WZFX is a
mainstream urban
Mainstream may refer to:
Film
* ''Mainstream'' (film), a 2020 American film
Literature
* ''Mainstream'' (fanzine), a science fiction fanzine
* Mainstream Publishing, a Scottish publisher
* ''Mainstream'', a 1943 book by Hamilton Basso
Mu ...
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
Whiteville, North Carolina
Whiteville is a city in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,394 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city in Columbus County and is the county seat.
History
Columbus County was created in 1808. In 1810, a commun ...
and located in
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville () is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city.
Fayetteville has received the All-America C ...
. WZFX broadcasts under the branding "Foxy 99." WZFX is owned and operated by
Beasley Media Group
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. , the company owned 63 stations under the Beasley Media Group name.
History
The company was founded in 1961 by George G. Beasl ...
. Its studios are located east of downtown Fayetteville, and its transmitter is located in
Tar Heel, North Carolina
Tar Heel is a town located in Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 117.
Tar Heel is home to the largest pig processing plant in the world, which opened in 1992, operated by Smithfield Fo ...
.
As of the fall 2021 ratings period, WZFX has the highest ratings of any radio station in the Fayetteville market.
WENC/WQTR
99.1 FM first signed on as WENC FM in 1978 with its license in the city of Whiteville. It is believed the frequency signed on with 5,000 watts at this time.
WZFX
In March 1986, WQTR-FM increased its power to 100,000 watts and changed to WZFX, and become ''"The All New FM 99 The Fox, WZFX"''. The station has a Rhythmic Top-40 format. The new owners were Steve Weil of
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro, originally Goldsborough, is a city and the county seat of Wayne County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 33,657 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Metropol ...
, his brother Henry Weil, and his sister Leslie Weil.
[Catherine Pritchard, "Downtown Adds Radio Station," ''The Fayetteville Observer'', February 15, 1994.]
The Fox to Foxy 99
In 1987, WZFX evolved into an
Urban
Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to:
* Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas
* Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities
Urban may also refer to:
General
* Urban (name), a list of people ...
/
CHR a.k.a. CHUrban format playing such artist as
New Edition
New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 198 ...
,
Lillo Thomas
Lillo Thomas (born 1961) is an American soul musician. He reached the peak of his success as a recording artist in the 1980s. His most famous songs include "Sexy Girl" and "I'm in Love."
Career
Early in his life, Thomas was a competitive sprint ...
, Force MD's and
Troop
A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Troop Ro ...
. WZFX changed its moniker to "99.1 the Fox"; however, in 1995 brought back the "Original Foxy 99" and broadcast its 100,000-watt signal on the air "From the Capital City to the Coast". WZFX is the sister station of
WIKS
WIKS (101.9 FM) is an urban contemporary-formatted broadcast radio station licensed to New Bern, North Carolina. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group. WIKS is an affiliate of the Steve Harvey Morning Show.
History
The 101.9 FM frequency i ...
in
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Jacksonville is a city in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 72,723, which makes Jacksonville the 14th-largest city in North Carolina. Jacksonville is the county seat and most populous commun ...
, which also has a similar format and signal power of 100,000 watts.
In 1990, after
WQSM
WQSM is a licensed FM class C1 Top 40 (CHR) radio station based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States. Owned and operated by Cumulus Media, Q98 has offices and studios located at 1009 Drayton Road in downtown Fayetteville. Its transmit ...
stopped playing
top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
, WZFX added some top 40 hits to its music mix. This move took "The Fox" back to the top of the ratings.
In 1994, WZFX moved from the
Wachovia
Wachovia was a diversified financial services company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before its acquisition by Wells Fargo and Company in 2008, Wachovia was the fourth-largest bank holding company in the United States, based on total asse ...
building to a former
Cato department store, which the owners purchased.
[
In 1995, Atlantic Broadcasting Group sold ]WROV-FM
WROV-FM (96.3 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Martinsville, Virginia. WROV-FM is owned and operated by iHeartMedia and airs a classic rock radio format. WROV-FM's signal covers the Roanoke- Lynchburg media market, including t ...
to Ray Thomas of Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke ( ) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 100,011, making it the 8th most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the largest city in Virginia west of Richmond. It is lo ...
and WLNI
WLNI (105.9 FM) is a News/ Talk formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, serving Metro Lynchburg. WLNI is owned by James River Media, LLC.
Programming
WLNI programming consists mostly of network programming such as Coas ...
in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch (1740–1820), John Lynch, the city's populati ...
, leaving the company with only WZFX. Several DJs and general manager Lynn Carraway were let go. At the time, WZFX played no rap
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
until after 5 in the afternoon, and rap-leaning WLRD was doing very well despite its limited signal.
In 1997, Beasley Broadcasting
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. , the company owned 63 stations under the Beasley Media Group name.
History
The company was founded in 1961 by George G. Beasl ...
—owner of WKML
WKML (95.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Lumberton, North Carolina, United States, it serves the Fayetteville area. The station is currently owned by Beasley Media Group, LLC., through licensee Beasley M ...
, WTSB
WTSB (1090 AM) is a radio station licensed by the FCC to serve the community of Selma, North Carolina. The station is owned by Truth Broadcasting Corporation. The station is daytime and "critical hours" only on AM station and all day on W288DH- ...
, WAZZ
WAZZ (1490 AM, "My Kiss Radio 93.5") is a Top 40 (CHR) radio station in Fayetteville, North Carolina, owned by Beasley Media Group, LLC., and is "Never More Than 60 Seconds Away From Music". Its studios and transmitter are located separately i ...
and WEWO
WEWO (1460 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel format. It is licensed to Laurinburg, North Carolina, United States. It is currently owned by Service Media, Inc. and features programming from ABC Radio.
History
When WEWO signed on in t ...
—bought WZFX from Joyner Communications. There was talk in 1996 of another company buying WZFX and WLRD, but that deal fell apart. Later in the year, Beasley also bought WLRD and WYRU. For a short time, WLRD aired the programming of WZFX.[Michael Futch, "Beasley Group Buys 2 More Stations", ''The Fayetteville Observer'', July 31, 1997]
Interference issues northwest of Fayetteville
WZFX's signal north of Carthage, Moore County begins to see significant interference from WSLQ-FM out of Roanoke, Virginia. This is also the case in southern Chatham County, much of Montgomery and Randolph Counties and nearly all of Wake County. Under ideal atmospheric conditions, WZFX can be received with little to no interference from WSLQ as far north as Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Hillsborough and Durham.
Kenny J is the current program urban brand director for WZFX (Foxy 99). Babydoll is the host of the Dollhouse during mid-day. She does the Midday Party Mix every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 12pm (EST). G-Moniy is the afternoon drive host and holds the 5 O’Clock Takeova every Monday thru Friday at 5pm (EST). Kent Dunn is the Market Manager for WZFX (Foxy 99).
References
External links
Official Website
*
*
*
{{Beasley Broadcast Group
ZFX
ZFX