WQIV

WQIV was a short-lived FM rock station (November 7, 1974 - August 25, 1975) owned by Starr Broadcasting that replaced classical WNCN.

Its original studios were located at 2 West 45th Street. The station was called WQIV because it broadcast in quadraphonic stereo sound (although very few people had quad-capable receivers.)

A spectacular aircheck of parts of WQIV's first day, including the format flip from classical WNCN. The audio has great quality and sounds like it came right off the board.

While many of the tracks played are part of the progressive rock canon, as many are unfamiliar. As we get farther away from that era, all but the biggest hit music is getting lost.

Part One includes the format flip and original PD Larry Miller.

Part Two features Bill "Rosko" Mercer, formerly of WOR-FM and WNEW-FM and recently returned from living in France.

Part Three features a news broadcast. Yes, there was still full-service radio in 1974. Note the news story about a possible recession. Some things never change.

Part Four features Rosko closing out the show with one of his regular bits: singing Lee Michaels' "Heighty-Hi".
[ Part 1 ] [ Part 2 ] [ Part 3 ] [ Part 4 ]

The next morning, Jim Cameron November 8, 1974. [ LISTEN ] (5:05)

The move to a rock format was highly controversial and was challenged in court.

A Chicago group headed by William Benton eventually forced Starr to accept an offer from GAF Broadcasting of $3 million for the station or risk a license challenge before the FCC.

Rosko at WQIV, circa 1974 This is a great presentation by Rosko during his short stint at WQIV talking about the origins of modern music and the influence of African culture on jazz and rock. While most of his predictions didn't become true it provides some great insight into his thinking about the art.

GAF returned the station to a classical music format. However, GAF itself was under upheaval and when a new chairman was elected, he sold WNCN to Clear Channel for $100 million.

According to radio historian Rob Frankel, the airstaff included Jim Cameron, Larry Miller, Rosko, Dave Mallow and Allan Morgan (whose real name was Larry Miller) and Thom O'Hare, who had done stints at KSAN and KMET in San Francisco.

Rob also remembers Lisa Karlin and Al Bernstein having airshifts. Larry Miller was the original P.D. and was replaced by Thom O'Hare when he resigned after a dispute with Starr Broadcasting management.

In its final days the station promoted itself as "WQIV, a legend in our own time".

In December of 1993, the call letters were changed to WAXQ, which they remain today where 104.3 has been the mainstay of the Classic Rock format.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: New York Radio Archive.