WQAL

{{further|WKNR}}

WQAL took to the air on April 5, 1948,{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Stan |date=April 6, 1948 |title=Test Programs Indicate WJW-FM to Be on Air Soon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-test-programs-indica/168251275/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |newspaper=The Cleveland Press |page=24 |via=Newspapers.com}} as WJW-FM, an FM adjunct to WKNR, owned by William M. O'Neil, Jr.{{Cite web |title=History Cards for WQAL |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/38c66c96-b3e1-1ad2-a97f-83a195ce60d3 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}{{Cite book |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1949/1949-BC-YB.pdf |title=Broadcasting-Telecasting 1949 Yearbook |publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc. |year=1949 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=310, 312 |chapter=Directory of FM Broadcasting Stations in the United States: Ohio |archive-date=May 19, 2024 |access-date=February 22, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519191622/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1949/1949-BC-YB.pdf |url-status=live }} The sign-on was largely coordinated with the beginning of the 1948 season for the Cleveland Indians, as WJW agreed to become the flagship of a statewide radio network.{{Cite news |last=Schlemmer |first=Jim |date=February 25, 1948 |title=Indians' Broadcast Set |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86290134/indians-broadcast-set/ |access-date=September 30, 2021 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |page=21 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001220607/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86290134/indians-broadcast-set/ |url-status=live }} Due to WJW's contractual obligations with ABC Radio, the majority of games during the season aired solely on the FM station,{{Cite news |last=Stephan |first=Robert S. |date=May 14, 1948 |title=Fans Still Fume on Phones as Games Stay Off AM Air |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-fans-still-fume-on-phon/166410203/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=28 |via=Newspapers.com}} a problem exacerbated by the team moving the start time for games to earlier in the afternoon in the middle of ABC programming;{{Cite news |last=Offineer |first=Bee |date=April 21, 1948 |title=Baseball Fans Do Slow Burn |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86289994/baseball-fans-do-slow-burn/ |access-date=September 30, 2021 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |page=28 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001220609/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86289994/baseball-fans-do-slow-burn/ |url-status=live }} WJW could only commit to airing half of the schedule.{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Stan |date=April 22, 1948 |title=WJW to Give Complete Coverage to 50 Per Cent of Tribe Games |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-wjw-to-give-complete/168251228/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |newspaper=The Cleveland Press |page=24 |via=Newspapers.com}} The Cleveland Press editorial board was critical of the flagship arrangement but doubted claims from "suspicious fans" that it was "all a plot to sell FM sets".{{Cite news |date=May 1, 1948 |title=Our Indians Deserve Full-Game Broadcasts (editorial) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-our-indians-deserve/169279652/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |newspaper=The Cleveland Press |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} Less than 10,000 FM receivers were estimated to be in use in the region when the season began,{{Cite news |last=Offineer |first=Bee |date=May 16, 1948 |title=Baseball Fans Lose Patience |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86289199/baseball-fans-lose-patience/ |access-date=September 30, 2021 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |page=14A |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001220600/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86289199/baseball-fans-lose-patience/ |url-status=live }} with an increase in the purchase of FM tuners attributed directly to WJW-FM carrying the games.{{Cite news |last=Stephan |first=Robert S. |date=May 19, 1948 |title=Jack Benny's Capable Cast to Be With Him Again in Fall |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-jack-bennys-capable-ca/166411895/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com}} At the end of 1948, WJW-FM was named flagship of the Standard Network, a 14-station statewide service for FM stations.{{Cite magazine |date=December 4, 1948 |title=Standard Net Begins Origination at WJW |magazine=The Billboard |page=5 |volume=60 |issue=49}} While the schedule conflicts were resolved for WJW the following year,{{Cite news |last=Offineer |first=Bee |date=February 28, 1949 |title=Speculate On Godfrey Rivals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86289862/speculate-on-godfrey-rivals/ |access-date=October 3, 2021 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004025454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86289862/speculate-on-godfrey-rivals/ |url-status=live }} WJMO took over as Indians radio flagship in 1950.{{Cite news |date=January 13, 1950 |title=WERE, WEWS Will Carry Indians Games |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86446866/were-wews-will-carry-indians-games/ |access-date=October 3, 2021 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004025450/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86446866/were-wews-will-carry-indians-games/ |url-status=live }}

