WREW

WREW (94.9 FM, "Mix 94.9") is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Hits/Rhythmic AC format. Licensed to the suburb of Fairfield, Ohio, it serves the Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. Its studios are located just northeast of Downtown Cincinnati and the transmitter site is in Finneytown, Ohio.

History

The station first began broadcasting in 1962 under the call sign WFOL-FM, licensed to Fairfield, Ohio, and aired a "beautiful music" format. They became WCNW-FM in 1965, sister to then Country-formatted WCNW (1560 AM). Beautiful music returned to the frequency in the mid 1970s as WLVV-FM "Love 95."

The frequency was sold off to Heftel Broadcasting in 1980, becoming WYYS-FM "Yes 95" with a Top 40-Rock format. The format changed within a year to soft rock under the same call letters and handle before becoming WLLT-FM "Lite 95" in 1983. In 1988, WOFX-FM "The Fox" replaced WLLT-FM, airing Classic rock. In September 1995, the WOFX call letters, format and intellectual properties were bought by Jacor and moved to 92.5 FM, with 94.9 becoming WVAE-FM "The Wave", and flipped to smooth jazz.^[1][2]

"Mojo 94.9" WMOJ

On April 30, 1999, the station switched to a Rhythmic oldies format as "Mojo 94.9 FM" with the call sign WMOJ.^[3] That format remained on 94.9 FM until September 2, 2006, when Radio One acquired the intellectual property and call letters of the station from Cumulus Media, and moved it to 100.3 FM, where it remained until November 2012, when the format and call letters were dropped for Sports as WCFN (now WOSL). Cumulus then temporarily switched the 94.9 FM frequency to a simulcast of country-formatted WYGY as WPRV.

Further information: 2006 Cincinnati radio station reorganization

"The Star" WYGY

WYGY was located at 96.5 FM and branded as "The Star". From September 2 to October 31, 2006, Cumulus also simulcast the station on WPRV. The call letters and format of WYGY, as well as the frequency of 94.9, were traded to Entercom Communications in exchange for WGRR. The country format on 94.9 FM, however, would only last until that November 7, when the station began stunting with an electronic countdown to Noon on November 9.

"94.9 The Sound" WSWD

On November 9, 2006, at 12 p.m., 94.9 FM flipped to alternative rock, branded as "The Sound".^[4][5] The first song on "The Sound" was "Welcome to Paradise" by Green Day. Although the station used the WYGY call letters for the first month of the new format, the call letters were moved to 97.3 FM, with the WSWD call letters debuting on November 29. (The country format would move to 97.3 FM at the same time as the flip.)

Upon its launch, the station began a programming stunt that consisted of 9,490 songs in a row without commercials or DJ interruption, though they replayed many songs multiple times in a day. This stunt took 22 days to complete, and it finished on December 1, 2006 at 5 p.m. EST. At this time, the station announced that it would begin airing commercials. The first song played after the 9,490 song promotion was "Wonderwall" by Oasis, launching a set of personal "Perfect 10" playlists sent in by individuals. After the "Perfect 10" promotion ended, WSWD returned to its alternative variety format.

On January 18, 2007, Entercom announced plans to swap its entire Cincinnati radio cluster, including WSWD, together with three of its radio stations in Seattle, Washington, to Bonneville International in exchange for all three of Bonneville's FM stations in San Francisco, California and $1 million cash.^[6] In May 2007, Bonneville officially took over control of the Cincinnati stations through a time brokerage agreement. On March 14, 2008, Bonneville officially closed on the stations.

"94.9 The Wolf" WYGY

On November 7, 2008, at 11:00 a.m., the formats and call signs of WSWD and WYGY switched frequencies, with the country music format returning to the 94.9 FM frequency, and the alternative format moving to 97.3 FM. All weekday disc jockeys were also let go with the move. The last song to play on "94.9 The Sound" was "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage" by Panic! at the Disco, which is also the same song that ended WAQZ at 97.3 nearly two years prior.^[7]

"Rewind 94.9" WREW

Another shakeup occurred at 5 p.m. on May 21, 2009, as Bonneville moved the Wolf back to 97.3, discontinuing the "Sound" format altogether ("The Sound" would move to 97.3-HD2, which was later moved to 94.9-HD2). At the same time, 94.9 FM flipped to a hybrid adult hits/Rhythmic AC format, branded as "Rewind 94.9."^[8]The first song on "Rewind" was "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran.^[9] After re-acquiring the WSWD call letters on May 25th, 94.9 would adopt new WREW call letters on June 2.

When WREW debuted, the station played a wide range of music from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, with a core focus on the 80s, as stated in their slogan, "Feel Good Favorites of the 80s and More". The station experienced huge success after its debut, as it is normally a Top 10 rated station in the Cincinnati Arbitron ratings.

On January 19, 2011, Bonneville International announced the sale of WREW and several other stations in various markets to Hubbard Broadcasting for $505 million.^[10] The sale was completed on April 29, 2011.^[11]

The station expanded the playlist on September 6, 2011, by re-introducing music from the 2000s and today to the playlist, while still playing retro hits.

"The New 94.9"/"Mix 94.9"

On October 1, 2013, WREW rebranded as "The New 94.9, Cincinnati's Best Mix".^[12] In January 2016, WREW rebranded as "Mix 94.9."

Former Logos

References

External links

• Mix 94.9
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WREW
• Radio-Locator information on WREW
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WREW