WNNX (FM)

WNNX FM ("99X") is a radio station in the city of Atlanta, USA, that plays modern rock. Its frequency is 99.7MHz.

99X is owned by Susquehanna Radio. Their sister station in Atlanta is Q100 (WWWQ FM 100.5), broadcasting from the same building.

Contents

1 History

2 Morning show

3 Disc jockeys

4 Promotions and Concerts

5 Former 99X DJs

6 Former DJs (pre-99X)

7 Former 99X shows

8 External links

History

1955-1974: WLTA (easy listening)
1974-1983: WLTA ("Lite 100", AC)
1983-1986: WRMM and WARM ("Warm 100", AC)
1986-1992: WAPW ("Power 99", top 40)
1992-present: WNNX ("99X", alternative)

For most of its early years, 99.7 played host to an easy listening format. In 1983, buoyed by the surprise success of WSB 99 FM's adult contemporary format, the station shifted in a less "lite" direction, becoming "Warm 100". (By 1985, the station was ID-ing as "Warm 99".) In mid-1986, the station went head-to-head with dominant local Top 40 station Z-93, becoming Power 99. Z-93 eventually lost their lead, and attempted to shift to a more urban-oriented format (as "Hot New Z-93") to compete, but conceded the battle in January of 1989 by flipping to classic rock.

By the turn of the 90s, Power 99 was the dominant Top 40 station in the southeast. However, the success of Nirvana at the end of 1991 and the subsequent rise of "alternative" music gave station management pause. In early 1992, KEDG-FM debuted in Las Vegas as an alternative station and immediately moved to #1 in the ratings. In early September 1992, Power 99 brought in Will Pendarvis to host an all-alternative program on weeknights called "Power 99 On the Edge". After receiving a solid amount of positive feedback, the station decided to make the full switch. On Monday, October 26, 1992, at 12:00pm, 99X made its debut. (The last song played on Power 99, aired a couple of hours before the switch, was Charles and Eddie's "Would I Lie to You".) Initally, the station stuck with Power 99's WAPW, but soon acquired the call sign WNNX from a Nynex oil rig off the coast of Corpus Christi, Texas.

During the first couple of years of the format, 99X maintained a surprisingly wide playlist, including songs from the previous fifteen years of modern rock radio, almost in the style of college radio. They also opted to play album tracks that weren't necessarily singles, often to the chagrin of the major labels and their marketing strategies. However, realizing that their ratings were flagging, the station moved to tighten the playlist and act as more of a "Top Alternative" station.

99X played a key role in breaking numerous acts during its early years. MD Sean Demery's push behind the Cranberries' "Linger" in 1993 helped earn the band national attention. On a trip to Australia in early 1995, DJ Steve Craig brought back a copy of fledging band Silverchair's debut EP, which the station began to spin. The day after the release of their debut album Frogstomp, the band played its first US show at the Roxy in Atlanta as a 99X Freeloader show.

99X spent the end of the 1990s playing a fair amount of "lighter" alternative fare, such as Tonic and Matchbox Twenty. However, with the turn of the century, the station turned heavier, nearly crossing into active rock territory. The station also began targetting a younger male audience, pulling the focus away from recurrents and more toward the latest tracks from Limp Bizkit, Korn, and Kid Rock. This change brought 99X the highest ratings of its existence, yet arguably became the station's most critically derided period. Within a few years, the station's ratings began to erode as the edgier fare waned in popularity and as those who enjoyed the more "classic" alternative sound turned elsewhere.

In 2004, the station underwent another change, moving from strictly modern rock to "New Rock and 90's Alternative", a reference to their days in the early 1990s when they played alternative rock. In 2005, the station unveiled a new slogan - "99X - Everything Alternative". Today, the station attempts to balance new and old, loud and soft, covering all of the eras of its history.

This station is broadcasting in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity.