From 1949 onward, WJW-FM operated as a pure simulcast of the AM station, save for occasional deviations.{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Stan |date=July 29, 1949 |title=Answering Some Questions Concerning Outlook for FM |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-answering-some-quest/169278179/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |newspaper=The Cleveland Press |page=26 |via=Newspapers.com}} Both WJW and WJW-FM were sold to Storer Broadcasting on October 8, 1954,{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Tom |date=October 8, 1954 |title=Storer Broadcasting Co. Buys WJW for Reported $330,000 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-storer-broadcasting-co/147456547/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516041656/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-storer-broadcasting-co/147456547/ |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=21 |via=Newspapers.com}} and moved to a combined facility with co-owned WXEL (renamed WJW-TV{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Tom |date=April 1, 1956 |title=WGAR to Introduce Five Political Shows |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wgar-to-introduce-five/147514538/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517043746/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wgar-to-introduce-five/147514538/ |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |access-date=May 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=6E |via=Newspapers.com}}) at Playhouse Square in 1956.{{Cite news |date=January 2, 1955 |title=WXEL Plans to Revamp: Remodeling to Include For New Sister WJW |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wxel-plans-to-revamp-r/147455725/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516041648/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wxel-plans-to-revamp-r/147455725/ |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}} WJW planned to disaffiliate from ABC in late November 1957 to focus more on contemporary music, but arranged to have the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts carried over WJW-FM; this bypassed a separate offer by ABC to run the Opera via tape over WDOK.{{Cite news |last=Frankel |first=Jim |date=November 27, 1957 |title=Listen Closely for Met; It'll Be Only on FM Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-listen-closely-for-m/169279911/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |newspaper=The Cleveland Press |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}} This agreement ended one month later, when WSRS AM-FM picked up ABC programming along with the Opera broadcasts.{{Cite news |date=December 20, 1957 |title=WJW, WERE [sic] in Dispute About Met |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-wjw-were-in-dispute/169277735/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |newspaper=The Cleveland Press |page=27 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=December 26, 1957 |title=WSRS To Carry Opera On AM |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/east-cleveland-leader-wsrs-to-carry-oper/169280680/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |newspaper=East Cleveland Leader |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}

By March 1961, WJW and WJW-FM were operating from studios at the AM station's transmitter site in North Royalton, which also housed the FM's transmitter.{{r|hc}} The AM/FM simulcast was partially broken up on November 8, 1965, with taped classical music and concert programming from International Good Music airing daily over WJW-FM after 12 p.m.;{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Harriet |date=November 6, 1965 |title=WJW-FM to Begin Separate Programs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-wjw-fm-to-begin-sepa/166340161/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=The Cleveland Press |page=46 |via=Newspapers.com}} the separation was made after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enacted the FM Non-Duplication Rule, mandating that FM stations could no longer fully duplicate the programming of their AM counterparts.{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Harriet |date=July 13, 1965 |title=WJW-FM to Play Classical Music Only in Bowing to FCC Order |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-wjw-fm-to-play-class/166340040/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=The Cleveland Press |page=B10 |via=Newspapers.com}}

