WAXQ

WAXQ-FM

Q104.3 logo
Broadcast area	New York City
Frequency	104.3 FM (MHz) 104.3-2 FM (WAXQ2 - Deep Classics) (HD Radio)
Branding	Q-104.3
Programming
Format	Classic Rock
Ownership
Owner	Clear Channel Communications
History
First air date	1956
Technical information
Class	B
ERP	6000 watts
Links
Website	www.q1043.com

WAXQ, known on-air as "Q-104.3" is a radio station with a classic rock format in New York City. It is located at 104.3 FM.

WNCN

The station first signed on in 1956 as WNCN, where it was a part of a group of classical music stations in the northeastern United States. The station would retain a classical music format for many years, except for a short period during 1974-1975 when it took up a rock format with the call letters WQIV.

This brought loud protests from disgruntled listeners, who felt the loss of classical music was an action against the public interest as governed by the Federal Communications Commission. William F. Buckley was an influential figure backing the return to classical music and the WNCN call letters, which happened in 1975.

The station was owned by GAF for many years, until 1993, when Entercom would buy WNCN.

The WNCN call letters are now used on the NBC O&O in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

WAXQ

In December of 1993, the station adapted a hard rock format, as they took the call letters WAXQ and the nickname "Q-104.3." Adam Curry, formerly of MTV, became the station's morning host. The playlist was split into 5-song blocks that focused on current hard rock favorites, but also mixed in classic rock tunes and cuts from bands not typically thought of as radio friendly (Type O Negative, Anthrax). However, ratings were low, as this format was not ideal during a time in which more people were listening to alternative rock than to heavy metal. Also, during the mid-1990s, other New York City radio stations were playing alternative rock music, as WXRK went from classic rock to alternative rock, and WNEW-FM was trying to go after a younger audience.

In 1996, thanks to a deal involving a swapping of various broadcast stations, Viacom would acquire WAXQ. After initial consideration was given for the station to turn to a country format, management decided that there was a need for a full-time classic rock station in New York City. As a result, the station went to its current format on July 1, 1996, with special attention being paid to the works of Led Zeppelin. Research indicated that if WNEW were to revert to an all-classic rock format, listeners would not return there due to the distrust for that station. As it turned out, WNEW would go back to a classic rock format, but to this day, their ratings have lagged behind WAXQ's (and for that matter, every other commercial radio station in New York City).

WAXQ's airstaff includes several disc jockeys who were well-known from other New York City radio stations, such as morning show host Jim Kerr, Carol Miller, Pat St. John, and Eddie Trunk. Legendary disc jockey Scott Muni also worked at the station, as he hosted a noon-hour show from late 1998 until his death in 2004.

WAXQ is a Clear Channel Communications radio station. Before that, in 1997 Viacom sold off its entire radio division (before its merger with CBS and Infinity) to Chancellor Media. Chancellor in turn merged with Capstar Broadcasting to form AM/FM, and that company was then swallowed up by Clear Channel.

On Air Schedule

WEEKDAYS

• 12:00am-5:30am Carol Miller
• 5:30am-9:00am Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein
• 9:00am-2:00pm Maria Milito (whom she was previously the announcer on Make the Grade)
• 2:00pm-4:00pm Bob Buchmann
• 4:00pm-8:00pm Ken Dashow
• 8:00pm-12:00am "The Cope"
• 11:30pm Wednesdays Rockline

HD Operations

Like other Clear Channel stations Q 104.3 has begun Multicasting in the late winter of 2006. On WAXQ HD 1 the Classic Rock format heard on the original analog station while WAXQ HD 2 plays a blend of Deep Classic Rock Hits including more hard rock and some current product by Classic Rock artists. HD stations can only be received with an HD Radio. HD Radios receive both the primary analog station, the duplicate HD Feed and the multicasting feeds. Stations can put as many as three sets of HD programming on one dial position plus their original analog broadcast

Management

• Rob Williams – Senior Vice President
• Bob Buchmann - Program Director
• Susan Bacich - Director of Marketing
• Stephanie Kresge - Local Sales Manager

External links

• WAXQ web site
• Q1043's TOP 1,043 CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME
• Carol Miller Fans
• Jim Kerr Fans
• Q104.3 Fan Page