FM ("'''99X'''") is an FM
Radio Station in the city of
Atlanta, Georgia ,
USA that plays
Modern Rock . Its
Frequency is 99.7
MHz . It plays rock music, mostly alternative, of the last 15 years and focuses on the newer rock.
Adult Alternative music can be heard on 99.7 HD-2 (
HD Radio needed).
99X is owned by
Cumulus Media Partners . 99x also broadcasts in
IBOC Digital Radio , using the
HD Radio system from
IBiquity . Additionally, 99x programs a separate HD Radio channel called "99X/S", which follows a "classic alternative" format.
Their
Sister Station in
Atlanta is ''All The Hits Q100'' (
WWWQ FM 100.5),
Broadcasting from the same
Building .
Like many other stations today, the radio feed is available live on the internet anywhere in the world.
For most of its early years, 99.7 played host to an easy listening format. Oddly, one of its most popular music blocks in the late 70's was "Golden Sundays", a rock'n'roll oldies show (8-10pm) originating live from Timothy John's restaurant in Sandy Springs. It began including contemporary vocals around 1980 and gradually became
Soft Rock . In 1983, following WSB-FM (98.5) 99FM's change to Soft Hits, the station shifted further in that direction, opened up its announcer's personalities and became "WARM100".
By 1985, with digital-tuning radios becoming mainstream, the station began ID-ing as "WARM99". That did not sit well with WSB-FM's parent company
Cox Radio . They sued, claiming copyright violations. In this landmark case (Cox v.
Susquehanna Broadcasting ), the judge was handed a digital radio and asked to tune to 100.0 MHz. There was no signal. To find the nearest station, he pressed the Scan button and it stopped on 101.5 MHz. Next, he entered 99.0 MHz - again, nothing. Finally, he scanned from there - Bingo! 99.7 In his precedent-setting decision, the Federal district judge stated that on a radio dial "a radio station's frequency is its address" and you cannot copyright an address. He ruled in favor of WARM99. Promptly thereafter, WSB-FM became known as "B-98.5".
At 3pm on March 5, 1986, WARM99 went head-to-head with dominant local Top 40 station Z-93, becoming Power99. 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, Power99 was the dominant Top 40 station in the southeast. However, the success of 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 were not necessarily singles, often to the dismay 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, the program director at the time, Brian Phillips, 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 targeting a younger male audience, pulling the focus away from recurrents and more toward the latest tracks from
Limp Bizkit ,
KoЯn , 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.
In 2005, following
Hurricane Katrina , 99X staged a weekend promotion in which they sent all their DJs out to help with relief efforts and had their music played by then-music director Jay Harren's
IPod . This promotion was popular enough that it has continued over the weekends since.
Near the end of 2005, it was announced that
Cumulus Media would acquire
Susquehanna Radio and all of its stations, including 99X and sister station Q100. Cumulus officially took possession of the station on May 5, 2006. In the weeks leading up to the final day, several long-time members of 99X's staff departed from the station, including Jimmy Baron, Fred Toucher, and music director Jay Harren. Just days prior to the final handover, the winter
Arbitron ratings book signalled a tie between 99X and crosstown competitor
105.3 The Buzz , which was notable given that 99X had theretofore maintained a significant lead. Radio industry analysts began to speculate on what the new owners would do with the station, given the ratings decline and the exodus of popular personnel, even speculating that Cumulus might change the station to another format. But after the takeover, management said they were planning to stick with 99X's current format in hopes of reviving it.
''The New Morning X''
- . 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 at one point hosted the Friday drive-time program ''The Swinging Velveeta Lounge''. Also served as the station's Music Director. During his final sign-off with the station on January 7, 2000, his last words were, "I'm Sean Demery, and I ''was'' 99X," a reference to 99x's slogan "I am 99x". (He followed that by playing his last song, "How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths .) Served as Programming Director at Live 105 in San Francisco until September 2006 when he rejoined 99X.
- , also 99x's program director. Was a member of Power 99's "The Breakfast Club" before the station's transition to 99x.
- . Joined 99x with the creation of ''The New Morning X'' in October 2006. Previously worked at Miami's BIG 105.9.
- Mark Owens. Producer. Was on sister station Q100's as "Phil Terrana", The Bert Show Asst. Producer/Man On The Street. Before that was 99X's Saturday over-nights DJ. "Phil Terrana" is the real name of Atlanta's WSTR-FM 's morning show host, Steve McCoy.
