WCCQ

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Radio station in Crest Hill, Illinois

title: "WCCQ" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["radio-stations-in-the-chicago-metropolitan-area", "country-radio-stations-in-illinois", "will-county,-illinois", "connoisseur-media-radio-stations", "radio-stations-established-in-1976", "1976-establishments-in-illinois"] description: "Radio station in Crest Hill, Illinois" topic_path: "general/radio-stations-in-the-chicago-metropolitan-area" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WCCQ" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Radio station in Crest Hill, Illinois ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox radio station"]

Field	Value
name	WCCQ
city	Crest Hill, Illinois
country	US
area	Joliet, Illinois
branding	Free Country 98.3 & 102.3
frequency	98.3 MHz
repeater
airdate	January 28, 1976
format	Country
erp	3,000 watts
haat	142 meters
class	A
facility_id	10677
coordinates
affiliations	Westwood One
owner	Connoisseur Media
licensee	Alpha Media Licensee LLC
licensing_authority	FCC
sister_stations
webcast
website
::

WCCQ (98.3 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Crest Hill, Illinois, United States, it serves the Joliet area. The station is owned by Connoisseur Media. WCCQ's studios are located in Crest Hill, and its transmitter is in Channahon, Illinois.

History

WCCQ began broadcasting on January 28, 1976, and originally aired an oldies format. In February 1979, the station adopted a beautiful music format.

WCCQ adopted a country format in 1984, and was branded "Q-Country". Bob Zak was the station's first morning host. Other announcers included Mark Edwards, Ted Clark, Larry Watts, Mike Baker, Jim Beedle, Bill Fortune, and Jim Felbinger.

The current lineup features Roy & Carol in the morning (since 1994), Geno Brien middays (former morning show host of 95.9 the River) and Todd Boss (The Bossman) doing afternoons. Other weekend and fill-in personalities include Rich Renik (from WMAQ and WUSN), Brandon Jones, Jillian, and Laura Vaughn. In April 2011, it became one of the two Chicago-area stations to broadcast NASCAR Cup Series races.

In January 2018, WCCQ shifted to a gold-based traditional country format—featuring an emphasis on songs from artists active during the 1990s and early 2000s. This change differentiates WCCQ from the mainstream lean of its competitors WEBG and WUSN.

On May 24, 2024, WCCQ rebranded as "Free Country 98.3 & 102.3", adding a simulcast on WXLC in Waukegan.

References

''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1978/C-1-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1978]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]], 1978. p. C-63. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
Ghrist, John R. (1996). ''Valley Voices: A Radio History''. Crossroads Communications. p. 167-169.
Billboard]]''. February 10, 1979. p. 24. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
"[http://www.cityofjoliet.com/halloffame/bizpeople/bobzak.htm Bob Zak] {{Webarchive. link. (May 31, 2018 ", cityofjoliet.com. Retrieved March 14, 2019.)
(2018-01-08). "WCCQ Moves To Gold Based Country". RadioInsight.
[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/269757/format-change-coming-to-wxlc-today/ Alpha Media Launches Chicagoland's Free Country 98.3/102.3] Radioinsight - May 24, 2024

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