WWHG

Infobox Radio Station


name = WWHG
airdate =
frequency = 105.9 (MHz)
city = Evansville, Wisconsin
area = Madison, WI, Janesville, WI, Beloit, WI, Rockford, IL
format = Album-oriented rock
owner = Good Karma Broadcasting
erp = 1,700 watts
haat = 147 meters
branding = "105-9 The Hog"
slogan = "Everything That Rocks"
class = A
facility_id = 59612
website = [http://www.1059thehog.com/ www.1059thehog.com]
callsign_meaning = W W HoG
former_callsigns = WEBU (1988-1989), WMJB (1989-1997), WKPO (1997-2007)

WWHG (105.9 FM MHz) is a radio station licensed to Evansville, Wisconsin and serving the areas of Madison, Janesville, and Beloit, Wisconsin and Rockford, Illinois. The station is owned by Good Karma Broadcasting and began a new hard rock music format as "105-9 The Hog" on January 13, 2007, after several years with a Rhythmic Top 40 format.

History

area as its format was unique to that market.

At Midnight January 10, 2007, WKPO abruptly dropped Rhythmic Top 40. After looping "Hip Hop Is Dead" by Nas all day January 10th, the station reverted to a stunt of different music from different formats, with voiceovers suggesting any one of them could be the new format that would launch on January 13, 2007. At 10AM on the 13th, WKPO's new format was unveiled: album-oriented rock as "105.9 The Hog," promising "Everything that rocks, not just from one decade." "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana were the first two songs played on the new "105-9 The Hog."

The new format and the "Hog" imaging are a direct copy of Saga Communications-owned WHQG in Milwaukee ("102.9 The Hog"). Indeed, "105-9 The Hog" airs the Bob and Brian show--a program that originates from WHQG--during its morning drive time. (The show had aired on sister station WTLX since 2003.)

Coinciding with the format switch, the station's call letters changed from WKPO to WWHG (although in the days immediately after the flip, the station did identify themselves with the calls "WHGG" [http://rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070115/NEWS/101150043/-1/NEWSNOW] ).

However, the Rhythmic format would make a surprise return to the Madison radio market on January 26, 2007 when WSLK dropped their simulcast of WHLK to become WJQM, "106.7 Jamz." When the "Wisconsin State Journal" asked Keith Williams, general manager of WWHG, about the format being picked up by another outlet in the market, he said has no regrets about switching off the rap music, but he said he'll listen to the new hip-hop station. "I love the format," Williams said. "I wish them the best of luck."

External links

* [http://www.1059thehog.com "105-9 The Hog" WWHG official website]
*FMQ|WWHG
*FML|WWHG
* [http://www.myspace.com/1059thehog MySpace page for "105-9 The Hog"]
* [http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2007/01/13/0701130083.php "Wisconsin State Journal" from 5/3/2003: Young listeners seek hip-hop radio]
*Articles from [http://www.channel3000.com/news/10727905/detail.html WISC-TV] and [http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2007/01/13/0701130083.php 'Capital Times"] on WKPO dropping "Hot 105.9"
* [http://www.madison.com/post/blogs/emcees/114784 Madison.com Post blog on the change to "The Hog"]