WTOS-FM
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| City | Skowhegan, Maine |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Augusta, Maine |
| Branding | 105-TOS |
| Slogan | "The Mountain of Pure Rock" |
| Frequency | 105.1 MHz |
| First air date | Early 1970s |
| Format | Album-oriented rock (AOR) |
| ERP | 57,000 watts |
| HAAT | 747 meters |
| Class | C |
| Facility ID | 46352 |
| Callsign meaning | Top Of Sugarloaf |
| Owner |
Blueberry Broadcasting (Blueberry Broadcasting, LLC) |
| Webcast | None |
| Website | http://www.wtosfm.com |
WTOS-FM (105.1 FM), known as "The Mountain of Pure Rock", is a commercial FM album-oriented rock (AOR) radio station licensed to Skowhegan, Maine whose studios are located in Augusta.
WTOS-FM originated as a free-form rock music station in 1973 started by John Pineau on 107.1 FM, with a studio based in Skowhegan, Maine. The tower was moved to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain with an upgrade to 57,000 watts effective radiated power on the current frequency of 105.1 MHz.
WTOS-FM remained locally owned by Mountain Wireless, and gained a reputation as one of the region's more daring stations throughout the 1980s, due to its penchant for playing harder or more obscure rock bands that did not normally appear on commercial radio stations. Music directors Annie Earhardt and Duane Bruce helped to take WTOS-FM in a direction that many others followed. The DJs also had input into what selections were played and an eclectic mix soon prevailed, separating the station from other rock-oriented stations in the region. WTOS-FM struggled with ratings, but was #1 in the Canadian province of Quebec where the signal is heard quite well.
In October 1987 the station changed format from an eclectic college alternative format to a more commercial classic rock format. After a public funeral through downtown Skowhegan for the previous format (organized by then Music Director Duane Bruce), "The Mountain" continued to build up a large local following of fans, which was especially obvious at its frequent on-location remotes, usually at area bars and nightclubs.
WTOS-FM was acquired by Cumulus Media in late 2000, and the main studios were moved from Skowhegan to Augusta. The association with Cumulus did not last long, as only months later, WTOS-FM was purchased by media giant Clear Channel Communications. In May 2008, WTOS and the 16 other Clear Channel stations in the Augusta and Bangor markets were sold to Blueberry Broadcasting, a Maine-based company headed by Louis Vitale and Bruce Biette. On July 28, 2008, the newly formed Blueberry Broadcasting LLC assumed control of WTOS-FM.
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