WQFM (FM) explained

WQFM
City:Nanticoke, Pennsylvania
Area:Scranton - Wilkes-Barre - Northeastern Pennsylvania
Branding:QFM
Translators:See § Translators
Repeaters:
Format:Hot Adult Contemporary
Erp:660 watts
Haat:303 meters (994 ft)
Class:A
Facility Id:66366
Callsign Meaning:Heritage call letters originally used by Milwaukee sister station WLDB
Former Callsigns:WMJW (1973–1988)
WEAY (1988–1994)
WTZR (1994–1996)
WQFM (1996–2010)
WFUZ (2010–2020)[1]
Sister Stations:WEJL, WEZX, WFUZ, WLGD, WPZX
Owner:Times-Shamrock Communications
Webcast:Listen Live
Website:q92nepa.com
Licensing Authority:FCC

WQFM (92.1 FM, "QFM") is a commercial radio station licensed to Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. Owned by Times-Shamrock Communications, it simulcasts a hot adult contemporary format with sister station WQFN 100.1 in Forest City. The studios are on Penn Avenue in Scranton. The two stations serve the Wilkes-Barre - Scranton area of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

WQFM and WQFN are Class A stations. WQFM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 660 watts. Its transmitter is on Sterling Street in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania.Radio-Locator.com/WQFM WQFN has an ERP of 6,000 watts. Its transmitter is on Salem Mountain Road, near U.S. Route 6 in Carbondale.Radio-Locator.com/WQFN Programming is also heard on two FM translators: 96.1 in Clarks Summit and 102.1 in Scranton.

History

WMJW, WEAY, WTZR

On October 31, 1973, the station signed on the air as WMJW.[2] It was owned by Thunder Broadcasting and carried an automated adult contemporary format. In 1988, it changed its call sign to WEAY and switched again in 1994 to WTZR.

WQFM Oldies

The call letters became WQFM in 1996. It played oldies of the 1960s and 70s, known as "Oldies 92 and 100", then switched to Hot Adult Contemporary, branded as QFM and later The Q. On June 30, 2008, the station dropped the Hot AC format and began playing music exclusively from The Beatles. On July 3, 2008, the station switched back to an oldies format, branded as "Cool 92.1 and 100.1".

In addition, it was the flagship station of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins minor league hockey team until 2009. Tom Grace was the play-by-play announcer for the "Baby Pens" for the majority of the franchise's existence prior to the 2007–2008 season, when former local TV weatherman Scott Stuccio replaced him.

WFUZ Alternative Rock

On September 16, 2010, WQFM changed its format to alternative rock, branded as FM 92.1 and changed its call letters to WFUZ. It later began simulcasting the sports radio format, including ESPN Radio, from co-owned AM 630 WEJL. WFUZ returned to alternative rock as Fuzz 92.1 on September 19, 2012.[3] It switched its branding to Alt 92.1 on February 25, 2017.[4]

The station each summer held a small concert at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton, beginning in 2013. It was known as "Fuzz Fest," showcasing local and nation bands, especially groups that were looking to break through.[5]

Return to WQFM

On November 4, 2020, WFUZ dropped its alternative rock format and began playing Christmas music. On December 28, 2020, the station flipped to a 90's-leaning hot AC format as Q92.1, reinstating the WQFM calls.[6] [7] On November 15, 2021, co-owned 100.1 WQFN Forest City ended its simulcast of sports radio station 630 WEJL.[8] It began simulcasting the Hot AC format on WQFM.

On April 1, 2022, WQFM dismissed its DJs and rebranded as QFM. Additionally, the station dropped its focus on 90's hits and segued to a straight Hot AC format with current hits.[9]

External links

41.186°N -75.859°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WQFM-FM 92.1 MHz - Nanticoke, PA. 2023-09-18.
  2. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1976/C%20%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201976.pdf Information
  3. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/70540/wilkes-barre-gets-fuzzy/ Wilkes-Barre Gets Fuzzy
  4. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/116745/wfuz-rebrands-as-alt-92-1/ WFUZ Rebrands as Alt 92.1
  5. Web site: 92.1 Fuzz Fest. The 570. January 31, 2014.
  6. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/200905/wfuz-begins-stunting-as-christmas-92-1/ WFUZ Begins Stunting As Christmas 92.1
  7. Web site: Q92.1 Brings 90s And Now To Scranton/Wilkes-Barre . 2022-04-04 . RadioInsight . en-US.
  8. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/215362/q92-1-wilkes-barre-adds-simulcast-on-100-1-scranton/ Q92.1 Wilkes-Barre Adds Simulcast On 100.1 Scranton
  9. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/222624/wqfm-rebrands-as-qfm-with-playlist-shift/ WQFM Rebrands As QFM With Playlist Shift