WXLK
{{short description|Contemporary hit radio station in Roanoke, Virginia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WXLK
| logo = WXLK-FM 2014.PNG
| logo_upright = .8
| city = Roanoke, Virginia
| country = US
| area = {{ubl|New River Valley|Southwest Virginia}}
| branding = K92
| frequency = {{Frequency|92.3|MHz}} {{HD Radio}}
| translator = See § HD Radio
| airdate = {{start date and age|1960|12|17}}
| language = English
| format = Contemporary hit radio
| subchannels = HD2: WZZU simulcast (Active rock)
| erp = {{val|100000|u=watts|fmt=commas}}
| haat = {{convert|605|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = C
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 9692
| coordinates = {{coord|37|11|51.4|N|80|9|9.1|W|type:landmark_region:US-VA_source:FCC|name=WXLK|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns ={{ubl|WLRJ (1960–1973)|WLRG (1973–1980)}}
| affiliations =
| owner = Mel Wheeler, Inc.
| licensee =
| sister_stations = {{hlist|WFIR|WSLC-FM|WSLQ|WVBB|WPLI|WPLY|WVBE-FM|WZZU}}
| webcast = [https://player.amperwave.net/1297 Listen Live]
| website = [https://www.k92radio.com/ k92radio.com]
}}
WXLK (92.3 FM "K92") is a commercial radio station licensed to Roanoke, Virginia, serving the New River Valley and Southwest Virginia.{{cite web|url=http://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=WI14&band=fm&callLetter=WXLK|title=Arbitron Station Information Profiles|access-date=October 28, 2014|work=Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings}} WXLK airs a contemporary hit radio format and is owned and operated by Mel Wheeler, Inc.{{cite web|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WXLK|title=WXLK Facility Record|access-date=October 28, 2014|work=Federal Communications Commission, audio division}}
WXLK's studios and offices are on Electric Road in Roanoke. Its transmitter is on Honeysuckle Road in Bent Mountain.[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=WXLK-FM Radio-Locator.com/WXLK-FM] WXLK broadcasts in the HD Radio format.https://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?realid=447 HD Radio Guide for Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia The station runs at 100,000 watts effective radiated power (ERP) on a tower 1,985 feet in height above average terrain (HAAT). The Class C station can be heard into North Carolina and West Virginia. At times it can be picked up more than 200 miles away.
History
On December 17, 1960, the station first signed on as WLRJ.[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1961-62/Section%20B%202%20Radio%20%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201961-1962-10.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1961-62 page B-179] It was owned by Lee Hartman & Sons, a company headquartered in Roanoke that still provides audio and video services, although it no longer owns a radio station.[http://www.leehartman.com/ LeeHartman.com] WLRJ ran at only 2,800 watts, a fraction of its current power.
The station specialized in what it called "fine music" including middle of the road artists. WLRJ was an affiliate of the ABC-FM Network.[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1972/B-2%20YB%201972%20All-12.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1972 page B-220] It was a rare "stand alone" FM station, with no AM counterpart.
In 1972, the station was bought by CEBE Investments.[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1978/C-2-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1978 page C-230] CEBE switched the format to beautiful music. With the new call letters WLRG, the station called itself "Large Radio - Always Beautiful".
contemporary hit radio "K92" debuted on January 1, 1980. Future WVTF general manager Glenn Gleixner, then a DJ at the station, came up with the branding and callsign – picking K because he believed it was the most memorable letter, and including an X in homage to WIXL in Newton, New Jersey, where he previously worked.{{cite news |last1=Berrier Jr. |first1=Ralph |title='Mr. Radio': Glenn Gleixner retires after 18 years as WVTF's general manager |url=https://www.roanoke.com/arts_and_entertainment/mr-radio-glenn-gleixner-retires-after-years-as-wvtf-s/article_7d97859b-e139-5acb-8964-0c5bba34ad17.html |work=Roanoke Times |date=24 June 2018 |language=en}}
Throughout the 1980s, WXLK is an affiliate of Casey Kasem's American Top 40 (since January 1981), the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, and Dan Ingram's Top 40 Satellite Survey.
In 1997, the station was acquired by its current owner, Mel Wheeler, Inc. The price tag was $7.5 million for both WXLK and 100.1 WLYK in Lynchburg, which at the time simulcast WXLK.[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2000/D-Radio-NE-TER-BC-YB-2000-2.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000 page D-474] (WLYK is now WVBE-FM, which airs an urban adult contemporary format).
Over the years, K92 launched many of its high profile on-air personalities into major market radio, including Eddie Haskell, David Lee Michaels, Cat Thomas, Sonny Joe Stevens, Marc Anthony, Ellis B Feaster, Blair Carter & Jeffrey T. Mason.
HD Radio
HD Radio subchannel WXLK-HD2 debuted as mainstream rock formatted "97.3 & 98.5 The Rock Channel" on December 31, 2017. The subchannel is paired with two FM broadcast translators to provide reception on analog radios:{{cite web|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=97.3 The Rock Channel To Debut In Roanoke - RadioInsight|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/122073/97-3-rock-channel-debut-roanoke/|website=RadioInsight|date=29 December 2017}}
{{RadioTranslators
| call1 = W247AD
| freq1 = 97.3
| city1 = Roanoke, Virginia
| fid1 = 67688
| watts1 = 99
| haat1 = 219
| class1 = D
| notes1 = Relays HD2
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.k92radio.com/ K92 Online]
- {{FM station data|9692|WXLK}}
{{Contemporary Hit Radio Stations in Virginia}}
{{Roanoke-Lynchburg Radio}}
Category:1960 establishments in Virginia
Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States