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WINC-FM (105.5 FM) is a hot adult contemporary-formatted radio station licensed to Berryville, Virginia, serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley. WINC-FM is owned by Darrin Jones, through Euclid Avenue Properties, LLC.

History

In November 2020, the then-WXBN flipped to hot adult contemporary, assuming the hot adult contemporary format and "WINC-FM" (pronounced "Wink FM") branding previously heard on the Winchester-based 92.5 frequency (which was in the process of being sold to the Educational Media Foundation). The station would take over the WINC-FM legacy callsign on December 29, 2020.

On April 30, 2021, Centennial Broadcasting announced it was selling WINC-FM and sister station WZFC to Fairfax, Virginia-based Metro Radio, Inc. for $225,000. Fellow sister station WINC was not included in the sale. Allen B. Shaw, Centennial's president and CEO, said in a May 2021 interview with The Winchester Star that Metro Radio, Inc. had had insured Shaw "they do not intend to" change the format of WINC-FM and WZFC. Shaw further said Metro thought WZFC's format was "probably the best format for the Winchester market" for ad revenue.

On June 30, long-time morning show host Barry Lee signed off after 37 years at the station. Hours later, long-time afternoon host Paula Kidwell would also sign off. The sale of WINC-FM and sister WKDV-FM was completed the same day.

WINC-FM was acquired by funeral home operator Darrin Jones, through his Euclid Avenue Properties, effective December 12, 2022. Following the sale's completion, on December 16, 2022, WINC-FM began stunting with Christmas music, ahead of an announcement to be made on January 5, 2023, at 10:55 a.m. At that time, the station relaunched its hot adult contemporary format from a new Winchester studio; Metro Radio had operated the station from Fairfax, with the intent of serving Leesburg. WINC-FM is operated in conjunction with its former AM sister station, which had been sold in the interim to Todd Bartley's Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport and renamed WZFC; the arrangement saw the AM station reclaim its former WINC call sign.

References

1. ^ "Call Sign History". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
2. "Facility Technical Data for WINC-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
3. "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
4. ^ Venta, Lance (October 14, 2022). "Station Sales Week Of 10/14". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
5. "WINC-FM Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
6. Venta, Lance (October 8, 2020). "Educational Media Foundation Acquires WINC-FM". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
7. Venta, Lance (November 17, 2020). "WINC-FM Begins Frequency Move Ahead Of EMF Sale". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
8. ^ Venta, Lance (April 30, 2021). "Metro Radio Inc. Acquires WINC-FM". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
9. ^ "Assignment of Authorization". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
10. ^ Powell, Mickey (May 5, 2021). "WINC-FM and its sister station to be sold to Fairfax firm". The Winchester Star. Winchester, Virginia: Ogden Newspapers. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
11. Venta, Lance (June 30, 2021). "Barry Lee Retires From WINC-FM Mornings After 37 Years". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
12. "Today is my last day on WINC FM..." Paula Kidwell/Centennial Broadcasting/Facebook. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
13. "Notification of Consummation". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
14. "WINC-FM Enters Holiday Mode Until January 5 Announcement". December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
15. ^ Powell, Mickey (January 6, 2023). "Under new ownership, WINC-FM resumes broadcasting in Winchester". The Winchester Star. Retrieved April 20, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Facility details for Facility ID 60363 (WINC) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WINC in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

• 1979 establishments in Virginia
• Hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United States
• Radio stations established in 1979
• Radio stations in Virginia