WLVW
{{short description|K-Love radio station in Washington, D.C.}}
{{for|other stations that have used the WLVW call letters|WLVW (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|WRQX|600 AM in Salem, Ohio|WRQX (AM)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WLVW
| city = Washington, D.C.
| country = US
| area = Washington metropolitan area
| branding = K-Love
| frequency = {{Frequency|107.3|MHz}} {{HD Radio}}
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1948|5|15|p=y}}
| language = English
| format = Christian adult contemporary
| subchannels = {{ubl|HD2: Christian 2000s hits K-LOVE 2000s|HD3: Spanish Christian (Radio Nueva Vida)}}
| erp = {{val|19500|u=watts|fmt=commas}}
| haat = {{convert|246|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = B
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 73252
| coordinates = {{coord|38.950|N|77.079|W|type:landmark_region:US}}
| callsign_meaning = K-Love Washington
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WMAL-FM (1948–1977)|WRQX (1977–2019)|WSOM (2019)}}
| network = K-Love
| owner = Educational Media Foundation
| sister_stations = {{hlist|WLZV|WTCF|WAIW}}
| webcast =
| website = {{URL|https://www.klove.com}}
}}
WLVW (107.3 FM) – branded as K-Love – is a non-commercial Christian adult contemporary radio station licensed to serve Washington, D.C. Owned and operated by the Educational Media Foundation, WLVW does not broadcast any local programming, functioning as the Washington metropolitan area network affiliate for K-Love. The station's transmitter resides in the district's northwest quadrant. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WLVW is available online; the station also broadcasts in the HD Radio format.http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=8 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002015738/http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=8 |date=October 2, 2015 }} HD Radio Guide for Washington DC
History
=WMAL-FM=
{{Distinguish|WMAL-FM}}
On May 15, 1948, the station signed on as WMAL-FM, owned by The Washington Evening Star.{{Cite web |title=RADIO & TV ALL YB 1950 B&W-11 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1950/RADIO%20&%20TV%20ALL%20YB%201950%20B&W-11.pdf}} WMAL-FM mostly simulcast co-owned WMAL (630 AM), the market's ABC Radio Network affiliate; as network programming moved from radio to television in the 1950s, WMAL and WMAL-FM switched to a full service middle of the road format.
In the late 1960s, WMAL-FM switched to a combination of easy listening and classical music, mostly automated with the exception of Harden and Weaver, which aired on both WMAL and WMAL-FM Monday through Saturday mornings. In the 1970s, WMAL-FM flipped to album-oriented rock as "The Soft Explosion". Live disc jockeys were added and automation was cut back to nights and weekends.
In 1977, ABC acquired WMAL-AM-FM for $16 million, then a record price.{{Cite web |title=C-Radio-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1978/C-Radio-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full.pdf}}
=WRQX=
WMAL-FM changed its call sign to WRQX on December 7, 1977.{{cite web |title=WRQX (WLVW) history cards |url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=83114 |website=CDBS Public Access |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=June 13, 2019 |format=PDF}} On April 15, 1979, WRQX changed to CHR/Top 40, branded as "Q107", the station eliminated automation completely.{{Cite magazine |date=1981 |page=C-43 |title=1981-BC-YB |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1981/1981-BC-YB.pdf |magazine=Broadcasting/Cablecasting}} At noon on August 31, 1990, the station changed to hot adult contemporary, branded as "Mix 107.3".{{Cite web |title=RR-1990-09-07 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1990/RR-1990-09-07.pdf}} The first song on "Mix" was "Let The Music Play" by Shannon.
File:WRQX former logo (1990-2013).png
WRQX was one of the many Disney/ABC Radio stations that merged with Citadel Broadcasting in 2007. Citadel, in turn, merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011. Previous slogans have been "Not too hard, Not too light", "The Best Mix of the 80s, 90s & Today", "The Best Mix of...Everything", "Washington's Best Music Mix", "Today's Best Hits", "All the Hits", "More Music, More Variety", and "DC's Best Music Mix".
On April 27, 2013, long-time morning show host Jack Diamond was unexpectedly released from the station when his contract expired and management declined to renew it.{{Cite web |title=Music & Radio Station News {{!}} AllAccess.com |url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/117844/jack-diamond-is-replaced-by-the-bert-show-on-wrqx |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=All Access |language=en}} Diamond had been at the station since the day the it flipped to "Mix" in 1990. There was speculation that the station would take the morning show in a new direction to compete against top 40-formatted WIHT. Bert Weiss, the host of "The Bert Show" on co-owned WWWQ in Atlanta (and formerly Diamond's co-host), took over morning drive time on WRQX, beginning May 16.{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2013 |title=BERT SHOW REPLACES JACK DIAMOND AT DC’S WRQX |url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/81814/jack-diamond-departs-dcs-wrqx/}} "The Bert Show" was syndicated from Atlanta.
