WJPZ-FM

Although operated by students, it is an independent organization which is incorporated and licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as WJPZ Radio, Inc and leases studio and transmitter facilities on Syracuse University property. WJPZ broadcasts 14 hours of sports talk radio and provides game broadcasts for Central New York high school football, Syracuse Orange women's basketball, and Syracuse women's lacrosse.

WJPZ was founded by a group of Syracuse University students including Craig Fox and Bill Bleyle in late 1972. The unlicensed station initially broadcast with a power of one-tenth of a watt, and played Top 40 hits on 1200 AM. The makeshift studio was located in the attic of a building at 100 Waverly Avenue, which housed a campus record store.{{cite news |last1=Herbert |first1=Geoff |title=WJPZ: How a ragtag radio station 50 years ago became a Syracuse mainstay |url=https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2023/03/wjpz-how-a-ragtag-radio-station-50-years-ago-became-a-syracuse-mainstay.html |access-date=March 3, 2023 |work=Syracuse Post-Standard |date=March 2, 2023 |language=en}} According to one story, the WJPZ call letters were chosen because the students liked the call letter rhyme scheme for WABC in New York City, while Bill Bleyle has maintained that the letters were chosen at random.{{cite podcast |host=John JAG Gay |title=Hall of Famer Bill Bleyle and Carol Mason, Class of 1976 |url=https://wjpzat50.simplecast.com/episodes/bill-and-carol |work=WJPZ at 50 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |date=February 8, 2023 |time=19:15}}

File:WJPZ 1200 AM Non Stop Rock.png

After construction of the Newhouse 2 building in 1972, university-supported WAER radio moved into a brand-new facility and discarded equipment that had been in use since 1946. These discarded turntables and parts were salvaged by Fox and Bleyle. WAER was more academically focused and students wanting freedom to learn other aspects tuned in to WJPZ. In 1974, WJPZ relocated to the basement of 821 University Avenue (now the Sheraton Hotel). The station branded itself WJPZ 1200 Z-Rock “Non-Stop Rock,” playing a “tasteful blend of Top 40 music and popular album cuts” for a college-age audience 24 hours a day. However, the station was not a fully recognized student organization, and did not have a license because the station's low-power signal did not require one under Part 15 of the FCC’s rules. The university wanted a faculty advisor for the station and suggested Dr. Roosevelt “Rick” Wright Jr. Wright, who became the station's biggest champion and helped it grow into a successful student-run and operated operation.{{cite podcast |host=John JAG Gay |title=Rick Wright's History of WJPZ (Radio Edit) |url=https://wjpzat50.simplecast.com/episodes/rick-wrights-history-of-wjpz-radio-edit |work=WJPZ at 50 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |date=November 7, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Herbert |first1=Geoff |title=Syracuse radio legend Rick Wright out at Power 620 after iHeartMedia layoffs |url=https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2020/01/syracuse-radio-legend-rick-wright-out-at-power-620-after-iheartmedia-layoffs.html |access-date=March 3, 2023 |work=syracuse.com |date=January 23, 2020 |language=en}}

File:2019 07 27 syracuse-waer-wjpz 12 (49195795192).jpg

In 1985, the station rebranded Z89 when it acquired an FM license and began broadcasting with 100 watts of effective radiated power.{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=David |title=No. 2 Radio: FM Station on the Air |url=https://www.syracuse.com/resizer/jesV7EKhqnSrqwo7y7ukPR8uAfw=/800x0/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/advancelocal/4GT3WIGVE5EAPBBZULMTACT52Q.jpg |access-date=March 18, 2023 |work=Syracuse Post-Standard |date=1985}} With WAER becoming a "public radio" station and National Public Radio affiliate, the Student Government Association encouraged WJPZ to move to the FM dial. At the time, it was the first and only student-owned and operated FM station in the United States.{{cite journal |title=The University: News of campus programs and events |journal=Syracuse University Magazine |pages=6–7 |date=January 1, 1985 |volume=1 |issue=2 |url=https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol1/iss2/4/ |access-date=March 3, 2023}}

