WMOV-FM
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WMOV-FM
| logo =
| logo_size = 200px
| city = Norfolk, Virginia
| country = US
| area = Hampton Roads
| branding = Party 107.7
| frequency = {{frequency|107.7|MHz}} {{HD Radio}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1990|4|13|p=y|br=yes}}
| language = English
| format = Gold-based contemporary hit radio
| erp = {{val|15000|u=watts|fmt=commas}}
| haat = {{convert|130|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = B1
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 31123
| coordinates = {{coord|36|48|37.0|N|76|16|58.7|W|}}
| callsign_meaning = "Movin'" (former branding)
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WXRI (1990–1992)|WBSK-FM (1992–1993)|WSVY-FM (1993–2001)|WJCD (2001–2010)|WKUS (2010–2011)}}
| affiliations = Premiere Networks
| owner = iHeartMedia
| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC
| sister_stations = {{hlist|WHBT-FM|WNOH|WOWI}}
| webcast = {{iHeartRadio|5008}}
| website = {{URL|https://party1077.iheart.com/}}
}}
WMOV-FM (107.7 FM, "Party 107.7") is a commercial radio station in Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. It carries a gold-based contemporary hit radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia.{{cite web|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WMOV|title=WMOV Facility Record|work=Federal Communications Commission, audio division}} The studios and offices are in Greenbrier.
The transmitter tower is on Poindexter Street in Chesapeake, near the Elizabeth River and Interstate 464.{{Cite web |title=WMOV-FM 107.7 MHz - Norfolk, VA |url=https://radio-locator.com/info/WMOV-FM |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=radio-locator.com}} WMOV-FM broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 digital subchannel formerly ran the soft rock format of the iHeartRadio Cafe. The HD3 subchannel formerly carried iHeart's soft adult contemporary music service "The Breeze".
History
=WXRI-FM=
On April 13, 1990, the station signed on as WXRI-FM. It was owned by J.H. Communications, taking the call sign of the former station on 105.3 MHz that had been owned by televangelist Pat Robertson until its sale in May 1989.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75109417/|title=Business radio opens shop in Hampton Roads|date=June 23, 1990|access-date=April 4, 2021|first=Joseph|last=Pryweller|page=D1|work=Daily Press}} It initially broadcast a business format from the Business Radio Network.
The station stunting with Christmas music and then relaunched on Christmas day with the contemporary Christian music format of the previous WXRI.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36262311/|title=WTKR news fares well in ratings; WVEC slips|date=December 15, 1990|access-date=April 4, 2021|first=Joseph|last=Pryweller|page=D4|work=Daily Press}} That ended when its parent company entered into an agreement in May 1992, to simulcast the music of WBSK, an urban contemporary station that was co-owned with WOWI.{{cite news |url=https://www.dailypress.com/1992/04/25/airwaves-sale-irks-former-wxri-manager/ |title=Airwaves Sale Irks Former WXRI Manager |work=Daily Press |last=Worrell |first=Kris |date=April 25, 1992 |access-date=June 19, 2017}}
=WSVY=
On May 8, 1993, WBSK-FM changed its call sign to WSVY, and shifted to an urban adult contemporary format.{{Cite web |title=B-Radio-NE-Ter-BC-YB-1994-B&W |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1994/B-Radio-NE-Ter-BC-YB-1994-B&W.pdf}}
In July 1997, WSVY began simulcasting with 92.1 FM as "Vibe 107.7 and 92.1".{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2018 |title=RADIO STATION WMYK FIRES ALL OF ITS DEEJAYS, BEGINS TO SIMULCAST.(DAILY BREAK) - The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) {{!}} HighBeam Research |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68489993.html |access-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033614/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68489993.html |archive-date=April 23, 2018 }}
By March 1999, WSVY shifted to the then-popular Jammin' oldies format, which evolved back to urban AC. On June 25, 2001, WSVY and sister WJCD swapped formats and call letters, with the urban AC "Vibe" format moving to 105.3 FM, while WJCD's smooth jazz format moved to 107.7.{{Cite web |title=audio clip |url=http://tophour.com/audio/Norfolk-Virginia%20Beach%20VA/fm1077_2003-08_wjcd_dbaines.mp3}}
=WJCD=
On March 1, 2004, WJCD flipped to adult contemporary as "Lite FM", and resumed its simulcast with 92.1, which dropped its urban format.{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2004 |title=Fans Upset by Change in Radio Formats |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114146574.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033751/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114146574.html |archive-date=April 23, 2018 |url-status=}} 92.1 would drop out of the simulcast again on August 12, 2005, when it flipped to oldies as WCDG.{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2018 |title=Missy Elliott up for 6 MTV awards.(Daily Break) - The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) {{!}} HighBeam Research |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-135665723.html |access-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033830/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-135665723.html |archive-date=April 23, 2018 }}
