WGRR

History

Originally WHOH (Hamilton's FM sister to WMOH) when founded in 1959 by Fort Hamilton Broadcasting, which aired middle of the road and beautiful music through the 1960s. In 1973 the calls were changed to WYCH and again in 1978 to WOKV playing soft rock until a format switch to all disco in 1979. During this time it was known as "The Chicken" in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing. As disco lost steam in the 1980s, it switched to contemporary rock in early 1981 only to switch again to urban contemporary by years end as WBLZ. That format and call sign remained until 1990.

WGRR began broadcasting in January 1990 as Cincinnati's first FM oldies station, Oldies 103.5. The lineup then was Ken Matthews (morning drive), Tony Michaels and Gina Ruffin Moore (news), Toni Mason (traffic) Steve Allan (program director and late mornings), John Hall (production director and early afternoons), Marty "with the Party" Thompson (assistant program director and afternoon drive), "Rockin' Ron" Schumacher (nights) "Slim" Kim Karson (overnights). For weekends WGRR adopted the Hot Wax Weekend concept using former WSAI jocks from the 1960s Dusty Rhodes, Ted McAllister and Jack Stahl as well as "Dangerous" Dan Allen (Saturday Night Dial-A-Hit). J.D. Hughes stayed at WGRR after its transformation from urban WBLZ to work weekends, and remains affiliated with the station.

The current lineup at WGRR consists of Chris O'Brien and Janeen Coyle ("Married with Microphones") mornings with news and traffic from Angie Irick, Rockin' Ron Schumacher middays, Keith Mitchell afternoons and Wendy Walker, nights. WGRR has been home to many popular local air personalities, among them Jim "The Music Professor" Labarbara, voted by his peers as one of the Top 40 radio personalities of all time. Jim is also a member of the Rock Jock Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Ohio Radio/Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He was replaced in early 2007 by current program director Keith Mitchell, formerly PD of WMOJ-FM (Mojo 94.9). WGRR was formerly owned by CBS Radio, and was sold to Entercom Communications on August 21, 2006, along with CBS Radio's other Cincinnati stations. Entercom (which later exited the market) then traded the station to Cumulus Media Partners in exchange for the frequency 94.9 FM and WYGY.

In early 2007, WGRR adopted a new logo to reflect its updated format, which shifted from "Oldies" from the 1960s and 1970s to "Classic Hits", an updated version of the format that includes music from the 1980s.