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WIYY 97.9 FM is a Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A. area commercial Album Oriented Rock/Active rock radio station that mixes music that is popular in the Modern Rock, Heavy Metal and Classic Rock genres. Known by the brand moniker "98 Rock", WIYY has been broadcasting its popular rock music format since 1977.
History
First known as WFDS and then WBAL-FM, the station started out with a classical format. It changed to the WIYY in the early-70s when NBC started an ill-fated national radio news network. After about a year of all-news and no ratings, WIYY became "98 Rock". 98 Rock celebrated its 25th year of its rock format in mid-2002. The station, along with it's AM sister station WBAL-AM, is owned by The Hearst Corporation, a privately held company. It's other sister station, WBAL-TV, is owned by the public company Hearst-Argyle. Hearst-Argyle manages the two radio stations corporately. WIYY-FM and WBAL-AM are the only two radio stations owned by The Hearst Corporation.
Personalities
Mornings feature Kirk McEwen, Mark Ondayko, and Newsman Josh Spiegel. Former Newsman R. Edward Lopez died of lung cancer on 22 May 2005 at the age of 52. Lopez held the national record for longest tenure for a news man at a rock station. Jon Lieberman had been filling in for him during his illness. KML, as the morning team was known, has released a number of parody CDs. They are known for their interest in and knowledge of the local area. They briefly called it the "98 Rock Morning Show" presently out of respect for Lopez. On August 22, 2005, the 98 Rock Morning Show became "98 Rock Morning Radio" and was joined by Josh Spiegel, former news commentator for Big O and Dukes and 20 year radio veteran. The morning show is now referred to as KMS.
Sarah Fleischer follows from 10-3 daily; her shift includes the classic request Hair Ball hour. She has worked at the station since it became 98 Rock.
Afternoons feature shock jock Mickey Cucchiella and his more moderate sidekick "Amelia" along with veteran radio producer Scott Reardon.
"Stash" is currently the evening show DJ, though he has worked just about every shift in his long tenure at 98 Rock. He features a nightly Battle of the Bands and request hour.
The station is more adult-oriented as opposed to the more youthful alternative rock radio stations, found on stations like WHFS.
WIYY will broadcast Baltimore Ravens games in 2006.
Local music
98 Rock supports local musical acts. Every Sunday from 11pm to midnight, the station broadcasts a show called "Noise In The Basement" which bills itself as providing air-time to the best performers in the Baltimore area. Noise in the Basement is hosted by Matt Davis.
Additionally, DJs will often invite local artists (and comedians) into the studio to chat about their music, upcoming shows or just to talk about whatever they want to (politics, religion, food, etc). Kelly Bell of the Baltimore-based Kelly Bell Band is a frequent guest on the KML/98 Rock Morning Show and the afternoon-drive "Mickey and Amelia" show. Local artist Mary Prankster has also been a featured guest.
Podcasting
As of September 2005, 98 Rock has begun podcasting portions of their talk shows onto the Internet. Currently the items available for podcasting are clips from the morning show, Kirk, Mark & Spiegel, and the afternoon drive show, Mickey & Amelia.
External links
"WIYY"