WXTB

WXTB (97.9 FM) is a commercial active rock radio station licensed to Clearwater, Florida, serving the Tampa Bay Area. Owned by iHeartMedia, WXTB serves as the local affiliate for Skratch 'N Sniff, as well as the flagship station of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The WXTB studios are located in South Tampa, while the station transmitter resides in Holiday. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WXTB broadcasts over two HD Radio channels, and is available online via iHeartRadio.[1][2]

WXTB
CityClearwater, Florida
Broadcast areaTampa Bay Area
Frequency97.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding98ROCK
SloganTampa Bay's Rock Station & Home of the Bucs!
Programming
FormatActive rock
Subchannels
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
iHeartRadio
Premiere Networks
Premium Choice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ownership
OwneriHeartMedia
(iHM Licenses, LLC)
WBTP, WDAE, WFLA, WFLZ-FM, WFUS, WHNZ, WMTX
History
First air date
December 1967 (as WQXM)
Former call signs
WQXM (196783)
WZNE (198386)
WKRL (198690)
Call sign meaning
W X Tampa Bay
Technical information
Facility ID11274
ClassC
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT458 meters (1,503 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
28°10′56″N 82°46′06″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website98rock.iheart.com

In addition to covering the Tampa Bay market as a whole, the station also covers areas of Levy County and Marion County, which are part of the Gainesville-Ocala radio market.

History

The station signed on the air in December 1967 as WQXM with a Beautiful Music format with owners John T. Rutledge and Joseph S. Field, with Jerry Reeves as music director and station manager until the sale of the station to Plough Broadcasting in 1975, switching to an AOR format under the name 98 Rock, Your Album Station in 1977. In 1983, the station changed their call letters to WZNE and rebranded as Z98, Tampa Bay's Hottest Hits. The station aired a hybrid album rock/Top 40 format until January 6, 1986, when it flipped to Classic rock as Classic Rock 97.9 WKRL.[3]

WKRL lasted until December 30, 1989, when the signal went silent briefly, and then Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" began playing in constant rotation, eventually lasting for 24 hours, as an early form of stunting. Finally, the repetition gave way to the announcement on New Year's Eve 1989, that 98Rock, now controlled by Great American Broadcasting, would be the first all-Led Zeppelin format station in the country, playing the band's entire catalog in its entirety as well as solo efforts by the bandmates and their other music-related projects. WKRL received national coverage from MTV to CBS and many other outlets, and was the first station to get worldwide coverage for a true "artist flip", where a broadcaster based its entire business on one group or solo artist.[4]

Two weeks unfolded with conjecture from various news outlets as to how long this format could last, given that all studio Zeppelin recordings available at the time added up to less than 10 hours of continuous play. The station responded over the following week by adding a few classic acts such as Pink Floyd, ZZ Top, the Rolling Stones and Van Halen. With the bells of AC/DC's "Hells Bells" playing in the background, a major announcement came at Noon on January 18, 1990, that the station would be changing its call letters to WXTB, and the station would be relaunched as 98 Rock.[5][6][7]

New Program Director Gregory Mull, brought in from 96 K-Rock in Fort Myers to replace the outgoing Beau Raines, immediately reorganized the on-air personality list. Brian Smith and Bruce Barber, morning D.J.s who trailed in the ratings, were released and replaced by Tommy "Seabass" Sebastian, who stunted his first few weeks as "Buck Maui", and was also the voice of the popular character "The Big Chief Meteorologist". Teddy "Ted Kamikaze" Cannarozzi was assigned to do the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. slot. Scott "The Ledge" Ledger and Austin Keyes kept their afternoon and evening spots, respectively. Marla "Stone" Stonecipher, Kelli "K.C." Casey, Ron "Big Rig" Michaels, Heather McCoy, and Peter McLaren rounded out the schedule.

