WKXW

WKXW

Trenton, New Jersey United States
Broadcast area	New Jersey
Frequency	101.5MHz(HD Radio)
Branding	New Jersey 101.5
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	News/talk Classic hits (on weekends)
Subchannels	HD2: Beach Radio (oldies)
Ownership
Owner	Townsquare Media (Townsquare License, LLC)
Sister stations	WCHR,WPST,WNJE
History
First air date	August 27, 1962(1962-08-27)
Former call signs	WBUD-FM (1962–1967) WBJH (1967–1979) WTRT (1979–1980) WKXW-FM (1980–1981) WKXW (1981–2002) WKXW-FM (2002–2006)
Call signmeaning	Two "W's" bookending "Kix" (former branding)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	53458
Class	B
ERP	15,500 watts (analog) 617 watts (digital)
HAAT	275 m (902 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	40°16′58.4″N74°41′9.6″W
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live HD2:Listen live
Website	nj1015 HD2:mybeachradio

WKXW(101.5FM,"New Jersey 101.5" ) is acommercialFMradio station licensed to serveTrenton, New Jersey.The station is owned byTownsquare Mediawith studios and offices located inEwingand its transmitter facility, which is shared withWPRB,located near theQuaker Bridge MallinLawrence TownshipinMercer County, New Jersey.

History

The station went on the air on August 27, 1962, as WBUD-FM with aneasy listeningformat. Itscall signsubsequently changed in 1967 to WBJH, which stood for Bill and Joy Hardin,the son and daughter-in-law of the owner. The station's call sign changed to WTRT in 1979 and rebranded as"The New T-101 FM".In 1980, the station's call sign was changed to WKXW-FM, under its new owner Fidelity Communications. It was playing ahot adult contemporaryformat as"The All New Kix 101 & A 1/2 FM"and later"Kix 101.5".By the late 80s, the station evolved into more of a gold-basedadult contemporaryformat. Its weekend Saturday oldies show evolved into an all oldies format from the 1950s through early 70s on overnights and weekends before the change to its current weekday talk format, which came in 1990 when it was sold to Press Communications. The sale to Millennium Radio Group took place in 2001.

On March 1, 1990, at 5 pm, "New Jersey 101.5", conceived by Sabo Media CEO, Walter Sabo, became the first full-time FM talk station in America targeted for a younger audience. Mark Sheppard, who later went to middays, kicked off the format playing Bill Haley & The Comets' "Rock Around The Clock".

Since the 1990s, the station has atalkandnewsformatduring the week, witholdiesmusic on the overnights and weekend. Initially, the oldies format was 1960s-based with a few pre-1964 oldies and a 1970s oldie or two each hour. By the early-to-mid-1990s, more 1970s music was added and by the early-2000s, 1980s music from 1980 to 1982 was added occasionally. Between 2000 and 2005, music from between 1986 and 1989 was added to the lineups. Gradually, at the same time, songs from 1964 and older were gradually reduced in the late-1990s and gone by 2000. In September 2007, 1960s music was removed from the "60s, 70s, and 80s" weekend music programming ID, and nearly all 1960s music had been removed from the playlist. However, in May 2012, "60s" was added back to the weekend music programming ID, coinciding with a limited but steady increase in music airplay focusing on select titles by well-known artists.

In the mid-to-late-1990s, music was ended on weekday overnights and now airs strictly on weekends and some holidays.

The station has, at times, provided a simulcast on various AM and FM stations in theAtlantic Cityarea, beyond the reach of its main transmitter. The most recent simulcast ceased in June 2009 whenthen-WXKWchanged formats toESPN Sports Radio.The station's morning show was also simulcast for a time on regional cable networkCN8in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with cameras mounted in the radio studio showing the station's personalities on-camera.

In 2011, California-basedOaktree Capitalsigned a deal to buy Millennium Radio Group; after taking over, Oaktree transferred the Millennium stations toTownsquare Media.

