WQRR (101.7 FM, "Alt 101.7") is a radio station serving the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, area with an alternative rock music format.[3] WQRR-FM is home to the "Woody & Wilcox" morning show with top-rated host DC Daniel (Chymes) bringing in the stations largest audience in the afternoon, according to Nielsen Audio. It is under ownership of Townsquare Media.
In February 2005, Apex Broadcasting Inc. (Houston L. Pearce, chairman) reached an agreement to sell WBEI and six other radio stations in Alabama to Citadel Broadcasting (Farid Suleman, chairman/CEO) for a reported sale price of $29 million.[4] Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[5]
Cumulus sold WBEI and its sister stations to Townsquare Media effective July 31, 2012.
On September 16, 2016, WBEI rebranded as "Star 101.7". While operating manager and afternoon DJ Greg Thomas had left the week before the flip and The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show was dropped with the change, middayer Meg Summers and the syndicated Pop Crush Nights with Lisa Paige remained in place.[6]
On October 17, 2016, Tuscaloosa radio veteran Louie Linguini was hired to host afternoon drive, and reprise his [7] popular "Saturday Nite Regrind With Louie Linguini" show for the station.
WBEI provided regular weather coverage from WBMA-LD Chief Meteorologist James Spann. During times of active severe, tropical, and Winter weather events, WBEI provided West Alabama's only live and local weather coverage, with local, in house, Staff Meteorologist Bobby Best.
Additionally, under the ownership of Townsquare Media and the direction of Market President/Chief Revenue Officer David R. Dubose, WBEI also provided West Alabama radio's only live and local news coverage with News Director Don Hartley and West Alabama's only live and local traffic coverage with Traffic Reporter Capt'n Ray.
On March 26, 2018, WBEI changed its format from hot adult contemporary to alternative rock, branded as "Alt 101.7".[8] The station changed its call sign to WQRR on March 29, 2018.
