View source for CJQM-FM

{{short description|Radio station in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name             = CJQM-FM
| logo             = 
| logo_caption     = 
| city             = [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]]
| country          = CA
| area             = [[Algoma District]]<br>[[Chippewa County, Michigan]]
| branding         = 104.3 The Fox
| airdate          = May 13, [[1965 in radio|1965]]
| frequency        = 104.3 [[Hertz|MHz]]
| format           = [[Mainstream rock]]
| coordinates      = {{coord | 46| 35| 40| N|  84| 21| 00| W}}
| erp              = 100,000 [[watt]]s
| haat             = {{convert|150|meters}}
| class            = C
| former_callsigns = CKCY-FM
| owner            = [[Rogers Radio]]
| licensee         = Rogers Media, Inc.
| sister_stations  = [[CHAS-FM]], [[CIRS (AM)|CIRS]] (defunct)
| webcast          = [http://www.qcountry.ca/mediaplayer/mediaPlayer.jsp Listen Live]
| website          = [https://www.1043thefox.com/ 1043thefox.com]
}}

'''CJQM-FM''' (''104.3 The Fox'') is a [[radio station]] in [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]]. Owned by [[Rogers Sports & Media]], the station broadcasts a [[mainstream rock]] format.

With 100,000 [[watt]]s of power,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=CJQM&x=13&y=10&sr=Y&s=C | title = CJQM-FM 104.3 MHz - Sault Ste Marie, Ontario | access-date = 10 Jan 2025 | language = en }}</ref> CJQM's signal is one of the strongest in the Sault Ste. Marie area; it can be heard northward to [[Unorganized North Algoma District|Montreal River]], southward to [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City]], and at times as far away as [[Gaylord, Michigan|Gaylord]].

==History==

The station was launched on May 13, 1965 as '''CKCY-FM''' by Algonquin Broadcasting, the owners of the city's [[CKCY (AM)|CKCY-AM]]. In 1976, both stations were acquired by [[Huron Broadcasting]], who also launched [[CHBX-TV|CKCY-TV]] in 1978. Huron subsequently sold the radio stations to a new business consortium, CKCY 920 Ltd., in 1985. The station adopted its current callsign that year, as well as its ''Q104'' branding. CKCY 920 Ltd. was subsequently acquired by [[Mid-Canada Radio]] in 1988,<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1988/DB88-571.HTM Decision CRTC 88-571]</ref> and Mid-Canada in turn was acquired by the [[Pelmorex Radio Network]] in 1990.<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1990/DB90-676.HTM Decision CRTC 90-676]</ref>

Due to the economic circumstances of the Sault Ste. Marie market, with competition from stations in [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan]] severely curtailing the profitability of the Ontario stations, Pelmorex shut down [[CKCY (AM)|CKCY]] in 1992. The company then entered into a [[local management agreement]] with [[Telemedia]], taking over management of that company's [[CHAS-FM]] and making CHAS and CJQM sister stations, an arrangement that continues to this day. Telemedia subsequently acquired the Pelmorex group in 1999.<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1999/DB99-38.HTM Decision CRTC 99-38]</ref>

Telemedia was acquired by [[Standard Broadcasting]] in 2002, with Standard selling both CJQM and CHAS to their current owner, [[Rogers Media]], the same year. On June 28, 2013, the station rebranded as ''Country 104.3'' as part of a standardization by Rogers' country stations.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130704002540/http://www.local2.ca/ssm/viewarticle.php?id=11802 "Country 104.3 welcomes you to the party with new name and sound,"] from Local2.ca, 6/28/2013</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-07-03 |title=Rogers Launches Canadian Country Brand |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/82242/rogers-planning-a-canadian-national-country-brand/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US}}</ref>

After more than 30 years, Jeff McNeice retired and signed off at CJQM in 2021. He became the last local radio morning show host on the Canadian side of the St.Mary's River. All local programming had been phased out earlier, including locally produced news and sports, in favour of [[Voice-tracking|voice-tracked]] content from other Rogers country stations.

On January 9, 2025, the station flipped from country to rock as ''104.3 The Fox''.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/local-country-station-is-ready-to-rock-10054990 | title = Local country station is ready to rock | last = Armstrong | first = Kenneth | date = 9 Jan 2025 | website = SooToday | publisher = Village Media | access-date = 10 Jan 2025 | language = en}}</ref>

==Former logos==
<gallery perrow="4">
Image:Q104-SSM.png|CJQM-FM's former logo under the "Q104" branding until 2013
Image:CJQM-FM Sault Ste Marie ON 2013.png|Country 104.3 used from 2013 to 2025
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.country1043.com Country 104.3]
* [https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-stations/ontario/ontario-northern/CJQM-FM CJQM-FM] at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the [[Canadian Communications Foundation]]
*{{RecnetCanada|CJQM-FM}}

{{Rogers Communications}}
{{Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Radio}}
{{SaultOntario}}

{{coord|46|35|40|N|84|21|00|W|type:landmark_region:CA|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jqm}}
[[Category:Radio stations in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]]
[[Category:Rogers Communications radio stations]]
[[Category:Active rock radio stations in Canada]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1965|CJQM]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in Ontario]]