Morning show

99X's morning show features Fred Toucher, Jimmy Baron, and Leslie Fram. When this morning show started in late October 2003, the name of this show was the "Don Miller Morning Show". The show was later renamed to "The Toucher Show with Toucher and Jimmy", but is now called "Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie in the Morning". The full morning show runs from 5:30a - 10:00a.

While the name of the show has changed over the course of the program, the content and on-air personalities haven't. The hosts are Fred Toucher, Jimmy Baron, Leslie Fram, show director Wally, traffic reporter Chris "Crash" Clark, and "Fat Kid". They also have frequent appearances from "Hot Chick", "Boobs McGillicutty", "Donche","wade the drunk" and the 99X Green-Asses.

Disc jockeys

"Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie in the Morning":

Fred Toucher -- Fred Toucher's website (http://www.fredtoucher.com)
Jimmy Baron
Leslie Fram
Gary "Wally" Wallace, formerly known as "Zippy" from Radio Disney
Crash Clark
Fat Kid

Midday:

Steve Craig, featuring the "Retroplex" (formerly the "Duplex of Retro Pleasure" and "House of Retro Pleasure") during the noon hour.

Afternoon drive:

Axel

Evenings:

Late Nights/Sunday morning:

Matt "Organic" Jones. The Sunday morning program, "Organic X", features a softer and more acoustic side of alternative music.

Overnights:

Doug

Sunday School specialty program:

Jay Harren

Others:

Jill
Roach (Ben)
and the "Quit Your Day Job" contest winner, Jeff Woodall

Promotions and Concerts

Music Midtown
99x Freeloader Program
99x Anti-Neck Army
Upstart Fest
Unplugged in the Park
Sinner's Ball
Naughty Night
Live X concerts and CDs
Virginia-Highlands Summerfest
On The Bricks (the original)
Downtown Rocks
The Big Rock
Big Day Out
Chinese New Year
Acoustic Christmas
I'm with the Band!
Brouhaha
Mistle Toe Jam
Brewfest
99Xpress magazine
Project X
Get a Life
Quit Your Day Job
American Idiot
The "What Would You Do" $10,000 Dare
Celebrity Softball Slam
Night of the Living Loud

Former 99X DJs

Sean Demery. Started at Power 99 as "Shotgun Sean". Co-hosted one of 99X's first morning shows with Leslie Fram. Moved to the afternoon drive, where he hosted the Swinging Velveeta Lounge. During his final sign-off with the station on January 7, 2000, his last words were, "I'm Sean Demery, and I was 99X." (He followed that by playing his last song, "How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths.) Currently at Live105 in San Francisco.

Will Pendarvis. Started at Power 99 in September of 1992, hosting a nightly alternative music program called "Power 99 On the Edge", a precursor to 99X's format change nearly two months later . The show continued simply as "On the Edge" following the format change to 99X. Left the station in 1995. Worked mornings at Washington, DC's DC-101 for a couple of years before moving to New York's K-Rock 92.3.

Keith Eubanks. Occasionally ran shifts on both Power 99 and 99X as "Fast Freddy Luka". Also occasionally appeared as Will Pendarvis' "roommate" Wendell. Best known as the voice of the station throughout the 1990s. His off-the-cuff imitation of 99X's first voice guy (done when said voice guy, who worked out of town, was unavailable) eventually morphed into a famous whisper-spoken delivery that, within a few years, could be heard on stations throughout the country. Passed away in 2002 from complications of pneumonia. (His voice could still be heard on Atlanta radio as late as early 2004 on station IDs for WMAX.) Keith Eubanks Tribute (http://audioboysoundworks.com/keith/index.html)

Steve Barnes. At 99X from 1992 to 2003. Started in afternoon drive, moved to mornings in August of 1994. Co-hosted "The Morning X". Hosted the weekend Top 30 Countdown. Last song he played on-air was "California" by Phantom Planet. Left the station to produce and act in independent films (assuredly to wait out a non-compete with 99x). Launched a morning show called All Access on 92.9 Dave FM (WZGC) in Atlanta on September 13, 2004, with co-host Holly Firfer from CNN.

