April 30, 1999, Clear Channel moved "Kiss" down the dial to 106.7, which changed its call sign from WYSY to WKGS. 107.3 briefly
stunting as "Big Cow Country", then flipped to
rhythmic oldies
Rhythmic oldies is a radio format that concentrates on the rhythmic, R&B, disco, or dance genres of music. The playlists spans from the 1960s through the 2000s. They depend on market conditions and may be designed for African-American or Hispani ...
on May 7, 1999, as "Jammin' Oldies", later modified to "Cool 107" under the new call sign WLCL, which took effect July 9, 1999.
In February 2000, WLCL changed format to
1980s’ hits as "Channel 107.3". On September 3, 2001, WLCL began stunting with an all-
ABBA
ABBA ( ) were a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the List ...
format, returning the following week to rhythmic oldies. At the same time, Clear Channel was preparing to relocate the 107.3 facility to
South Bristol as part of an upgrade to sister station
WNVE on 95.1, which was changing city of license from South Bristol to Honeoye Falls in order to move its transmitter to Baker Hill, closer to Rochester. In January 2002, WLCL relocated 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 ...
to the Bristol Mountain site built in 1948, for the
Rural Radio Network
The Rural Radio Network (RRN) was an interconnected group of six commercial FM radio stations spread across upstate New York and operated from Ithaca, New York—the first all-radio, no-wireline network in the world. It began operation in 1948 ...
and formerly used by WNVE. As a class A station from Bristol Mountain, WLCL's new signal in the Rochester market was relatively weak, though the station was well heard in most of the western
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven long, narrow, roughly north–south lakes located directly south of Lake Ontario in an area called the ''Finger Lakes region'' in New York (state), New York, in the United States. This region straddles th ...
region.
The Fox and The Nerve
In December 2002, WLCL dropped the rhythmic oldies format and began stunting with
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of Music genre, genres of music regularly performed or heard around the Christmas and holiday season, Christmas season. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or in the case of Christmas ...
as "Rudolph Radio", then with two days of
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 ...
. On December 26, 2002, WLCL changed 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 ...
as "107.3 the Fox", taking new call sign WFXF on March 28, 2003.
On July 4, 2004, Clear Channel swapped formats and call letters between 95.1 and 107.3, sending classic rock WFXF to the stronger 95.1 signal and moving the WNVE call sign and "Nerve"
modern rock
Modern rock is an umbrella term used to describe rock music that is found on college and commercial rock radio stations. Some radio stations use this term to distinguish themselves from classic rock, which is based in 1960s–1980s rock music.
...
format to the weaker 107.3 facility. The move followed Clear Channel's corporate decision to remove
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern (born January 12, 1954) is an American broadcaster and media personality. He is best known for his radio show, ''The Howard Stern Show'', which gained popularity when it was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1 ...
from its airwaves, which left WNVE without its main ratings draw.
Snap 107.3, country, and WHTK simulcast
On August 30, 2006, the Nerve was replaced with a "Wheel Of Formats" under the moniker "Huge 107.3", sponsored by local automobile dealership
Fuccillo Hyundai (a nod to their longtime slogan, "It's HUGE!"). After six days of stunting, the station flipped to a
rhythmic adult contemporary
Rhythmic adult contemporary, often abbreviated as rhythmic AC or RAC, is an adult contemporary radio format. The format focuses primarily on rhythmic contemporary, rhythmic hits aimed towards an adult audience, often resembling a mixture of the cla ...
format known as "SNAP! 107.3". The station also picked up the nationally syndicated ''
Wake Up with Whoopi'' for mornings, featuring comic-actress
Whoopi Goldberg
Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ...
. The call sign was changed to WSNP on September 15, 2006.
On May 18, 2007, Clear Channel pulled the plug on the format and went to
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 ...
as "Country 107.3". On June 14, 2007, the call sign was changed to WCRR. On March 3, 2009, the callsign switched again to WROO, without any change in format or branding.
On September 9, 2009, at midnight, the callsign was changed to WHTK-FM, as an FM
simulcast
Simulcast (a portmanteau of "simultaneous broadcast") is the broadcasting of programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time (that is, simultaneously) ...
of
sports radio
Sports radio (or sports talk radio) is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sport, sporting events. A widespread programming genre that has a narrow audience appeal, sports radio is characterized by an often-low comed ...
WHTK. The move gave listeners who preferred FM radio a sports station and helped to cover areas in the Rochester market that WHTK (AM)'s signal could not, especially at night.
Oldies 107.3
On May 5, 2012, WHTK-FM began stunting with a looped message directing listeners back to 1280 AM. On May 7 at 9a.m., WHTK-FM launched an
oldies
Oldies is a term for musical genres such as pop music, rock and roll, doo-wop, surf music from the second half of the 20th century, specifically from around the mid-1950s to the 1980s, as well as for a radio format playing this music.
Since 2 ...
format, branded as "Oldies 107.3". The call sign was changed to WODX.
The first song as "Oldies 107.3" was
Bob Seger
Robert Clark Seger ( ; born May 6, 1945) is a retired American singer, songwriter, and musician. As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded with the groups Bob Seger and the Last Heard and the Bob Seger System throu ...
