WXQR-FM (105.5 MHz) is a

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

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

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. Originally based in

Jacksonville, North Carolina Jacksonville is a city in Onslow County, North Carolina. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 72,723, which makes Jacksonville the List of municipalities in North Carolina, 14th-most populous city in North Caroli ...

, the station is headquartered in

New Bern New Bern, formerly Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. It had a population of 31,291 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is located at the confluence of the Neuse River, Neuse a ...

History

WXQR-FM is one of the oldest rock stations in America. It was known as "The Rock and Roll Animal" from the 1970s until the mid-1990s. The station was once owned by Sidney Popkin, a member of one of the most prominent families in Jacksonville. During the 1980s and 1990s, the station was headquartered on New Bridge Street near downtown Jacksonville, in what was once the Iwo Jima Theater. Because of its location, it was a favorite for decades among Marines stationed at

Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune ( or ) is a United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its of beaches make the base a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports ( ...

. The station operated with 3,000 watts of power, which put them at a competitive disadvantage against its Newport-based rival Z-103, but WXQR had a solid following of loyal listeners. When Z-103 finally switched to

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 ...

( WMGV), New Bern's

WSFL-FM WSFL-FM (106.5 MHz) is a classic rock radio station located in New Bern, North Carolina, that broadcasts to the entire eastern region of North Carolina. It has been around for several decades and is considered a fixture in the local community. H ...

became WXQR's main competition; however, WXQR-FM wasn't competitive with WSFL until its power was increased in the mid-1990s. HVS Partners, WXQR-FM's longtime owners, sold the station in the mid-1990s to Cumulus, who then sold it to

NextMedia Group NextMedia Group was an out-of-home media company headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. NextMedia owned and operated 33 AM and FM stations, 5,700 outdoor advertising display across several regions and markets, as well as an interactive div ...

a few years later. From October 2010 to January 2012, it simulcast to inland areas on WQZL/101.1. NextMedia sold WXQR-FM and their 32 other radio stations to Digity, LLC for $85 million; the transaction was consummated on February 10, 2014. Effective February 25, 2016, Digity, LLC and its 124 radio stations were acquired by

Alpha Media Alpha Media LLC is a radio broadcasting company based in Portland, Oregon, and led by Bob Proffitt. The group does business under the Alpha Media name. It was formed from the merger of Alpha Broadcasting, L&L Broadcasting, and Main Line Broadc ...

for $264 million. In September 2017, Dick Broadcasting announced the purchase of

stations in three markets — 18 stations and two translators in total, at a purchase price of $19.5 million. The acquisition of WXQR-FM by Dick Broadcasting was consummated on December 20, 2017. On August 2, 2021, WXQR-FM changed their format from active rock to Regional Mexican, branded as "La Pantera 105.5". “Rock 105" had broadcast for more than 40 years and was the "original rock station" for the Carolina Coast. The previous Rock format continued as a live stream until Tuesday night January 31, 2023 at the stroke of midnight when it signed off for a final time with The Doors “ The End”. On October 4, 2024, WXQR-FM changed their format from Regional Mexican to Spanish rhythmic, branded as "Candela 105.5".La Candela Lighted in Eastern North Carolina
Radioinsight - October 4, 2024

References

External links

Candela 105.5 official website
* XQR-FM XQR-FM Radio stations established in 1966 1966 establishments in North Carolina {{NorthCarolina-radio-station-stub