On August 19, 2013, WRQX began to slowly phase out its "Mix" moniker, and began emphasizing the slogan "All The Hits", as well as shifting its playlist towards more current music, while dropping all 1980s and most 1990s material. Rival company Clear Channel Communications picked up word on this potential shift, and began registering domain names such as "allthehits1073.com" and "q1073dc.com" to prevent Cumulus from using them. Those domains redirected to WIHT's website. On August 28, WRQX completed its shift back to top 40, then branded as "All The Hits 107.3". The station debuted a new logo and transferred its website address to 1073hits.com.{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2013 |title=WRQX DITCHING ITS MIX MONIKER FOR ALL THE HITS |url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/84727/wrqx-ditching-its-mix-moniker-for-all-the-hits/}}
On May 2, 2014, WRQX dropped "The Bert Show" after one year, due to low ratings.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/88481/wrqx-drops-bert-show/|title=WRQX Drops Bert Show - RadioInsight|date=April 28, 2014|website=radioinsight.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://patch.com/virginia/chantilly/radio-station-wrqx1073fm-drops-the-bert-show-in-dc|title='The Bert Show' is Out at DC-Area Radio Station WRQX/107.3-FM|date=May 14, 2014|website=patch.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/129132/bert-weiss-to-exits-mornings-at-wrqx-marco-to-do-m|title=Bert Weiss To Exits Mornings At WRQX, Marco To Do Mornings For Now|website=allaccess.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}} Marco, who had previously been the station's afternoon drive personality, took over morning drive on an interim basis three days later. On July 30, 2014, the "Sarah, Ty and Mel Show" debuted on 107.3.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/89530/107-3-washington-completes-on-air-revamp-with-new-morning-show/|title=107.3 Washington Completes On-Air Revamp With New Morning Show - RadioInsight|date=July 25, 2014|website=radioinsight.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}} It was heard weekdays from 6–10 am, and was hosted by Sarah Fraser (formerly of The Kane Show), Ty Bentli (who would later host the syndicated Nash FM country music morning show) and Melanie Glazener (who also worked with Fraser on The Kane Show). Also in July 2014, WRQX was re-branded as "DC's 107.3" and its website address was changed to dcs1073.com.
During September and October 2015, WRQX began shifting back towards hot AC. On November 9, 2015, Louie Diaz was announced as WRQX's new program director, replacing Jan Jeffries.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/94966/jan-jeffries-exits-cumulus/|title=Jan Jeffries Exits Cumulus - RadioInsight|date=October 20, 2015|website=radioinsight.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/95183/louie-diaz-named-wrqx-washington-program-director/|title=Cumulus Makes Return Of Mix 107.3 Washington Official; Jack Diamond Returns for Mornings - RadioInsight|date=November 11, 2015|website=radioinsight.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}} On that same day, the station's air staff was dismissed, leading to rumors of a format change, possibly back to hot AC, once again as "Mix 107.3". Rival WIHT was ranked 4th in the market with a 5.9 share, while WRQX was ranked #18 with a 2.1 share of the market according to the October 2015 Nielsen ratings report.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/nielsen/q/market/135/washington-dc|title=Login to All Access - Breaking Radio News and Free New Music - AllAccess.com|website=allaccess.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/95021/daily-domains-1027-cumulus-prepping-overhaul-at-107-3-washington-dc/|title=Daily Domains 10/27: Cumulus Prepping Overhaul At 107.3 Washington DC - RadioInsight|date=October 27, 2015|website=radioinsight.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}
On November 11, 2015, Cumulus announced that WRQX would revert to its "Mix 107.3" branding on November 13. In addition, the station began playing Christmas music beginning at 3 pm on November 13. Cumulus initially said the Christmas format would be heard through the holiday season; however, it turned out to be a stunt, only lasting for that weekend. At 6 am on November 16, the station officially relaunched as "Mix" with the return of morning host Jack Diamond.{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2015 |title=CUMULUS MAKES RETURN OF MIX 107.3 WASHINGTON OFFICIAL; JACK DIAMOND RETURNS FOR MORNINGS |url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/95183/louie-diaz-named-wrqx-washington-program-director/}} The move proved popular and WRQX's ratings began to improve.
