WHTZ
(Redirected from Z100)
Categories: Radio stations in New York City | Clear Channel radio stations | Contemporary hit radio stations
| Image:Z100 logo.gif | |
| First air date | August 2, 1983 |
| Frequency | 100.3 MHz |
| Broadcast area | New York City |
| Style | Top 40 |
| Group | Clear Channel Communications |
WHTZ, also known as Z-100, is one of the most successful (and copied) radio stations in America today. Z-100 is the most listened to top 40 pop station in America.
WHTZ is licensed in Newark, New Jersey to Clear Channel Communications, and serves the New York City market. It broadcasts at a frequency of 100.3 MHz.
The call letters are supposed to represent the word "hits"; indeed, an early advertising campaign for the station claimed that HTZ was "The New Way to Spell 'Hits' in New York."
WHTZ has commercial-free hours on weekdays at noon, 5pm, and 8pm, Saturdays at noon and 3pm, and Sundays on 1pm and 3pm.
Contents |
History
The station began as WMGM-FM, which played easy listening music. They would change hands to local owners in the 60's and become WVNJ-FM. The station had a beautiful music format playing instrumental pop versions of songs, as the station was known as "WVNJoy". The station was licensed to Newark, New Jersey but its studios were off Route 10 in Livingston, New Jersey. wile their transmitter was on Mt Pleasant Avenue in West Orange, New Jersey (near WFME's transmitter). At the time, they had a effective power of about 20,000 watts, and they put out 5,000 actual watts. The station would target Northern New Jersey, since radio listeners in New York City would listen to WPAT AM, WPAT-FM and WFRM.
In 1980, when WRVR (now WLTW) dropped jazz for country, WVNJ-FM start playing jazz music, which would air after 8 PM. They became nown as "VNJoy by day VNJazz By Night". In May of 1983, plans were made for 100.3 FM to be purchased to a new owner. The new owner would let the station sign on in a studio in Secaucus, New Jersey and move the transmitter to the top of the Empire State Building. In addition, the new owner announced plans for a top 40 format. The sale became final on August 1, 1983, and WVNJ-FM would end broadcasts on 100.3 that night.
The station, which now had the callsign WHTZ, went on the air at 6:08 AM on August 2, 1983, with little to no fanfare. The first song ever played on the station was "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. They signed on from their new and still incomplete studio in Seacaucus, as their signal wouldn't transmit from the top of the Empire State Building until later that August. They did not begin calling themselves "Z-100" until a few days later.
Z-100 was the second station that summer to attempt to bring the Top 40 format back to New York, with rock station WPLJ having switched to top 40 in late June. WHTZ was programmed to raise listener memories of AM powerhouse WABC, which flipped to an all-talk format from an adult contemporary format on May 10, 1982.
Within 74 days of signing on, the station had climbed from last place to first in the New York Arbitron ratings book, an unprecedented feat. The station repeatedly noted this on the air during late 1983 and early 1984 with the slogan "From Worst to First."
Over the years, Z-100 stayed with a top 40 format and WPLJ was right behind them in the ratings. By 1991, though, the top 40 format was in an identity crisis. A major sign of this crisis would come when WPLJ would move to a hot adult contemporary format by 1992. In Z-100 would respond to this crisis by adding some songs from the 1970's and introduced an evening talk show called "Love Phones". Then in 1993, Z-100 began mixing in alternative rock music which wouldn't normally be played by a top 40 station. By the end of 1994, the majority of the station's music consisted of alternative rock, which would actually fit the format at this point, since about 75% of the music found at a typical top 40 station during this period. To flesh out the playlist, the station would play music by artists such as Madonna, TLC, and Mariah Carey.
Ratings would remain steady at the station during much of the mid-1990's, but by March of 1996, there was a steep drop. This was due to the fact that early in 1996, WKTU signed on at 103.5 FM with a dance music format, while WXRK would adapt a full-time alternative rock format. Both stations would end up taking listeners from Z-100.
In April of 1996, the station brought in Tom Poleman as its new programming director. Under Poleman, new airstaff was brought in while retaining most of the remaining staff that did not quit due to the sinking ratings. As a result, the station would gradually began to move back to a top 40 format, as they added popular music from such formats as R&B, rap, and adult contemporary. By December of 1996, Z-100 was a full-time top 40 station again. Ever since this occurred, the ratings at the station have been strong.
In a 1999 merger, Z-100's parent company, Chancellor, would acquire another radio station owner, forming AM/FM inc. Shortly after that merger was finalized, AM/FM would be brought by its current owners, Clear Channel Communications.
The Z Morning Zoo
Although not created at WHTZ, the popular morning zoo format became a widely-employed morning show concept based on its success at Z-100. The current DJs on The Z Morning Zoo include Elvis Duran, Danielle Monaro, John Bell, Carolina Bermudez, Skeery Jones, David Brody and Greg T The Frat Boy.
The Z Morning Zoo features Stupid News with John Bell, Daily Sleaze Report, Phone Tap, a stunt performed by Greg T, various contests, and news and weather reports.
Current DJs
Current DJs include:
- Elvis Duran (and the Z Morning Zoo)
- Shelley Wade
- Paul "Cubby" Bryant
- Joe Rosati
- Niko
- Sharon Stevens
- Romeo on the Radio
- DJ Spinbad
Additionally, WHTZ broadcasts the nationally-syndicated American Top 40 hosted by Ryan Seacrest every Sunday from 6AM to 10AM.
Management
- Regional Vice President - General Manager - Andrew Rosen
- SVP/Programming - Program Director - Tom Poleman
- General Sales Manager - Bob McCuin
- Local Sales Manager - Sharon Ritterband
- Director of Marketing - Paul Miraldi
- Assistant Program Director - Sharon Stevens
- Music Director - Paul 'Cubby' Bryant
Annual Events
The station annually holds two popular concerts featuring top-name acts: Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden during the winter holiday season, and Zootopia at Giants Stadium in the summer.
Weekday Broadcasting Schedule
| 6AM | Elvis Duran and the Z Morning Zoo 6AM - 10AM |
| 7AM | |
| 8AM | |
| 9AM | |
|
|
|
| 10AM | Shelley Wade 10AM-2PM |
| 11AM | |
| 12PM | |
| 1PM | |
|
|
|
| 2PM | Paul "Cubby" Bryant 2PM - 6PM |
| 3PM | |
| 4PM | |
| 5PM | |
|
|
|
| 6PM | Romeo on the Radio 6PM - 10PM |
| 7PM | |
| 8PM | |
| 9PM | |
|
|
|
| 10PM | Joe Rosati 10PM - 2AM |
| 11PM | |
| 12AM | |
| 1AM | |
External links
By frequency: 88.3 | 88.9 | 89.1 (WFDU) | 89.1 (WNYU) | 89.5 | 89.9 | 90.7 | 91.1 | 91.5 | 92.3 | 92.7 | 93.1 | 93.9 | 94.7 | 95.5 | 96.3 | 97.1 | 97.9 | 98.7 | 99.5 | 100.3 | 101.1 | 101.9 | 102.7 | 103.5 | 104.3 | 105.1 | 105.9 | 106.7 | 107.5
By callsign: WAXQ | WBAI | WBGO | WBLS | WCAA | WCBS | WFDU | WFME | WFMU | WFUV | WHTZ | WKCR | WKTU | WLTW | WNEW | WNYC | WNYE | WNYU | WPAT | WPLJ | WQCD | WQHT | WQXR | WRKS | WSIA | WSOU | WSKQ | WWPR | WXRK | WZAA
Based on a list from the New York Radio Guide.