WNNX

Infobox Radio station


name = WNNX
airdate = January 12, 2001
frequency = 100.5 MHz HD Radio
city = College Park, Georgia
area = Atlanta metropolitan area
format = Mainstream rock
owner = Cumulus Media Partners
sister_stations = WWWQ
erp = 12,500 watts
haat = 298 meters
branding = "Rock 100.5"
slogan = "Atlanta's Rock Station"
class = C2
facility_id = 73345
former_callsigns = WHMA-FM, WWWQ
webcast = [http://www.streamaudio.com/stations/asx/WNNX_FM.asx Listen Live]
website = [http://www.atlantasrockstation.com www.atlantasrockstation.com]
callsign_meaning = Ninety-Nine X (previous )|

WNNX (100.5 FM, "Rock 100.5") is an Atlanta radio station that is owned and operated by Cumulus Media. It broadcasts from the same building as its other Atlanta sister stations WWWQ FM ("Q100", 99.7 MHz) and 99X. WNNX's main transmitter is located in downtown Atlanta atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel.

On Monday, January 28, 2008, at 6:00 a.m., The Regular Guys announced the debut of Rock 100.5, carrying a format similar to their previous station WKLS 96 Rock.

History

*2001-2008: WWWQ ("Q100", Top 40)
*2008-Present : WNNX ("Rock 100.5", Rock)

The 100.5 frequency has been in metro Atlanta, licensed to College Park since early 2001. Before then, the station was licensed to Anniston as WHMA-FM, broadcasting as country music station "Alabama 100". (After the move, the WHMA-FM callsign shifted to another frequency in that area and became WHMA-FM "The Big 95", 95.5 MHz))

Interested in moving the station to Atlanta, station owner Robert Gammon proposed that the station be re-licensed to Sandy Springs, and remain at 100,000 watts ERP (class C). The FCC ruled that Sandy Springs was "not a community", citing its unincorporated status and letters of support from local organizations in Sandy Springs that had "Atlanta" as the address, and declined the proposal. (An agreement had already been made with the nearest co-channel station, WSSL-FM in Upstate South Carolina for it to move further away, however the station was sold to Clear Channel Communications in the interim and the agreement was negated.)

After exhausting his funds in pursuit of the reallocation, Gammon sold the station to Susquehanna Radio. In a revised application before the FCC, Susquehanna proposed a different city of license, College Park. The FCC approved the application, but changed the class of the station from C (up to 100 kW at 600 meters or 1968 feet) down to C3 (up to 25 kW at 100 meters or 328 feet) to protect the licensed broadcast range of WSSL. Susquehanna was also forced to slightly null the station's signal in the direction of WSSL to stay in compliance with spacing rules. The move created spectrum space for two new radio stations in Alabama, but forced WGHR and W264AE off the air in the Atlanta area.

Q100

100.5's first format was Top 40 station WWWQ Q100, which made its debut in early 2001. Despite its limited signal, Q100 grew to the point that it often received higher Arbitron ratings than several of its 100,000-watt competitors, including sister station 99X.

Susquehanna continued to pursue a larger signal for the station, eventually earning approval from the FCC to upgrade from class C3 to class C2. The upgrade occurred on October 24, 2005 at 5:00 PM.

In 2006, Cumulus acquired the station from Susquehanna. On January 11, 2008, Cumulus announced that Q100 would move to the 100,000-watt signal at 99.7 MHz. Q100 was finally moved off of the 100.5 signal on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 5:45 AM.

Disc jockeys

"The Regular Guys"

Rock 100.5's morning show is "The Regular Guys", featuring Larry Wachs and Eric Von Haessler. The show also features "Southside" Steve Rickman and producer Tim Andrews, with Mark Owens on traffic.

"The Regular Guys" had a successful run at cross-town rival 96 Rock before being fired from for accidentally airing audio from a pornographic film. Wachs and Von Hasessler were rehired at sister station news-talk WGST before moving back to 96Rock for a second stint, but were fired again for secretly taping co-workers' conversation in the restroom.

Before doing traffic for "The Regular Guys", Owens served as producer for 99X's "New Morning X with Sean, Leslie, and Jenners". Before that, Owens was on sister station Q100 as "Phil Terrana", acting as The Bert Show's Assistant Producer and Man On The Street. ("Phil Terrana" is the real name of former Star 94 morning show host Steve McCoy.) Owens got his start at 99X working Saturday overnights.