In late 1990, 98 Rock launched what would turn into a 15-year tradition-the "Livestock" annual rock festival. A fusion of "Live Aid" and "Woodstock". Livestock was the brainchild of both Greg and Tom. Each weekend-long Livestock event brought well known national acts such as Soundgarden and Tesla together with lesser-known bands hoping for a chance at success. In keeping with the charitable spirit of Live Aid and other rock benefits, bands donated their performance time and a portion of the gate proceeds were donated to charities such as Greenpeace.

As the station rose in the ratings books, WXTB took over local promotional opportunities at The Rock-It Club and Killian's Rock Cafe in Ybor City. Meanwhile, WXTB gained a huge piece of the morning show market with the everly popular Sea Bass and Marla morning show. The New 98 Rock became a ratings success.

In 2000, the station moved its studios from Feather Sound Corporate Center to new owner iHeartMedia (then known as Clear Channel Communications)'s broadcast complex in southwest Tampa in an attempt to consolidate overall operations of Clear Channel stations in the area.

On January 18, 2010, at noon, WXTB replayed its format launch from 20 years earlier, including the final countdown in which soundbites from phone calls, many of which trashed WYNF, were played. The first four songs played after the launch ("Hells Bells" by AC/DC, "Kickstart My Heart" by Mötley Crüe, "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses, and "Hot for Teacher" by Van Halen) were played again in tribute to the current format's 20th anniversary, along with original bumpers.

In April 2017, WXTB was named the new flagship station of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Radio Network, taking over for sister station WFUS.[8] For the first time in Buccaneers history, game days will feature seven-and-a-half-hours of team programming completely on the FM dial, including pre- and post-game shows bookending the action on the field.

Notable on-air staff

WXTB-FM was the home of the top rated 98 Rock All Request Morning Show with Sea Bass and Heather and then later Sea Bass and Marla, then years later 98 Rock became the official flagship of the former regional radio host Todd Clem, better known as Bubba the Love Sponge. Bubba arrived on the air for the mornings at a time when the station was struggling to find a morning personality to replace the popular Sea Bass. Bubba had handled nights for CHR station WFLZ 93.3 a.k.a. "Power 93: The Power Pig". A huge backlash followed for months where Bubba's urban-influenced broadcast style conflicted with the 'radical surfer' Sea Bass and the hard rock listener mentality. Following a record-setting fine assessed by the Federal Communications Commission in February 2004 over alleged indecent content, he was fired and his morning show ceased the syndication by affiliated stations mainly throughout the Southeast.

WXTB was the home to the 98 Rock's all request morning show originally hosted by Tommy "Sea Bass" Sebastian and Heather McCoy from 1990 to 1993. After Heather left, Marla "Stone" Stonecipher was added to make the Sea Bass and Marla morning show from 1993 to 1995. Tommy left 98 Rock at the height of the morning show's popularity. The station brought in former rival WYNF PD Charlie Logan to replace Tommy. The Charlie and Marla morning show teamed for less than one year. Marla was paired with others as well, but just as after Marla left the morning drive slot was picked up by Lex and Terry, who covered it until December 2009. Ron “Big Rig” Michaels is the last remaining staff member still in the station 1p-7p daily and is syndicated on over 100 iHeartMedia stations daily.

Concerts

Livestock

Livestock was a series of concerts held at Festival Park in Zephyrhills Florida from 1990-2005.

Livestock

The first Livestock took place from September 29–30, 1990 with the following bands performing:

Day 1
Uncle Sally
Deloris Telescope
Bobby Friss
Stranger
Cry Wolf
Kings X
Trixter
Savatage
Every Mothers Nightmare
Day 2
Rocky Ruckman & the Beat Heathen's
Saber
Bleeding Hearts
Spread Eagle
Blackfoot

Livestock 2

Livestock 2 took place from November 15–17, 1991 with the following bands performing:

Day 1
Colorblind
Tyger Tyger
Deloris Telescope
The Scream & Dangerous Toys
Day 2
Factory Black
Men From Earth
Bobby Friss
St. Warren
McQueen Street
Tall Stories
Heartless
Savatage
Galactic Cowboys
Four Horsemen
Soundgarden
Saigon Kick
Day 3
Uncle Sally
Bleeding Hearts
Asphalt Ballet
Stranger
White Trash

