WQAL

WQAL
Broadcast area
Frequency104.1 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingQ104
Programming
FormatHot adult contemporary
SubchannelsHD2: Channel Q
AffiliationsWestwood One
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
April 5, 1948 (1948-04-05)
Former call signs
  • WJW-FM (1948–1968)
  • WCJW (1968–1971)
Call sign meaning
"Quality"
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID72889
ClassB
ERP12,000 watts
HAAT293 meters (961 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°20′28.00″N 81°44′24.00″W / 41.3411111°N 81.7400000°W / 41.3411111; -81.7400000
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via Audacy)
Websitewww.audacy.com/q104

WQAL (104.1 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, United States, featuring a hot adult contemporary format known as "Q104". Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station serves Greater Cleveland and surrounding Northeast Ohio. WQAL's studios are located at the Halle Building in Downtown Cleveland, and the transmitter is in North Royalton. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WQAL broadcasts over two HD Radio channels, and is available online via Audacy.

WQAL originated as WJW-FM in 1948, the FM extension of WJW (850 AM). Because of persistent schedule conflicts with ABC Radio programming on WJW, WJW-FM became the primary flagship station for the Cleveland Indians Radio Network during their 1948 championship season, and helped initiate early FM adoption in the Cleveland market. From 1950 until 1965, WJW-FM simulcast WJW outright, then aired taped classical music after mandates that FM stations needed unique programming. The station became WCJW in 1968 with Nashville sound-focused country music, but was sold off by Storer Broadcasting at the end of 1970 due to major financial losses incurred from their ownership of Northeast Airlines. Adopting the WQAL call sign in 1971, it featured a popular beautiful music format through the 1970s and 1980s, and since 1991 has carried its present adult contemporary format and "Q104" branding.