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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RicoDelgado-NMMA (talk | contribs) at 13:18, 27 March 2017 (WOEZ is now WQEZ as of 3/27/2017). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
WQEZ
Broadcast areaCheboygan, Michigan
Frequency106.3 MHz
BrandingEasy 106-3
Programming
LanguageEnglish
FormatSoft AC
Ownership
OwnerBlack Diamond Broadcasting
WCBY, WCHY, WGFE, WGFM, WGFN, WMKC, WTWS, WUPS
History
First air date
2011 (as WYPV)
Former call signs
WYPV (8/16/2011-5/10/2013)
WJZJ (5/10/2013-5/30/2013)
WOEZ (5/30/2013-3/24/2017)
Call sign meaning
EZ = "Easy"
Technical information
Facility ID189540
ClassC2
ERP31,000 watts
HAAT191 meters
Transmitter coordinates
45°39′01″N 84°20′37″W / 45.65028°N 84.34361°W / 45.65028; -84.34361
Translator(s)98.1 W251AD (Alpena)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewqez.fm

WQEZ (106.3 FM) is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Onaway, Michigan. WOEZ is imaged as "Easy 106.3". The station is owned by Black Diamond Broadcasting.

ABC Entertainment Network news is featured at the top of each hour. WQEZ is also heard on translator 98.1 W251AD in Alpena. The Easy format was also heard on WQEZ 95.5 FM of Glen Arbor, Michigan from 2013 until 2017, who separately imaged as "Easy 95.5". 106.3 was then known as WOEZ. The two stations aired the same musical format with the same songs in the same order (with a slight delay), but were not simulcast, as station imaging, commercials, and weather forecasts were separate. 95.5 is now known as WGFE, simulcasting sister station WGFM 105.1.

Programming

WQEZ broadcasts a "super-soft" adult contemporary format (similar to that of WDUV in Tampa, Florida, or WFEZ in Miami, Florida) to northwestern lower Michigan.[1] Typical artists include Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Elvis Presley, Carpenters, Olivia Newton-John, Elton John, Celine Dion, and Kenny Rogers among others, with a small scattering of more contemporary AC hits from artists like Adele, Colbie Caillat, and Lady Antebellum. WQEZ's signal covers the northern tip of the lower peninsula and much of eastern Upper Michigan.

History

In June 2011, broadcast veteran Del Reynolds applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a construction permit for a new broadcast radio station. The FCC granted this permit on August 8, 2011, with a scheduled expiration date of August 8, 2014.[2] The new station was assigned call sign "WQEZ" on August 16, 2011.[3]

After construction and testing were completed, the station began broadcasting on November 5, 2011, with a Christmas music format, stunting as "Santa 97-7".[4] The station was granted its broadcast license on December 6, 2011.[5] On December 26, 2011, the station debuted its regular soft adult contemporary music format, branded as "Easy 97-7".[6]

On April 1, 2013, WQEZ swapped call letters with WJZJ 95.5 FM, and the two stations began mirroring the "Easy" format, displacing 95.5 FM's former "Real Rock" format.

On May 20, 2013 WOEZ moved to 106.3 FM licensed to Onaway, Michigan, which had previously been WYPV with a conservative/Christian talk format. (The 106.3 frequency had tested with Christmas music during the summer of 2012 prior to commencing regular programming.) The WYPV calls and talk format are now on 94.5 FM in Mackinaw City, which had been the former home for "The Bear" simulcast. The Bear is now on 97.7, which has since changed calls again to WCHY. WOEZ is also heard on 98.1 W251AD in Alpena.

On March 17, 2017, the Easy format ended on 95.5 FM, as WQEZ would become a simulcast of sister station WGFM as WGFE. This left WOEZ as the standalone "Easy" outlet. On March 24, 2017, the WQEZ call letters moved to 106.3, who got rid of their former WOEZ callsign.

References

  1. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  2. ^ "Application Search Details (BNPH-20110613ABM)". FCC Media Bureau. August 8, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  3. ^ "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. Federal Communications Commission Media Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  4. ^ "97.7 FM Cheboygan signs on as 'Santa 97.7'". Michigan's Radio & TV Broadcast Guide. November 6, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  5. ^ "Application Search Details (BLH-20111108AHH)". FCC Media Bureau. December 6, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  6. ^ "Northern Lower Peninsula gets new soft rock station". Michigan's Radio & TV Broadcast Guide. December 29, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2012.