Livestock 3

U.R.O.K.
Secret Service
Steinhardt-Moon
Life
Sex & Death
Copperhead
Stranger
Young Turk
Heartless
Jackyl
Lynch Mob
Lynryd Skynyrd '92
Love Junkies
Deeforce
Spread Eagle
Trouble
Every Mother's Nightmare

Livestock 4

Eric Gales
Saigon Kick
Anthrax
Steppenwolf
The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies
Cry of Love
Candlebox

Livestock 5

Toadies
Green Apple Quickstep
Lillian Axe
Live
Sponge
Tesla
Hootie & the Blowfish
Great White
Dokken
Bush
Animal Bag
I Mother Earth

Livestock 6

Joe Satriani
Dishwalla
Self
Into Another
Drivin' N' Cryin
Sugarspoon
Korn
I Mother Earth
Tripping Daisy
The Hazies
Life of Agony
Men From Earth
Hello Joseph
Seven Mary Three
The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies
Killer Kona Buds
Bloom
Joe Popp
Stabbing Westward
Filter

Livestock 7

Jackyl & Brian Johnson
Bloodhound Gang
7 Mary 3
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies
Matchbox 20
Tonic
Type O Negative
Mötley Crüe
Gravity Kills
Helmet
Stir
Darlahood
Local H
Mighty Joe Plum
Handsome & Drain S.T.H.

Livestock 8

Fat
Cool For August
Third Eye Blind
Limp Bizkit
Days Of The New
Neurotica
Sevendust
Creed
Jimmies Chicken Shack
Life of Agony
Brother Cane

Impotent Sea Snakes

The Hazies
Mighty Joe Plum
Kenny Wayne Shepard
Megadeth

Livestock 9

Neurotica
2nd Coming
Honky Toast
Virgos Merlot
Oleander
Screamin Cheetah Wheelies
Loudmouth
Buckcherry
Godsmack
Slash's Snakepit
Stabbing Westward
Sammy Hagar
Staind
Econoline Crush
Sponge
Kid Rock
Silverchair

Livestock 10

Guano Apes
Nickelback
3 Doors Down
Lit
Static X
Sevendust
8 Stops 7
Kittie
Chevelle
P.O.D.
Foo Fighters
Staind
Creed

Livestock 11

Crossbreed
Darwin's Waiting Room
Hed PE
Tantric
Black Crows
Tesla
Staind
Linkin Park
The Offspring
3 Doors Down
Disturbed
Cold
Oleander
Nonpoint
Skrape
Systematic
Mudvayne

Livestock 12

Stone Temple Pilots
Jerry Cantrell
Kid Rock
Rob Zombie
Puddle of Mudd
Sevendust
Adema
Soil
Ear Shot
Gravity Kills
Local H
Fu Manchu
Reveille
Course of Nature
Chevelle
Lost Prophets
Apex Theory
Sinastar
Custom
Kevin Martin (of Candlebox)
Battery
Ned Zeppelin

Livestock 13

Livestock 13 took place from April 26–27, 2003 with the following bands performing:

Godsmack
Def Leppard
3 Doors Down
Stone Sour
Seether
Theory of a Deadman
Powerman 5000
Oleander
Socialburn
Trapt
Shinedown
Presence
The Little Kings
Battery
Hell's Belles
RA
Pacifier
Four Star Riot
Crossbreed
Soulfound
Saliva

Livestock 14

Livestock 14 took place from April 23–24, 2004 with the following bands performing:

Second Drop
Hatebreed
Finger 11
3 Days Grace
Shinedown
Trapt
Tantric
Smile Empty Soul
Soil
Sevendust
Drowning Pool
Damageplan
The Offspring
Puddle of Mudd

Livestock 15

The final Livestock took place from April 28–29, 2005 with the following bands performing:

