WQPO

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WQPO-FM

City of license	Harrisonburg, VA
Broadcast area	Central Shenandoah Valley
Branding	"Q101"
Slogan	"Today's Hit Music"
First air date	February 6, 1986
Frequency	100.7 MHz
Format	CHR/Pop
Power	50,000 Watts
Class	B
Former callsigns	WSVA-FM (1946-1972) WQPO (1972-Present)
Owner	VerStandig Broadcasting
Website	q101.valleyradio.com

WQPO is a radio station in Harrisonburg, Virginia broadcasting at FM 100.7 MHz) playing a diverse range of top 40 music, including rock and hip-hop. It is owned and operated by VerStandig Broadcasting, which owns 5 radio stations in the Harrisonburg, Virginia area. Q101's studio and transmitter is located just west of Harrisonburg. Although its studios are in Harrisonburg, during station identification, the announcer says "WQPO, Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Staunton. Q101."

WQPO went on the air in 1946 as WSVA-FM, it was the third FM on in the state. It was automated with a variety of music formats as from the start. The last before changing call letters was "Country Sunshine". Call letters changed in 1972 to WQPO, Stereo 101 - using Drake Chenault's Solid Gold format (4 reels and a bunch of cart decks) - a solid sound but FM had not taken off yet. Around 1982, then owner, Gilmore Broadcasting, decided to try to make money with it, taking out the automated format and hired a full staff and hosted an Adult Contemporary format. Changed the name to Q-101 and built out the facility to its fully licensed 50KW signal. Prior to that they ran at 7200w from one of the AM towers of sister WSVA. A new 500 ft tower was built in the field next to the studios on Rt 33 West. Station took off in the ratings, quickly outpacing the dominant WSVA-AM, during the 80's. Gilmore sold the AM-FM combo in 1987 to VerStandig.