WJW-FM was fully relaunched as WCJW on January 15, 1968, featuring a country music format dubbed "The Countrypolitan sound of Cleveland".{{cite magazine |date=February 5, 1968 |title=Program notes: Country sound |magazine=Broadcasting |page=55 |volume=74 |issue=6}} WCJW represented the first full-time country station in the Cleveland market; prior to this, the format was only heard over WSLR in Akron, Ohio, and in the late hours on ethnic station WZAK.{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Harriet |date=January 3, 1968 |title=First All Country-Western Station Opens Here Jan. 15 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-first-all-country-we/166332894/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=The Cleveland Press |page=B14 |via=Newspapers.com}} Charles Renwick, general manager for WJW and WCJW, was given full leeway by Storer to choose the new format, and selected country after investigating the "Nashville sound" through several trips to Nashville.{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=January 19, 1969 |title=On WCJW-FM: Country Music Has Built-In Audience |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-on-wcjw-fm-country-mus/166348187/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=6G |via=Newspapers.com}} WJW personalities were heard over WCJW via voice-tracking, but by 1970, WCJW hired Al Moore as a dedicated host in afternoons and upgraded to stereo.{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=January 26, 1970 |title=WCJW-FM Adding Personal Touch With Its First 'Live" DJ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wcjw-fm-adding-personal/166347854/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=B2 |via=Newspapers.com}} WCJW's tower was also moved to the WJW-TV tower in Parma and began 24-hour broadcasting.{{r|PlainD19690119p152}} While still largely automated, music was selected and scheduled locally by production manager Merrill Cosgrove.{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Harriet |date=November 16, 1970 |title=There's a feminine hand behind that FM country-western sound |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-theres-a-feminine-h/166333569/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=The Cleveland Press |page=C14 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In late 1970, Storer sold off WCJW and WPNA in Philadelphia to SJR Communications—the broadcast division of San Juan Racing Association—for a combined $1.4 million.{{cite magazine |date=April 26, 1971 |title=Storer FM holdings down to one |magazine=Broadcasting |page=56 |volume=80 |issue=17 |id={{ProQuest|1016870446}}}} The sale came as Storer experienced substantial financial losses operating Northeast Airlines, and proceeded to divest themselves of all but one of their FM stations.{{Cite thesis |last=Wellman |first=John Floyd |title=Storer Broadcasting Company--Its History, Organization, and Operation. |pages=49–52 |date=1973 |degree=PhD |publisher=The University of Michigan |place=Ann Arbor, Michigan |id={{ProQuest|302651830}}}} A format change was largely expected and Cosgrove told the Press in a profile on her that she would not be retained.{{r|Clevel19701116p46}} The deal closed on May 12, 1971, and WCJW was relaunched as WQAL, featuring an automated beautiful music format.{{r|hc}}{{Cite magazine |date=May 24, 1971 |title=For the Record: Call Letter Actions |magazine=Broadcasting |page=74 |volume=80 |issue=21}} SJR selected the calls to stand for "quality" and to counter negative perceptions Clevelanders had toward the city.{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=July 23, 1978 |title=Easy listening WQAL sound is rated No. 1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-easy-listening-wqal-sou/155372273/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=3:TV Closeup |via=Newspapers.com}} Press columnist Bill Barrett printed letters from dismayed WCJW listeners in his column, suggesting FM listeners are "... showing the same traits now as the AM audience involvement in {{Sic|programing}} and prompt a strong reaction when a favorite sound is disturbed."{{Cite news |last=Barrett |first=Bill |date=May 26, 1971 |title=Country music fans are upset as station drops their sound |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-country-music-fans-a/165565280/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |newspaper=The Cleveland Press |page=C15 |via=Newspapers.com}} WQAL's format was at first largely programmed by SJR's WJMD in Washington, D.C., and new studios were set up on Euclid Avenue; it also proved to be an immediate success in Cleveland Arbitron ratings, jumping from 20th place overall to 11th place.{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=February 13, 1972 |title=Good Pops Music Scores: Neophyte WQAL-FM Is Making Its Mark |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-neophyte-wqal-fm-is-mak/155372673/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=8G |via=Newspapers.com}}

WQAL had no air talent from their launch until March 19, 1973, when "Tall Ted" Hallaman debuted in morning drive; Hallaman's arrival was the latest in a series of popular personalities on the AM dial that moved to FM.{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=March 13, 1973 |title=On-Air 'Refinements' Scheduled at WQAL |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-on-air-refinements-sc/155372588/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=7B |via=Newspapers.com}} Al James, formerly with WWWE and WHK, joined WQAL in early 1975 for afternoons and later said of his switch to FM, "looking back, I'm really happy I made the move—but I admit I gave it a lot of thought before doing it".{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=July 30, 1975 |title=Al James and WQAL-FM make for a contented match |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-al-james-and-wqal-fm-ma/155372320/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=8E |via=Newspapers.com}} James "Jay Lynn" Threatt joined the station three months after it launched to operate the automation system; by 1974, Lynn was the overnight host,{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Harriet |date=July 11, 1975 |title=Dee Jay Lynn is soft on QAL |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-press-dee-jay-lynn-is-soft/166352358/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |newspaper=The Cleveland Press |page=13:Showtime |via=Newspapers.com}} a role he kept until retiring in 2002.{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |date=October 19, 2002 |title=Q-104's Lynn says goodbye to night shift after 31 years in radio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-q-104s-lynn-says-goodb/155382042/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=E9 |via=Newspapers.com}} The additions of personalities helped further WQAL's ratings growth: in multiple Arbitron surveys through the 1970s, it was top-ranked among adults 18 and older, and the April-May 1978 Arbitron showed WQAL listeners tuned into the station for 12 hours and 24 minutes every week.{{r|PlainD19780723p187|Clevel19750711p51}} Ed Fisher, long the morning-drive host at WJW, joined WQAL in 1979 in the same capacity;{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=July 29, 1979 |title=Ed Fisher is hitched to a new vehicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-ed-fisher-is-hitched-to/166353539/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |pages=17–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-ed-fisher-is-hitched-to/166353616/ 18]:Five |via=Newspapers.com}} Fisher replaced Hallaman, who left WQAL to become WDOK's morning host.{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=April 3, 1979 |title=WDOK lands Hallaman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wdok-lands-hallaman/166587503/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=19A |via=Newspapers.com}}

