WMKK

Infobox Radio station
name = WMKK


city = Lawrence
area = Greater Boston
branding = "93-7 Mike FM"
slogan = "We Play Everything"
airdate = 1960s
frequency = 93.7 (MHz) HD Radio
93.7 HD-2 for Rhythmic AC
format = Adult Hits
erp = 34,000 watts
haat = 179 meters
class = B
facility_id = 1919
owner = Entercom
licensee = Entercom Boston License, LLC
webcast = [http://wmc1.liquidviewer.net/WMKK Listen Live]
website = [http://www.937mikefm.com/ 937mikefm.com]
callsign_meaning = MiKe
former_callsigns = WLAW-FM
WGHJ
WCCM-FM (?-1984)
WCGY (1984-1994)
WEGQ (1994-1999)
WQSX (1999-2005)|

WMKK (93.7 FM, "93.7 Mike FM") is a radio station licensed to serve Lawrence, Massachusetts. The station plays a wide variety of popular music, serving as the Boston market's answer to the Jack FM craze. The lean is adult rock hits though some non-rock is played as well. The music spans from 1964 to a few current hits with heavy emphasis on '70s-'80s-'90s rock hits. The station currently has no airstaff. The types of music range from hard rock to alternative to pop rock to disco to some Rhythm and blues product. Its transmitter is located in Peabody, Massachusetts.

WMKK is an HD Radio licensee and in addition to its regular programming also broadcasts Funkytown HD2, a recreation of its old dance music format as WQSX, as its secondary digital program.

History

In the station's early days as WLAW-FM, WGHJ, and WCCM-FM, 93.7 aired locally based programming that targeted Lawrence and the Merrimack Valley. Before long, the station evolved into WCGY, a top 40 station that targeted the Greater Boston, Massachusetts area, due to the signal's strength. The call letters were chosen with the owner in mind. Curt Gowdy and his children owned and operated the station until the sale to American Radio Systems in 1994.

In 1983 WCGY flipped to an oldies format playing hits of the '50s and '60s. The station, however, did not perform well in the Boston ratings. Some early to mid '70s oldies were mixed in by 1984 and by 1985 the '50s music was gone. The station by then was called "Superhits WCGY". By 1986 the station leaned slightly toward classic rock still playing mostly music from 1964 to 1974. By 1987 WCGY evolved to more of a classic rock format and held on to this format until 1994. From 1992-1994 they were called "Rock 93, WCGY"

In 1994, immediately after the station was sold to American Radio Systems, WCGY became '70s-formatted WEGQ "Eagle 93.7", which received many changes over its five year existence. Initially they played music from 1970-79 ranging from classic rock to disco to pop to pop/rock to novelty to easy listening. As time went on they added late '60s and early '80s music. By 1995 they also leaned classic rock. The station's most notable air talent was likely its morning show, "Karlson and McKenzie".

After American Radio Systems was acquired by CBS/Westinghouse, the combined company was required to sell two of their FM stations, along with three AM stations. WEGQ, along with WEEI, WRKO, and WAAF, was sold to Entercom Communications.

After the sale, Entercom changed WEGQ's format, as from April 1, 1999 until April 14, 2005, the station was WQSX "Star 93.7", which was a format that could be described as a combination of '70s and '80s-soul music, dance music, rhythmic hit music, and rhythmic adult contemporary tracks. This format, however, didn't catch any fire in the Arbitron ratings. However, on January 19, 2006 they would bring the format back as a HD2 subcarrier. The format is also available online as an internet-only station. During 2001, controversial "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch was a morning host briefly.

On April 14, 2005, WQSX became the current WMKK. Inside Radio, a radio industry publication, released information that had this change not taken place, Infinity Broadcasting (interestingly, the group that was prohibited from owning 93.7 itself back in the late 1990s, and is now known as CBS Radio) reportedly would have transformed either WBMX or WZLX to Jack FM on April 15.

Following the Boston Red Sox victory in the 2007 World Series, the station re-branded itself as 93.7 Mike Lowell FM after the third baseman for one day.

Funkytown HD2

Funkytown HD2, is a Rhythmic AC HD2 subcarrier and Internet radio station belonging to WMKK/Boston, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Entercom Communications. Its slogan is "The Rhythm of Boston".

Prior to being an HD2, the station was originally on the airwaves as a terrestrial FM as WQSX. It's slogan was Star 93.7 "Boston's Feel Good Station" where it had a moderate but successful run from April 1, 1999 to April 14, 2005, when Entercom flipped it to a Variety Hits format as WMKK "MIKE-FM". That move was criticized by Star's listeners, who were upset that they would flip a week before a concert event that they were sponsoring. Entercom would later bring the format back as an internet-only station, where it still can be heard online today, especially over Windows Media.

On January 19, 2006 Star would return to the airwaves as an HD2, this time as a commercial-free station with its mix of Dance, Disco, and Rhythmic Top 40 hits from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and today remaining intact. Although it is jockless at times, they have started using a few voice-tracked DJs, most notably former Star and current WRKO personality Anthony "Pic" Picarello, to the station.

In 2007 WMKK-HD2 changed its moniker from "Star HD" to "Funkytown HD" to reflect its diverse mix of Dance and Disco fare.

External links

* [http://www.937mikefm.com/ WMKK official website]
* [http://www.star937fm.com Website for Funkytown HD2]
*FMQ|WMKK
*FML|WMKK
*FMARB|WMKK