WQNS

WQNS
Woodfin, North Carolina; United States;
Broadcast area	Western North Carolina
Frequency	105.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	Rock 105.1
Programming
Format	Mainstream rock
Ownership
Owner	iHeartMedia; (iHM Licenses, LLC);
Sister stations	WKSF, WQNQ, WWNC, WPEK, WMXF
History
First air date	1979 (at 104.9)
Former frequencies	104.9 MHz (1979–2014)
Call sign meaning	"Waynesville's Quiet New Sound"
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	41008
Class	A
ERP	6,000 watts
HAAT	62 meters (203 ft)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live (via iHeartRadio)
Website	1051rocks.iheart.com

WQNS (105.1 FM, "Rock 105.1") is a mainstream rock radio station in Asheville, North Carolina. The station is owned by iHeartMedia.

History

WQNS signed on in 1979 at 104.9 FM and played easy listening music (the call sign stood for "Waynesville's Quiet New Sound"). When the station sold, it turned country and was branded Q-105 "Always Your Country".

In 1990, WQNS and WHCC owner KAT Communications of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, filed for Chapter 11, but the stations were doing well and no changes were planned.^[2]

On October 28, 1997, the format changed to classic rock and country music moved to WHCC (now WMXF).^{[citation needed]} On September 20, 1999, WQNS was paired with WQNQ (formerly hot adult contemporary WMXF), and the two stations became "Rock 104".^[3] Clear Channel (forerunner of iHeartMedia) bought the three stations in 2001.^[4] In 2005, the simulcast was broken off after WQNQ's signal was upgraded and changed back to Hot Adult Contemporary, but 104.9's Classic Rock format remained.^[5]

On January 10, 2014, WQNS completed its move to Woodfin, North Carolina, by moving its tower into Asheville and moving from 104.9 FM to 105.1 FM and rebranded as "Rock 105.1".^[6] The Federal Communications Commission issued the license for the move to Woodfin and 105.1 FM on June 25, 2014.

References

^ "Facility Technical Data for WQNS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ "FM Station's Parent Firm Files for Chapter 11 Action," Greensboro News & Record, December 19, 1990.
^ Tony Kiss, "Local Radio Station Gets New Format, Programming," Asheville Citizen-Times, September 19, 1999.
^ Mark Barrett, "Company Bets on Future of Radio," Asheville Citizen-Times, January 10, 2001.
^ Tony Kiss, "Clear Channel Asheville Debuts New Radio Station," Asheville Citizen-Times, March 18, 2005.
^ "WQNS Moves to 105.1".