WXXB

Infobox Radio Station
name = WXXB


city =
area = Lafayette, Indiana
branding = B102-9
slogan = Today's Hit Music
airdate = 1989
frequency = 102.9 (MHz)
format = Contemporary hit radio
erp = 2,750 watts
class = A
owner = WASK, Inc.
website = [http://www.b1029.com]
callsign_meaning =

WXXB, "The New B102-9" is an FM radio station licensed to the city of Delphi, Indiana. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 102.9 MHz, FM channel 275. [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=72676] . The studios are located at 3575 McCarty Lane in Lafayette, Indiana. The tower is located in rural Northeastern Tippecanoe County near the town of Buck Creek, Indiana.

History

WXXB signed on the air in early 1989 as WNJY, Joy 103, featuring an oldies format. In the mid-1990s, Joy 103 renamed itself "Oldies 103" and began aiming programming toward the Lafayette market using the top of the hour station identification "WNJY Delphi/Monticello...Lafayette's Oldies Station!" followed by an "Oldies 103" sing. As Oldies 103, the station featured mainly network programming from Jones Radio Networks' Goodtime Oldies format with the exception of Rich Anthony's local midday shift. The station earned respectable ratings in Lafayette, according to Arbitron in the mid-90s, which ultimately lead WASK-A/F to drop their news/talk format in favor of oldies in 1997. When WNJY was sold to RadioWorks in 1999, the station moved to Lafayette and programming from Goodtime Oldies was dropped. Shortly thereafter, RadioWorks requested a construction permit to move the station's tower closer to Lafayette, which got approved.

While the tower was being built, there was speculation around the market as to what RadioWorks would do with their move-in frequency. WASK-FM already had the market cornered in oldies with high school oldies station WJEF being a very distant second place among listeners. Initially, the new station was going to become Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio as 102-9 The Beat. However with the growing popularity of crosstown mainstream CHR outlet, WAZY, it was determined that the station would sign on with Contemporary hit radio and go into a head-to-head battle with the 50,000 watt station. Once the tower was built in northeastern Tippecanoe County and began broadcasting from that location, WXXB, The New B102-9, signed on in June 2001.

To this day, B102-9 gets very respectable numbers among its core demo, particularly 12-24 and 18-34 year-old females. In the most recent ratings run for Spring 2006, WXXB beat Heritage CHR WAZY-FM in the Male/Female 12-17 year old demo and took first place with men 18-34 in that demo for the first time.

Programming

WXXB stays true to the Top 40 format and focuses mainly on today's hits. The station also features live and local air personalities through many dayparts, including weekends. Syndicated programming includes the MTV TRL Weekend Countdown.

External links

* [http://www.b1029.com B102-9 Website]
* [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=72676 WXXB FCC Information]