WQSM
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| City | Fayetteville, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Fayetteville Metropolitan Area |
| Branding | Q98 |
| Slogan | Today's Best Variety |
| Frequency | 98.1 MHz |
| First air date | 1947 |
| Format | Adult Top 40 (CHR) |
| Power | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 253 meters |
| Class | C1 |
| Facility ID | 8582 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 35°04′36″N 78°55′58″W / 35.07667°N 78.93278°W |
| Former callsigns | WFNC-FM (1947-1969) |
| Owner |
Cumulus Media (Cumulus Licensing LLC) |
| Sister stations | WFNC, WMGU, WRCQ |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | q98fm.com |
WQSM is a licensed FM class C1 Adult Top 40 (CHR) radio station based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA. Owned and operated by Cumulus Media, Q98 has offices and studios located at 1009 Drayton Road in downtown Fayetteville. Its transmitter is located near Bragg Boulevard in Fayetteville.
WFNC-FM signed on in 1947 and was the only FM station in Fayetteville for many years. Victor Dawson, who started out managing WFNC for his father, was one of the few to realize that FM had a future. In 1969, when WFNC-FM became WQSM and began playing country music, few cars had FM radios and WQSM began selling converters to potential listeners.
On Monday March 8, 1976, WQSM gave up its country music format and switched formats with its sister station WFNC/940 AM (now 640 AM). WQSM started playing top 40 music and WFNC took over the country music format. WQSM featured an automated Stereo Rock format until 1984. WQSM continued to play top 40 music until 1989. Sunday afternoon staples were Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and "American Top 40" with Casey Kasem. The AM carried "American Country Countdown" with Don Bowman, then Bob Kingsley. WQSM used the slogan HitRadio Q98.
For nearly 14 years ending on October 18, 1989, WQSM played Top 40, starting with the automated TM (See Jones Radio Networks) Stereo Rock format. Q98 took 18 months to reach number one, and in April 1982, the station had 25.4 percent of listeners 12 and over in Cumberland County, the largest market share for any FM station in the country.
In 1984 Jay Andrews was hired from CHR WZGC Atlanta as WQSM's Program Director to manage and take the station live 24/7. Andrews handled mornings 6am-10am. His show included news twice per hour and banter between himself, numerous listener call-ins, and News Director Bill McClement. In one ratings cycle Andrews established the highest morning ratings in the station's history. Bringing popular acts Kool & The Gang, KISS, Bon Jovi, A Flock Of Seagulls and others added to Q98's success. Working with the city of Fayetteville to promote the newly furbished 'Fayetteville Commons' downtown, Q98 hosted a street dance attended by several thousand to introduce the city's new downtown area. Contesting included The Dollar Bill Game and album 6-pack give-a-ways. WQSM's ratings increased to a 26 12+ share of the market, and in 1986 WQSM was listed by Billboard Magazine as the 11th highest-cuming CHR FM in America. Andrews left WQSM in 1987 for ownership of WDGR.
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