WHRL
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WHRL (Channel 103.1) is a Modern Rock radio station licensed to Albany, New York that broadcasts at 103.1 FM; the station broadcasts 24 hours a day at 6 kilowatts ERP from a non-directional transmitter in North Greenbush, New York located near U.S. Route 4. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications, and serves the New York's Capital District and surrounding areas, including the upper Hudson Valley. The station targets a primarily male audience, and as of Q1 2006, it is #9 in the Arbitron ratings for the Albany market.
The station is notable in that it is one of the few commercial FM radio stations in the Capital Region to have never changed its call letters.
History
WHRL signed on in 1968 with an easy listening format under the moniker Whirl 103.1. Though the "Whirl" name did not last long, the easy listening format lasted in some form or another for much of the next two decades, evolving to a soft Adult Contemporary approach in the late 1980s. In 1991, the station was purchaed by Dame Media and changed its format to smooth jazz and gained a loyal audience fairly soon thereafter; however, this audience began to erode by the late 1990s.After Clear Channel purchased Dame in 1998, WHRL's future became cloudy and rumors of a format change circulated. The smooth jazz format eventually gave way to the station's current format, modern rock Channel 103.1, on October 2, 1999 two weeks after sister station WQBK-FM flipped from modern rock to active rock. Now the station plays many alternative, punk, emo, and metal bands and artists from about 2000 to the present, including Evanescence, Korn, Linkin Park, Slipknot, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Early in the Channel 103.1 days, the station's slogan was "Albany's New Music Alternative", but the station later switched its slogan to "Albany's New Rock Alternative".
On-Air Personalities
Just to mention a few, there are:
- Jason Keller: Hosts from 6am to 10am. Information about him here: [Jason]
- Joe: Hosts from 10am to 2pm. Information about him here: [Joe]
- Capone: Hosts from 2pm to 6pm, including the Liquid Lunch, where any song even slightly resembling rock can be requested and played. Information about him here: [Capone]
- Mike "The Enforcer": Hosts from 6pm to 11pm. Information about him here: [Mike "The Enforcer"]
Contests
Many contests are hosted on the station, ranging from giving away DVDs or music ("Win It Before You Can Buy It" every Monday), to giving away tickets to major shows, or small ones hosted near the station. One of the most recent ones was given to one person, drawn randomly from many who qualified and won small prizes from qualifying, where the person and a guest got to ride on Disturb's tour bus for five Ozzfest shows, including one in the band's home town. Another was for Tool tickets, where te caller needed to identify a hardware item by the sound it gives.
Live Stream
After five or so years, the station has finally created a music stream. It's live, and unlike some stations (i.e. WAAF, stationed in Boston), one doesn't need to be from the area, or even registered to listen. Many times the radio advertises about people who have moved to Idaho or other such states being able to listen, even advertising about people in France listening.
External link
| Radio stations in the Albany / Schenectady / Troy market [(Arbitron Market #62)] |
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