=Sale to Educational Media Foundation=
On February 13, 2019, Rocklin, California-based nonprofit broadcaster, Educational Media Foundation (EMF) entered into an agreement with Cumulus to purchase WRQX, along with five other Cumulus Media stations in New York City, Atlanta, San Jose, Savannah and Syracuse, for $103.5 million. This transaction would allow Cumulus to generate "substantial cash for debt repayment and investment in other business opportunities", according to its President and CEO Mary Berner.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/174511/cumulus-sells-six-to-emf-swaps-with-entercom-in-new-york-indianapolis/|title=Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis|date=February 13, 2019|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=February 13, 2019}} EMF also owns existing K-Love affiliate WLZV in Buckland, Virginia, about {{Convert|40|mi|km|abbr=}} southwest of Washington. After the sale received final approval by the FCC, EMF announced that WRQX and the other Cumulus stations acquired would all begin broadcasting its primary programming service, K-Love, on June 1, at midnight local time.{{cite web |url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/this-is-the-end-emf-to-take-over-iconic-cumulus/article_a6239ea2-7751-11e9-9627-b3d792420809.html |title=This Is The End: EMF To Take Over Iconic Cumulus Stations June 1. |date=May 15, 2019 |work=Inside Radio |access-date=June 12, 2019 }}{{cite web |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/176852/emf-to-begin-operating-its-six-cumulus-acquisitions-on-june-1/ |title=EMF To Begin Operating Its Six Cumulus Acquisitions On June 1 |date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |work=RadioInsight |last=Venta |first=Lance }}
On May 28, Jack Diamond announced the station's format change, set for May 31 at 7:00 pm—five hours earlier than originally planned—and that he would host the final hour of commercial programming on "Mix 107.3"; he also said he would return to the air at another station, but his new gig was never revealed.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/177273/jack-diamond-announces-wrqx-sign-off-move-of-morning-show/|title=Jack Diamond Announces WRQX Sign-Off; Move Of Morning Show|work=RadioInsight |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=May 28, 2019|access-date=May 28, 2019}} At the aforementioned time, after playing "Cherish" by The Association and a final goodbye from Jack Diamond, the station changed to contemporary Christian music as part of EMF's K-Love network.{{Cite web|url=https://formatchange.com/the-final-hour-of-mix-107-3-washington/|title=The Final Hour Of Mix 107.3 Washington|date=May 31, 2019|website=Format Change Archive|language=en-US|access-date=March 15, 2020}}
Prior to EMF's takeover of the station, Cumulus transferred the WRQX callsign onto the former WSOM (600 AM) in Salem, Ohio, in a callsign "parking" move;{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/177221/emf-sets-new-call-letters-for-cumulus-aloha-acquisitions-wrqx-moves-to/|title=EMF Sets New Call Letters For Cumulus/Aloha Acquisitions; WRQX Moves To…|work=RadioInsight |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=May 27, 2019|access-date=May 28, 2019}} Cumulus retained rights to the WRQX callsign in the transaction. For part of May 31, 2019, the callsign WSOM was used on 107.3; after switching to K-Love, the station name changed to WLVW, a callsign which had been in use on a K-Love station in Salisbury, Maryland.
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite news |first=Jeffrey |last=Yorke |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=WRQX-FM's Format Flop; Station Switches Its Mix to Fight Declining Ratings |page=C7 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72612498.html?dids=72612498:72612498&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105130545/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72612498.html?dids=72612498:72612498&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |date=September 4, 1990}}
{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Potts |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Rap, Rock-and-Roll Make Way for Hot AC; WRQX Changes Tunes to Attract Ad Dollars |page=C1 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72628041.html?dids=72628041:72628041&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131212333/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72628041.html?dids=72628041:72628041&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |date=November 3, 1990}}
{{cite news |first=Jeffrey |last=Yorke |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=A New Setting for Diamond?; WRQX Morning Host Mulls West Coast Job Offers |page=D7 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19511669.html?dids=19511669:19511669&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105130557/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19511669.html?dids=19511669:19511669&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |date=February 21, 1995}}
}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.klove.com|K-Love}}
{{FM station data|73252|WLVW}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=83114|title=History Cards for WLVW|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards)
{{Washington Radio}}
{{K-LOVE}}
Category:1948 establishments in Washington, D.C.
Category:Christian adult contemporary radio stations in the United States
Category:Educational Media Foundation radio stations
Category:Former subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company
Category:K-Love radio stations