Branding Z107.5 First air date 1996 | Frequency 107.5 MHz | |
City Southport, North Carolina Broadcast area Wilmington, North Carolina Slogan Wilmington's #1 Hit Music Station | ||
WAZO (107.5 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR) format. Licensed to Southport, North Carolina, USA, the station serves the Wilmington area. WAZO is currently owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company. Z107.5 now plays "Top 40" artists; including: Pitbull, Iggy Azalea, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, and others.
History
For many years, WJYW "Joy 107" in Southport, North Carolina, played beautiful music. The format had a negative reputation as one intended only for older listeners, intended only as background music.
In February 1986, Will Bowen became WJYW station manager, and soon the station was successful with a new version of easy listening music, with "ultra-contemporary" from Bonneville Broadcasting replacing "matched flow". The target audience was 25-54, with more vocals and more instrumental versions of newer songs. The station also had more live DJs. Bowen said, "We're not an easy listening station. We're a radio station that happens to play easy listening music." In 1986, the "Year of Relaxation" won WJYW a national award for creativity. Owner Atlantic Broadcasting, which took over the station when it was having problems, asked for a power increase from 3,000 to 50,000 watts. By this time, the station offices were in Wilmington.
In the late 1980s, WJYW changed its name to WSFM "Surf 107.5", and changed its format to album oriented rock. During the 1990s, Surf 107.5 changed to modern rock.
The local "Morning Disaster with Bryan & Jim," featuring Bryan Keith and Jim Whitmeyer, aired on WSFM for more than ten years. Then-owner Sea-Comm moved the show to Classic Rock sister WBNE when Surf signed the syndicated "Lex and Terry."
In July 2004, NextMedia Group purchased WRQR, WAZO, and WMFD from Ocean Broadcasting, and WKXB and WSFM from Sea-Comm Inc. The sale meant WSFM and WAZO would trade frequencies. JoJo, Jamie and Flave of Bob 93.3 in Greenville, North Carolina joined what was now Z107.5.
In July 2008, Capitol Broadcasting announced its purchase of NextMedia's Wilmington stations.
On July 31, 2009 wattage increased to 75,000 watts.
The signal can often be received as far away as Raleigh, North Carolina during strong times of DXing.