In 1976, Island Radio Broadcasting Co. received approval by the CRTC to operate a new FM radio station at 103.9 FM with an effective radiated power of 24,600 watts as it would be the first FM radio station in Moncton. The company had requested the 95.7 FM frequency for this station but the national public broadcaster CBC wanted that channel signal to be reserved for its future use in the Atlantic region. Island Radio was a division of Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd, which became the Maritime Broadcasting System in the 1980s.
Going on the Air
CFQM-FM first signed on the air on March 1, 1977, originally with an easy listening format. At the time, Moncton had three radio stations. Privately owned sister station CKCW-AM; CBA-AM, a 50,000-watt clear-channel CBC public network station outlet; and CBAF-AM, the French counterpart of the CBC/Radio-Canada network for Atlantic Canada. In 1979, the Canadian Maritime provinces only had a handful FM terrestrial radio stations: CFBC-FM, CKWM-FM, CJCB-FM, CBC Stereo, CHFX-FM, and C100-FM. Owing to the CRTC mandate, it prohibited the same genre of music to be heard full-time. Late evening and weekend blocks were set aside for specialty variety programs such as journals, classical and French music which abided by its licence requirements and agreements.
Country Music
In January 1979, CFQM-FM switched to a country music format re-branding itself as "Country 104 FM CFQM". Prior to the station's format switch to country music, sister station, CKCW-AM, fill in the gap with an afternoon country music block throughout the latter part of the 1960s and early 1970s. Coincidentally its call sign stands for Canada Knows Country and Western. John Richard took the hems as morning drive DJ in 1980 to successful ratings period for the country format FM radio in the Maritimes. Other slogans of CFQM in the 1980s were Country Stereo 104 FM and FM-104 CFQM. Subsequently, during the 1990snew country slogans would be introduced to the station until its format change in 1998. MBS Radio in Moncton, which currently operates three terrestrial radio stations, is located at 1000 St George Boulevard. Until new facilities for MBS Radio was built in 1981, both stations operated from the Assumption complex in downtown Moncton. CFQM was in the City Hall building and CKCW-AM was in the lobby of the Assumption Place. Notably, the two stations shared the same newsman/journalist. CKCW studios were visible from the Assumption Place main entrance. Subsequently, after CKCW left its downtown location in July 1981, a private French radio station, CHLR-AM, began broadcasting from the former studios in October of that same year. On June 7, 1988, CFQM was granted an application to increase their power from 24,300 to 70,000 watts. In 1987, Moncton had received a new FM license which would brought competition to the Moncton radio market, respectively.
Classic Hits Max FM
CFQM-FM's country music format moved to its AM sister station CKCW in 1998 when the station became Magic 104 FM with an adult contemporary format. In 2001 CKCW moved from its AM dial to 94.5 FM and became known as K94.5. On July 31, 2009, the station flipped from adult contemporary as Magic 104, to its current classic hits format as 103.9 Max FM. The station recently added 90s and current tracks to its playlist, this was the first time since July 2009 when the station changed its format that any music later than the 1980s was played on this station. As of 2015, the station's classic hits format now primarily consists of 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s music. As of 2014, CFQM's current on-air personalities include: Terry Parker for morning drive, a former on-air staff from 1984 to 1989.
