WHTZ

WHTZ. WHTZ (100.3 FM), broadcasting under the brand name Z100, is a contemporary hit radio station serving the New York metropolitan area. Licensed to Newark, New Jersey, and owned by iHeartMedia, the station is one of the most influential and commercially successful radio stations in the United States. Since its launch, Z100 has been a dominant force in popular music, known for breaking new artists and shaping musical tastes for generations of listeners across the Northeastern United States.

History

The station signed on the air on August 2, 1983, after Malrite Communications won a Federal Communications Commission construction permit for the frequency, which had been silent for years following the demise of WJIT. Under the leadership of program director Scott Shannon, WHTZ executed a highly publicized "Top 40" launch strategy known as the "Moscow-to-New York City" stunt, instantly capturing significant market share from established rivals like WPLJ and WABC. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the station fiercely competed with WXRK, known as K-Rock, and later with WQHT, or Hot 97, in the New York radio market. Ownership changed in 1993 when Chancellor Media acquired the station, which later became part of AMFM Inc. before being purchased by Clear Channel Communications, the predecessor to iHeartMedia.

Programming

WHTZ's programming is built around its morning show, currently hosted by Elvis Duran and the *Morning Show*, which is syndicated nationally to hundreds of stations via Premiere Networks. The station's playlist is tightly focused on current *Billboard* Hot 100 hits, often incorporating pop music, dance-pop, and hip hop music. Notable former personalities include Shadoe Stevens, J.J. Jackson, and Todd Pettengill. Z100 is also famous for its annual Jingle Ball concert, a major music industry event featuring top-charting artists like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and Harry Styles, which is broadcast across the iHeartRadio network.

Signal coverage and stations

The station broadcasts from a transmitter located at the Alpine tower site, sharing facilities with other major New York City stations like WAXQ and WLTW. Its 50,000-watt signal at 415 meters height above average terrain provides a primary coverage area encompassing all five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, much of New Jersey, Connecticut, and parts of Pennsylvania and New York. WHTZ's audio is also simulcast on the HD Radio subchannel of co-owned WKTU, and it is available nationwide via the iHeartRadio digital platform and mobile app.

Impact and influence

WHTZ has had a profound impact on the radio industry and popular culture, credited with revitalizing the Top 40 format in the 1980s and helping launch the careers of numerous superstars, including Madonna, Britney Spears, and *NSYNC. The station's aggressive music research and promotion strategies have been widely emulated. Its Jingle Ball concert and Acoustic Christmas events are significant media events. Furthermore, Z100 played a crucial role during national emergencies, such as providing essential information and community support following the September 11 attacks and during Hurricane Sandy.

Awards and recognition

The station and its staff have received numerous accolades, including multiple Marconi Awards for "Major Market Station of the Year" from the National Association of Broadcasters. The *Morning Show* with Elvis Duran has won several Nielsen Audio awards for audience share. Individual air talents have been honored by organizations like *Billboard* and Radio & Records. WHTZ has also been consistently ranked at or near the top of the New York City Arbitron and Nielsen Audio ratings for persons aged 18-34 and 25-54, cementing its status as a perennial leader in one of the world's most competitive media markets.

Category:Radio stations in New York City Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States Category:iHeartMedia