WPLA (FM)
WPLA (104.9 MHz, "104.9 Lake FM") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to LaFollette, Tennessee, and serving the Knoxville metropolitan area. It is owned by Loud Media and it simulcasts a classic hits radio format with co-owned WKVL 850 AM.[1] WPLA has its radio studios and offices on the fifth floor of The Sunsphere in Knoxville.
| Broadcast area | Knoxville metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 104.9 MHz |
| Branding | 104.9 Lake FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic hits |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks United Stations Radio Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Loud Media LLC |
| WKCE, WGAP, WVLZ, WKVL | |
| History | |
First air date | August 2, 1982 |
Former call signs | WQLA (1982–1991) WQLA-FM (1991–2008) WTNQ (2008–2021) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 36230 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 6,000 watts |
| HAAT | 53.1 meters (174 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 36°21′8″N 84°5′20″W / 36.35222°N 84.08889°W |
| Repeater(s) | 850 WKVL (Maryville) |
| Links | |
Public license information |
|
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
History Edit
The station signed on the air as WQLA on June 13, 1985. It changed its call sign to WQLA-FM on November 1, 1991, and to WTNQ on May 16, 2008.[2]
On May 27, 2020, it was announced the station was to be acquired by Loud Media.[3] On June 26, 2020, Loud Media took over the signal, which began stunting by playing 1960s, 70s and 80s music with a pending launch of a new format.
At midnight on June 29, 2020, the station premiered a classic country format. It was called "Q104.9" with the tag line "Tennessee’s Throwback Country".[4]
The sale to Loud Media was consummated on November 20, 2020. On November 22, 2020, WTNQ dropped its classic country format and began playing Christmas music for the holiday season, branded as "Santa 104.9".[5]
At 1 p.m. on December 27, 2020, WTNQ became "104.9 Lake FM" with the slogan 'Knoxville's Greatest Hits' playing a classic hits format. Loud Media has previously used its Lake FM format and branding in other radio markets located in Upstate New York. On July 13, 2021, the station adopted the call sign WPLA to match the format.[6]
References Edit
- ^ "WPLA Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ Callsign history of WPLA
- ^ "Loud Media Doubles up in Knoxville".
- ^ WTNQ Brings More Throwback Country to Knoxville Radioinsight - June 29, 2020
- ^ WTNQ Drops Classic Country For Santa Radioinsight - November 23, 2020
- ^ Lake FM Homepage
External links Edit
- Official website
- WPLA in the FCC FM station database
- WPLA on Radio-Locator
- WPLA in Nielsen Audio's FM station database