Despite high ratings, WQAL's 1978 license renewal was in doubt. The FCC sought to enforce a 6 percent weekly minimum of non-entertainment programming among FM stations,{{r|PlainD19780723p187}} and WQAL proposed 2.9 percent of weekly non-entertainment fare, including two daily shows at 8:55 a.m. and 6:25 p.m., and a weekend program at 4:30 a.m.{{Cite magazine |date=March 13, 1978 |title=FCC sets renewal for hearing on program grounds: WQAL Cleveland in the hot seat for its under-6% nonentertainment proposal; vote was unanimous |magazine=Broadcasting |page=26 |volume=94 |issue=11}} Five other FM stations also allotted the bare minimum for such programming,{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=March 11, 1978 |title=WQAL in hot water |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wqal-in-hot-water/166588732/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=3B |via=Newspapers.com}} but the FCC voted unanimously in April 1978 to designate WQAL's license for hearing, the first station to have its license challenged on program content.{{r|hc}}{{Cite magazine |date=March 6, 1978 |title=Closed Circuit: Ground breaker |magazine=Broadcasting |page=13 |volume=94 |issue=10}} WQAL general manager Goff Lebhar said that in order to meet the FCC's requirement, "[w]e would have to make changes in programming ... we didn't have [the rule] in 1973, and didn't change it in 1976".{{r|PlainD19780311p27}} The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) petitioned in support of WQAL, saying the hearing could be "... construed to betoken a new era of programming control and censorship".{{Cite magazine |date=April 10, 1978 |title=Media: FCC back WQAL in opposing FCC's call for hearing |magazine=Broadcasting |page=68 |volume=94 |issue=15}} After amending their application to account for 6.79 percent nonentertainment programming, WQAL's license was granted a one-year renewal by December 1978,{{Cite magazine |date=December 18, 1978 |title=Media: NAB heartily seconds Brown's call for radio deregulation |magazine=Broadcasting |page=48 |volume=95 |issue=25}} and a full three-year renewal by July 1980.{{r|hc}}

SJR divested all but one of their radio stations, including WQAL, to Gulf United Broadcasting in May 1980 as part of a larger $62 million deal.{{Cite magazine |date=May 26, 1980 |title=Changing Hands: Proposed |magazine=Broadcasting |page=40 |volume=98 |issue=21}} Gulf sold off WQAL to WIN Communications, a locally-run company, on October 8, 1984, for $4.8 million.{{Cite magazine |date=December 3, 1984 |title=For the Record: Ownership Changes |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=126–127 |volume=107 |issue=23}} WIN was headed by former WMMS general manager Walt Tiburski{{Cite news |date=October 18, 1984 |title=WQAL Radio sold to city investors |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wqal-radio-sold-to-city/166617619/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=10B |via=Newspapers.com}} and included area developer Tony Ocepek{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=William F. |date=December 4, 1989 |title=1-room school to teach pupils again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-1-room-school-to-teach/166609205/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=2B |via=Newspapers.com}} and Cleveland Browns player Thom Darden as among the core investors.{{Cite news |last=Strassmeyer |first=Mary |date=October 24, 1984 |title=Mary, Mary: Equal Partners |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-mary-mary-equal-partn/166617713/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=4F |via=Newspapers.com}} Despite Tiburski's background in rock overseeing WMMS, he promised to maintain WQAL's beautiful music format and beat WDOK in the ratings, saying, "... we feel the area in which we can experience the greatest success is the easy-listening format. I have no torch for rock 'n' roll."{{Cite news |last=Frolik |first=Joe |date=October 22, 1984 |title=2 stations increase static over easy-listening ratings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-2-stations-increase-sta/166617919/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=6C |via=Newspapers.com}} Shortly after the purchase was complete at the start of 1985, veteran personality Larry Morrow—a former host at WIXY, WWWE and WERE host once dubbed "Mr. Cleveland" by mayor George Voinovich{{Cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=May 29, 1999 |title=Morrow is gone without goodbye |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-morrow-is-gone-without/155382547/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-morrow-is-gone-without/155382637/ 6E] |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=December 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207193524/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-morrow-is-gone-without/155382547/ |url-status=live }}—was hired for morning drive; Tiburski teased the possibility of WIN purchasing additional radio stations.{{Cite news |last=Strassmeyer |first=Mary |date=January 3, 1985 |title=Mary, Mary: Morrow in the morning |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-mary-mary-morrow-in-t/166497135/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=4C |via=Newspapers.com}}

