CFQM-FM
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| City | Moncton, New Brunswick |
|---|---|
| Branding | 103.9 Max FM |
| Slogan | Moncton's Greatest Hits! |
| Frequency | 103.9 MHz (FM) |
| First air date | March 1, 1977 |
| Format | Classic hits |
| ERP | 70,000 watts |
| Callsign meaning | Canada's Finest Quality Music |
| Owner | Maritime Broadcasting System |
| Sister stations | CKCW-FM, CHOY-FM |
| Website | www.1039maxfm.com |
CFQM-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting from Moncton, New Brunswick at 103.9 FM owned by Maritime Broadcasting System. The station currently airs a Classic hits format and is branded on-air as MAX 103.9 FM. Since 1977, the station had numerous music formats such as easy listening, middle of the road, country and adult contemporary. From 1979 to 1998, it had a successful country music format.
History
Island Radio Broadcasting Co. received approval in 1976 by the CRTC to operate a new FM station at Moncton, using a frequency of 103.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 24,600 watts. Island had requested the 95.7 MHz frequency but the national public broadcaster CBC wanted that channel signal reserved for its future use in the region.
Island Radio was a division of Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (EBC), owner of CKCW-AM in Moncton. EBC merged with Maritime Broadcasting Systems in the 1980s.[1]
CFQM 103.9, the first license granted on the FM band in Moncton, signed on the air March 1, 1977, with an easy listening format.[2] At the time, Moncton had three radio stations. Privately owned sister station CKCW-AM; CBA-AM, a 50,000-watt clear-channel CBC public network station outlet; and CBAF-AM, the French counterpart of the CBC/Radio-Canada network for Atlantic Canada.
In 1979, the Canadian Maritime provinces only had a handful FM terrestrial radio stations: CFBC-FM, CKWM-FM, CJCB-FM, CBC Stereo (CBH-FM), CHFX-FM, and C100-FM. Owing to the CRTC mandate, it prohibited the same genre of music to be heard full-time. Late evening and week end blocks were set aside for specialty variety programs such as journals, classical and French music which abided by its licence requirements and agreements.
In January 1979, CFQM segued format that of Middle of the Road to Country, and re-branding itself as “CFQM-FM 10-4” (representing its FM 104 dial position and tying in with the CB radio craze – big with country listeners). Prior to the country music format changed, sister station, CKCW-AM, fill in the gap with an afternoon country music block throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Coincidentally its call sign stands for Canada Knows Country and Western (during CKCW's days as a country music station).
Other slogans of CFQM in the 1980s were Country Stereo 10-4 and FM-104 CFQM. Subsequently in the 1990s new country slogans would be the norm until its format changed in 1998.
The MBS Radio group studios, which currently comprises three terrestrial stations in Moncton, are located at 1000 St George Boulevard. Although from 1977 to 1981, 780 Main Street (City Hall building in the 1970s through 1990s) housed CFQM radio studios. Beside, CKCW-AM was in the lobby of the Assumption Place complex in which the city hall building was part of. Notably, the two stations shared the same newsman/journalist. CKCW-AM studios were visible from the Assumption Place main entrance. Subsequently after CKCW left its downtown location in July 1981, a private French radio station, CHLR-AM, began broadcasting from the former studios in October 1981.[3]
On June 7, 1988, CFQM was granted an increased in power from 24,300 to 70,000 watts.[1] In 1987, Moncton had received a new FM license which brought competition to the Moncton radio market, respectively.
Current format (1998–present)
CFQM-FM's country music format moved to its AM sister station CKCW in 1998 when the station became Magic 104 FM with an Adult contemporary format. In 2001 CKCW moved from its AM dial to 94.5 FM and became known as K94.5. The station flipped from adult contemporary as Magic 104, to its current Classic hits format as 103.9 Max FM on July 31, 2009. The station recently added 90s and current tracks to its playlist, this was the first time since July 2009 when the station changed its format that any music later than the 80s was played on this station
As of 2014, CFQMs current on-air personalities: Terry Parker for morning drive, a former on-air staff from 1984 to 1989; Troy Michaels for midday; Mark Roberts for afternoon drive. Mitch, a veteran radio broadcaster and well known in the Moncton market since January 1988, is on weekend mornings.
References
- 1 2 Dulmage, Bill (October 2011). "CFQM-FM history". Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- ↑ http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index3.html?url=http%3A//www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php%3Fid%3D631%26historyID%3D442
- ↑ CHLR (AM)
External links
- 103.9 Max FM
- CFQM-FM history - Canadian Communications Foundation
- Query the REC's Canadian station database for CFQM-FM
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Coordinates: 45°51′06″N 64°48′44″W / 45.85167°N 64.81222°W