WWZZ
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| Broadcast area | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 103.9 MHz (Braddock Heights, Md.) 104.1 MHz (Waldorf, Md.) |
| First air date | 1996 (as Z104) |
| Format |
CHR (1996–2001) Modern AC (2001–2006) |
| Owner | Bonneville International |
WWZZ/WWVZ were a pair of simulcasting radio stations in Washington, D.C., owned by Bonneville International. The station broadcast from Braddock Heights, Maryland at 103.9 MHz FM and from Waldorf, Maryland, at 104.1 MHz FM. It was commonly known as Z104 with the slogan "Washington's Modern Music." The station was also known for its community efforts and donation drives for local charities. Furthermore, as a member of the Nationals Network, it offered radio coverage of a large portion of the Washington Nationals games.
The WWZZ/WWVZ simulcast was originally two separately owned and operated stations, starting with WXTR ("Xtra 104"), then Washington's heritage Oldies station. WXTR, which had been purchased by Liberty Broadcasting, was soon paired with the Frederick, Maryland-licensed WZYQ 103.9-FM, the original "Z104", which had been doing a locally based CHR format in Frederick for years, in an attempt to attain better signal coverage for WXTR. From that point on, both stations operated as a simulcast throughout a variety of formats: first oldies, then all-seventies. Finally, Bonneville purchased the WXTR/WZYQ combo, and changed the format over to CHR at 11 AM on July 11, 1996, as "Z104" with the call letters WWZZ/WWVZ. The first song on "Z104" was "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited.
The music was highly researched with an upbeat, high energy presentation and was well received by local audiences. Under consultant Dan Vallie and Program Director Dale O'Brian, Z104 played a mix of well established top 40 hits along with the best of "Euro-Pop" dance music and recurrents from the previous few years, as the market didn't have a Top 40 station since the sign off of WAVA-FM in 1991. Z104 rocketed into the top 5 in the Washington, DC ratings. The station was musically vibrant, and over the years, Z104 had some of the best air talent in the country, including Lisa Berigan, Matt Reid, Mathew Blades, Jo Jo Morales and Sean Sellers. O'Brian left the station in 2000 for WBTS in Atlanta, GA. He was replaced with Mike Edwards, known primarily for his tenure as Program Director of WDCG in Raleigh, NC.
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