WWDC (FM)

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WWDC, "DC101"

Broadcast area	Washington, D.C.
First air date	1940s
Frequency	101.1 MHz
Format	Album Rock
Callsign meaning	Washington District of Columbia
Owner	ClearChannel Communications
Website	www.dc101.com

WWDC is a FM radio station which broadcasts in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It currently features a rock playlist and broadcasts at frequency 101.1. The station is commonly known as DC101, and its slogan is "D.C.'s Rock Station."

Contents 1 History 2 Shock Jock Springboard 3 Programming 4 Annual Events 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

WWDC signed on in the late 1940s as a background music station. Eventually, the format went to easy listening until the early 1970s, when it flipped to the rock format. They were the first American radio station to play a Beatles song when they played "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1964.^[1]

DC101's rock playlist typically swings toward the hard rock end of the rock spectrum, playing acts like Black Sabbath and Metallica. Early on, though, pop-oriented acts including Elton John and Rod Stewart often cropped up on-air. During the 1990s, DC101 interspersed more modern and alternative rock acts including Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots into its rotation to compete with its chief rival, WHFS-FM.

Until 1998, DC101 was among the last independently-owned radio stations in the Washington, D.C. market. The station's parent company, Capitol Broadcasting, sold DC101 and its AM sister station, WWDC-AM 1260 (now WWRC), to Chancellor Media, later AM-FM. Eventually, AM-FM was acquired by ClearChannel Communications, which now owns and operates a total of eight radio stations in Washington, D.C.

DC101's facilities were once located on Connecticut Avenue between Dupont Circle and Farragut Square in downtown Washington, D.C. They later moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, and are now located in Rockville, Maryland.

DC101 is known for its prize give-aways. They give tickets most commonly, but also (more-rarely) give away larger prizes such as stereos, cars, boats, or trips. The website also has a raffle-type give-away program. You win points by answering questions and use points to bet on prizes.

[edit] Shock Jock Springboard

DC101 advanced the careers of several famous – and arguably notorious – morning radio personalities. Howard Stern made his mark on the station in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Stern was fired from the station on June 29, 1982, after criticizing the station's management. DC101 is featured prominently in Stern's 1997 bio-pic Private Parts.

Stern was replaced by Doug Tracht, better known as the GreaseMan, who spent over ten years at the station, from August 2, 1982, to January 22, 1993.

DC101's current morning program is Elliot In the Morning, led by Elliot Segal. Since beginning his tenure at DC101 in the late 1990s, Segal has been suspended and fined on several occasions for the show's sometimes controversial content.

[edit] Programming

Current Programming (as of May 30, 2006):

• Weekday Programs and Disc Jockeys
  • 5:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: Elliot in the Morning
  • 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Donielle Flynn
  • 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Greg Roche
  • 7:00 p.m. - Midnight: Whitney
  • Midnight - 5:30 a.m.: Various
• Weekend Programs and Disc Jockeys
  • Saturdays 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Best of Elliot in the Morning
  • Saturday Nights 10:00 p.m. - Midnight: Flounder's Mash-ups
  • Sunday Nights: Local Lix and New Music Mart (both hosted by Roche)
  • Shock
  • Paul Michaels
  • Tre
  • Curtis
  • Cage
  • Mike Jones

[edit] Annual Events

• Chili Cookoff: Day-long festival featuring live bands heard on DC101, and a chili cookoff competition, held in downtown Washington, D.C. every spring to benefit charity. Chilli Cook-Off 2006 featured bands like Blood Hound Gang, Hoobastank, and Tonic.
• Kegs & Eggs
• Shantytown
• Non-denominational Christmas Party
• Downtown Countdown
• The Easter Keg Hunt
• Beef, Bullets, Beer, and Butts
• Elliot's Big Ass Football Bash
• Polar Plunge
• Elliot's Daytona 500 party

Big ass Halloween Bash

[edit] References

1. ^ CBS. "Beatles' 'Helping Hand' Shuns Fame: Fab Four Fan Want To Find Teen Who Helped Launched Beatlemania", CBS News, 2004-01-16. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.

[edit] External links

• DC101 official site
• Elliot in the Morning show site
• Flounder's Mash-ups official site
• Roche official site
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WWDC