Tom Clark, aka "Major Tom". Worked mornings on Power 99 (as "The Breakfast Club"), and continued on mornings after the format change to 99x. Left the station in the mid-90s. Last seen on Atlanta airwaves working mornings on Mix 105.7 / Cool 105.7.

Melissa Carter. Currently working at WWWQ FM (Q100) in Atlanta.

Rich Shertenlieb. Started as an intern for the Morning X, soon turned into the show's stunt guy. Most famous for his protest of Martha Burke at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta Georgia, where he held up a sign that said "Make Me Dinner/Iron My Shirt". This stunt was covered by ESPN and hundreds of other news organizations. Also received recognition for rescuing a carjacking victim. Before 99X, he co-hosted Tech Talk on WREK while a management student at Georgia Tech. Currently working with Kidd Kraddock in Dallas.

Carter

Mark Owens. Currently working at WWWQ FM (Q100) in Atlanta.

Yvonne Monet. Currently working on opening a restaurant and bar in Newnan, Georgia. Yvonne Monet's website (http://www.yvonnemonet.com)

Dave Hill. Currently a PD at 98 Rock in Baltimore.

Just Dave

Jeff Clark. Hosted a Sunday night free-form music program called "Fear of Music" during the first few years of 99X.

Twisted Todd

Margot

Whip. Left in May 2005. Covered the evening shift.

Christopher Calandro. Left in June 2005. Phone screener for the morning shows.

Former DJs (pre-99X)

These DJs appeared on 99.7 before the station changed to WNNX.

Skinny Bobby Harper

Gary McDowell

Steve McCoy. Did AM drive on Power 99 before moving to Star 94.

Vikki Locke. Moved to Star 94 in 1991.

Domino. Worked nights on Power 99. Was the only DJ let go when the station became 99X, as management felt his style wouldn't work in the new format. Went to Kiss 106.1 in Dallas. Briefly voicetracked WMAX in Atlanta.

Rick Stacy. Worked mornings for Power 99 (on "The Breakfast Club") after Steve McCoy left the station, and was PD of the station during the transition to 99X. Departed 99X not long after the format change.

Ron (?). Worked mornings as part of "The Breakfast Club" on Power 99.

Former 99X shows

On the Edge. Will Pendarvis' nightly program, where he mixed up the regular playlist with more classic alternative tracks.

The Morning X. Hosted by Barnes, Leslie Fram, and Jimmy Baron. Won multiple industry awards from Gavin Report, Billboard, Radio and Records, Creative Loafing, Atlanta Magazine, and others. Featured recurring characters like "Bertha, the oldest Freeloader", "Gay Bob", "Eric the Web Gangsta", "the Stryper Rules guy", and "Forrest, the listener who couldn't win contests". Some of their elaborate pranks were the underground amusement park Magic Island, giving out Leonardo Dicaprio's home phone number, and firing Leslie from the show because she wasn't pretty enough for the webcam.

Resurrection Sunday. Hosted by Axel. A full afternoon of retro alternative songs.

Bootleg X. 99X's Sunday night program of concerts by popular alternative acts (usually via Westwood One's archives).

The Swinging Velveeta Lounge. Sean Demery's hour-long Friday drive-time program dedicated to quirky and oddball music (aka, "cheese"). Usually broadcast in front of a live studio audience.

The Beat Factory, later called Xcellerator.

The Pleasure Dome. A sex-education talk show cohosted by Yvonne Monet and Roger Libby.

Living Loud. Name of Mon-Fri night show (7p - 12a), hosted by Fred Toucher. Initially hosted by Axel.

Don Miller Morning Show and The Toucher Show with Toucher and Jimmy. Former names of the current morning show, although the morning show content and cast did not change with the name changes.