WXZX

WXZX (105.7 FM) is a commercial radio station that is licensed to serve Hilliard, Ohio and serves the Columbus metropolitan area. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station broadcasts an alternative rock format. Both the WXZX studios and the station transmitter are located in Downtown Columbus. The station is the Columbus affiliate of the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network.

WXZX broadcasts in HD Radio.

History

Top 40 (1990-1991)

A new station was constructed in Marysville, Ohio at 105.7 MHz in early 1990, known as WNRJ. The call letters signified "energy", as "Energy 105.7" was originally considered as a brand but never used. When the station finally signed on the air on July 20, 1990, it was known as ''"The Power Pig"'' (not to be confused with Tampa, Florida's WFLZ's ''"The Power Pig"'' name) and featured a contemporary hit radio format.

Rhythmic (1991-1994)

This short-lived format quickly evolved to rhythmic contemporary as WWHT, "Hot 105". In March 1993, sister station WTLT (107.1 FM) in Circleville began simulcasting WWHT's signal and changed its call sign to WAHC. Together the two stations were branded as "Hot 105/Hot 107" and served the entire Columbus market.

Top 40 (1994)

In an effort to again re-image the station, in early 1994 WWHT was changed to WAKS, "105.7 Kiss-FM", playing mainstream hits with a more adult lean. Kiss-FM failed to become a viable competitor to top 40 leader WNCI due to WAKS' relatively poor signal and undifferentiated format.

'70s hits (1994-1996)

The next format change in April of that year saw WAKS and WAHC flip to all-1970s oldies as "Arrow 105.7". The first song on Arrow was "Stayin Alive" by the Bee Gees.

Country (1996-1997)

The late 1990s saw frequent changes at the station. In December 1996, Jacor Communications purchased WAKS and WAHC for approximately $9.5 million. The new owner flipped the station to country music the following month as WHQK, "Kicks Country 105-7", ending the simulcast with WAHC. WHQK dropped its programming in April 1997 after only a few months in favor of simulcasting WHOK-FM's country format. (Prior to the Jacor purchase, in late 1996 WAKS and WAHC stunted as simulcasts of WLLD (Country 98-9) in an attempt to "surround" leading country station WCOL-FM (92.3 FM).

'70s hits (1997)

A third format change came late in 1997 when the station gave all-1970s another try; it was branded "105.7 The Chicken" in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing.

Urban (1997-1998)

Also late in the year, after a day of stunting with Ohio State University themes, WHQK flipped to urban adult contemporary.

Modern rock (1998-2000)

Urban programming lasted until 1998, when modern rock-formatted WZAZ-FM (then located at 98.9 FM) swapped formats and call signs with WHQK. WZAZ-FM, now on 105.7 FM, was rebranded as "Channel Z 105.7" with a modern rock format.

Classic rock (2000-2014)

On June 6, 2000, WZAZ-FM relocated its transmitter closer to Columbus and became WJFX, a classic rock outlet branded "The Fox". A listeners petition to "Bring Back Channel Z" was started after the station switched to 1970s and 1980s rock, but nothing materialized from this effort. Although many liked the music variety played by "Channel Z", it was not competitive in the ratings with Grove City's alternative station, WWCD. On September 19, 2005, after a week of stunting again (this time with episodes of the TV series ''Cheers''), The Fox relaunched as WBWR, "The Brew @ 105.7". Later that year, WBWR began broadcasting in HD Radio.

Modern rock (2014-2016)

On December 1, 2014 at noon, after playing " Heard It on the X" by ZZ Top (a clever reference to the station's future format), WBWR dropped the "Brew" format and began stunting with music by the Ohio State University Marching Band. At 3 p.m., WBWR flipped to gold-leaning alternative rock as ''105.7 The X,'' bringing back the former name and branding of sister station WCGX (106.7 FM) after it dropped the format two months earlier; a modern rock format branded as "X" aired on WBWR's HD2 digital subchannel in the interim. The first song on The X was " Gold on the Ceiling" by Akron-based band The Black Keys. On July 8, 2015, WBWR changed its call letters to WXZX to match the new branding.

Sports (2016-2019)

On November 21, 2016, at 3 p.m., after briefly stunting with audio from past Ohio State–Michigan football games (as the next rivalry game was set for the following Saturday, November 26), WXZX flipped to sports radio as "105.7 The Zone".

Classic rock (2019-2020)

On February 8, 2019, WXZX returned to its previous classic rock format and ''The Brew'' branding. By that July, the station shifted to mainstream rock. On March 16, 2020, WXZX began airing ''Rover's Morning Glory'' from sister station WMMS/Cleveland.

Modern rock (2020-present)

On November 16, 2020, WXZX returned to modern rock as ''Columbus Alternative 105.7'', returning the format to terrestrial radio after WWCD flipped to Regional Mexican in early November after being taken over by Urban One. On November 21, WWCD returned to terrestrial radio on the former WMYC, giving Columbus two alternative rock stations.

HD Radio

WXZX broadcasts in HD Radio with two subchannels:
*WXZX-HD1 is a digital simulcast of the analog signal.
*WXZX-HD2 airs "Gen X Radio", a commercial-free channel from the iHeartRadio streaming radio platform that features hits from the 1980s and 1990s. The HD2 subchannel serves as the originating station for this service.

References

External links

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{{iHeartMedia

1990 establishments in Ohio
IHeartMedia radio stations
Modern rock radio stations in the United States
XZX
Radio stations established in 1990