BandStageTime
Day 1
HalestormEast6:00 p.m. - 6:20 p.m.
Mercy FallWest6:25 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
Egypt CentralEast6:55 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
HybridWest7:20 p.m. - 7:40 p.m.
Black Stone CherryEast7:50 p.m. - 8:20 p.m.
Revelation TheoryWest8:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
TantricEast9:10 p.m. - 9:50 p.m.
SalivaWest10:00 p.m. - 11:15 p.m.
Day 2
ClenchfistEast12:00 p.m. - 12:20 p.m.
FaktionWest12:30 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
HybridEast1:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.
HurtWest1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Evans BlueEast2:10 p.m. - 2:40 p.m.
HinderWest2:50 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Theory of a DeadmanEast3:40 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
TraptWest4:35 p.m. - 5:35 p.m.
ShinedownEast5:50 p.m. - 7:05 p.m.
StaindWest7:20 p.m. - 8:35 p.m.
Rob ZombieEast8:50 p.m. - 10:05 p.m.
MudvayneWest10:20 p.m. - 11:35 p.m.

World's Largest Barbecue

The World's Largest Barbecue was a free concert series held at the Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Pinellas Park Florida. The last concert in this series was no longer free and held inside.

Some of the bands that played are Candlebox, Creed, Faith No More, Goldfinger, I Mother Earth, Naked, and Sugarspoon.

Guavaween

Guavaween is an annual Latin-flavored Halloween celebration which takes place on the last Saturday of October in the historic neighborhood of Ybor City on Tampa, Florida. It is named after Tampa's nickname, "The Big Guava".

Guavaween 1994

Guavaween 1994 took place on October 29, 1994 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage.[9]

Foghat
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Toadies

Guavaween 1996

Guavaween 1996 took place on October 26, 1996. The power was pulled for an hour during The Killer Kona Buds set. Possibly due to a conflict between Ybor and the choice of bands. 98 Rock had a parody of Pepper by Butthole Surfers, replacing the lyrics with lyrics making fun of the situation, where Peter Steel from Type 'O Negative was Satan and such.[10][11]

The following bands performed on 98 Rock's stage:[12] [13]

Primitive Radio Gods
The Killer Kona Buds
Type O Negative
Butthole Surfers

Guavaween 1997

Guavaween 1997 took place on October 25, 1997 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:[14]

Veruca Salt
Smackhead

Creed

Guavaween 1998

Guavaween 1998 took place on October 31, 1998 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

BandTime
Crossbreed4:00 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.
Smackhead4:40 p.m. - 5:05 p.m.
Neurotica5:25 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Second Coming6:20 p.m. - 6:55 p.m.
Econoline Crush7:25 p.m. - 8:05 p.m.
Fuel8:35 p.m. - 9:25 p.m.
Candlebox9:50 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Guavaween 1999

Guavaween 1999 took place on October 30, 1999 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

BandTime
Silver5:00 p.m. - 5:40 p.m.
Neurotica6:10 p.m. - 7:10 p.m.
Dope7:30 p.m. - 8:20 p.m.
3118:45 p.m. - 9:55 p.m.
Days of the New10:20 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Guavaween 2000

Guavaween 2000 took place on October 28, 2000 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

BandTime
Chromatic4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Crossbreed4:50 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.
Neurotica5:40 p.m. - 6:10 p.m.
Full Devil Jacket6:30 p.m. - 7:10 p.m.
Cold7:35 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Fuel8:40 p.m. - 9:35 p.m.
Godsmack10:05 p.m.

Guavaween 2001

Guavaween 2001 took place on October 27, 2001 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

BandTime
Systematic4:00 p.m.
Stereomud5:20 p.m.
Adema7:30 p.m.
Drowning Pool8:30 p.m.
Disturbed9:45 p.m.

Guavaween 2002

Guavaween 2002 took place on October 26, 2002 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

BandTime
Theory of a Deadman6:00 p.m.
Seether6:30 p.m.
Chevelle7:00 p.m.
Sevendust7:30 p.m.

