 | |
| Broadcast area | South Carolina Lowcountry |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 95.9MHz |
| Branding | Mix 95.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Top 40 |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WAVF,WCKN,WSPO,WXST | |
| History | |
First air date | May1967 (as WWBD-FM at 95.7) |
Former call signs | WWBD-FM (1978–1985) WWLT (1985–1993) WWBD (1993–2009) WIOP (1/09-2/09)[1] WSPO (2/09-6/09) WIOP (2009–2012)[1] |
Former frequencies | 95.7 MHz (1967–2009) |
Call sign meaning | WMiXZ |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 6634 |
| Class | C2 |
| ERP | 50,000watts |
| HAAT | 107.4 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°49′27.00″N80°00′10.00″W / 32.8241667°N 80.0027778°W /32.8241667; -80.0027778 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | mix959.com |
WMXZ (95.9FM, "Mix 95.9") is aradio stationlicensed toIsle of Palms, South Carolina, United States, serving theSouth Carolina Lowcountry. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Charleston Radio Group. WMXZ airs a top 40format.[3] The station's studios are located in Charleston (east of the Cooper River) and the transmitter tower is inWest Ashley, South Carolina.
In 2012, WMXZ commencedHD Radio service with99.3 The Box on the HD2 channel, featuring Urban and R&B music.
Vic Whetstone ownedWWBD inBamberg, South Carolina for 25 years. Miller Communications, a company based inSumter, South Carolina, acquired it in 2003. It then became aclassic rock station as "Bad Dog 95.7". In September 2005, WWBD upgraded from 6,000 to 25,000 watts with a new 500-foot tower inCanaan. In 2006, WWBD changed tocountry music as "Outlaw 95.7" but listeners overwhelmingly demanded that Bad Dog return, so it did after four months. In June 2007, Miller applied for a change in the city of license toIsle of Palms near Charleston but said Bad Dog would stay in Orangeburg.[4]
Apex Broadcasting, owner ofWXTC,WIHB, andWXST, purchased WWBD from Miller in a deal announced in July 2008. The power had been increased to 50,000 watts.[5]
WSPO was part of a large frequency swap in Charleston andMyrtle Beach. The 96.1 frequency in Charleston moved to the Myrtle Beach market and became the new home ofWKZQ-FM. WKZQ's former 101.7 frequency moved to Hanahan and is owned by Apex Broadcasting. This allowed the Charleston metro area to get a new station, as WWBD moved to Isle of Palms with Apex as its new owner. The Bad Dog format began simulcasting with Miller's 105.1WGFG on January 14, 2009. The simulcast stopped and 95.7 FM is now silent, withWQKI-FM expected to take over the frequency.[6]
The station was assigned theWSPO call letters by theFederal Communications Commission on February 25,2009.[1] They were switched toWIOP in June 2009 when the WSPO calls went to the sister station at1390 AM with its newsports talk format.
On June 18, 2009 FM 95.9 launched in the Charleston area with aclassic hits format, last heard onWXLY before it dropped the format in favor ofadult contemporary in late 2007.[7] The station re-imaged as "95-9 IOP" in August 2010,[citation needed] and switched to country music on September 15, 2010 as "Kickin 95.9, Real Country Variety".[8][9]
On May 31, 2011 WIHB (nowWCKN) began simulcasting WIOP. On June 13, 2011 WIOP stopped simulcasting and beganstunting with construction sounds. On June 15, 2011 WIOP ended stunting and changed their format to soft adult contemporary, branded as "Lite 95.9".[10] The station featured a blend of light AC hits, softer rock oldies, and someadult standards from the 1960s through the early 2000s but was entirely gold-based, playing no current product. Artists heard on Lite 95.9 includedLionel Richie,Elton John,Billy Joel,Carly Simon,Mariah Carey,Olivia Newton-John,Josh Groban,Eric Clapton,Celine Dion,Kenny Rogers, andBarbra Streisand.
On March 5, 2012, WIOP became the "New Mix 95.9", withhot adult contemporary, and changed their call letters toWMXZ on March 14, 2012.
In 2014, "Mix 95.9" became "Mix 96" and while stillCHR the station is trying to compete with Charleston's Cumulus-ownedWSSX "95-SX.", the only other CHR in the market. That all changed in April 2017, whenMediabase moved the station to the Top 40/CHR panel.[11]
In July 2017, WMXZ reverted to the "Mix 95.9" branding.
On September 6, 2017, the sale of the station to Saga Communications was complete.[12]
On December 5, 2024, Mike Edwards from the segment "Two Girls and a Guy" died.
On March 27, 2013, WMXZ's HD2 subchannel changed their format from Regional Mexican to mainstream urban, branded as "99.3 The Box" (using the frequency of FM translator W257BQ in its branding).[13]