| Broadcast area | Memphis metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | "K97" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban contemporary |
| Subchannels | HD2:Christian radio "Radio by Grace" |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KJMS,KWNW,WDIA,WEGR,WHAL-FM,WREC | |
| History | |
First air date | December 2,1959 |
Call sign meaning | Harold R. Krelstein (executive of former owner Plough Broadcasting) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 54916 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 167 meters (548 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°13′22″N90°02′37″W / 35.22278°N 90.04361°W /35.22278; -90.04361 |
| Translator(s) | 106.3 W292EL (Memphis, relays HD2) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live HD2:Listen Live |
| Website | k97fm.iheart.com HD2:radiobygrace.com |
WHRK (97.1FM "K97") is acommercialradio stationlicensed toMemphis, Tennessee. The station is owned byiHeartMedia and it airs anurban contemporaryradio format. The station carries thenationally syndicated weekday morning show,The Breakfast Club, from co-ownedPremiere Networks and based atWWPR-FM inNew York City. The rest of the schedule is hosted by localDJs.
WHRK's studios and offices are located on Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Southeast Memphis.[1] Thetransmitter site is off Benjestown Road in North Memphis.[2]
WHRK broadcasts in theHD Radio format, with its HD-2 subchannel carryingChristian radio format, branded as "Radio by Grace".[3]
On December 2, 1959, the station firstsigned on asWMPS-FM.[4] It was the FM counterpart to WMPS (nowWMFS) and ran at only 6,600 watts, a fraction of its power today.
WMPS-AM-FM were owned by thePlough Corporation, a pharmaceutical firm founded in Memphis that also had a radio division, with stations inChicago,Atlanta,Boston and other cities. At first the two stations mostlysimulcast. But during the 1960s and 1970s, WMPS-FM was separately programmed with aclassical music format. In the 1970s, WMPS-FM got a boost to 100,000 watts, and then made a transition to a Progressive Rock format in an effort to take on then-Rock rivalWMC-FM.
In October 1976, the station flipped to aRhythmic Contemporary format that featureddisco, utilizing the same formula that its counterpart inPhiladelphia,WCAU-FM, was using at the time. Thecall sign was changed in 1977 toWHRK, to honorHaroldR.Krelstein, who had been the President and CEO of Plough Broadcasting, Inc. Krelstein retired in 1976. In 1977, he was awarded theNational Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to broadcasting and especially, radio. He died in July 1977.
WHRK's success with disco also paid off ratings-wise during the last four years of the genre's period. By 1981, a year after disco's demise, the station moved in a CHUrban/Crossover direction (what would now be consideredrhythmic contemporary), featuringhip hop,freestyle,new jack swing,dance,pop, andR&B hits. WhenBillboard introduced its Crossover Chart in February 1987, WHRK was added to the panel as one of its reporters. By the end of 1989, WHRK had evolved into anUrban Contemporary format.
In 1985, Adams Communications bought the top AM and top FM stations in Memphis, aimed at theAfrican American community: WHRK andWDIA, which airs afull service format for black listeners, including R&B,soul music andgospel, plus news, sports and talk. In 1988, noted African American radio executive Regan Henry bought WHRK and WDIA for $13 million.[5]
In 1996, WHRK and WDIA were purchased by Chancellor Broadcasting.[6] Chancellor also acquired WHRK's former urban competitor,KJMS. To avoid format overlap, KJMS moved to anurban adult contemporary direction, while WHRK continued as a more youthful urban station. A short time later, Chancellor was renamed AMFM, Inc., and was acquired by Clear Channel Communications in 1999. In 2014, Clear Channel becameiHeartMedia.