On December 26, 2006, WJCD flipped back to smooth jazz as "Smooth Jazz 107.7".{{cite web | url=https://formatchange.com/1077-wjcd-flips-from-ac-to-smooth-jazz/ | title=107.7 WJCD flips from AC to Smooth Jazz | date=December 26, 2006 }}
=WKUS=
On October 11, 2010, WJCD and WCDG became simulcasts again when WKUS moved from 105.3 to 107.7 and the 105.3 frequency became "Magic 105.3" with an AC-themed classic hits format. The move meant the end for WJCD's smooth jazz format and WCDG's oldies format.{{Cite news |date=October 11, 2010 |title=Smooth jazz format dropped in Clear Channel radio shuffle |url=http://weblogs.dailypress.com/entertainment/music/pop/blog/2010/10/smooth_jazz_format_bumped_in_c.html |work=Daily Press |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-date=January 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106161459/http://weblogs.dailypress.com/entertainment/music/pop/blog/2010/10/smooth_jazz_format_bumped_in_c.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/18265/making-magic-in-virginia-beach/ | title=Three Way Format Change in Norfolk/Virginia Beach | date=October 11, 2010 }} On October 27, 2010, WJCD changed their call letters to WKUS.
On March 31, 2011, at 3{{nbsp}}p.m., WKUS broke away from its simulcast of WKSA and flipped to rhythmic adult contemporary, branded as "MOViN' 107.7". The first song on "MOViN'" was "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited.{{cite web | url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/32647/107-7-wkus-norfolk-movin-towards-a-divorce/ | title=107.7 WKUS Norfolk Movin Towards a Divorce | date=March 31, 2011 }}
=WMOV-FM=
On April 7, 2011, WKUS changed its call letters to WMOV-FM to match the new format. (The FM suffix is required because there is a WMOV on the AM dial in Ravenswood, West Virginia, with a different owner).
On November 2, 2012, WMOV-FM began to stunting with Christmas music as "Christmas 107.7", suggesting a possible format change. This did not occur, and it returned to its regular format on December 26.{{cite news |url=http://radioinsight.com/headlines/79517/wmov-norfolk-is-movin-to-christmas/ |title=WMOV Norfolk Is Movin To Christmas |work=RadioInsight |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=November 2, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2017}} It has continued switching to Christmas music every Mid-November to late December, ever since.
As of October 2018, WMOV-FM began patterning itself after sister station WKTU New York City with an emphasis on rhythmic pop/dance music.
The station now competes with WVBW-FM 100.5, which flipped to urban adult contemporary in June 2022.
WMOV-FM had switched to Christmas music for most of November and December, beginning in 2013. With the competition from WVBW-FM, it stopped going all-Christmas in 2023. But in 2024, it returned to Christmas music, flipping earlier than most stations, at the beginning of November.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/285862/christmas-music-starts-early-across-the-country/|title=Christmas Music Starts Early Across the Country|date=November 1, 2024|website=Radioinsight|language=en-US|access-date=December 26, 2024}} On December 26, 2024, WMOV-FM became gold-based CHR as Party 107-7.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/290293/a-party-movin-in-to-norfolk/|title=A Party Movin' in to Norfolk|date=December 26, 2024|website=Radioinsight|language=en-US|access-date=December 26, 2024}}
HD Radio
On WMOV-FM's HD Radio digital subchannel, its HD2 service originated "The iHeartRadio Café", a format consisting of soft rock from the 1970s and 1980s, and "yacht rock" music, much of it from singer-songwriters such as Billy Joel, Carly Simon, James Taylor and Carole King. It is heard nationally through the iHeartRadio app. The HD2 channel was dropped on October 1, 2022.
The HD3 subchannel carried iHeart's "The Breeze" soft adult contemporary music service. That was also dropped in 2022.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://party1077.iheart.com/|Party 107.7}}
{{FM station data|31123|WMOV-FM}}
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{{IHeartMedia}}
{{Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News Radio}}
{{Rhythmic Contemporary Radio Stations in Virginia}}
Category:1990 establishments in Virginia
Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States
Category:IHeartMedia radio stations
Category:Radio stations established in 1990
Category:Rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the United States