- WQAM
Infobox Radio station
name = WQAM
city = Miami,Florida
branding = "Sportsradio 560 WQAM"
slogan =
airdate = February 1921
frequency = 560 kHz
format = Sports Talk
erp = 5,000watt s (day) 1,000 watts (night)
class = B
affiliations =ESPN Radio Miami Dolphins Miami Hurricanes [http://www.ispsports.com/radio_network.cfm?school_id=42 ACC Radio Network]
owner =Beasley Broadcast Group
callsign_meaning = We're Quality AM Radio
facility_id =
website = http://www.wqam.comWQAM (560 AM, "Sportsradio 560") is a
South Florida radio station owned byBeasley Broadcast Group . The call letters WQAM were claimed to stand for We Quit At Midnight ... since the station signed off at midnight every night until 6 AM the next morning.History
The station has claimed to be Florida's first radio station, going on the air in February 1921. [ [http://members.aol.com/jeff560/am9.html AM Broadcasting History - Various Articles] ] However, the station was not licensed as WQAM until January 1923.
The station is famous for its days in the 1960s, under ownership of Storz Broadcasting, when it presented a
pop music format and competed vigorously with rival WFUN (at 790 AM). These years were the WQAM "glory years." In1964 , WQAM promotedthe Beatles heavily prior to their second appearance onThe Ed Sullivan Show , which took place in Miami Beach.In 1979, after many years as contemporary music station, competition from FM competitors forced the station to switch to a country music format, but not after running a montage of music and sound bites from its Top 40 days.
Around 1992, WQAM became an all-sports station. Former
Miami Dolphins playerJim Mandich hosts afternoon drive, 4-7 PM. FormerMiami Dolphins playerJoe Rose hosts AM drive, 7-10 AM. WQAM was for a short while the local affiliate of theHoward Stern morning show. The "Big O", Orlando Alzugaray hosts early mornings, 5-7 AM as well as 2-4 PM.WQAM still interrupts its all-sports format to air a general
talk show hosted byNeil Rogers from 10 AM-2 PM. It remains the station's highest rated show by far.Currently, WQAM is the University of Miami Hurricanes and
Miami Dolphins flagship station.ports properties
*
Miami Dolphins (1997-2004, 2007-2009)
*Miami Heat (1988-1993, currently on Newsradio 610 WIOD)
*Florida Marlins (1993-2007),currently on 790 The Ticket)
*Florida Panthers (1993-2007, currently on 790 The Ticket)
*University of Miami Hurricanes (1999-Present)
*ESPN Radio 's coverage of theBowl Championship Series andNBA Finals
*Many ESPN Radio talk showsReferences
External links
* [http://www.wqam.com WQAM official website]
*AMQ|WQAM
*AML|WQAM
*AMARB|WQAM
* [http://radiopages.net/radio/rickshaw2001.html Rick Shaw Remembers WQAM Tiger Radio (South Florida Radio History article by Rick Shaw)]
* [http://www.560.com WQAM Tribute Site]
* [http://www.neilrogers.com Official Neil Rogers site]
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