Jackson County Broadcasting flipped Hot AC “Power 105.5” WXTQ Athens OH to Classic Rock “Pure Rock 105 XTQ” this morning.
The launch followed a day of stunting with blocks of loops of Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up”, Nine Inch Nails “Closer” and Hank Williams Jr. “Country Boy Can Survive”. The new format launched at 8:30 this morning with AC/DC “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” and Neil Young “Rockin’ In The Free World”.
COO/Director of Radio Operations JJ Hale and Rodney ‘Porterhouse’ Tomblin will host the “Nut Hut” in mornings from 6-10am. ‘Lizzard’ Huber will join them from 8-10am and then continue in middays until 2pm. Suzy Waud, who worked in Columbus at 92.3 WXGT and 99.7 WBZX through the 1980s and 90s, will join WXTQ as afternoon host. Waud has also worked at WNRJ Pittsburgh and KRBE Houston. Michael ‘DJ Barticus’ Bart will move from afternoons at WXTQ to sister Classic Hits 970 WATH/97.3 W247DR.
The move follows the $1,060,000 acquisition of WXTQ and WATH/W247DR last December. Jackson County Broadcasting, which operates locally as “Total Media”, owns four stations in nearby Jackson OH has begun operating the stations via Time Brokerage Agreement last November. The flip at WXTQ matches the branding utilized by sister “Pure Rock 98.7” WYRO McArthur.
During the on-air announcement, JJ Hale noted that a change will come to WATH in the near future as well.
