| Broadcast area | Jacksonville metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 99.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | WQIK 99.1 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Subchannels | HD2: Rumba 106.9 (Spanishcontemporary) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WFXJ (AM),WKSL,WJBT,WSOL-FM,WPLA | |
| History | |
First air date | September1964 |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 29728 |
| Class | C0 |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 302 meters (991 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 30°16′51″N81°34′12″W / 30.28083°N 81.57000°W /30.28083; -81.57000 |
| Translator(s) | HD2: 106.9 W295AZ (Jacksonville Beach) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live HD-2 (Rumba 106.9) |
| Website | |
WQIK-FM (99.1MHz) is acommercialradio station inJacksonville, Florida. The station is owned byiHeartMedia, Inc., and airs acountryradio format. Overnight, WQIK carries thesyndicatedCMA After Midnite Show with Cody Alan and theBobby Bones Show on Sunday evenings. WQIK-FM is unusual in the radio industry as a station that has kept its originalcall sign and format for more than half a century.
The station's studios and offices are located on Central Parkway inJacksonville's Southside section.[2] Thetransmitter is off Hogan Road in theArlington district.[3] WQIK-FM is powered at 100,000watts with aClass C signal. It broadcasts in theHD format, with the HD2 subchannel carrying theiHeartRadioSpanishcontemporary format, also heard ontranslator station W295AZ, inJacksonville Beach, called "Rumba 106.9."[4]
In September 1964, WQIK-FM firstsigned on.[5] It was owned by Rowland Broadcasting Company, which also ownedAM 1280WQIK. Both stationssimulcasted a country music format. WQIK (AM) later moved to 1090 kHz, boosting its power to 50,000watts, covering much of Northeast Florida, but having tosign-off at sunset. The FM allowed the station's country music to be heard around the clock for people with FM radios.
WQIK-FM started with 28,500 watts, broadcasting from a 340-foot tower, so its coverage was limited to Jacksonville and its immediate suburbs. By 1970, power was boosted to 50,000 watts and several years later, it doubled to 100,000 watts, its current power today. The tower height was increased to 640 feet.[6] The stations wereaffiliates of theABC Entertainment Radio Network.
On January 1, 1976, the AM station switchedcall letters to WCMG, adopting a more personality-orientedclassic country format, while WQIK-FM had a younger, more music-intensive format. WCMG was limited as adaytimer, unable to broadcast after sunset due toClass A 1090WBAL inBaltimore having nighttime rights to the frequency. WCMG changed back to WQIK on November 3, 1978, and was sold in 1980. The original WQIK (AM) became WROS.[7] In 1982, Rowland Broadcasting acquiredAM 1320 WVOJ (nowWJNJ), an AM station with full time rights to broadcast. That station eventually became WQIK (AM), once again airing a classic country format as a companion to WQIK-FM.
In June 1984, longtime owner Rowland Broadcasting sold WQIK-AM-FM toJacor Communications for $4.95 million.[8] WQIK (AM) was switched to WJGR, airing atalk radio format. WQIK-FM continued as the top country music station in Jacksonville.
In May 1999, Jacor Communications, including WQIK-FM, was acquired by Citicasters, asubsidiary of Clear Channel Communications.[9] In 2014, Clear Channel Communications was renamed iHeartMedia, WQIK-FM's current owner.
WQIK-FM had the FM country audience in Jacksonville to itself until 1977, when competitor WCRJ-FM signed on.[10] WQIK-FM usually topped WCRJ-FM (later WROO) in the ratings. WCRJ-FM/WROO is nowmainstream rock-formattedWPLA, asister station to WQIK-FM.
In 1996, WQIK-FM got a new competitor, whenTop 40 outlet WFKS switched to a country music format asWGNE-FM. WGNE moved to a tower in Jacksonville to better cover theradio market. WQIK-FM has maintained its lead over WGNE in the Jacksonville ratings.
In 2017, WQIK-FM lost ground toWYKB, and later toWSOS-FM.
