Studios in the Hotel Chisca (WHBQ/WMQM)

[PR680]

Read an article in the Commercial Appeal this morning regarding the future plans for the Hotel Chisca . Quick question, was WMQM (circa 1978) located in the area that once housed WHBQ?

I remember a long, dark walk to the studios there (like in the article). However, don't remember being told of the link to WHBQ. Was only there a few months, so topic may not have ever come up.

Seems doubtful that area would have been used for anything else than a radio studio, but not sure.

 

[radiosaur]

Yes, it was. The control room was near the front, and production down in the dungeon in the back. I wonder if those ornate galss doors are still there?

 

[PR680]

Yep, exactly what I remember facility wise @ 1480. Just never made the connection with WHBQ, they were always on Highland in my mind. Left AM for good end of July, last gig was KZME....

Figured you would know.. Thanks for the response...

 

[anotherguyTN]

Would 1978 have been during the time that WMQM attempted an early CCM format (before going dollar a holler), or were they doing something else at that time?

 

[briancraig]

I have a bunch of WMQM playlists from the 60s to the 80s, but none from 1978.

The list I have from Feb. 1979 has them playing Amy Grant, B.J. Thomas, Dallas Holm, Speers, Doug Oldham, Evie, 2nd Chapter Of Acts, Don Francisco etc.

 

[radiosaur]

Would 1978 have been during the time that WMQM attempted an early CCM format (before going dollar a holler), or were they doing something else at that time?

WMQM was already in the Mid-City building fishbowl on Union when the short-lived CCM format was put in place. I did that. I was PD at the time. I could write a book about that little experiment and the reaction of some of the “Christian” folks out there. It was eye-opening. Some people supported us all the way. Some of the older ones thought we had been possessed by Satan.

I’m surprised anyone remembers.

 

[firepoint525]

Would 1978 have been during the time that WMQM attempted an early CCM format (before going dollar a holler), or were they doing something else at that time?

That was the "old" WMQM. The new 'MQM came into existence in 2002. Not saying that the "old" 'MQM was not "dollar a holler" (same ownership, so it was highly likely); just that 'MQM did not exist in Memphis for many years, primarily during the '90s.

 

[anotherguyTN]

I heard WMQM when they had CCM occasionally on trips to Memphis during the late 70's or possibly 1980. Looking at the playlist Brian posted, it looked like they were more soft CCM/inspo, but that was still pretty radical at the time. Did they drop CCM and go full time dollar a holler at about the same time that WMSO moved to 630 and switched to more CCM, which would have been in the early 80's?

Looking back though, even most of the local CCM stations in Memphis were basically dollar a holler during the times they had programs. WMQM in their "Christian" years supposedly stood for Memphis Quality Ministries, but I agree with a post RDP made once that it should really stand for We're Making Quick Money. They need to quit the sham of claiming to be a "Christian" station. :

 

[robgrayson]

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24. Therein lies the rub for commercial Christianity.