WPXY-FM

WPXY-FM is a heritage Top 40/CHR radio station licensed to Rochester, New York, which broadcasts at 97.9 FM. Its transmitter is located on Hills in Brighton, New York, and its studios are located at High Falls Studios in downtown Rochester. WPXY also broadcasts on HD Radio, and includes a secondary subchannel, known as "Nina @ 97.9", which airs a Modern AC format.

History

WPXY-FM signed on air on September 14, 1959 as WROC-FM, first simulcasting with its AM sister station's full-service format, before separating in the late 1960s (due to new FCC rules restricting AM and FM simulcasting for more than 50% of the broadcast day) and flipping to an automated beautiful music format. In addition to being an FM sister, WROC-FM was also a sister station to WROC-TV, and was originally under the ownership of Veterans Broadcasting. Veterans sold the WROC stations in Rust Craft Broadcasting in 1964, before being sold again in the mid-1970s. Due to the ownership split, in 1975, WROC-FM became WPXY, and was known as "Pixie" (hence the "PXY" call letters). (WROC-AM would become WPXN.) In 1983, WPXY began its long running top 40 format. The first Top 40 talent that was heard on 98 PXY was then-morning personality Jim Harrington. Consultant Gary Burns had Harrington demo the new format for an hour, the afternoon before the new format was actually implemented. Harrington had just arrived in Rochester and his car was still unpacked.