Regular staff

* Axel Lowe. Presently the afternoon DJ for Rock 100.5. Previously hosted afternoons at 99X as a DJ from 1993 until 2008. Prior to moving to 99X afternoons, Lowe worked nights (after the departure of Will Pendarvis in 1995). Temporarily helmed the 99X morning show from spring until late September 2006. Also hosted "Southern Home by Design" on Turner South.
* English Nick. Hosts evenings (replacing the Matt C and Lewis show) since February 2008. Joined 99X in 2006 from 96 Rock. Also host to Metalsome Mondays.
* Matt "Organic" Jones. Hosts weekday overnights and 'Organic Sundays' on Rock 100.5. Previously hosted a long-time Sunday morning specialty show, "Organic X" on 99x (WNNX), which featured a softer and more acoustic side of alternative music. Started at Album 88 and moved to Springfield as a PD for Channel Z, before returning to Atlanta to join 99X.
* Erin became mid-day host in March 2008.

Former staff

*Matt C and Lewis. Briefly Rock 100.5 evening DJ team until February 2008. The Matt C and Lewis team originally started on 99X in 2007. Prior to becoming "on-air" talent, both Matt C and Lewis worked on 99X's promotional staff. Lewis can now be heard weeknights at 99x.com and WWWQ HD-2.

Rock 100.5 shows

* "Organic Sunday on Rock 100.5 with Matt Jones". Specialty show that features acoustic, live, and lighter rock hosted by Matt Jones with sidekick, Kyl. The show originated in 1996 as Organic X on 99X. "Organic Sunday" debuted on February 3, 2008.

Promotions and concerts

* Unplugged in the Park- A recurring free summer concert series presented at Park Tavern on the edge of Piedmont Park. Originated as 99X event featuring national and regional artists in an unplugged (acoustic) performance. Noted performances included the Frey, Regina Spektor, Blue October, Pete Yorn, Matt Costa and Missy Higgins among others.

Former DJs (pre-2008)

Q100.5

*Amy. Did weekends and fill-in. Is now middays at WFLZ in Tampa as Melissa Moran
* Lindsay Brien. Mornings. Before joining Q100's Bert Show, appeared as a cast member on MTV's The Real World Seattle season. Currently in Tampa working in television.
*Jet Davis. Weekender. Now Program Director and afternoon drive host at Cox Radio's WHZT in Greenville, SC as Jet Black.
* Dylan. Program director and afternoon drive. Left Q100 in December 2007 to Pd Alice 105.9 In Denver.
* "Mister Ed" Lambert. Program manager and mid-day drive back in Q100's beginning in 2001.
* Geller. Nights. Currently nights at G105 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
*KJ. Left to join XM Satellite Radio's 20 on 20 and weekends on WIHT Hot 99.5 Washington D.C.
* Jamie Massey. Covered morning and afternoon traffic for both Q100 and 99X. Massey is currently at KNIX in Phionex,Arizonia. . [ [http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/radiotalk/entries/2008/01/04/13_jamie_massey.html Access Atlanta's article on Jamie Massey's move to The Bull] ]
* Jeff Miles. Music Director and evening host. Went to San Francisco to handle afternoon drive for Energy 92.7 before heading to a KHKS-FM/Dallas, Texas as "Cruz." He has since transitioned to KSCS in Dallas as their morning show producer.
*Mark Owens (AKA "Phil Terrana"). Producer of The Bert Show. Currently board operator and traffic personality for the Regular Guys.
* Nicole Nilson Schaffrich. Weekends/overnights. Previously, she appeared on CBS's "Big Brother 2" reality TV show, finishing second. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1012133/bio]
*Tracy St George. Left in December, 2006 for the afteroon drive position at 97-9 WRMF in West Palm Beach, Florida
*Kevin Steele. Now programing director at WGMG and WPUP. Also current on-air personality weekday afternoons at Magic 102.1.
* Suzy Tavarez. Nights. A former Miami Dolphins cheerleader. Most recently at KIIS/Los Angeles. Posed for "Playboy" magazine's "Women of Radio" pictorial in late 2004/early 2005.

References

External links

*FMQ|WNNX
*FML|WNNX
*FMARB|WNNX