WKMK
 | |
| Broadcast area | Ocean & Southern Monmouth County, NJ |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.5 MHz |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Press Communications |
| History | |
First air date | March 10, 1993 |
| Technical information | |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 2,950 watts |
| HAAT | 142 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°42′56″N 74°17′32″W / 39.71556°N 74.29222°W |
| Links | |
| Website | www.k985radio.com |
WKMK 98.5 FM is a radio station licensed to Ocean Acres, New Jersey. The station serves the southern Monmouth and Ocean markets. WKMK offers a Country Music format and is owned by Press Broadcasting. Its transmitter is located in Manahawkin, just 25 miles (40 km) north of Atlantic City.
Early History
98.5 was granted the WQNJ calls on February 7, 1990. Even before this station hit the air, it had extensive coverage in the local newspapers, because it was to be the first commercial station to hit the air in Ocean County since WJRZ signed on in 1976. FM 98.5 was originally owned by Seaira, Inc., a local company that was headed by Pat Parson, a former WCBS-AM news anchor from 1970 to 1990 and a former alumnus of WERA in Planfield.
Pat originally planned 98.5 to be a live and local Smooth Jazz station, using the slogan "Cloud Nine," with an original sign-on date of Spring 1991. However, that sign-on date changed many times, due mostly because of antenna clearances that had to be taken care of prior to signing on. In late 1992, with Seaira not having enough financial backing to sign on themselves with a local format, 98.5 entered into an agreement with D&K Broadcasting (the owners of WJLK at the time.)
On February 11, 1993, WQNJ began on-air testing and on March 10, 1993, officially signed on with a simulcast of WJLK. It was pretty much a 100% simulcast, with the exception of local commercial cut-ins and on weekday mornings at 6, 7, 8 and 9am, Pat Parson would do a 5 minute newscast. This basic format lasted until 1996 when it was announced that Nassau Broadcasting had purchased the station (and others in the Jersey Shore area.)
B98.5
Pat Parson's newscasts were soon dropped - but the simulcast continued on until Memorial Day weekend in 1997 when 98.5 broke away from WJLK and branched out on its own as "B-98.5 - The Jersey Shore's Hit Music Station." The first song played on "B-98.5" was the Spice Girls "Wannabe". On July 11, 1997, the calls were changed to WBBO.
In 2001, Nassau sold WBBO (along with WOBM-FM and WJLK) to Millennium Radio Group. In April 2003, it was announced that Millennium was selling WBBO to Press Communications, who ironically enough, was the original applicant for 98.5 in the late 1980's. In August 2004, Press officially took over WBBO.
Alumni
Original Staff * Neil Sullivan, Program Director 1997-1999 * Fox Feltman (aka. Alan Fox), Assistant Program Director/Music Director, Afternoons 97-1999 * Jessica Taylor, Mid day host, 1999 * Andy Chase, Promotions and Swing jock 1997-2003, morning host 2003-2004 * Mike and Diane, Mornings 1998-1999 * JC, Nights 1997-1999
Correction: Scotty Valentine was the night show host in 1998 before leaving to go to KUMX/New Orleans. JC was 1997 until early 1998.
G Rock Radio
On February 18, 2005, 98.5 started simulcasting sister station WHTG-FM "G-106.3" from Eatontown and became GRock Radio. On July 5, 2006, 98.5 changed calls to WKOE as part of a switch with new move-in 106.5 in Bass River Township. WKOE was formerly located at 106.3 in Ocean City On July 24, 2006 at midnight, the simulcast on 98.5 ceased.
Real Jersey Kountry K98.5
Later on July 24, 2006, after "stunting" with playing The Eagles "New Kid In Town" over and over for 12 hours, 98.5 debuted as "K-98.5: Real Jersey Kountry" and new call letters of WKMK were assigned at 10 AM that day. The first song played was Alan Jackson's "Gone Country." Past staffers of K98.5 include Jim Radler, Leeann Taylor and Brian Moore, The line up as of 12/1/08 is Kris McNeil(mornings), Randy Davis (middays)and Kaptain Jack (afternoons).
While the country format of WKMK faces a lot of competition locally in Ocean County, where Atlantic City's WPUR dominates and even Philadelphia's WXTU has a following, WKMK has been successful in garnering many listeners in Monmouth County which lacks any country music radio stations.
Coverage Area
98.5's signal blankets Ocean & extreme southern Monmouth counties. It could be heard as far south as Atlantic City,
as far north as Asbury Park, and as far west as the Mount Holly, Trenton & Philadelphia areas.
Its transmitter is located in Manahawkin, about 3/4 mile west of the Garden State Parkway near exit 63.
It becomes difficult to hear this station in the Atlantic City vicinity, due to interference from 98.3 WTKU in Ocean City.
Likewise, north of Asbury Park, 98.7 WRKS in New York City causes interference.