- WERG
Infobox Radio Station
name = 90.5 WERG
airdate =1972
frequency = 90.5 (MHz)
city =Erie, Pennsylvania
area =
format = Alternative
owner =Gannon University
erp = 3,000Watt s
branding = "90.5 WERG"
slogan = "Erie's Rock Alternative"
class = D
website = http://www.wergfm.com
callsign_meaning = Education Radio GannonWERG (90.5 FM) is an
alternative music formatted collegeradio station inErie, Pennsylvania . The station is owned byGannon University . Its transmitter is located in Summit Township.History
WERG began in 1970 after a group of college engineering students wanted to establish a radio station on campus. Rev. Thomas McSweeney assumed the position of faculty advisor for the channel, and in December 1972, WERG hit the air on 89.1 FM.
Originally located in the basement of the Zurn Science Center, WERG's offices were moved to the now-former Schuster Theatre in 1977. The studio remained in Zurn.
In 1980, Pittsburgh's WTAE AM donated a Westinghouse transmitter to the station, allowing Gannon's students to transmit over the air throughout the entire city of Erie. The channel relocated to 89.9 FM.
During much of the 1980s, WERG was known as Rock 89. The station operated a normal weekly rock format and paused on weekends for Super Soul Saturday.
Looking for a new identity to bring in the 1990s and a new modern rock format, WERG changed its on air name to Energy FM 90 on Aug. 29, 1989.
WERG technology improved with the addition of
compact disc players in the studios in 1990.During the 90s, WERG played popular modern rock music.
In Sept. 2000, the station's offices and studio were relocated from Schuster Theatre and the Zurn Science Center to the Walker Building.
On June 30, 2005, at 9:50 a.m., WERG flipped its radio dial location from 89.9 to 90.5 FM after
FCC approval had been given to relocate the station's 3,000-watt tower toWQLN-FM .Programming
Weekday Programming
*"The Morning Wake-Up" 7-9 a.m.
*WERG Mid-days 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
*Afternoon Drive 4-6 p.m.
*WERG Evenings 6 p.m.-Midnight
*WERG Overnite Midnight-7 a.m.Weekly Specialty Programs
*"Fazed Cookies" Mondays 9 p.m.-Midnight
*"The Tuesday Top 30" Tuesdays 6-9 p.m.
*"The Prime Time Sports Guys" Thursdays 6-9 p.m.Weekend Programming
*"Super Soul Saturday" from Saturday at 12 a.m. until Sunday at 9 a.m.
*"Festa Italiana" Sundays 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
*"Potencia Latina" Sundays 12-3 p.m.
*"The Polka Party" Sundays 3-7 p.m.
*Services from the "First United Methodist Church of Erie" Sundays 7-8 p.m.
*"Lino At Large" Sundays 8-8:30 p.m.
*"Lincoln Radio Journal" Sundays 8:30-9 p.m.uper Soul Saturday
Though Super Soul Saturday has been part of WERG since the beginning, the weekend format block has existed since 1979.
For 33 hours every weekend, a variety of soul, R&B, gospel, blues, jazz, rap, club and hip-hop music is broadcast on WERG.
uper Soul Saturday personalities
*Winston "Sony" Ellis (1975), worked at WUFO and WKBW in Buffalo, NY;
*Steve Collins (1975), worked 1330 AMWRIE and K104 (WCCK) in Erie before leaving to work atKDIA andKBLX inSan Francisco, California andBerkley, California
*Harry Hairston (1977), worked forWQLN-FM , WSEE 35 andWICU before joining Fox 2 inDetroit, Michigan
*James "Jim Christopher" Eaton, worked at WQLN, 1450 WEYZ, WLVU Stereo 99, Q1400 WBLQ and currently does weekend shifts atWXKC Classy 100
*Several current staff members were employed with Q1400 WBLQ in the eighties, including Homer "Lee" Smith, Bobby K, Timmie Mack, Danny "Mr. J" Jones, The Captain, John "Chilly J" Norton, Dorothy Smith, andDJ Nilla
*Mike Carbone (Mike West) joined Super Soul Saturday with broadcast experience at WBLK FM in Buffalo andCING-FM inToronto, Canada , was awarded Top Mix DJ in the US in 1990 by the Westwood One Radio Network after winning their nationwide Club Mix CompetitionExternal links
* [http://www.wergfm.com/ WERG official website]
* [http://www.wergfm.com/background.html WERG History]
* [http://www.wergfm.com/SuperSoulHistory.html Super Soul Saturday History]
*FMQ|WERG
*FML|WERG
*FMARB|WERG
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