City Dresden, Tennessee Branding Star 95.1 Frequency 95.1 MHz | Broadcast area Jackson, Tennessee Slogan Classic Hits and More First air date November 18, 1991 | |
WCDZ (95.1 FM "Star 95.1") is a radio station broadcasting a "Classic Hits" format. Owned by Thunderbolt Broadcasting of Martin, Tennessee and West Kentucky, USA, WCDZ began broadcasting in 1991 as WJZK and later changed call letters to WGNN. Valley Wide Broadcasting, whose principals included Ray Smith and John Latham of Camden, Tennessee, sold the radio station to Thunderbolt Broadcasting.
Contents
History
WCDZ began broadcasting November 18, 1991 as WJZK. The original format was Lee Abrams' Classic Rock from the Satellite Music Network in Dallas, Texas.
The station was the first in the West Tennessee area to broadcast digitally 24 hours a day.
The station's format changed on March 1, 1992, to a 24-7 Southern Gospel format, changing its call-sign to WGNN which stood for the Good News Network.
Thunderbolt Broadcasting purchased the radio station on February 28, 1994, and changed the call letters to WCDZ. The station changed formats again to Country.
WCDZ FM carried the Jones Radio Network's CD Country and also added the Atlanta Braves and Tennessee Vols sports.
In 1998, the station changed to "Goodtime Oldies" from the Jones Radio Network, playing music from the late 50s to the early 70s, with primary focus on music of the 60s. That change proved to be very successful for the station. On October 8, 2010, WCDZ modified its programming to classic hits and is now called "Star 95.1." The station abandoned the satellite format in 2013 and now broadcasts with all music programmed locally.
WCDZ-FM is a member of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association (KBA), the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters (TAB), the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)and the International Broadcaster's Idea Bank (IBIB.)
Technical information
WCDZ's tower site is located off Evergreen Street in Dresden, Tennessee. The station's studio is co-located with WCMT (AM 1410) and WCMT-FM (101.3 FM) at 1410 North Lindell Street in Martin, Tennessee. WCDZ-FM, WCMT-FM, and WCMT-AM are a part of the Thunderbolt family and also includes KYTN-FM and WQAK-FM in Union City, Tennessee.