Translator(s) See below HAAT 255 meters (837 ft) Frequency 104.1 MHz Format Modern rock Area Hartford | Slogan CT's Alternative Class B City of license Waterbury Owner Red Wolf Broadcasting Branding Radio 104.1 WMRQ | |
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Radio 104 1 wmrq fm hartford new haven
WMRQ is an alternative rock radio station licensed to Waterbury, Connecticut and serving the Greater Hartford media market. WMRQ-FM is owned by Red Wolf Broadcasting and operates at 104.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 14,000 watts from West Peak in Meriden, Connecticut (on a tower with WKSS). Its studios are located at 131 New London Turnpike, Suite 101, in Glastonbury, Connecticut.
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The station broadcasts in HD. Its HD-2 channel carries a Spanish tropical music radio format known as "Bomba FM," also heard on translator stations 97.1 W246CC in Bolton, 99.5 W258AL in Clinton and 104.5 W283BS in Bridgeport.
History
On December 25, 1967, the station began broadcasting as WWCO-FM, sister station to AM 1240 WWCO, and carrying a country music format. The station was acquired by entertainer and TV host Merv Griffin in 1972, with the station changing call letters to WIOF (standing for 1-0-Four, its dial position) and branded as "Nashville Connecticut, W-104".
In 1978, the station dropped country to become soft adult contemporary-formatted "Magic 104" using the syndicated "TM Beautiful Rock" service. During the switch to Magic 104, WIOF upgraded its signal by moving its transmitter from near its studios in Prospect, Connecticut to West Peak in Meriden, Connecticut. Lou Terri was the Program Director and midday host until his death in an automobile accident in 1989. Steve Wiersman later became Program Director until 1994. Morning announcers included Bill Cleveland, Greg O'Brien and Ray Petraca. Jack Carney, who was also the voice of WVIT Channel 30 at the time, hosted the afternoon show. Jim Scott did nights, and Rick O'Connor did middays, later replaced by Ron O'Brien (a.k.a. Ron O). Weekend DJs included Greg LaPorta between 1990 and 1992.
In 1992, the station rebranded "Star 104.1", WYSR with a more uptempo Adult Contemporary sound. DJs on Star 104.1 included Brett Provo in mornings, then later afternoons (now Afternoon Drive/Production Director at WMAS Springfield, Massachusetts); Paul DeFrancisco-afternoons; Jay Hanson-weekends (now WFMX Skowhegan, Maine); Long John-weekends (WEBE108 in Westport, Connecticut alumnus); Jim Severine (WGMX and KC101 alumnus); Rich Kilbourne (a.k.a. Big Rich Baker-News, WKCI in Hamden, Connecticut alumnus); Cathy Foxx-middays; Neil Jackson-mornings; Lee Gordon-Production Director; and Race Bannon, who stayed on after October 31, 1994, for what became "Radio104 Modern Rock". Bud Fisher became WMRQ's first sales manager. Bud had appeared on Magic 104 as "Gary Hunter". Ron O became WYSR PD after Steve Wiersman departed.
In October 1994, all programming staff were released. Lee Gordon remained as Production Director. On October 31, 1994, at midnight, the format flipped to alternative/modern rock as WMRQ "Radio104". Personalities such as "Jake & Beth", Dee Snider and Bubba the Love Sponge were on the station in the mornings at various points during the station's history, with Wilcow, Chaz, The Carlito Show, and Logan following after the mornings. The station also hosted popular annual events such as "The Big Day Off" and "104fest".
Due to struggling ratings, the station flipped to WPHH, "Power104.1", in September 2003. As a station playing hip hop and R&B music, WPHH solidified its position as the only mainstream urban station in the Hartford and New Haven market. Its main competitor was urban-leaning rhythmic CHR WZMX (93.7 FM). Nicole Siedman served as Program Director for a short period until 2004. Mychal Maguire assumed the Program Director position thereafter. Spank Buda served as Assistant Program Director and night host for the entire duration of WPHH. Popular events included the "Hoop It Up" basketball tournament and the "Legends of Hip Hop" concert. Other DJs on Power104.1 were Mia Mendez, DJ Showtime, TT Torrez, DJ Londonn, and PJ.
On October 25, 2007, 104.1 again changed music formats, returning to the previous modern rock format. The station was programmed similar to WRFF in Philadelphia.
On December 20, 2007, 104.1 changed its call letters to WURH. In May of 2008, almost six months after Clear Channel launched "FM 104-One," the station named a Program Director, Becky Pohotsky, who had been the station's APD/MD and de facto PD for most of its existence.
On August 4, 2008, Clear Channel placed the station's assets into an entity called the Aloha Station Trust in order to sell off the station. This was due to Clear Channel being above the ownership limits set by the Federal Communications Commission. These limits were imposed when Clear Channel was officially taken private by Bain Capital Partners on July 30, 2008.
On February 19, 2009, Ledyard, Connecticut-based Red Wolf Broadcasting Corp. announced that it had agreed to buy WURH for 8 million dollars. Red Wolf's owner, John Fuller, said the station would join his other radio properties, including WBMW (106.5 FM) and WWRX (107.7 FM), both of which serve the New London market. On May 14, 2009, Red Wolf Broadcasting took over control of the station. The first action was to revert the station back to its WMRQ call letters, and modified name "Radio 104.1", which was used by the station from 1995 to 2003, during its first run with modern rock.
Under the direction of Brian Ram, WMRQ's VP/Programming, the alternative rock lineup is "Fisch in the Morning" (morning drive), Amy Grey (middays), Holden (afternoons), and Michael Maze (nights), plus weekend programs "Digital Takeover with DJ Darth Fader" and "HomeBrew Local Music Show".
In November 2009, a Spanish tropical format, "Bomba 97.5" ("The Bomb") was launched on WMRQ-HD2. The format was initially simulcast on 60-watt Bolton, Connecticut translator W248AB on 97.5. More recently, Red Wolf moved the translator to the 97.1 FM frequency (W246CC) to provide more coverage and more power. Bomba 97.1 FM is now 100 watts, reaching as far as Springfield, Massachusetts. In addition, the station added translators in Clinton and Bridgeport, Connecticut.