WJRZ-FM

WJRZ-FM (100.1 FM) is a radio station located in New Jersey.

History

WJRZ began broadcasting on July 4, 1976 from Manahawkin, New Jersey with a Top 40 format that also played a lot of recurrents. The original city of license was Ship Bottom, later changed to Manahawkin, and used the ID "Manahawkin-Toms River". Some of the early slogans used were "Stereo 100 WJRZ", "FM 100 WJRZ", and as "HitRadio Power 100 WJRZ". The station was originally licensed to the Jersey Shore Broadcasting Corporation, which was incorporated in New Jersey in 1974, with Joseph J. Knox, Jr., as president and Brent McNally VP and founders. The station signed on air as an affiliate of the ABC Radio Network and later switched to AP Radio. From its sign-on the station grew its listenership very quickly. WJRZ has had a long history of talented music hosts and newscasters. They include (1970s) Jason "Big Jay" Sorensen, Jay Lurie, Brent McNally, Bob Sorrentino, Terry Barnes, Joe Stephens, Ron Stevens, Lance DeBock, Mike Brophy, A.J. Brooks, Arthur Sarnovsky, Chuck Flamini, Karyn Westhoven, Chris VanZant and many,many others. The station maintained studios and a 340 ft (100 m). tower on 16 acres (65,000 m²) on Beach Avenue in Manahawkin, next to AT&T High Seas Radio Station WOO. The transmitter was later moved to a 500 ft (150 m). tower on 20 acres (81,000 m²) off Route 9 in Waretown.