- Tim Andrews. Producer. Previously worked with the Regular Guys on 96 Rock .
Regulars:
- , "The Steve Show" Middays and Assistant Program Director. Started at Power 99 as "The Big Watusi".
- , afternoons. Also hosted "Southern Home by Design" on Turner South . Temporarily helmed the morning show from spring until late September of 2006. Has been with 99X since 1993.
- , evenings. Worked nights at cross-town competitor WBZY before moving to 99x in 2005.
- . His long-time Sunday morning program "Organic X" features a softer and more acoustic side of alternative music.
- . Traffic for both 99X and sister station Q100.
- Doug, overnights.
Part-time:
- Ben. Was the voice of cross-town competitor WBZY when it went on the air in 2002 under the on-air name "Roach". Joined 99x in 2004.
- Elliott. Music Coordinator and host of "Sunday School" featuring independent and local bands. Sunday nights 8-10pm
- Eric the Web Gangsta. First appeared on ''The Morning X'' in 1999 , covering all aspects of the Internet , Video Games , Computers , and assorted new technology for listeners. He reported live from the floor of E³ and from the first-day-of-sales for the PlayStation 2 . He also did commentary with Matt Jones on the station's public affairs program on technology issues. He also wrote articles for the station's listener magazine ''99Xpress''. He is currently a monthly contributor to ''Morning Mouth'' magazine, a trade publication for Radio morning shows.
- Jill. Joined 99x in the early 90s after spending several years at Album 88 .
- English Nick
- . Morning show hosted by Sean, Leslie, and Jenners; has humor, news, talk, and guest interviews.
- . Ten consecutive songs, commercial-free, starting at 10am.
- . Weekdays from 12pm-1pm, hosted by Steve. Features thirteen consecutive songs, commercial-free.
- . A request-only hour, hosted by Axel at 5pm every weekday. Listeners can make requests via phone or email.
- . Live performances from the 99X Studio. Airs Saturday mornings at 10am and Sunday nights at 10pm.
- . A light and/or acoustic blend of rock hosted by Matt Jones. Airs on Sunday mornings from 7am to Noon.
- . Weekly program featuring new music, imports, b-sides, and other rarities. The program promotes new upcoming bands, including a local feature of the week. Sunday nights from 8pm-10pm.
- 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
- Big Day In ( 2005 ) - To help with victims of Hurricane Katrina .
- 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
- Swingles Party
- Campus MovieFest
- Oyster Fest
- . Joined 99X in 1992. 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 in October 2003 to produce and act in independent films (but also 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 . Dave FM decided to go personality free in the morning, so he parted ways with DAVE in September 2006. He has now been cast as the recurring character "Agent Drucker" on the FOX show "Prison Break".
- . Joined 99X in 1994 as part of the morning show with Leslie Fram and Sean Demery. Shortly afterwards, Barnes replaced Sean, leading to the show named The Morning X. Stayed with the morning show through its various changes: ''The Morning X with Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy''; ''The Don Miller Morning Show''; ''The Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie Morning Show''; and ''Mornings with Axel, Jimmy, and Leslie''. Exited the morning show in early April 2006 in anticipation of the expiration of his contract on April 5th, and officially announced his departure from 99X on Friday April 28, 2006. He's currently seeking a new job.
- . Joined the New Morning X for its first three weeks before moving to Seattle to start as a drivetime DJ at Movin' 92.5.
- . Currently working on The Bert Show on Q100 in Atlanta, and co-host of TWIST syndicated radio program (with Dennis Hensley and Will Wikle ).
- . Worked with Cartoon Network's George Lowe (voice of Space Ghost) to produce the vast majority of commercials on 99X 1994-1996.
- .
- . Began as a traffic reporter for Power 99, continued on 99X, eventually added to sister station Q100. Was suspended more than once while working at the station. Was fired at the end of November 2005 for a contest gone wrong. According to reports, Crash was hosting a remote at a club and had pairs of tickets to a private 99x concert by on WBCN in Boston.
- . (Unrelated to the other Clarks.) Hosted a Sunday night free-form music program called ''Fear of Music'' during the first few years of 99X.
- (brother of Crash). Worked mornings on Power 99 (as part of "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 the now-defunct Mix 105.7 / Cool 105.7. He has recently been seen in ''Huddle House'' television commercials, and co-hosted the former WXIA-TV produced mid-morning program ''Peachtree Morning'' from 1997-1998.
