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WZCB (106.7 FM) – branded 106.7 The Beat – is a commercial
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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
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,
Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
, serving the Columbus metro area. 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 ...
, the WZCB studios are located in Downtown Columbus, while its transmitter resides near Columbus' northeast side. In addition to a standard
analog transmission Analog transmission is a transmission method of conveying information using a continuous signal which varies in amplitude, phase, or some other property in proportion to that information. It could be the transfer of an analog signal, using an an ...
, WZCB broadcasts over two
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channels, and streams online via
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.


History


As a Marion station (1953–2007)

WMRN-FM had gone on the air on 106.9 MHz in
Marion, Ohio Marion is a city in Marion County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus, Ohio, Columbus. The population was 35,999 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down slig ...
, in April 1953, more than seven years after receiving its original construction permit. In the 1970s, it was a beautiful music station; later, it became country "Buckeye Country 107".


Moving to the Columbus market (2007)

On December 1, 2007, the station was relicensed to
Dublin, Ohio Dublin is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. A suburb of Columbus, Ohio, Columbus, it falls within the jurisdictions of Franklin County, Ohio, Franklin, Delaware County, Ohio, Delaware, Union County, Ohio, Union, and Madison County, Ohio, Madison ...
and began targeting the Columbus radio market; the station frequency also had moved to 106.7 
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. Prior to the announced launch,
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 ...
(then known as Clear Channel Communications) registered a large number of web domains with various formats and brandings to throw off competitors from switching to null the impact of their launch. Stunting on-air consisted of television theme songs as "TV 106.7". The former country format moved to Marion's other station, 94.3 WDIF-FM, which became the new WMRN-FM in January 2008.


Modern rock (2007–2010)

On December 13, 2007 at noon, the new WRXS officially unveiled its true format, modern rock, as "Radio 106-7". The first song played on Radio 106.7 was " Radio, Radio" by
Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television host. According to ''Rolling Stone'', Costello "reinvigorated the literate, lyrical ...
and the Attractions. When Radio 106-7 first started in 2007, presentation heavily centered on modern rock music from the 1990s, as well as featuring selected songs from the mid-1970s through the end of the 1980s as well as current product. Overall, the station came across as "lighter" than typical Modern Rock radio stations. This type of presentation is highly similar to those at several other Clear Channel operations in
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,
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, and Hartford, CT. On May 2, 2009, the station tweaked its format by dropping the lighter alternative music and adding more hard rock to its rotation to compete with independent WWCD. On January 7, 2010 the station added ''
Rover's Morning Glory ''Rover's Morning Glory'' is a nationally syndicated hot talk morning drive time radio show originating from Cleveland rock station WMMS (100.7  FM). Hosted by radio personality Rover (Shane French), the show first began at cross-tow ...
'' to its morning lineup.


'90s hits (2010–2011)

On June 28, 2010, the station switched to a '90s pop/rock centered format as Gen-X Radio", and changed their call letters to WCGX; ''Rover's Morning Glory'' was removed from the schedule. The first song played in the new format was " Get Ready For This" by 2 Unlimited.


Modern adult contemporary (2011)

As of October 2011, WCGX shifted from '90s hits to a modern AC direction, phasing out all rhythmic product. The alternative product remained, and it has increased the amount of currents from the genre.


Modern rock (2011–2014)

On December 19, 2011, at 6 PM, WCGX officially dropped the "Gen" from their name, calling themselves "X106-7" and officially shifted to
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. ...
. X106-7 positioned as "Columbus' Alternative Station." This put them in competition with not only WWCD, but WRKZ. As a result, ratings were in the middle of the pack for most of X's tenure. The "X" format moved to WBWR-HD2, and eventually to the main signal 105.7 FM itself that December.


Urban (2014–present)

On September 19, 2014, at Noon, after playing " Closing Time" by Semisonic, WCGX switched to an urban format as "106.7 The Beat". The first song on "The Beat" was "
Studio A studio is a space set aside for creative work of any kind, including art, dance, music and theater. The word ''studio'' is derived from the , from , from ''studere'', meaning to study or zeal. Types Art The studio of any artist, esp ...
" by
Schoolboy Q Quincy Matthew Hanley (born October 26, 1986), better known by his stage name Schoolboy Q (stylized as ScHoolboy Q), is an American rapper. He began recording in 2007, and released his first two mixtapes, ''ScHoolboy Turned Hustla'' (2008) and '' ...
featuring
BJ the Chicago Kid Bryan James Sledge (born November 23, 1984), better known by his stage name BJ the Chicago Kid (or simply BJ), is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Sledge is best known for frequently collaborating with Top ...
. The station picked up '' The Breakfast Club'' morning show, and currently competes with Radio One's WCKX. On September 26, 2014, WCGX changed call letters to WZCB to match the "Beat" branding.


References


External links

* * ( Guide to reading History Cards) {{iHeartMedia ZCB Radio stations established in 1979 Dublin, Ohio 1979 establishments in Ohio Mainstream urban radio stations in the United States IHeartMedia radio stations