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| Broadcast area | Greater Memphis |
| Frequency | 107.5MHz |
| Branding | Q107.5 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Subchannels | HD2:Classic hip-hop "Bumpin 96.3" |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Flinn Broadcasting Corporation |
| KXHT,WHBQ,WMPS,WMSO,WOWW | |
| History | |
First air date | June 1993; 31 years ago (1993-06) |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | "We Have Better Quartets"[1] |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 50330 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,900 watts |
| HAAT | 124 meters (407 ft) |
| Translator(s) | HD2: 96.3 W242CF (Memphis) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | |
| Website |
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WHBQ-FM (107.5MHz, "Q107.5") is a commercial radio station broadcasting acontemporary hit radio format. It islicensed toGermantown, Tennessee, and servesGreater Memphis. It is owned by Flinn Broadcasting with studios on Mount Moriah Road in Southeast Memphis. Despite sharingcall letters, WHBQ-FM is not co-owned withWHBQ-TV.
WHBQ-FM has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 3,900 watts. Itstransmitter is on Lenow Road inCordova, Tennessee.[3] WHBQ-FM broadcasts usingHD Radio technology. Its HD-2digital subchannel carries aclassic hip hop format known as "Bumpin' 96.3". It feeds 250-wattFM translator W242CF at 96.3 MHz in Memphis.[4]
The station firstsigned on the air in June 1993. Its originalcall sign was WAQK. A year later, the call sign changed to WJOI.
In1997, Flinn Broadcasting acquired the station for $4.5 million.[5] It took its first jab at theTop 40 format with another call sign change to WKSL, and the moniker"107.5 KISS FM". This station, like the "Q", had a format based onKIIS-FM in Los Angeles, one of the nation's leaders in contemporary hit radio.
This format was ended in 2001, and in August of that year, the call sign was changed to WYYL, a.k.a. "Wild 107-5". This station had arhythmic contemporary hits format, similar to that of another former Memphis station,Power 99. This format only lasted for four months before being turned into WMPS, a.k.a. "107 Oink Five, The Pig". The station aired anadult album alternative format. The format would move to 96.1 FM in 2004.
In June 2004, after three years of Memphis not having a true contemporary hits outlet, the station returned to Top 40 using the name "Q 107-5" and the WHBQ-FM call sign. In 2010, the station expanded its signal by adding a simulcast on 96.1 FM, while 96.1 FM's format of AAA "The Pig" moved toWPGF-LP 87.7 FM.
On April 11, 2013, WIVG split from its simulcast with WHBQ-FM and began stunting with a loop of "Blister in the Sun" byViolet Femmes, and changed format to alternative rock at 4 pm, branded as "96X".[6]
On September 28, 2020, at 9:54 a.m., after playing "If the World Was Ending" byJP Saxe featuringJulia Michaels, WHBQ-FM began stunting with Christmas music. At 12:04 pm, the station changed its format from top 40/CHR to classic hits branded as "107.5 WHBQ". The first song that played on WHBQ-FM was "Always Something There To Remind Me" byNaked Eyes.[7] The station aired the syndicatedRick Dees show "Daily Dees" in mornings.
On April 27, 2023, at Noon, the station shifted back to a Top 40 - CHR format, reverting to the "Q107.5" branding. The move came to capitalize on the impending drop of thehot adult contemporary format onWMC-FM. That station would assume the format ofWLFP following that station's sale toEducational Media Foundation for itsK-LoveContemporary Christian sound.
WHBQ-FM's local airstaff was retained, butRick Dees'syndicated morning show was dropped.[8] Six days later, WHBQ-FM got competition, asKWNW moved to102.7 and shifted to Hot AC. It now calls itself "Kiss-FM", a moniker once used by 107.5 FM.
On August 30, 2019, afterstunting with a loop of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" byMichael Jackson, WHBQ-FM launched a1980s hits format on its HD2 subchannel. It was branded as "Z96.3" and wassimulcast on translator W242CF (96.3 FM), which was flipped from its alternative format as "I96".[9]
On January 20, 2020, WHBQ-FM-HD2 and W242CF flipped back to alternative rock, reverting the "I96" branding.[10] 367 days later, on January 22, 2021, at 3 p.m., WHBQ-FM HD2 and W242CF switched to Top 40/CHR, branded as "B96.3", with the first song being "Holy" byJustin Bieber featuringChance the Rapper.[11]
On May 13, 2022, at noon, WHBQ-FM HD2 switched translators from W242CF to W249BN (97.7 FM), which replaced a classic hits format branded as "Guess-FM".[12] WHBQ-FM's HD2 subchannel and translator at 96.3 now carry aclassic hip hop format, known as "Bumpin' 96.3".
35°10′30″N89°44′28″W / 35.175°N 89.741°W /35.175; -89.741