WUSH

Infobox Radio station
name = WUSH


city = Poquoson, Virginia
area = Hampton Roads
branding = "US106"
slogan = "America's Country"
airdate = 2001 - Exmore
2004 - Poquoson
frequency = 106.1 MHz
format = Country
power =
erp = 2,600 watts
haat = 153 meters
class = A
facility_id = 78447
coordinates =
callsign_meaning = W United States Hampton (Roads)
former_callsigns = WEXM (2001-2003)
WKOC (2003-2004)
WPYA (2004-2004)
WKCK (2004-2005)
WZNR (2005-2006)
WNRJ (2006-2007)
WUFH (12/20/2007-1/2/2008)
WUSH (2008-Present)
owner = Sinclair Communications
licensee = Commonwealth Broadcasting, LLC
sister_stations = WNIS, WROX-FM, WPYA, WTAR
webcast = [http://wmc1.liquidcompass.cc/WUSH Listen Live]
website = [http://www.us1061.com/ WUSH Online]
affiliations =

WUSH is a Country formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Poquoson, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. The station is owned and operated by Sinclair Communications.

History

WUSH originally signed on the air in 2001 as WEXM in Exmore, Virginia on the Eastern Shore. It used to simulcast 93.7 WKOC (later WKCK) in Chesapeake, VA which would last until early 2004, when the FCC granted them the green light to move the signal to a transmitter site in Hampton, VA despite objections by Saga Communications, who filed a petition to keep Sinclair from making the signal move-in official (which the FCC later denied). WEXM briefly had the WKOC calls from December 2003 to February 2004.

This frequency was also home to Sinclair's translator for Alternative rock music outlet WROX-FM. In 1995, they fired up the translator which was to help eliminate signal dropout in the downtown area on 96.1. The on-air positioning statement was "106-1 Downtown, 96-1 All Around - 96X." Tidewater Communications, which owned rocker 'FM99' WNOR and '106.9 The Fox' WAFX at the time, filed a petition with the FCC to deny WROX a construction permit. WROX collected more than 3,000 signatures from listeners requesting 96X be granted the go-ahead which it was by the FCC. The translator signed-off on March 7, 2004. On March 7, 2004, the 106.1 signal would debut as Adult Hits WPYA "106.1 Bob-FM". Swapped signals and formats with Country sister WKCK and became "Kick 106" on September 23rd, 2004. That would last until February 4, 2005, when it flipped again to Top 40/CHR as WZNR, "The Zone @ 106.1." The station was hoping to fill the market's Mainstream Top 40 void that was left open by WNVZ in 1993 by giving listeners "All The Hits, Not Just Some Of Them."

But on September 21, 2006 at 12:04PM(ET) WZNR exited the "Zone" by segueing from the All-American Rejects' "Move Along" to an introduction to the new "Energy 106.1, Music That Makes You Move" followed by its first song in the new format, Bob Sinclar's "Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)"."cite web| url = http://www.formatchange.com/chr-1061-wznr-becomes-rhythmic-ac-energy-1061-wnrj/| title = CHR 106.1 WZNR becomes Rhythmic AC “Energy 106.1″ WNRJ| accessmonthday = December 17| accessyear = 2007| date = 2006-09-21| work = FormatChange.com, The Format Change Archive] WNRJ's format, branding and logo are also extremely similar to that of [http://www.burnsradio.com Alan Burns'] Movin' format. Although this station was billing themselves as a "Rhythmic Hot AC," WNRJ was expected to lean slightly towards a Dance direction (as evidenced by the Sinclair track they launched with). [cite web| url = http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4483064-1.html| title = WZNR/Norfolk Flips To WNRJ As 'Energy 106-1' | accessmonthday = December 17| accessyear = 2007| last = Visakowitz| first = Susan| date = 2006-09-21| work = AllBusiness Radio Monitor ]

In January 2007 their playlist began to shift towards Rhythmic Contemporary by incorporation R&B/Hip-Hop product into the mix as a way to boost the ratings, but during the summer they started dropping a majority of Rhythmic product and dismissed the air staff after showing dismal numbers in the Arbitrons. On August 27, WNRJ shifted formats to Adult Top 40, with the current Hot AC Pop/Rock fare mixed in with the Rhythmic crossovers that were held over from the previous format. [cite web| url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-168338817.html| title = WNRJ now Hot Adult Contemporary| accessmonthday = December 17| accessyear = 2007| last = Maisey| first = Jeff| date = 2007-08-31| work = The Virginian Pilot ]

December 2007 relaunch

On December 14, 2007 just before 2PM(ET) and after playing its final song, "Bye Bye Bye" by NSync, WNRJ went Country again, temporarily playing and repeating 24/7 Garth Brooks songs and calling it "Garth 106." On December 15, 2007 106.1 began repeating 24/7 Rascal Flatts songs and this time calling it "Rascal 106". On December 16, 2007 106.1 began repeating 24/7 Kenny Chesney songs and this time calling it "Chesney 106". On December 17, 2007 106.1 began repeating 24/7 Martina McBride songs and this time calling it "Martina 106". On December 18, 2007 106.1 began repeating 24/7 George Strait songs and this time calling it "Strait 106".

This format stunting was due to a change in the station's studios and content. [cite web | url = http://radioinsight.com/broadcast-buzz/wnrj-norfolkvirginia-beach-stunting/ | title = WNRJ Norfolk/Virginia Beach Stunting | accessmonthday = December 17 | accessyear = 2007 | date = 2007-12-14 | work = Radio Insight] The station debuted as WUSH "US106, America's Country" at 5 p.m. on December 18, 2007. On December 20, 2007, though, the station took the WUFH call sign. The station continued to ID as "WUSH," signaling a possible goof with either the station or the FCC. The call letters were corrected on January 2, 2008.

New Tower

On August 15th, 2008 The FCC granted a request from Sinclair Communications to move the antenna and increase the power of WUSH Poquoson. Owner Bob Sinclair also made the announcement on-air at 5 p.m.

The New Tower can be found at [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WUSH&service=FM&status=C&hours=U Radio Locator]

Format change audio

* [http://www.vartv.com/media/wnrj01.wma WZNR says goodbye to "The Zone"...and says hello to "Energy"]
* [http://www.vartv.com/media/WNRJ02.wma WNRJ flips to "stunting" country as "Garth 106"]
* [http://www.vartv.com/media/WUSH01.wma WNRJ becomes "US106"]

References

* [http://www.tinageorge.com/wkck/index.shtml Kick 106.1 WKCK archive website (hosted by site designer Tina George)]

External links

* [http://www.us1061.com/ US-106 Online]
*FMQ|WUSH
*FML|WUSH
*FMARB|WUSH