- . Associate producer, traffic reporter, phone screener for the morning shows, charged with "tertiary character casting". Injured during a stunt with Fat Kid on October 30th, 2004, and spent months off the air battling a Staph Infection in his right knee. Was let go from 99x in June of 2005. Before 99X, did traffic for WSB-AM and WSB-TV . Also produced the Regular Guys ' show on Atlanta's 96 Rock under the nickname "Radio Boy" from 1999-2001.
- . Worked part-time doing various shifts on both Power 99 and 99X from 1988 to 1995.
- . 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. He died in 2002 from complications of pneumonia. (His voice could still be heard on Atlanta radio as late as early 2004 on station IDs for the now-defunct 105.3 WMAX.) Keith Eubanks Tribute
- , sports/traffic. He worked briefly for the morning show in the spring of 2006. He left the show in the summer of 2006.
- . Joined 99x in 1997. Served as the station's music director from 2004 until his departure. Hosted "Sunday School" on Sunday nights, featuring off-the-playlist music. At the end of 2005, 99x's weekend programming was referred to as "99x On-Shuffle", with the concept being that the music was being supplied by Harren's IPod set to "shuffle". Harren has a neurological condition called Synesthesia . In August of 2004, he appeared in a brief CNN piece about the condition, coincidentally conducted by future All Access host Holly Firfer. Transcript of Jay Harren talking about synesthesia on CNN Departed the station on Thursday, May 4, 2006, on the eve of Cumulus' acquisition of the station from Susquehanna. He is now doing A&R for Columbia Records.
- . Previously worked at Album 88. Currently a PD at 98 Rock in Baltimore .
- .
- . Alumni of Album 88. Currently afternoon drive host at The New Planet Radio 107.3/Jacksonville.
- .
- . She now does nights at Dave FM.
- . Joined 99x in 1992. Hosted the dance oriented show ''The Beat Factory''. Moved to a Susquehanna station in Dallas in 1999 before returning to Atlanta in 2004. Currently working on opening a Restaurant and bar in Newnan , Georgia . Yvonne Monet's website .
- . 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 before moving to New York's K-Rock 92.3. Currently works at Sirius Satellite Radio on the "Faction Rock Radio" channel.
- . Cast during the "Toucher 6-Day Morning Show," a precursor to the Toucher, Jimmy, & Leslie Show. Intern and phone screener for TJL Morning Show. Was let go on January 13th, 2006. Currently working nights at "96-5 The Mountain" in Chattanooga, Tennessee .
- . General manager of 99x from its inception until May of 2006.
- . Did commercial work for the station in the late 1990s, including "Angry Brian" bits. Now the Public Viewer on the Glenn Beck Program on CNN Headline News .
- . Started as an intern for the Morning X, soon turned into the show's stunt guy. Most famous for his protest of Martha Burk 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 . After leaving 99X, worked on Kidd Kraddick In The Morning in Dallas through December 2005. Currently hosting a radio show with Fred Toucher and Crash Clark known as The Toucher and Rich show on WBCN in Boston .
- . Joined 99x as an intern in 1999. Moved to air-staff full-time, working nights for several years before switching to mornings following the departure of Steve Barnes. Made his last appearance on 99x on March 17, 2006. Currently hosting a radio show with Rich Shertenlieb and Crash Clark known as The Toucher and Rich show on WBCN in Boston . Fred Toucher's website
- .
- , former morning show director for the Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie Show. Formerly known as "Zippy" from Radio Disney . Quit 99X on April 14, 2006, following a dispute with incoming station management about his involvement in the morning show. After leaving 99x, he spent a month as a guest host on the 105.3 The Buzz morning show.
- . Joined 99X in 2004. Covered the evening shift. Left in May 2005 to become the morning host at 105.3 the Buzz. He was let go from the Buzz in November 2006 when that station merged with 96rock to become Project 9-6-1.
- . Worked at the station from the late 90s until June 2004, variously as assistant program director, music director, and program director. Was suspended, and later fired, from the station by General Manager Mark Renier following the airing of a controversial spot on the Don Miller Morning Show in June 2004.http://www.sadlebred.com/2004/2004storiesjune.html Website referencing AJC article about Chris Williams' suspension He became program director at 105.3 the Buzz in 2005 and interim program director of 96rock in the summer of 2006. The two stations were merged into Project 9-6-1 in November 2006 and Williams became program director of that active rock station.
