WQNC

WQNC (92.7 FM) is a mainstream urban radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina owned and operated by Radio One. The station's studios are located in South Charlotte near the Carowinds, and the transmitter site is in Charlotte's Newell South neighborhood.

WQNC
CityHarrisburg, North Carolina
Broadcast areaCharlotte/Metrolina
Frequency92.7 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding92.7 The Block
SloganNonstop Hip-Hop and R&B
Programming
FormatMainstream urban
Ownership
OwnerUrban One
(Radio One of North Carolina, LLC)
WPZS, WOSF, WBT (AM), WBT-FM, WLNK, WFNZ
History
First air date
February 1995 (1995-02) (as WCCJ)
Former call signs
WCCJ (1995–2001)
WCHH (2001–2004)
WQNC (2004–2012)
WPZS (2012–2015)
Technical information
Facility ID28898
ClassC3
ERP10,500 watts
HAAT154 meters (505 ft)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website927theblock.com

History

The station signed on as WCCJ in February 1995 with a commercial-free free-form rock format. Due to low advertising rates, in June 1995, the station changed to smooth jazz,[1] and would flip again to rhythmic oldies as "92.7 the Jam" on August 22, 1999.[2]

On April 2, 2001, WCCJ flipped to mainstream urban as Hot 92.7, with new call letters WCHH, taking on urban/hip hop station WPEG.[3][4] It did well in the ratings at first, knocking heritage station WPEG down to 6th place in the market,[5] but later declined, so it was flipped to urban AC on January 21, 2004 as "Q92.7", along with a call letter change to WQNC. WQNC took over Tom Joyner's show from longer standing urban AC rival WBAV-FM soon after that.[6][7] WBAV subsequently answered back by signing on as an affiliate for a new syndicated show hosted by Joyner's rival, Steve Harvey.

My 92.7 ident used until 2012.

On May 15, 2008, WQNC added two talk shows: the New York City based "Keeping It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton," and the "Warren Ballentine Show." [8]

In October 2009, WQNC rebranded as "My 92.7", changed to a more contemporary sound, dropping the talk show hosts other than Joyner, and adding energetic music from such artists as Usher, Patti LaBelle and Whitney Houston.[9] The slogan was "R&B from the 80s, 90s, and Now", although some 70s disco/soul/R&B songs remained on the playlist.[10]

On August 31, 2011, Radio One announced its intention to sell off their Charlotte stations to Davis Broadcasting,[11] but in April 2012, the deal fell through, and Radio One decided to keep the stations.[12]

On August 27, 2012, WQNC began directing listeners on air and online to sister station WNOW-FM. Imaging teased that something 'inspirational' was coming.

On September 13, 2012, at Midnight, WQNC began simulcasting sister WPZS. WQNC and WPZS also swapped call letters on the same day.[13][14][15] The two stations provide a strong combined signal with 60 percent overlap.

WPZS recently increased power to 10.5 kW and height to 154 meters. Construction was completed in October 2013.[16]

Logo during simulcast of 100.9, 2012-2015

On August 14, 2015, 92.7 began stunting with all-Drake as "Drake 92.7", promoting a new format to come the following Monday, August 17, at 5 PM. Along with this, 92.7 reverted to their original callsign of WQNC, with 100.9 retaining the gospel format and the WPZS call letters.[17]

At the promised time, WQNC flipped back to Urban as "92.7 The Block", taking direct aim at WPEG (as well as WGIV/W277CB). The first song on "The Block" was "Tha Block Is Hot" by Lil Wayne.[18]

References
  1. Tim Funk, "James Back to Interview Colleagues," The Charlotte Observer, June 20, 1995.
  2. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1999/RR-1999-08-27.pdf
  3. Mark Washburn, "WCCJ Goes Hip-hop As Ratings Fade Out for Rhythmic Oldies with New Sound," The Charlotte Observer, April 3, 2001.
  4. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-04-06.pdf
  5. Mark Washburn, "Radio Competitor Leaves Favorite Singing Sad Song," The Charlotte Observer, July 28, 2001.
  6. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-01-30.pdf
  7. Mark Washburn and Tonya Jameson, "No. 1 Morning Radio Show Swaps Stations in Charlotte," The Charlotte Observer, January 23, 2004.
  8. Mark Washburn, "Sharpton to Headline New Format at Radio Station," The Charlotte Observer, May. 14, 2008.
  9. http://www.yes.com/#WQNC
  10. http://my927charlotte.com/
  11. "Davis Broadcasting To Purchase WQNC and WPZS". allaccess.com. 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  12. "Battle on way for urban radio" from The Charlotte Observer (August 17, 2012)
  13. "Praise Charlotte Takes Over 92.7". Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  14. "Call Sign History (WQNC)". Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  15. "Call Sign History (WPZS)". Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  16. "FM Query Results (WPZS)". Audio Division (FCC) USA. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  17. Non-Stop Drake Launches in Charlotte
  18. Praise 92.7 Becomes The Block

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