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WLQR-FM is an FM radio station licensed for Delta, Ohio on 106.5 MHz and part of the Toledo radio market. It uses the nickname "106.5 The Ticket", and is the Toledo affiliate of CBS Sports Radio.

History

The Buzz

"Buzz 106.5" signed on in late 1994 when owner Dan Dudley saw a lack of an alternative rock music outlet in Toledo to fill the void. Despite its weak signal, it caught on very quickly and became very popular. The format was a cross between new grunge and alternative rock mixed with blue collar hard classic rock and Metal. Howard Stern's show came to the station in June 1996. Despite the station's popularity, many on the east side of town complained about poor radio reception. So, during the Summer of 1998, instead of 97.3 WJZE going country as rumored, they began a full-time simulcast. The station now referred to itself as "Buzz 106.5 and 97.3". "Double the buzz 106.5 west 97.3 east" was one of the station's slogans. One aircheck also said to tune into 106.5 west of I-75, and 97.3 east of I-75.

Notable D.J.'s on the Buzz— Kelly Gates (Program Director), Dan Bozyk (Program Director), Matt Willauer (Music Director), Zman, Scott Hammer, Holly Frick, Kid Mitchell, Steve-O, J. Michaels, Nikki Wylde (Music Director), Roach (aka Lazlo, Scott G) Stoney Vasco, Mike Davis, Stevie Knight, Vinnie

Rock 106 Toledo's pure rock

The station was sold to Cumulus Broadcasting in early 1999. The station stunted for a weekend and after the Howard Stern show on Monday, February 22, 1999, "Pure Rock 106" signed on with Brain Stew by Green Day. By early 2000, Howard Stern's show was gone as well. The music playlist was tightened, a permanent replacement for the station's morning show was never really found, and on August 1, 2000 the WJZE simulcast was dropped in favor of "classic hits", ending the LMA with Dan Haslinger. The call letters were changed from WBUZ to WRWK.

Notable D.J.'s on Rock 106 include Pablo & Mo in the Mornings, Nikki Wylde, Murphy, Zman and Chris Ammel.

106.5 The Zone

Rock 106 received consistently poor ratings. At one point, Rock 106's ratings were so low that out-of-market CIMX 89X (on 88.7 from Windsor, Ontario) was beating them in the ratings. In November 2001, after stunting for a couple days with Swans Splashdown by Jean-Jacques Perrey, the format was changed to alternative rock as 106.5 The Zone.

Kevin Murphy was tapped to do mornings with Stoney Vasko. Chris Ammel in mid-days and as program director.

By the end 2003 Kevin Murphy was replaced in mornings with jockless music. Chris Ammel decided to leave the business for a few years and Dan McLintock was brought in as PD and afternoon talent.

The Zones ratings were very rocky. From book to book they would go from high numbers to low numbers never really sticking stable ratings.

In 2005 Troy Michaels (who came from rival WIOT) was hired to mornings. After a few months Dafoe was teamed up with him (who came from top-40 WVKS). At this same time Caroyln Stone (From WRIF and Q106) became the mid-day host and MD. Ratings were still unstable but showed more higher ratings were more of the norm.

Troy Michaels left at the beginning of 2007, Dafoe departed to Cumulus top 40 WTWR, and Kevin Murphy jumped back to do mornings. By the end of 2008 Murphy was let go again due to budget cuts, and Carolyn left the business to take care of her family.

Cumulus then began to use anyone and everyone in the building to pull air shifts. The station played just music in the morning and ran jox-less, middays was a revolving door with anyone filling in, middays was Voice tracked by Dan Mclintock as he had a live air shift on 94.5 WXKR, and nights was run jockless.

106.5 The Ticket

On June 22, 2009, the alternative rock format on 106.5's primary FM signal was moved to HD Radio and online only, while 106.5 FM broadcast a full-time simulcast of sports talk 1470 WLQR "The Ticket".

WLQR-FM broadcasts in HD radio with "The Ticket" format, as used on their analog AM simulcast.

Beginning January 2, 2013, WLQR-FM became an affiliate of CBS Sports Radio, ending its relationship with ESPN Radio.

As of July 2009, "The Zone" again broadcasts over the air on 94.5 WXKR's HD-2 channel, which can be received on HD Radios. In April 2010 WXKR's HD-2 began broadcasting analog over W265CB on 100.9 MHz, which Cumulus got from Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls.

WLQR call letter history

The WLQR call letters were used through the 1970s and 1980s by an easy listening station on 101.5 FM. When Clear Channel purchased that station and changed the call letters from "Stereo 101, WLQR" to "WRVF, The River", Cumulus Radio snagged the WLQR call letters for their 1KW AM station on 1470, which was WWWM (AM), and originally WOHO 1470. The WLQR call letters have been used on AM 1470 ever since, and were added to 106.5 FM WLQR-FM/WLQR-FM-HD1 in June 2009.

References

1. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090617/SPORTS09/306179998
2. "Alternative Returns To Toledo At 100.9 The Zone". Malibu, California: All Access Music Group. 2010-04-23. Retrieved 2010-05-11.

External links

• Facility details for Facility ID WLQR ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

• Radio stations in Toledo, Ohio
• Radio stations established in 1994