WNOB (93.7 FM) is an adult hits formatted

broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

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 to

Chesapeake, Virginia Chesapeake is an independent city in Virginia, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 249,422, making it the second-most populous city in Virginia, the tenth largest in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 92nd-most populous city in the ...

, serving

Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James River, James, Nansemond River, Nansemond, and Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's Point near whe ...

and

Northeastern North Carolina The Inner Banks are the inland coastal region of eastern North Carolina. Without historical precedent, the term "Inner Banks" is an early 21st-century construct that is part of an attempt to rebrand the mostly agrarian Coastal Plains east of I-95 ...

. WNOB is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc. WNOB's studios are located on Waterside Drive in Norfolk, while its transmitter is located on Route 168 in

Moyock, North Carolina Moyock is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Currituck County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 5,154. Geography Moyock is located on North Carolina Highway 168 just south ...

, just south of the

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

state line.

History

The station, originally licensed to

Elizabeth City, North Carolina Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, Pasquotank county, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 18,629. Elizabeth City is the county seat and most populous city of Pasqu ...

, started in 1973 as AOR/

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 ...

hybrid station WMYK ''The New K94'', and would later shift to a New Wave/"Rock of the 80s" format in 1982. In 1984, WMYK became ''The Rhythm of the City, K94'' with a

CHR CHR or chr may refer to: Organisations * Canadians for Health Research, a national not-for-profit organisation * Centre for Human Rights, an organisation promoting human rights in Africa * Christ Church Secondary School, a government-aided school ...

urban contemporary Urban contemporary music, also known as urban music, urban pop, or just simply urban, is a music radio format. The term was coined by New York radio DJ Frankie Crocker in the early to mid-1970s as a synonym for Black music. Urban contemporary r ...

format (also known as "CHUrban", which would become the basis for what is now the

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 1988 to 1990 WMYK was known as ''"Power 94"'', later it became ''"WMYK-94FM"''. At 3 p.m. on June 21, 1991, after stunting with a loop of "

My Prerogative "My Prerogative" is a song by American singer Bobby Brown from his second studio album, '' Don't Be Cruel'' (1988). It was released in 1988, as the second single from the album. After recording sessions were completed, Brown and producer Gene ...

" by

Bobby Brown Robert Barisford Brown Sr. (born February 5, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer. Alongside frequent collaborator Teddy Riley, he is recognized as a pioneer of new jack swing: a fusion of hip-hop and Contemporary R&B, R ...

, "Joy" by Satellite Orchestra, "

God Bless The U.S.A. "God Bless the U.S.A." (also known as "Proud to Be an American") is an American patriotic song written and recorded by American country singer Lee Greenwood, and is considered to be his signature song. Released by MCA Nashville on May 21, 1984, ...

" by

Lee Greenwood Melvin Lee Greenwood (born October 27, 1942) is an American country music singer. Active since 1962, he won a Grammy Awards, Grammy Award and he has charted 33 singles on the Hot Country Songs with seven singles reaching the number one. He has ...

, "

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. A product of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' songwriting partnership, it features a guitar riff by Richards that opens and drives the song. The riff is w ...

" by

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

, and "

Every Little Step "Every Little Step" is a 1989 single by American singer Bobby Brown, written by L.A. Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and released by MCA Records. Released as the fourth single on his second album '' Don't Be Cruel'' it reached number three ...

" by

, 93.7 switched to an

Adult Album Alternative Adult album alternative (also triple-A, AAA, or adult alternative) is a radio format. See pages 9 and 10Mills, Joshua. "A New Radio Music Format: Rock for Prosperous Adults" New York Times, Feb 28 1994, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. Accessed September 4, ...

format branded as "93.7 The Coast" with call letters WKOC. (At the same time as the format switch, the WMYK calls and urban format moved to 92.1 FM.) WKOC simulcasted on 94.1 WKOD from 1991-1992 and 106.1 WEXM from 2001-2004. WKOC added

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 ...

in October 1995. In May 1996, Sinclair Communications purchased the station, as well as WTAR, for $8 million. At the time, Bob Sinclair was feuding with Tidewater Communications (owners of WNOR/WAFX) due to the fact that WNOR attempted to block Sinclair from installing a second transmitter on WROX. Perry Stone, program director of both WROX and WKOC, issued an on-air ultimatum that WNOR must pay Sinclair $1 million by the following Wednesday, or they would change the WKOC's format to rival WNOR. On the other hand, if WNOR paid, Sinclair would convert WKOC to Country music. WNOR did not acknowledge this and thus on May 29, 1996, WKOC would briefly become "K94" again with a hard rock format, but would switch back to "The Coast" and adult album alternative music on September 19, 1996. On December 3, 2003, just after 4 p.m., after playing "

Otherside "Otherside" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was released as the third single from their seventh studio album, '' Californication'' (1999), and confronts the battles addicts have with their prior addictions. The track wa ...

" by the

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...

, WKOC announced it would fill the hole left behind by WCMS's flip to rock the previous month by flipping to "93.7 Kick FM", and began stunting with a loop of "

Gone Country "Gone Country" is a song written by Bob McDill and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in November 1994 as the third single from his fourth major-label studio album, '' Who I Am''. As with that album's first two ...

" by

Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer-songwriter. He is known for performing a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country", as well as writing many of his own songs. Jackson has recorded 21 studi ...

. Two days later, the station officially completed its flip to country. On December 11, 2003, WKOC changed call letters to WKCK-FM to match the "Kick" branding. On March 7, 2004, simulcast partner WEXM broke from the simulcast and switched to Adult Hits as "106.1

Bob FM BOB FM is the on-air brand of a number of FM radio stations in the United States and formerly in Canada. The BOB FM format mostly concentrates on album rock, alternative rock and pop hits from the 1980s and 1990s, especially those popular duri ...

". (WEXM changed call letters to WPYA a week earlier on February 27.) At Midnight on September 23, 2004, WKCK and WPYA swapped formats, with 93.7 adopting the "Bob FM" format and 106.1 became "Kick 106". On September 17, 2009, WPYA changed call letters to the current WNOB.

References

External links

93-7 Bob FM Online
* {{Bob FM Radio stations NOB Adult hits radio stations in the United States Bob FM stations Radio stations established in 1973 1973 establishments in Virginia