WQAL was the last station in Cleveland to feature beautiful music after WDOK switched to soft AC in 1987.{{Cite news |last=Sowd |first=David |date=April 29, 1988 |title=WQAL gaining easy listeners |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wqal-gaining-easy-liste/166548360/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |pages=27, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wqal-gaining-easy-liste/166548430/ 40]:Friday! |via=Newspapers.com}} Even by 1984, industry analysts regarded Cleveland as unusually receptive to beautiful music as other large markets only had one station remaining in the format.{{Cite news |last=Frolik |first=Joe |date=April 26, 1984 |title=WMMS, WDOK, WQAL out front, but hold on |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wmms-wdok-wqal-out-fr/155550398/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=11E |via=Newspapers.com}} WIN sold itself, along with WQAL and four other stations, to M.L. Media Partners LP, a subsidiary of Merrill Lynch,{{Cite news |last=Strassmeyer |first=Mary |date=July 14, 1989 |title=Mary, Mary: Radio pair creating an empire |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-mary-mary-radio-pair/166609111/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=8B |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Leckey |first=Andrew |date=March 14, 1986 |title=Merrill Lynch media package targets profits |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post-merrill-lynch-media/166636616/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Cincinnati Post |page=8A |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Chicago Tribune}} in May 1988 for $48 million; Tiburski and Ocepek agreed to continue operating the stations along with any future M.L. Media purchases.{{Cite news |last=Dyer |first=Bob |date=May 8, 1988 |title=Canton station hopes to erode WZAK influence |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-canton-station/166584656/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |pages=C1–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-canton-station/166584686/ C2] |via=Newspapers.com}} WQAL updated their playlist in early 1989 with a larger amount of vocals, but ratings declined by 2.8 percent between the winter and summer 1989 books.{{Cite news |last=Sowd |first=David |date=July 21, 1989 |title=TV is WNCX's ratings boost |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-tv-is-wncxs-ratings-bo/166552838/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=22:Friday! |via=Newspapers.com}}

Facing both declining ratings and an increasing amount of advertisers unwilling to associate with the format, WQAL abruptly switched to soft AC on March 31, 1990. Morrow addressed the change on-air by saying, "you told us you wanted the originals rather than the instrumentals".{{Cite news |last=Sowd |first=David |date=April 3, 1990 |title=Elevator music given ride right out of WQAL-FM |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-elevator-music-given-ri/166546635/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=14B |via=Newspapers.com}} Renamed "Soft Hits 104.1", WQAL registered a service mark for the brand and filed a cease and desist against WDOK from using "soft hits" in their station promos and advertising.{{Cite news |date=April 10, 1990 |title=WQAL out of elevator and jousting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wqal-out-of-elevator-an/155374457/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=14B |via=Newspapers.com}} WDOK, which branded as "soft favorites", countersued WQAL in Ohio Common Pleas court,{{Cite news |last=Sowd |first=David |date=April 22, 1990 |title=Airwave wars more like a pillow fight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-airwave-wars-more-like/166549077/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |pages=1H, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-airwave-wars-more-like/166549471/ 8H] |via=Newspapers.com}} causing WQAL to quietly rebrand as "Great Hits 104.1" four weeks later; this led WDOK to host an internal "guess the WQAL slogan contest" among advertising agencies where the winner received $1,002 in cash.{{Cite news |last=Dyer |first=Bob |date=May 6, 1990 |title=Sports talker does the best with the juice he's got |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-sports-talker-d/45085419/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |page=C2 |via=Newspapers.com}} Plain Dealer critic David Sowd called the "pillow fight" litigation between the two stations "... a reflection of how wimpy and bland Cleveland radio has become".{{r|PlainD19900422p159}} WQAL's soft AC switch largely flopped as both it and WDOK saw audience declines in the spring 1990 Arbitron ratings, but contemporary-focused WLTF became top-ranked in the market.{{Cite news |last=Sowd |first=David |date=July 20, 1990 |title=WLTF maintains top rating |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wltf-maintains-top-rati/155535056/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=32:Friday! |via=Newspapers.com}} By July 1990, Walt Tiburski and Tony Ocepek ended their two-year contracts operating the WIN station group on M.L. Media Partners' behalf, and intended to purchase additional stations.{{Cite news |last=Strassmeyer |first=Mary |date=July 26, 1990 |title=Mary, Mary: Radiomen strike out on own |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-mary-mary-radiomen-st/166578308/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=8E |via=Newspapers.com}}

