WSTQ (FM)

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WSTQ-FM [1] (not to be confused with WSTQ TV the CW network station in Syracuse New York) is the top forty station in Streator, Illinois.

It began life as WLAX in the 1970s as a beautiful music station. According to the FCC FM licence application page the station was granted a licence renewal in 1979. It was owned by The Streator Broadcasting corporation along with co-owned WIZZ AM 1250 now WSPL

In 1982, according to the FCC call sign database, the station was granted the call letters WSTQ on January 23rd 1984 and made the switch from beautiful music to a satellite fed hot ac format. This lasted until the late 1980s when the station switched to Country Music.

In 1993, WYYS FM 106.1 also licenced to Streator Illinois joined WSTQ and they simulcasted the Country format until the two stations were sold along with co-owned WIZZ AM 1250 to Mendota Broadcasting known as The Radio Group in November of 1999.

On January 3, 2000, the simulcast with WYYS was split and WSTQ ran announcements that a format change would be coming the next afternoon January fourth. WYYS began simulcasting WIZZ and at TEN AM on January fourth 2000 WSTQ changed to top forty the first song played on the new format was Counting Crows Hangin Around. It was the areas first true top forty station. There were two Hot Ac stations WAJK La Salle and WRKX Ottawa but they didn't play any hard rock or rap but WSTQ was the first station to play rap music in the La Salle Peru area.

On March 6, 2000, WAIV Spring Valley Illinois, another station owned by Mendota broadcasting joined WSTQ and the two stations simulcast the top forty format. They are known as Q 97.7 and Q103.3. The FCC granted a call letter change to WIVQ on February 26th 2001. Incidentally the calls WIVQ had been used before in the area on 100.9 FM prior to 1984. which is now known as 100.9 FM rocks also owned by Mendota Broadcasting.

Mendota broadcasting owns seven radio stations in the La Salle/Peru Illinois area. They are WALS 102.1 FM licenced to Olglesby Illinois and known on air as walls 102, WGLC 100.1 Mendota Illinois known on air as 100.1 FM WGLC THE BEST COUNTRY AROUND, Both WALS and WGLC are country music stations programmed separately, WSTQ fm 97.7 Streator/WIVQ FM 103.3 Spring Valley top forty simulcast known on air as Q 97.7 & Q 103.3 WBZG FM 100.9 Peru, Classic Rock known on air as 100.9 FM ROCKS, WYYS FM 106.1 Streator Oldies known on air as OLDIES 106, and WSPL AM 1250 news/talk/sports.