Controversies

In 2008, the station's parent companywas sued by a photographerforcopyright infringement,anddefamationwith regards to the online posting of a photocopy of aNew Jersey Monthlymagazine photograph. Photographer Peter Murphy sent a notice ofcopyright infringementto the station to remove a photoCraig Cartonand Ray Rossi, which had been photocopied from a March 2006 issue of the magazine; the station also posted edited versions of the picture that were submitted by listeners. While the station complied with the takedown request, Carton and Rossi complained on-air about Murphy's conduct, allegedly saying that Murphy was "not to be trusted" and that people "should avoid doing business" with him. Carton and Rossi also alleged that Murphy "was a homosexual."In April 2008, Murphy brought suit for direct,contributory,andvicariouscopyright infringement,violation of theDMCA,anddefamation of characteragainst Millennium Radio Group, Carton, and Rossi. The Third Circuit ruled that the station's actions did constitute both a violation of the DMCA and copyright infringement, whichvacatedthe district court's judgment.

On July 26, 2018, the station came under fire after hosts Judi Franco and Dennis Malloy referred toNew Jersey Attorney GeneralGurbir Grewalas "turban man" while on air.The hosts were suspended for 10 days.

In December 2018, Judi Franco garnered controversy when called the state's"Move Over" law"silly" and unnecessary in an opinion piece she posted on the station's website under the headline "Dead cops make bad laws."

Some of the station's personalities have garnered attention for their promotion ofanti-vaccinationviewpoints (including opposition toCOVID-19 vaccinesandCOVID-19 vaccine mandates), including morning hostBill Spadea,and host Dennis Malloy of the midday showThe Dennis & Judi Show.In September 2022, Spadea and station owner Townsquare Media were sued for defamation by Steven Tobias—a child psychologist who had made appearances on the station to discuss the impact of the pandemic on schools—after Spadea called for him to be "indicted forchild abuse"for promoting the wearing offace masksin schools.

New Jersey-centric branding

The station strongly brands its New Jersey-ness, with its announcers frequently self-identifying "New Jersey 101.5" and with its bumper message intoning "Not New York. Not Philadelphia. Proud to be New Jersey!", as well as its brandedNew Jersey Fast TrafficandNew Jersey Instant Weather.The New Jersey-centric nature of the station is emphasized in the traffic reports, in that they refer to traffic direction on bridges and tunnels as "entering New Jersey" or "leaving New Jersey" instead of the more traditional designations of "into the city/inbound" or "out of the city/outbound". As well, current temperatures of different samples of towns in New Jersey are given after the weather reports. Despite the station's branding, the 101.5 signal does not reach the majority of Cape May, Salem and Sussex Counties while the signal's coverage of Atlantic, Bergen, Cumberland and Hudson Counties is poor at best, though digital streaming options do allow full-state and even out-of-state reach of the station through other means.

Townsquare News Network

The station is the flagship broadcasting arm of the Townsquare New Jersey News Network as heard on twelve radio stations throughout the state. The network consists ofWPSTin Trenton,WOBM-FMin Toms River,WJLK (AM)in Lakewood,WCHR-FMin Manahawkin,WJLK-FMin Asbury Park,WOBM (AM)in Asbury Park,WFPGin Atlantic City,WSJOin Egg Harbor City,WPURin Atlantic City, andWENJin Atlantic City. Various bureaus throughout the state share stories with the Ewing headquarters.

Big Joe Henry hosting his annual Talent Show finals,Point Pleasant Beach,August 2008

Notable alumni

• Craig Carton,the formerJersey Guys,later co-host ofBoomer and Carton in the MorningatWFANin New York andCBS Sports Network
• John and Ken(John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, now atKFILos Angeles)
• Philadelphia radio Hall of FamerHy Litand his son Sam Lit, who anchored the air staff in the early 80s
• Ray Rossi

HD Radio

On May 31, 2024, WKXW launched an oldies format branded "Beach Radio" on its HD2 subchannel.

External links

• Official website
• Facility details for Facility ID 53458 (WKXW)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
• WKXWinNielsen Audio's FM station database