WFRE

WFRE
Broadcast area
Frequency99.9 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingFree Country 99.9 WFRE
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatCountry music
SubchannelsHD2: WFMD simulcast (News–talk–sports)
AffiliationsWestwood One
Ownership
Owner
  • Local Daily Media
  • (Davis Media, LLC)
WFMD
History
First air date
1961; 63 years ago (1961)
Former call signs
WFMD-FM (1961–1969)[1]
Call sign meaning
Frederick
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID31139
ClassB
ERP7,600 watts
HAAT355 meters (1,165 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.wfre.com

WFRE (99.9 FM) is a radio station located in Frederick, Maryland, in the United States. It plays country music and is owned by Local Daily Media along with its sister station 930 WFMD. Despite the station being located approximately 45 miles (72 km) from the two closest major cities (Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.), its signal reaches both markets.

In 2007, Clear Channel Communications was required to spin off stations to comply with ownership limits. WFRE and WFMD were placed in a divestiture trust while Clear Channel sought a buyer.[3]

On March 27, 2019, Connoisseur Media announced that it would acquire WFRE and WFMD from the Aloha Station Trust in exchange for transferring its cluster. in Erie, Pennsylvania, to iHeartMedia (the former Clear Channel).[4][5] The sale closed on May 20, 2019.[6] On July 24, 2024, Connoisseur announced a sale of WFMD and WFRE to Local Daily Media, owner of WTYD and WBQK as well as a local news site serving Williamsburg, Virginia. The sale closed on October 1.[7]

  1. ^ "Call letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 20, 1969. p. 105.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WFRE". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ Waters Jr., Ed (August 7, 2008). "WFMD, WFRE put on the market". Frederick News-Post.
  4. ^ "iHeartMedia & Connoisseur Media Swap Frederick & Erie". RadioInsight. March 27, 2019.
  5. ^ Fairfield, CJ. "Two Frederick radio stations acquired by Connoisseur Media". The Frederick News-Post.
  6. ^ "No New Station Sales In FCC Database Tuesday Morning". All Access.
  7. ^ Venta, Lance (July 24, 2024). "Local Daily Media Acquires WFRE/WFMD". RadioInsight.