WXRX

Infobox Radio station
name = WXRX


city = Belvidere, Illinois
area =
branding =
slogan = "The X"
airdate = 1971 (as WKWL-FM)
frequency = 104.9 MHz
format = Active Rock
power =
erp = 3,460 watts
haat = 107.0 meters
class = A
facility_id = 672
coordinates = coord|42|19|21.00|N| 88|57|14.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = WYBR-FM (1976-1990)
owner = Maverick Media of Rockford License LLC
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast = [http://www.wxrx.com/pages/299457.php listen live]
website = [http://www.wxrx.com wxrx.com]
affiliations =

WXRX (commonly known as "The X") is an FM radio station, frequency 104.9, based in Rockford, Illinois, created by a company called "Radio Works" and now owned by Maverick Media. Originally a classic rock station, the X today is a rock station in Rockford.

The station has four shows: Bob & Tom in the morning, Captain Jack in midday, Stone and Double T (Jim Stone and Terry Turen)in the afternoon, and Driver at night. Stepanie hosts the 'Pit' each Sunday with the "hardest metal" on the radio.

Other popular disc jockeys that have worked for WXRX include Jonathon Brandmeier, Tim Crull, Sky "The Legend" Drysdale, and Jamie Markley.

In the 1992 motion picture, "Batman Returns", WXRX is a fictional television station in Gotham City.

History

The station went on the air as WKWL on February 27, 1971 playing a "Good Music" format and affiliated with the ABC news network. The 300 foot tower was co-located with the studios on N. Bell School Road in Rockford. [The 1972 Broadcasting Yearbook] A fire in the basement where the transmitter was located burned the entire building to the ground.

The license was acquired in December, 1974, and the station was rebuilt at the Cherryvale Mall. It returned to the air in 1976 with the call letters WYBR (for "Yellow Brick Road"), transmitting from a 300' tower in the Cherryvale parking lot, with studios inside the mall in suite E-114. [The 1978 Broadcasting Yearbook]

The initial format was termed "Theatre of the Mind", and the first airstaff included many people with theatrical background. Actress Susan Saint James was a frequent visitor and contributor to station programming elements. The format gradually migrated to an Adult Contemporary/MOR format in the late 70s. Jonathon Brandmeier was the morning show host from 1978 to 1980.

The station changed to Top 40 in 1983, then to Classic rock in October, 1986.

External links

*fmq|WXRX
* [http://www.wxrx.com Official Website of WXRX]