{{Quote box

| quote = When we were easy listening, much of our presentation was more traditional - a radio version of The Wall Street Journal, if you will. Now we've evolved to more of a USA Today: we're more interesting and exciting and easily digestible.

| author = Dave Erwin

| source = WQAL program director{{r|PlainD19910210p136}}

| width = 250px

}}

Industry veteran Dave Ervin was hired as program director in December 1990; within five weeks, all softer-sounding songs were removed from the playlist and the station was relaunched as "Q104", with WLTF now as their main competition.{{Cite news |last=Sowd |first=David |date=January 4, 1991 |title=Birch ratings gain importance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-birch-ratings-gain-impo/166539242/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |pages=23, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-birch-ratings-gain-impo/166539322/ 30]:Friday! |via=Newspapers.com}} Ervin considered his arrival to be "the final stage" of WQAL's "evolution" from the beautiful music era{{Cite news |last=Sowd |first=David |date=February 10, 1991 |title=Radio's New Main Men |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-radios-new-main-men-p/166542124/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-radios-new-main-men/166542043/ 1H], 6H |via=Newspapers.com}} to hot AC.{{Cite news |last=Santiago |first=Roberto |date=June 10, 1993 |title=WQAL director riding crest of hot adult contemporary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wqal-director-riding-cr/155374310/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=12E |via=Newspapers.com}} Larry Morrow and Jay Lynn were retained in their respective morning and overnight timeslots and were joined with Sally Spitz as Morrow's co-host, Johnny Williams for middays, Dan Deely for afternoons and Jon Russell for evenings.{{Cite magazine |last=Stark |first=Phyllis |date=August 8, 1992 |title=Billboard's PD of the week: Dave Ervin, WQAL Cleveland |magazine=Billboard |page=64 |volume=104 |issue=32}} Morrow was called "a gold mine" by Ervin for his tenure in the market and ties to the community,{{r|PlainD19930610p52}} and marketed the station around him; while still successful in mornings, Morrow expressed frustration over having stiff competition from John Lanigan at WMJI and Howard Stern at WNCX, both of whom prevented him from reaching number one like at past stations.{{Cite news |last=Santiago |first=Roberto |date=August 8, 1993 |title=Integrity guides Larry Morrow's life and work |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-integrity-guides-larry/155373637/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |pages=1I, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-integrity-guides-larry/155373688/ 9I] |via=Newspapers.com}}

Chancellor Media made three concurrent transactions on August 12, 1998, purchasing WQAL from M.L. Media Partners, WKNR and WDOK from Independent Group Ltd., and WZJM, WZAK and WERE from Zapis Communications, all for $275 million: the largest such deal in Cleveland radio history.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Roger |date=August 12, 1998 |title=Texas broadcaster buys 6 local stations: Sale is biggest in Cleveland radio history |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-texas-broadcaster-buys/166588826/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=1B |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Richard |date=August 13, 1998 |title=Radio deal shakes up Cleveland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85840181/radio-deal-shakes-up-cleveland/ |access-date=September 23, 2021 |work=The Akron Beacon Journal |pages=E1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85840207/radio-deal-shakes-up-cleveland-p2/ E2] |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date=August 13, 1998 |title=Company News; Chancellor Media to Buy Six Cleveland Radio Stations |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/13/business/company-news-chancellor-media-to-buy-six-cleveland-radio-stations.html |access-date=January 1, 2007 |newspaper=The New York Times}} The joint sale came after ongoing consolidation in the market made it impossible for the other groups to remain competitive.{{r|PlainD19980812p33}} WQAL was described by Plain Dealer critic Roger Brown in April 1996 as "a station in limbo" suggesting M.L. Media would be forced to keep or sell the station.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Roger |date=April 3, 1996 |title=Here's where stations stand at quarter mark |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-heres-where-stations-s/166636672/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=5E |via=Newspapers.com}} After Independent Group and Zapis failed to close a joint $45 million purchase for WQAL, all three groups united to sell outright.{{r|Akro980813}} The newly formed cluster was soon joined by WHKW{{r|PlainD19981206p147}} after Chancellor's merger with Capstar Broadcasting {{age in years and days|1998|08|12|1998|08|27}} later{{cite news |last=Golz |first=Earl |date=August 28, 1998 |title=Capstar sale creates giant broadcaster |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85841160/capstar-sale-creates-giant-broadcaster/ |access-date=September 23, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85841217/capstar-sale-creates-giant-broadcaster/ D8] |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923223329/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85841160/capstar-sale-creates-giant-broadcaster/ |url-status=live }} forming AMFM, Inc., with 465 stations in their portfolio. Shortly after Chancellor took over WQAL, Morrow's contract was not renewed, ending for him a 33-year career in local radio;{{r|PlainD19990529p45}} his dismissal came alongside similar budget cuts made at WDOK and WRMR.{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Roger|date=December 6, 1998|title=These may be local radio's good old days|pages=1I, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-these-may-be-local-radi/166657865/ 11I]|work=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-these-may-be-local-radi/166657788/|access-date=March 8, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

