WXBQ-FM is a

Country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

formatted

broadcast Broadcasting is the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum ( radio waves), in a one-to-many model. Broadcasting began ...

radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...

licensed to

Bristol, Virginia Bristol is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,219. It is the twin city of Bristol, Tennessee, just across the state line, which runs down the middle of its main street, State S ...

, serving the Tri-Cities. WXBQ-FM is owned and operated by

Bristol Broadcasting Company "Bristol Broadcasting Company" is a radio station chain operating 29 stations in four Southern United States markets: the Tri-Cities area of upper-east Tennessee and southwest Virginia (receiving its name from the twin cities of Bristol, Virginia ...

, Inc.

History

WOPI-FM, sister to 1490 WOPI, signed on Christmas Day 1946 from atop

Whitetop Mountain Whitetop Mountain is the second highest independent mountain in the U.S. state of Virginia, after nearby Mount Rogers. It is also the third highest named peak in Virginia, after Mount Rogers and its subsidiary peak, Pine Mountain. It is located ...

, a facility described at the time as "the largest frequency modulation station in the South". After 10 days using a temporary antenna, the station went on air with its regular 10 kW power on January 4, 1947. Building on Whitetop, Virginia's second-tallest mountain, meant bringing power lines six miles to the site and constructing a tower in high winds. When winter weather set in, as it did that February, staff were marooned atop the mountain. WOPI-FM simulcast most of WOPI's NBC and local output and had exclusive coverage of many sporting events. In 1951, WOPI-FM moved off the mountain and to the AM transmitter tower off Old Abingdon Road in Bristol, Virginia. The temporary facility was replaced by a new site in 1954 on the edge of town. Along with WOPI AM, WOPI-FM was sold to W. A. Wilson in 1954, the Pioneer Broadcasting Company in 1959, and the Tri-Cities Broadcasting Company in 1965. The station was sold twice to different radio partners. In 1972, the Highland Development Corporation of Bristol, owners of 1550

WKYE WKYE (96.5 FM broadcasting, FM, "Key 96.5") is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Seven Mountains Media, through licensee Southern Belle Media Family, LLC, and broadcasts an adult contemp ...

, acquired 96.9 and renamed it WKYE-FM. The station became WFHG-FM in 1975 upon acquisition by the Bristol Broadcasting Company and adopted its present WXBQ-FM call letters in 1978. The call letters were chosen randomly but to avoid confusion with the AM outlet; by this time, WXBQ-FM had already gone country.

Kenny Chesney Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has recorded more than 20 albums and has produced more than 40 Top 10 singles on the US ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot Coun ...

credits WXBQ and its longtime program director Bill Hagy for helping start his career; Chesney attended nearby

East Tennessee State University East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is a public research university in Johnson City, Tennessee. Although it is part of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee, the university is governed by an institutional Board of Tr ...

in Johnson City.

References

External links

96.9 WXBQ Online
* Country radio stations in the United States XBQ-FM Radio stations established in 1946 1946 establishments in Virginia {{Virginia-radio-station-stub