WXXY
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[edit] WXXY 88.7 FM - Port Republic, New Jersey
On March 22, 2000, In His Sign Network (later renamed In His Name Broadcasting), was granted the 88.7 frequency to be licensed to Port Republic, NJ, with the call letters of WIBF. The station stayed silent for three years, until March of 2003, when the station signed on the air for the first time, testing the waters with an R&B oldies musical format. This format would only survive less than a month, for in April of 2003, WIBF began simulcasting contemporary Christian station WXHL out of Christiana, Delaware. The simulcast would also be short lived, for the WIBF call sign was forfited on May 16, 2003, and changed to WXXY-FM. On July 21, 2003, WXXY-FM began broadcasting an "all-80s" format, with the moniker, "South Jersey's Eighties Channel!"
This would not be the first time that the WXXY calls would be used to broadcast an "all-80s" musical format. On August 6, 1999, WXXY was a call sign used in the Chicago area, originally licensed to Highland Park, Illinois. There, the station was broadcasting on 103.1 FM, until changing to a spanish format on January 29, 2001.
WXXY-FM as an all eighties radio station, for the most part was completely voicetracked, especially in the beginning. Personalities such as Dave Bartley, John Murphy, Lorrie Q, Brian J. Winston, and Mystic Mitch all voicetracked on the station at one time or another. However, as the time went on, more live programs were offered. Local Ocean County radio personality Radio Rohn for instance, did mornings for approximately two months, before leaving the air. Live weekend personalities included Mystic Mitch, who had programs such as Indie Gold and Energy 88 on the air, Kristopher Christman, who did a mix of 12" single's and modern remixes on The Vinyl Countdown, and Flash, who did programs periodically on the station. The locally syndicated Lonesome Gal Radio Show also appeared on the station on a weekly basis.
On May 21, 2004, WXXY-FM expanded its listening area, when it started broadcasting on translator W250AK, out of Rio Grande, New Jersey, on 97.9 FM. Initially, the 97.9 simulcast didn't air very well due to the reception being interfered by other local radio stations.
On August 17, 2004, WXXY-FM changed formats once again, due to the station having financial difficulties. WXXY-FM went back to airing religious programming, using the moniker of "South Jersey's Gospel Music Station". Originally using the ABC feed of Musical Soul Food, the station quickly went to a local feed of Gospel music. This format continues on WXXY-FM (as well as the 97.9 relay feed) to this day.
