WRQX (AM)
 | |
| City | Salem, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Youngstown metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 600 kHz |
| Branding | AM 600 The Patriot |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Talk radio |
| Affiliations | CBS Radio News Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Cumulus Media (Cumulus Licensing LLC) |
| WBBW, WHOT, WPIC, WQXK, WWIZ, WYFM | |
| History | |
First air date | June 25, 1965 |
Former call signs | WSOM (1965–2019) |
Call sign meaning | "Parked" call sign after prior usage on the former WRQX in Washington, D.C. |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 37547 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 1,000 watts (daytime) 45 watts (nighttime) |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°49′47″N 80°55′49″W / 40.82972°N 80.93028°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | Profile LMS |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | 600wrqx |
WRQX (600 AM) – branded as AM 600 The Patriot – is a commercial talk radio station licensed to Salem, Ohio, and serving the Youngstown metropolitan area. Owned by Cumulus Media, WRQX is the local market affiliate for CBS News Radio and multiple talk programs from co-owned syndicator Westwood One. The WRQX studios are located in "The Radio Center" in Youngstown, while the transmitter is located in nearby Winona.[1] In addition to a standard analog transmission, WRQX is available online.
History[edit]
The station began operations on June 25, 1965 as WSOM, which stood for "The Wonderful Sound Of Music". For decades, the station featured an adult standards format, including longtime Youngstown radio personalities Dick Thompson, Johnny Kay and Gary Rhamy. In its early years, WSOM was a daytimer, required to go off the air at night. It eventually got authorization to broadcast around the clock using low power at night.
WSOM changed to a talk radio format on December 13, 2010, mostly carrying an all-syndicated lineup in contrast to co-owned WPIC, one notable exception being a local afternoon show, Afternoons with Tracey and Friends. The station reverted to adult standards in September 2016, this time carrying programming from co-owned Westwood One's "America's Best Music".
WSOM changed formats again, this time to classic country, on December 26, 2016.[2][3]
WRQX call letters[edit]
With Educational Media Foundation's purchase of WRQX in Washington, D.C., the WRQX callsign–retained by Cumulus in the deal–was transferred to WSOM in a callsign "parking" move on May 31, 2019, becoming WRQX. Concurrently, the WSOM letters moved to the former WRQX until new calls were selected for that facility.[4] With the switch to K-Love programming later that day, the Washington station took the WLVW call sign. In addition, the new WRQX removed all instances of "WSOM" from its website and re-branded as "AM 600 WRQX," with updated imaging, logos and website domain.
On May 24, 2021, WRQX flipped to conservative talk radio, branded as "The Patriot".[5]
Programming[edit]
WRQX carries all nationally syndicated talk shows, mostly from Cumulus-owned Westwood One. Mornings begin with "America in the Morning" and "First Light" news magazines. They are followed by Chris Plante, Dan Bongino, Ben Shapiro, Michael Knowles, Rich Eisen, Jim Bohannon and "Red Eye Radio."[6] World and national news is supplied by CBS Radio News.
Previous logo[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WRQX
- ^ Classic Country Comes to Youngstown Radioinsight - December 28, 2016
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
- ^ Venta, Lance (May 27, 2019). "EMF Sets New Call Letters For Cumulus/Aloha Acquisitions; WRQX Moves To…". radioinsight. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- ^ 600 WRQX Drops Classic Country For Conservative Talk Radioinsight - May 25, 2021
- ^ InsideRadio.com "Dan Bongino Debuts" May 25, 2021
External links[edit]
- WRQX in the FCC AM station database
- WRQX on Radio-Locator
- WRQX in Nielsen Audio's AM station database