| Broadcast area | Joliet, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.3MHz |
| Branding | Free Country 98.3 & 102.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Affiliations | Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WERV-FM,WJOL,WKRS,WSSR,WXLC,WZSR | |
| History | |
First air date | January 28,1976[1] |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 10677 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,000watts |
| HAAT | 142 meters (466 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°26′7.1″N88°11′0.2″W / 41.435306°N 88.183389°W /41.435306; -88.183389 |
| Repeater(s) | 102.3 WXLC (Waukegan) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | freecountrychicago.com |
WCCQ (98.3FM) is aradio station broadcasting acountry music format. Licensed toCrest Hill, Illinois, United States, it serves the Joliet area. The station is owned byAlpha Media.
WCCQ began broadcasting on January 28, 1976, and originally aired anoldies format.[1][3] In February 1979, the station adopted abeautiful music format.[3][4]
WCCQ adopted a country format in 1984, and was branded "Q-Country".[5][3] Bob Zak was the station's first morning host.[5] Other announcers included Mark Edwards, Ted Clark, Larry Watts, Mike Baker, Jim Beedle, Bill Fortune, and Jim Felbinger.[3]
The current lineup features Roy & Carol in the morning (since 1994), Geno Brien middays (former morning show host of 95.9 the River) and Todd Boss (The Bossman) doing afternoons. Other weekend and fill-in personalities include Rich Renik (fromWMAQ and WUSN), Brandon Jones, Jillian, and Laura Vaughn. In April 2011, it became one of the two Chicago-area stations to broadcastNASCAR Cup Series races.
In January 2018, after recording a 0.5audience share on the latestNielsen Audio ratings (tied for 30th in the Chicago market), WCCQ shifted to a gold-basedtraditional country format—featuring an emphasis on songs from artists active during the 1990s and early 2000s. This change differentiates WCCQ from the mainstream lean of its competitorsWEBG andWUSN.[6]
On May 24, 2024, WCCQ rebranded as "Free Country 98.3 & 102.3", adding a simulcast onWXLC 102.3 FM Waukegan.[7]
WCCQ's studios are located in Crest Hill, and its transmitter is inChannahon, Illinois.
