WJGL


WJGL is a commercial FM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida. The station is owned by Cox Radio, a division of the Cox Media Group. WJGL airs a classic hits radio format that leans to classic rock. The station primarily plays rock songs from the 1970s, 80s and some 90s, but not artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince or Madonna who had mostly pop and dance hits.
The station's studios and offices are located on Belfort Parkway in Jacksonville's Southside district. The transmitter is off Hogan Road in the Arlington neighborhood. WJGL is a Class C FM station, running at an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts, from a tower at 1,014 feet in height above average terrain. Its signal stretches from the Georgia coast to south of St. Augustine, Florida.
WJGL broadcasts in the HD Radio format. WJGL's HD-2 channel carries an urban contemporary format, which is also heard on 225-watt translator station W291CI, calling itself "Power 106.1."

History

WJHP-FM, WZFM, WZOK-FM

The 96.9 frequency originally was the home of WJHP-FM which first began experimental broadcasts in 1947, before any other FM stations were on the air in Jacksonville. It was the FM counterpart to AM 1320 WJHP. It was owned by The Metropolis Company, a division of The Jacksonville Journal, a defunct afternoon newspaper. WJHP-FM mostly simulcast the programming of WJHP.
In 1960, the call sign was changed to WZFM. The call letters switched again in 1961 to WZOK-FM. But with FM radio still in its early days, the station signed off in 1962. The license was returned to the Federal Communications Commission and the frequency remained unoccupied for seven years. WZOK's call-letters later went to Rockford, Illinois.

WRLJ, WPDQ-FM

On July 1, 1969, a new station signed on at 96.9 MHz as WRLJ. It was owned by Beck Broadcasting, which also owned AM 600 WPDQ. While WPDQ was a Top 40 station, WRLJ played beautiful music. A couple of years after going on the air, the station picked up the call letters of its AM sister station, becoming WPDQ-FM.

WAIV

In 1975, the two stations were sold to Rounsaville Broadcasting of Jacksonville. AM 600 became middle of the road formatted WMBR while 96.9 became WAIV, a progressive rock outlet. Because Jacksonville is on the Atlantic Coast, the call sign represented the word "Wave."
In 1980, the call letters for AM 600 were switched to match the FM station, becoming WAIV and WAIV-FM. Both stations were Top 40 outlets. At the time, the FCC would not allow an AM and an FM station in medium to large cities to simulcast full-time, so the two stations shared some hours and were separately programmed most hours.
By the mid-1980s, AM 600 had become WOKV, a talk radio station, while WAIV-FM switched to an adult contemporary sound.

WKQL

In 1986, both stations were bought by EZ Communications and in 1990, the FM station became WKQL, "Kool 96.9." It featured an oldies format.

WJGL

In 2000, WKQL and WOKV were bought by Cox Radio, Inc., the current owner. In 2005, WKQL switched its call letters and format. It became WJGL which stands for Jacksonville EaGLe. The station eliminated most 1960s music and the pop and dance artists, focusing on classic hits, rock songs of the 1970s, 80s and some 90s.
Past DJs:
Don Garrard 2005-2006, Scott Walker 2005-2007, Jodi Stewart 2005-2006, John Thomas 2006-2008, Michelle Michaels 2007-2009, Andy Meyer 2007-2010, Chris Rhoads 2008-2012, Todd Shannon 2010–2016
Program Directors:
Scott Walker, Andy Meyer, Todd Shannon, Aaron