- . Earned a station shift by winning 99X's "Quit Your Day Job" contest in 2004.
- ''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", "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.
- ''Locals Only'' Hosted by Steve Craig (co-hosted by Jeff Clark, music critic and publisher of the magazine "Stomp and Stammer") Saturday nights and Sunday nights. Featured all Atlanta-based bands and regional bands that regularly toured the Atlanta club scene. Collective Soul, Dave Matthews, Butch Walker, Shawn Mullins, Sevendust and John Mayer got their breaks here.
- ''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''. Mon-Fri evening program (7p - 12a) that ran in the early 2000s. Initially hosted by Axel, later hosted by Fred Toucher.
- ''Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie''. Started out in October of 2003 as ''The Don Miller Morning Show'', and briefly changed to ''The Toucher Show with Toucher and Jimmy''. The show featured frequent appearances from Fat Kid, Donshay, Louis Perico, Wade the Drunk, MC Helium, and Calandro.
- ''Retroplex''. Hosted by Steve Craig, featuring New Wave Music and other classic alternative. Debuted in the mid-1990s as ''House of Retro Pleasure'' with a focus on 80s alternative. Later renamed ''Duplex of Retro Pleasure'' with the addition of 90s music to the show. Ended August 20, 2007.
These DJs appeared on 99.7 before the station changed to WNNX.
- Steve Davis. Was Power 99's first PD/afternoon host and debuted the format in 1986.
- Lon Thomas. Was Power 99's first morning man in 1986.
- George Montiel. Was Power 99's first midday host and Asst PD. Former Pgm Mgr during the WARM days, he joined the station in 1977 and transitioned through 4 format & management changes. Left in 1987.
- Randy Reeves. Was Power 99's production director in 1986. Although heard on image stagings, promos and commercials throughout the day, he never had an air shift. Left in the late 80's to focus on his own production company.
- Skinny Bobby Harper (WLTA morning personality)
- Gary McDowell (One of the original Boss Jocks at 93KHJ)
- Vikki Locke. Imported from Canton, Ohio, co-hosted mornings with George Montiel, Lon Thomas and Steve McCoy. Moved to Star 94 in 1991.
- "Downtown" Billy Brown. Did nights on Power 99 in 1991-92. Moved over to Star 94 after the format change for a short time, then left to work afternoons on WYHY (now WRVW ), Nashville , then B-94/Pittsburgh, Star 97/Nashville, now afternoons at ( WKIS ) 99.9 Kiss Country in Miami , Florida
- Domino. Worked nights on Power 99 in 1988. Left for WPLJ in New York City , but returned in late 1990. Did afternoons in late 1991 and went to mornings in August, 1992. Went to Kiss 106.1 in Dallas. Briefly voicetracked WMAX in Atlanta.
- Rick Stacy. Worked mornings for Power 99 (on "The Breakfast Club") and was MD/PD of the station during the transition to 99X. Departed 99X after the format change.
- Steve McCoy came from cross town Z93 after their format change to classic rock from pop/CHR; did AM drive on Power 99 with Vikki Locke and took her with him to Star 94 in 1991.
- Ron Tesla. Worked mornings as part of "The Breakfast Club" on Power 99 doing news.
- Boomer. Worked mid-days at Power 99. Moved to Star94 in late 1991.
- The Janitor. Worked nights at Power 99 in 1989-1990. Left for WDFX (now WYCD ) in Detroit after Domino came back to Power 99 in the fall of 1990.
- Telephone Tony. Worked overnights/weekends in 1990-91. Left for KDWB in Minneapolis , Minnesota in 1992 under the airname Tone E. Fly.
- J. Karen Thomas. Worked middays from 1991-92.
- Other notable voices: Dennis Wayne, Joel Godard, Connie Prichard, Wendall Brown, Mel Cargle, Kim Matthews and Frank Zayas.
- http://www.99x.com 99X website
- http://www.allensedge.com/99X.html A Fansite featuring free downloadable mp3s of clips from the Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie show from April 2004 to January 2006.
- http://www.fredtoucher.com Former DJ Fred Toucher's site with message board, blog and audio from the Toucher, Jimmy and Leslie show.
- http://www.axellowe.com Official website of afternoon show personality Axel Lowe.
- http://www.99XWatch.org A website that purports to monitor the political agenda of 99X
