WZDA
![]() | |
Broadcast area | Dayton metro area |
---|---|
Frequency | 103.9MHz(HD Radio) |
Branding | Dayton's New Country 103-9 |
Programming | |
Format | Country music |
Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WCHD,WIZE,WMMX,WONE,WTUE | |
History | |
First air date | June 18,1962(as WHBM) |
Former call signs | WHBM (1962–1978) WDJX (1978–1981) WDJX-FM (1981–1983) WYMJ-FM (1983–1994) WRVF (1994–1995) WXEG (1995–2015) |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 67689 |
Class | A |
ERP | 2,900watts |
HAAT | 146 meters (479 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°43′19.00″N84°12′33.00″W/ 39.7219444°N 84.2091667°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | newcountry1039fm |
WZDA(103.9FM) is a commercialradio stationlicensed toBeavercreek, Ohio,serving theDayton metro area,owned byiHeartMedia, Inc.As of December 27, 2021, it broadcastscountry musicon its standardanalog transmission,using the "New Country 103.9" moniker, after previously being analternative rockstation called "Alt 103.9."[2]The WZDA studios are located inDayton,while the station transmitter resides in the neighboring suburb ofMoraine.Besides a standardanalog transmission,WZDA broadcasts inHD Radio,[3]and is available online viaiHeartRadio.[4]
History
[edit]WHBM (1962–1978)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/WZDA_HD.png/200px-WZDA_HD.png)
WZDA began as WHBM on June 18, 1962, under license toXenia, Ohio;the WHBM call letters stood for "Harry B. Miller", the station's owner and general manager.[5]WHBM was the FM sister station to AM stationWELXin Xenia and WERM inWapakoneta.[citation needed]WELX and WHBM began operations in the late 1960s with amiddle of the roadformat, then switching in the early 1970s toprogressive jazzand soul gospel. WHBM_FM, began operations first in 1962 from the second floor above "The Dutch Oven" bakery on North Detroit St., in Xenia. WELX began operations several years later. Both stations eventually operated from the WELX transmitter site adjacent toU.S. Route 35off June Drive in Xenia. Both stations miraculously survived theApril 3, 1974, tornadowhich ravaged Xenia and nearby Beavercreek. However, a fire destroyed the small studio/transmitter building around 1977, thus WELX and WHBM both went silent.
WDJX (1978–1982)
[edit]Both stations along with WERM were sold in 1978 to separate owners with WELX (nowsouthern gospelWGNZ) owned by L&D Broadcasting and WHBM sold to Ohio Broadcast Associates becomingTop-40 formattedWDJX, using the "Xenia/Fairborn/Beavercreek "top of hour ID giving FM competition to Dayton'sWING(AM).
WYMJ (1982–1992)
[edit]In 1982 WDJX moved its studios (and eventually its city of license) to Beavercreek, later becomingHot A/C-formatted"Majic 104" WYMJ-FM. In 1989 WYMJ was purchased by Alan Gray's Dayton Radio, Inc and switched to "Oldies 104".
WRVF (1992–1995)
[edit]By 1992, the station became WRVF "The River" with acountryformat before being overshadowed by the former WHIO-FM becoming WHKO "K-99.1 FM",[citation needed].
WXEG (1995–2015)
[edit]In late August 1995, the station became "103.9 The Edge",[6]WXEG introducing the Alternative format to Dayton and moving the studios to Dayton's HistoricOregon District.During this time, WXEG with sister stationsWONE (AM)andWTUE(FM) went through several ownerships after being sold by Group One to Stoner Broadcasting,American Radio Systems,Entercomand finallyJacorbefore its merger with Clear Channel.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/WXEG_logo.png)
On January 1, 1998, "103.9 The Edge" became "103.9 The X", retaining the Alternative format but rebranding due to a dispute with a consultant who owned the trademark of "The Edge."
By2010,WXEG changed formats toactive rockas it was moved to theMediabaseactive rock panel, but by 2015, it returned to the Alternative panel after phasing out the harder rock product.
WZDA (2015–present)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/WZDA_ALT103.9_logo.png)
On August 28, 2015, WXEG completed the move back to alternative rock, rebranding as "Alt 103-9".[7]The station changed its call sign to the current WZDA on September 28, 2015.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/AltDaytonCmas.png/220px-AltDaytonCmas.png)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e8/WZDA_103.9_The_Bull.png/150px-WZDA_103.9_The_Bull.png)
On November 24, 2021, at 6 a.m., after playing a block of "goodbye" -themed songs (specifically "In The End"byLinkin Park,"Closing Time"bySemisonic,and "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"byR.E.M.), WZDA dropped their rock format after 26 years and beganstuntingwith Christmas music as "Christmas 103.9"; a new format is expected after the holidays. The first song on "Christmas" wasFrank Sinatra's cover of "Jingle Bells".WZDA replaces former sisterWRZX-FMas iHeart's Christmas music brand in the Dayton market, as WRZX-FM was donated from iHeart’s Aloha Stations Trust along withWYDBand flipped to conservative talk in August. The change comes as the now-former "Alt" format had a 2.0 share in the October 2021 Nielsen Audio ratings.[10]On December 27, 2021, at Midnight, WZDA flipped to country as "103.9 The Bull", with the first song being "Buy Dirt"byJordan DavisandLuke Bryan.[11]On January 14, 2022, WZDA rebranded as "New Country 103.9".[12]
WZDA in HD
[edit]The station started broadcasting inHD Radioon February 2, 2006.[13]
- HD1is a simulcast of its analog audio and
- HD2broadcasts an adult hits format as "The Lake". The station broadcasts using the MP1 service mode.
Concerts
[edit]WXEG held an annualX-Festevery year from 1996 to 2012. The X-Fest was cancelled in 2012 just weeks before the event was to take place[14]and has not taken place since.
References
[edit]- ^"Facility Technical Data for WZDA".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^103.9 The Bull Debuts In Dayton
- ^"HD Radio Station Guide for Dayton, OH".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-09-14.Retrieved2023-09-11.
- ^"Local HD Radio Stations in San Francisco, CA".Archived fromthe originalon 2014-10-06.Retrieved2023-09-11.
- ^Radio Guide 1964[permanent dead link]
- ^"Vox Jox".Billboard.Vol. 107, no. 38. September 9, 1995. p. 118.
- ^WXEG Dayton Rebrands As Alt 103.9
- ^Your home for the Holidays, Christmas
- ^"Home".christmas1039.iheart.
- ^Alt 103.9 Dayton Gives Way To Christmas Music
- ^"103.9 The Bull Debuts In Dayton".RadioInsight.27 December 2021.Retrieved2021-12-27.
- ^Dayton’s Bull Quickly Rebrands To New Country 103.9Radioinsight - January 14, 2022
- ^Clear Channel
- ^Prepare to be shaken and stirred at X-Fest's '007' concert
External links
[edit]- New Country 103.9
- Facility details for Facility ID 67689 (WZDA)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WZDAinNielsen Audio's FM station database