Guavaween 2003

Guavaween 2003 took place on October, 2003 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

BandTime
Skrape5:30 p.m.
Soil6:20 p.m.
Cinder7:15 p.m.
Switchfoot8:15 p.m.
Shinedown9:10 p.m.
Static X10:20 p.m.

Guavaween 2004

Guavaween 2004 took place on October 30, 2004 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

BandTime
Saliva11:00 p.m.
Collective Soul9:15 p.m.
Future Leaders of the World8:00 p.m.
Adrift7:00 p.m.
10 Second Drop6:00 p.m.
R505:00 p.m.

Guavaween 2005

Guavaween 2005 took place on October 29, 2005 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

10 Second Drop
Social Burn
Revelation Theory
10 Years
Smile Empty Soul
Breaking Benjamin
Saliva

Guavaween 2006

Guavaween 2006 took place on October 15, 2006 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

Seether
Scratch & Sniff
Evans Blue
Flyleaf
Burn Season
Clenchfist

Guavaween 2007

Guavaween 2007 took place on October 27, 2007 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

Hellyeah
Nonpoint
Skindred
Core
Ankla
Karnivool
Transera
Clenchfist

Guavaween 2008

Guavaween 2008 took place on October 25, 2008 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

Puddle of Mudd
Theory of a Deadman
Black Stone Cherry
Parlor Mob
Basic Rock Outfit

Guavaween 2009

Guavaween 2009 took place on October, 2009 with the following bands performing on 98 Rock's stage:

BandTime
SoulSwitch5:00 p.m.
Psykill6:30 p.m.
Future Leaders of the World8:00 p.m.
Soulidium9:30 p.m.
Vicious AngelzExample
NonpointExample
Sevendust12:30 a.m.

Guavaween 2010

Guavaween 2010 took place on October, 2010. The following bands performed on the 98 Rock stage which was located on the northeast corner of 7th Avenue & 14th Street:

BandTime
Through You5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
We Are The Fallen6:20 p.m. - 7:20 p.m.
Hail The Villain7:40 p.m. - 8:40 p.m.
Fuel9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saving Abel10:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Genitorturers12:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.

References

  1. "Where to Hear Skratch 'N Sniff! - Skratch 'N Sniff". Skratch 'N Sniff. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  2. "Find Stations". HD Radio. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  3. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1986/RR-1986-01-10.pdf
  4. "Radio station floats all-Zeppelin format", St. Petersburg Times (January 3, 1990)
  5. "Radio turns to new rock", St. Petersburg Times (January 20, 1990)
  6. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1990/RR-1990-01-19.pdf
  7. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-01-27.pdf
  8. http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Buccaneers-and-iHeartMedia-Tampa-Bay-Announce-Multi-Year-Extension/db04e7eb-a94f-4014-a650-d27950952a89
  9. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/51873113.html?dids=51873113:51873113&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+28%252C+1994&author=MICHAEL+CANNING&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Look+out+below%252C+Igor+City+%252F%252F+IT%2527S+GUAVAWEEN!+Series%253A+Page+Three&pqatl=google
  10. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/22764590.html?dids=22764590:22764590&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+18%252C+1996&author=RICHARD+DANIELSON&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Guavaween+frightens+City+Council+Series%253A+AROUND+TOWN&pqatl=google
  11. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/22762491.html?dids=22762491:22762491&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+11%252C+1996&author=ERIC+DEGGANS&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Name+of+top+act+at+fest+enrages&pqatl=google
  12. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/22768165.html?dids=22768165:22768165&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+28%252C+1996&author=CHARLES+HOSKINSON&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Tight+security+controls+Guavaween&pqatl=google
  13. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/22768137.html?dids=22768137:22768137&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+28%252C+1996&author=ERIC+DEGGANS&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Surfers+wipe+out+at+bash+Series%253A+REVIEW%253B+ENTERTAINMENT&pqatl=google
  14. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/20935317.html?dids=20935317:20935317&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+24%252C+1997&author=LOGAN+NEILL&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=GUAVAWEEN+Series%253A+GUAVAWEEN&pqatl=google
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