WKZL
| City | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greensboro / Winston-Salem / High Point |
| Branding | 107-5 KZL |
| Slogan | The #1 New Music Station |
| Frequency | 107.5 MHz |
| First air date | 1958 (as WYFS) |
| Format | Top 40 Mainstream |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 303 meters |
| Class | C |
| Facility ID | 16891 |
| Former callsigns | WYFS (1958-1966) WAAA-FM (1966-1972) WSGH (1972-1975) |
| Owner | Dick Broadcasting |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 1075kzl.com |
WKZL ("107.5 KZL") is a Top 40 Mainstream station licensed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and serves the Piedmont Triad area, which also includes Greensboro and High Point. The outlet, which is owned by Dick Broadcasting, operates at 107.5 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW. It has studio facilities and offices in downtown Greensboro alongside its sister station WKRR, and a transmitter site is near Stokesdale, North Carolina.
In 1958, WYFS became the first Winston-Salem station to play classical music. In 1966, the station became WAAA-FM, airing the soul music of WAAA, and WFDD took over classical music. The station had the call letters WSGH (standing for Winston-Salem / Greensboro / High Point) during the early 1970s when its format was easy listening.
The station began stereo broadcasts in January 1975 and changed its call letters to WKZL. For a short period of time in the mid 70s the station featured an eclectic blend of pop, rock and progressive rock selected at random by the hosts. DJs on the air from 1975-1977 included Steve Gold (Marshall), Alan Cameron, Mitch Clarke, Nick Archer, Bruce Key, Ron Spivey, Kitty Kinnin, Reid Stott, Steve Norris, and Steve Day. Production chores were handled by Jack Shaw and Rowell Gormon. The late 70s era of WKZL’s programming was a mix of Top 40 and album cuts formulated into playlists based on focus groups created under the direction of eccentric owner Bob Brown.
Program hosts included Morning Show Host Doug Paul, Rod Davis, Chris Angel, Kitty Kinnin, J.J. Hemingway, D.D. Thornton, and Chuck Holloway, who also served as Music Director. Doug Paul served as Program Director during his time at WKZL between 1978 and 1982. During this period, the station was pioneering music research that included weekly focus groups of 18- to 49-year-old listeners assembled by Owner Bob Brown and Sharon Paul. The format of the station was a unique hybrid of Deep Tracks, Top 40 and Jazz. Local music artists were featured in the programming mix and live concerts were broadcast weekly via NBC's THE SOURCE and other radio program syndicators. Known for a keen spot production sound and aggressive demo sales, the WKZL of the late 70's won many local and regional advertising awards and had up to three full-time copywriters on staff.
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