In the fall of 1997, WJPZ was placed into receivership for several reasons, but survived.{{cite podcast |host=John JAG Gay |title=Back to Z89 (and Receivership) with Dena and Harry, Class of 1999 |url=https://wjpzat50.simplecast.com/episodes/dena-and-harry |work=WJPZ at 50 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |date=January 20, 2023 |time=19:15}} In early 2001, the station moved temporarily into an off-campus house on Ostrom Avenue, and that fall settled into the Menchel Media Center inside Watson Hall, where it broadcasts from today.{{cite podcast |host=John JAG Gay |title=John Ferracane, Class of 2003, On the Ostrom House and More |url=https://wjpzat50.simplecast.com/episodes/john-ferracane |work=WJPZ at 50 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |date=January 27, 2023 |time=19:15}}

On June 29, 2017, the station increased power to 1,000 watts.

Currently WJPZ broadcasts as part of Syracuse University's student media organization. The WJPZ Alumni Association organizes events and curates a Hall of Fame wall.{{cite web |title=WJPZ Hall of Fame – WJPZ Alumni Association |url=https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/wjpz-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=March 6, 2023}}

In 2014, WJPZ alumnus Scott MacFarlane produced Greatest Media Classroom documentary film to chronicle the 40-year history of WJPZ.{{cite web |title=Greatest Media Classroom: The Story of WJPZ |url=http://greatestmediaclassroom.org/ |website=greatestmediaclassroom.org |access-date=March 18, 2023}}{{cite magazine |last1=Speach |first1=Amy |title=Traditions: WJPZ Radio |magazine=Syracuse University Magazine |date=January 1, 2014 |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=52–53 |url=https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol31/iss1/10/ |access-date=March 18, 2023}} The film showcased the students' ambition and self-reliance in creating and running the station, as well as their ability to handle tragic events such as the Pan Am Flight 103 tragedy in 1988. It was commissioned by the WJPZ Alumni Association.{{cite news |last1=Van Rheenen |first1=Erik |title=Radio active: Alumni documentary delves into WJPZ's history |url=https://dailyorange.com/2014/02/radio-active-new-alumni-documentary-delves-into-z89s-history/ |access-date=March 18, 2023 |work=The Daily Orange |date=February 26, 2014}}

In 2023, a new podcast "WJPZ at 50" was created and produced by WJPZ to mark the station's 50th anniversary. It consists of 50 episodes. Hosted by Jon "JAG" Gay, a Class of 2002 alumnus, the podcast featured interviews with current and former staffers about their experiences at SU and the station. Notable guests included CBS News Correspondent Scott MacFarlane and ESPN Radio's Mike Couzens, as well as business owners and communicators from the radio industry.{{cite news |title=Syracuse University’s ‘Z89 Radio’ Celebrates 50th Anniversary With Alumni Podcast. |url=https://www.insideradio.com/free/syracuse-university-s-z89-radio-celebrates-50th-anniversary-with-alumni-podcast/article_bc10be18-728c-11ed-ad97-fbe71db6cebb.html |access-date=March 18, 2023 |work=Inside Radio |date=December 2, 2022 |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

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• {{officialwebsite|https://www.z89online.com}}
• [https://wjpzat50.simplecast.com/episodes WJPZ at 50 Podcast]
• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|73148|WJPZ-FM}}
• {{FMARB|WJPZ}}

{{Syracuse Radio}}

{{Contemporary Hit Radio Stations in New York}}

{{Rhythmic Contemporary Radio Stations in New York}}

{{Syracuse University}}

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JPZ-FM

Category:Rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the United States

JPZ-FM

Category:Syracuse University

Category:Radio stations established in 1974

Category:1974 establishments in New York (state)