On October 3, 1999, only {{age in years and days|1999|07|13|1999|10|03}} after AMFM, Inc.'s formation, it agreed to be purchased by Clear Channel Communications for $17.4 billion.{{cite news |date=October 4, 1999 |title=Clear Channel gets AMFM |url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/10/04/deals/clear/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110105744/http://money.cnn.com/1999/10/04/deals/clear/ |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |access-date=November 3, 2011 |work=CNNMoney }} To meet regulatory approval, WQAL, WZJM and WDOK were sold off to WNCX owner Infinity Broadcasting as part of a larger $1.4 billion, 18-station deal announced on May 6, 2000.{{Cite news |date=May 7, 2000 |title=Firm sells five radio stations in region |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83449705/firm-sells-five-radio-stations-in-region/ |access-date=August 14, 2021 |work=The Akron Beacon Journal |pages=D7, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83449737/firm-sells-five-radio-stations-in/ D12] |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815003137/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83449705/firm-sells-five-radio-stations-in-region/ |url-status=live }}{{cite press release |title=Justice Department Requires Clear Channel and AMFM to Divest 99 Radio Stations in 27 Markets. Required Sale is Largest Radio Divestiture Ever |date=July 20, 2000 |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |url=http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2000/July/415at.htm |access-date=January 1, 2007 |archive-date=May 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530212735/http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2000/July/415at.htm |url-status=live }}

WQAL's studios were moved to WDOK's facilities at "One Radio Lane", off East St. Clair Avenue in Downtown Cleveland, in January 2002.{{r|WQALMoves}} A managerial realignment had Chris Maduri—with WDOK since 1985—become general manager for it and WQAL, while Walt Tiburski held the same role at WNCX and WXTM (the former WZJM); Maduri was also appointed as market manager for all four stations. Maduri treated his role as "still [making] the stations sound like local Ma-and-Pa operations, with local weather, local traffic and local talent."{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |date=March 10, 2003 |title=Infinity exec knows how to stay tuned in |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-infinity-exec-knows-how/166588469/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-infinity-exec-knows-how/166588603/ C5] |via=Newspapers.com}} Dave Popovich, a veteran executive at WMJI, WLTF/WMVX and WDOK, was named program director for WQAL and WDOK in February 2006; by then, Infinity Broadcasting was renamed to CBS Radio.{{Cite news |last=Washington |first=Julie |date=January 28, 2006 |title=In changing TV world, viewers need PBS, exec says |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-in-changing-tv-world-v/166453418/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=E7 |via=Newspapers.com}} WQAL and WDOK moved to the Halle Building on Euclid Avenue, also downtown, on November 13, 2012.{{cite web |last=Kory |date=November 12, 2012 |title=New 102 Is Moving Tomorrow, Kory Remembers One Radio Lane |url=http://new102.cbslocal.com/2012/11/12/new-102-is-moving-tomorrow-kory-remembers-one-radio-lane/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113205557/http://star102cleveland.cbslocal.com/2012/11/12/new-102-is-moving-tomorrow-kory-remembers-one-radio-lane/ |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |access-date=April 10, 2013 |website=Cleveland's New 102}}

