WNFZ


WNFZ is a radio station licensed to Powell, Tennessee, serving Knoxville, Tennessee. WNFZ is owned by Midwest Communications. Current General Manager is John "Randy" Ross.

History

WNFZ 94.3 signed on the air in February 1967 as WATO-FM where it broadcast an underground rock format.
94.3 later changed to an easy listening format as WUUU and their slogan was "The Station For You". It was off the air for a short time until January 18, 1982 when WUUU became WETQ, a country music formatted station as "Q-94FM".
On March 25, 1985, the station changed calls to WKNF-FM and became "Magic 94". This was Oak Ridge and Knoxville's only oldies station. In April 1993, they became a classic country station as "K-94". In September 1993, they shifted to CHR and changed the on-air position to "94Z". On July 1, 1994, WKNF-FM changed to their current calls to WNFZ to reflect on-air branding of 94Z and became an alternative rock station. In 2008, WNFZ refocused becoming an active rock format. Between 1994 and 2013 the station was branded variously "94Z", "The Planet", "94.3 Extreme Radio","94-3 The X" and, "94.3 Jack FM".

Ownership and format change

WNFZ simulcasted former sister station WVRX until October 31, 2013, as The X moved to the latter station. At Midnight on November 1, WNFZ was returned to its licensee, John Pirkle and the station's format switched to News/Talk, formerly broadcast on WNOX-FM, which was licensed to Oak Ridge FM, Inc. under the branding, "KnoxTalkRadio 94.3 WNFZ".
At noon on October 21, 2015, WNFZ returned to alternative rock as "94Z".
On March 21, 2019, WNFZ was sold to Midwest Communications and changed their format from alternative rock to adult hits, branded as "94.3 Jack FM".