WJZE
| City | Oak Harbor, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Toledo, Ohio |
| Branding | Hot 97-3 |
| Frequency | 97.3 (MHz) |
| First air date | September 18, 1993 |
| Format | Mainstream Urban |
| ERP | 4,300 watts |
| HAAT | 118.1 meters |
| Class | A |
| Callsign meaning | "Jazzy" (for its original format of Jazz) |
| Owner |
Urban Radio Broadcasting (Urban Radio Licenses, LLC) |
| Website | http://hot973.net |
WJZE (Hot 97-3) is a Mainstream Urban radio station serving the Toledo area in Ohio, United States. The Urban Radio Licenses, LLC outlet broadcasts at 97.3 MHz with an ERP of 4,300 Watts and is licensed to Oak Harbor, Ohio.
97.3 FM signed on September 18, 1993 with a Smooth Jazz format known as "Jazzy 97" and the WJZE calls. The station was owned by Daniel Haslinger, doing business as Oak Harbor Community Broadcasting, Inc. The company's name would later change to RASP Broadcasting Enterprises, Inc. Studios and offices were located at 1600 Woodville Road in nearby Millbury. Jim Lorenzen served as the station's first general manager.
WJZE dropped smooth jazz for a classic rock format in mid-1996. At around this same time, Dan Dudley was named the station's president and general manager. Upon the format switch, the station billed itself simply as "Classic rock 97.3 WJZE" and "The Station that brought classic rock back to Toledo" (after a void was created when WXKR 94.5 went Adult Alternative).
Notable air talent included Jason Thompson, The Captain, Rick the Hippy, Dangerboy, Zman and Laurie "The Cruiser" Cruise. WJZE chalked up a top 10 finish in its first full ratings book (fall 1996) and did moderately well over the next two years, while WXKR sank to the bottom of the ratings pile.
In late summer of 1998 WJZE fired its staff and became a full-time simulcast of WBUZ, then known as active rock "Buzz 106.5." The owners of WBUZ continued to lease WJZE. WBUZ was sold to Cumulus Broadcasting in early 1999 and rebranded itself as "Pure Rock 106"; the simulcast on WJZE continued until the agreement between WJZE and Cumulus ended.
On August 1, 2000, Clear Channel began to lease 97.3, and thus the station became 97.3 The Fox, with a classic hits format. On March 15, 2005, the format was changed to Mainstream Urban Format as "Hot 97.3". Along with the format change, the station was sold to Urban Radio Broadcasting, which also owns WIMX "Mix 95.7".
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