CBS Radio merged with Entercom (renamed Audacy, Inc. in 2021{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=March 30, 2021 |title=Radio Giant Entercom Rebrands As Audacy Amid Streaming Push |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/radio-giant-entercom-rebrands-as-audacy-amid-streaming-push-4157722/ |access-date=March 30, 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509154805/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/radio-giant-entercom-rebrands-as-audacy-amid-streaming-push-4157722/ |url-status=live }}) on February 2, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=February 2, 2017 |title=CBS Radio To Merge With Entercom |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/116299/cbs-radio-to-merge-with-entercom/ |access-date=December 17, 2019 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826120259/http://radioinsight.com/headlines/116299/cbs-radio-to-merge-with-entercom/ |url-status=live }} The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on the 17th.{{cite press release |title=Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio |date=November 9, 2017 |publisher=Entercom |url=http://entercom.com/press/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-merger-cbs-radio/ |last1=Tejeda |first1=Esther-Mireya |access-date=November 17, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030954/http://entercom.com/press/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-merger-cbs-radio/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017}}{{cite web |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=November 17, 2017 |title=Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121072/entercom-completes-cbs-radio-merger/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118222152/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121072/entercom-completes-cbs-radio-merger/ |archive-date=November 18, 2017 |access-date=November 17, 2017 |work=RadioInsight}} Popovich was promoted to vice president of programming for the four-station cluster prior to retiring in March 2023;{{cite web |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Audacy Cleveland VP/Programming Dave Popovich To Retire |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/246149/audacy-cleveland-vp-programming-dave-popovich-to-retire/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=RadioInsight |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219205617/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/246149/audacy-cleveland-vp-programming-dave-popovich-to-retire/ |url-status=live }} Chase Daniels was transferred from Audacy's Madison, Wisconsin, cluster to succeed him.{{cite web | last=Venta | first=Lance | title=Chase Daniels Moves To Audacy Cleveland As Operations Manager | website=RadioInsight | date=March 8, 2023 | url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/249566/chase-daniels-moves-to-audacy-cleveland-as-operations-manager/ | access-date=February 23, 2025}}

WQAL personalities include Bill Ryan and Alyssa Rose in mornings,{{cite web |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=May 16, 2022 |title=Bill Ryan Joins WQAL Morning Show |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/225899/bill-ryan-joins-wqal-morning-show/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=RadioInsight |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516231255/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/225899/bill-ryan-joins-wqal-morning-show/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web | last=Venta | first=Lance | title=Alyssa Rose Comes Home To Join Bill Ryan In Mornings At WQAL | website=RadioInsight | date=April 3, 2024 | url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/267041/alyssa-rose-comes-home-to-join-bill-ryan-in-mornings-at-wqal/ | access-date=February 23, 2025 | archive-date=April 10, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410182551/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/267041/alyssa-rose-comes-home-to-join-bill-ryan-in-mornings-at-wqal/ | url-status=live }} along with Jenny Lyte in middays and Kelly McMann in afternoons.{{cite web |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=February 15, 2022 |title=WQAL Promotes Kelly McMann To Assistant Brand Manager |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/219928/wqal-promotes-kelly-mcmann-to-assistant-brand-manager/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=RadioInsight |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216063141/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/219928/wqal-promotes-kelly-mcmann-to-assistant-brand-manager/ |url-status=live }} WQAL's HD2 digital subchannel carries the Channel Q network.{{cite web |date=July 10, 2024 |title=Miller To Lead Audacy's Cleveland Cluster |url=https://rbr.com/miller-to-lead-audacys-cleveland-cluster/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=Radio & Television Business Report |archive-date=July 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719211646/https://rbr.com/miller-to-lead-audacys-cleveland-cluster/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite press release |title=Entercom LGBTQ+ Talk Radio Network Channel Q Expands Again to Four Additional Markets |date=October 11, 2019 |publisher=Entercom |location=Philadelphia |url=https://audacyinc.com/press/entercom-lgbtq-talk-radio-network-channel-q-expands-again-to-four-additional-markets/ |last1=Morales |first1=Jennifer |access-date=February 23, 2025 |archive-date=September 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918192036/https://audacyinc.com/press/entercom-lgbtq-talk-radio-network-channel-q-expands-again-to-four-additional-markets/ |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Morrow |first=Larry |title=This Is Larry Morrow |publisher=Gray & Co. |year=2010 |isbn=9781598510690 |location=Cleveland, Ohio |ref=Morrow}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Official website|https://www.audacy.com/q104}}
• {{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=82680 |title= History Cards for WQAL|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards){{FM station data|72889|WQAL}}

{{Cleveland Radio}}

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Category:1948 establishments in Ohio

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