WISX

WISX ("Mix 106") is a Hot adult contemporary (Hot AC) radio station licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and owned by iHeartMedia. The station has studios located in Bala Cynwyd and broadcasts from a 22.5 kW transmitter in nearby Wyndmoore.

History

Beautiful Music Era: WQAL/WWSH

Philadelphia's 106.1 began operation on November 11, 1959 as WQAL and was owned by George Voron, whose company provided businesses with "piped-in music". The first song was "The Star-Spangled Banner" as performed by Henry Mancini and the Warner Brothers Studio Orchestra. The first voice broadcast was that of Dave Custis, who was in charge of the station's format. The first song other than the National Anthem was "The Carousel Waltz" by Percy Faith. The station employed an easy listening format playing mostly instrumental versions of popular songs (Mantovani, Lawrence Welk, Percy Faith, John Fox, Chet Atkins, Richard Clayderman) with an occasional vocalist (Frank Sinatra, the Carpenters, Nat King Cole, Anne Murray). The station was sold to United Artists in 1970. The call letters then became WWSH and its brand, "Wish 106." The WQAL call letters are now used by another station, the Hot AC-formatted "Q104" in Cleveland, Ohio.