's "
Old Time Rock and Roll
"Old Time Rock and Roll" is a song written by George Jackson and Thomas E. Jones III, with uncredited lyrics by Bob Seger. It was recorded by Seger for his tenth studio album '' Stranger in Town.'' It was also released as a single in 1979. It ...
". The flip gave the Rochester market an oldies format for the first time since the demise of
WBBF-FM in 2005, which flipped to variety hits as WFKL.
107.3 The Bull
On September 11, 2014, at noon, after playing "
It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
"It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is a song by American Rock music, rock band R.E.M., which first appeared on their 1987 album, ''Document (album), Document''. It was released as the album's second music single, single ...
" by
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American alternative rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the fir ...
, WODX changed their format back to country music, branded as "107.3 The Bull" launching with 10,000 songs commercial free. The first song on "The Bull" was "
Roller Coaster
A roller coaster is a type of list of amusement rides, amusement ride employing a form of elevated Railway track, railroad track that carries passengers on a roller coaster train, train through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements, usua ...
" by
Luke Bryan
Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan (born July 17, 1976) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and television personality. Bryan is a five-time "Entertainer of the Year", being awarded by both the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Count ...
. The station's call sign were changed to WNBL on September 18.
The nationally
syndicated ''
Bobby Bones Show
''The Bobby Bones Show'' is an American, nationally Broadcast syndication, syndicated country music radio show aired during the morning hours. The Bobby Bones Show, which originally aired from Austin, Texas, now broadcasts from studios at WSIX-F ...
'' from
Nashville
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
debuted on the station on October 13, 2014, and aired Monday through Saturday mornings. On October 25, 2021,
iHeartMedia
iHeartMedia, Inc., or CC Media Holdings, Inc., is an American mass media corporation headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It is the holding company of iHeartCommunications, Inc., formerly Clear Channel Communications, Inc., a company founded by ...
flipped sister station
WDVI
WDVI (100.5 FM) is a country music radio station in Rochester, New York. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. Its studios are located at the Five Star Bank Plaza building in downtown Rochester, and its transmitter site is in Vic ...
from
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 ...
to country and moved ''The Bobby Bones Show'' to that station, however, it remained being simulcasted on WNBL. For a time, both WNBL and WDVI played an almost identical country format in an unusual situation where two stations under common ownership, and in the same market, were playing the same format (though as a rimshot in the western Finger Lakes, WNBL targeted a more rural audience whereas WDVI was more centrally located; iHeart's predecessor Clear Channel had programmed WDVI and another Finger Lakes station—102.3, then-
WISY—with similar adult-contemporary formats in years past, with both stations alternating the WVOR calls that are now carried on the latter).
Big 107.3
After 8 months of both WNBL and WDVI playing an almost identical country format, on July 1, 2022, at midnight, after playing "
Heart Like a Truck" by
Lainey Wilson
Lainey Denay Wilson (born May 19, 1992) is an American country music, country singer-songwriter. She performed at an early age, before going to Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville to pursue a career as a country performer. In 2014, she released her f ...
, WNBL flipped back to 1980s' hits as "Big 107.3". The first song on "Big" was "
Flashdance... What a Feeling" by
Irene Cara
Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 – November 25, 2022) was an American singer and actress who rose to prominence for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical film '' Fame'', and for recording the film's title song " Fame", which reach ...
. The move directly challenged
Audacy
Audacy, previously known as Radio.com, is a free broadcast and Internet radio Computing platform, platform developed by the namesake company Audacy, Inc. (formerly known as Entercom). The Audacy platform functions as a Recommender system, mus ...
's
WBZA
WBZA (98.9 FM) is a commercial radio station in Rochester, New York. It airs an adult hits format and is owned by Audacy, Inc., based at the High Falls Studios, on Commercial Street and State Street in downtown Rochester.
WBZA has an e ...
, as well as
WFKL
WFKL (93.3 Hertz, MHz) is an FM radio, FM radio station city of license, licensed to Fairport, New York, and serving the Rochester metropolitan area, New York, Rochester metropolitan area. The station, branded as "Fickle 93.3", broadcasts an ad ...
, which plays similar music as part of its
variety hits format.
As Big 107.3, WNBL carries ''Valentine in the Morning '' hosted by Sean Valentine from
KBIG
KBIG (104.3 FM, ''104.3 MYfm'') is a commercial radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, and serving the Greater Los Angeles area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format focusing on ...
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
in
morning drive
Drive time is the daypart in which radio broadcasters can reach the most people who listen to car radios while driving, usually to and from work, or on public transportation. Drive-time periods are when the number of radio listeners in this c ...
, and ''The
Martha Quinn
Martha Quinn is an American actress and radio and television personality, best known as one of the original video jockeys on MTV (along with Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, and J. J. Jackson).
Early life
Quinn was born on Ma ...
Show'' middays.
HD Radio
The
HD2 signal of the station carries a Christmas
R&B format, branded as "iHeartChristmas R&B".
References
External links
*
NERW 8-9-96
{{coord, 42.746, N, 77.426, W, type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC, display=title
1980s-themed radio stations
IHeartMedia radio stations
NBL