WPLW-FM

WPLW-FM (102.5 FM) is a radio station licensed to Hillsborough, North Carolina, United States. It serves the Raleigh, North Carolina area with a Rhythmic top 40 format. Its studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter tower is in northwest Durham, North Carolina.

WPLW-FM
CityHillsborough, North Carolina
Broadcast areaDurham, North Carolina
Frequency102.5 MHz
BrandingPulse 96.9 102.5
SloganAll the Hits!
Programming
FormatTop 40
Ownership
OwnerCurtis Media Group
(New Century Media Group, LLC)
Sister stationsWBBB, WKIX-FM, WPLW, WPTF, WPTK, WQDR-FM, WWPL
History
First air date1989 (as WHLQ)
Former call signsWHLQ (1989–2004)
WKXU (2004–2010)
WPLW (2010–Present)[1]
Call sign meaningW PuLse W
Technical information
Facility ID22322
ClassA
ERP1,500 watts
HAAT203.8 meters (669 ft)
Transmitter coordinates36.104°N 78.966°W / 36.104; -78.966
Links
Websitewww.thenewpulsefm.com

The station is owned by New Century Media Group.[2] According to FCC ownership filings, New Century Media Group is 100% owned by Donald W. Curtis, Chairman and CEO of Curtis Media Group.

History

The station signed on from Louisburg in 1989 as WHLQ, an adult contemporary station branded as Q-102.5.[3] The station later began simulcasting a country music format with its sister AM station, WYRN.[3][4][5]

Curtis Media Group purchased WHLQ and WYRN from Franklin Broadcasting in 2003.[6] The following year, the call letters were changed to WKXU.[1] The station, called Country 102.5, moved in a more contemporary direction, playing only songs from the previous 20 years.[7]

In September 2010, WKXU signed off from its Louisburg site and signed on again October 23 from a new site in northwestern Durham County, licensed to Hillsborough.[8] At that time, the station began stunting, along with new simulcast partner WWMY. On October 27, WKXU changed its call letters to WPLW,[1] while WWMY became WWPL. On October 31, after several days of Halloween music,[9] the stunting ended and both stations debuted their new rhythmic contemporary format as "Pulse 102".[10] The format is described as "sort of the hip-hop and R&B that has crossed over into Top 40."[11] Its primary target audience was women aged 25 to 34, and was expected to compete with Radio One station K 97.5 and Clear Channel's G105, and 93.9 Kiss FM, who ironically transitioned from Rhythmic AC to Rhythmic Top 40 after Pulse 102 signed on. The stations are playing 10,000 songs in a row and promise fewer commercials than other stations. Artists include Lady Gaga, Enrique Iglesias and Kesha.[9] By October 2011, WPLW was added to the Mediabase contemporary hit radio panel.

As of 2014, WPLW also could be heard on a translator at W226BV (93.1 FM).

A simulcast with WWPL at 102.3 began later in the year. In September 2014, the simulcast partner changed from 102.3 FM to 96.9 FM.[12][13]

On May 28, 2019, the call sign was changed from WPLW to WPLW-FM, in order to allow the WPLW call sign to be assigned the next month to AM 570 in Raleigh.

gollark: ddg! Rfc 649
gollark: You experienced it in that it had some effects on you and other things. Some of the mental effects are now reverted. Others probably weren't and any physical effects also weren't.
gollark: This being difficult is mostly just due to "experienced" and "you" being poorly defined.
gollark: Newton's flaming laser sword applies, then.
gollark: We can generally react to ongoing present things.

References
  1. "Call Sign History (WPLW-FM)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  2. "FM Query Results (WPLW-FM)". FCC. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  3. "Raleigh-Durham FM Dial". Archived from the original on 2003-02-01. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  4. "The radio Station Locator". Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  5. "Local database". Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  6. "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. 2003-03-02. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  7. Fred Marion, "Local radio stations switch, tweak formats," Rocky Mount Telegram, July 21, 2005, Marquee section.
  8. http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=22322
  9. Ranii, David (2010-11-02). "Radio stations target women". News & Observer. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  10. "Pulse 102 Debuts In Raleigh/Durham". RadioInsight. October 31, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  11. Ross, Sean (2010-11-01). "First Listen: Raleigh, N.C.'s New Pulse 102". Radio-Info.com. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  12. Pulse 102 Raleigh Moves on to 96.9
  13. "Curtis Launches Bluegrass FM In Raleigh". radioinsight.com. September 26, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
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