With a 17 year legacy, the station that would eventually become known as Surge Radio was first launched at 8pm on December 28, 2000. Broadcasting on FRS Channel 8 (467.5625 MHz) across West Lancaster, California; FRS Radio Station DPI5 was on the air every afternoon 3pm-9pm with a small playlist of just 48 songs, which slowly would grow to thousands of tracks; a fusion format of Dance Hits and Active Rock. The rest of the time FRS Radio Station DPI5 was a simplex repeater service. The station gained a following despite sound quality limitations and the unorthodox method of transmission.
In June 2001, FRS Radio Station DPI5 began broadcasting 24/7, weaving together a mix of local programming with simulcasts of Europa Plus 106.2 FM in Moscow during the daytime and Digitally Imported Trance overnight. By early 2002, the station had expanded to FRS Channel 3 (462.6125 MHz) in the Quartz Hill area, FRS Channel 10 (467.6125 MHz) in West Palmdale/Rancho Vista, and FRS Channel 14 (467.7125 MHz) in East Lancaster.
The station opened an IRC chatroom on GamesNet to communicate with listeners, and eventually began streaming online at 24kbps MP3 (same quality as AM radio). After an investigation was initiated by the Antelope Valley Amateur Radio Club, FRS Radio Station DPI5 ceased broadcasting, but relaunched a few months later as an internet-only radio station offering 96kbps and 24kbps MP3 streams; offering less simulcasts and more unique programming. In mid-2004, the station began a collaboration with a group from Ukraine, and became Dance/Alternative "Zed Radio, The Online Party Station" for just under a year.
On April 22, 2005 the name "Surge Radio" was officially adopted after the collaboration with the group from Ukraine came to an end. Eventually, Surge Radio would become apart of the micropower radio movement as it was simulcast on a 5-watt FM signal at 96.3 FM which covered approximately 60% of the Antelope Valley. During this time, Surge Radio aired a lot of programming which paralleled that of Free Radio Santa Cruz, and played a blend of local Rock, Metal, Punk, Hip Hop, and other groups as well as Dance music, Underground Metal, and Underground EDM. Later, a 2-watt FM signal at 102.1 FM was added for supplemental coverage, but was shut down after being contacted by KSCA 101.9 FM in Los Angeles. 96.3 FM was shut down shortly after a construction permit was issued for 96.1 FM in Mojave, CA.
After Surge Radio's micropower radio era, Surge was split into 4 separate internet streams: Surge Radio - offering primarily Hard Rock; Brutal Surge - offering Death Metal, Black Metal, and Grindcore; Extreme Surge - offering Metalcore, Groove Metal, and Thrash Metal; and The Pulse (named as a homage to KENU-Pulse 1330 in Washington) - offering Dance Hits and Underground EDM. All of Surge's channels signed off on May 7, 2007 as a result of a proposed royalty rate hike. The Pulse, however, continued streaming, but was later rebranded as "Rave HD, The High Desert's Dance Authority." Rave HD signed off in February 2009.
In January 2011, Surge Radio made a return as a LoudCity-member internet radio station, playing a variety of music, including Rock, Metal, Dance, Happy Hardcore, Hardstyle, Industrial, and more. Surge was broadcasting, for a time, from a studio at BLVD Today Cafe/King Photo Supply on Lancaster Blvd. In April 2011, after a period of refocusing and refining, Surge became a current-based Dance Hits format. Surge was promoting shows in the Antelope Valley and shows at various venues across Southern California, including shows in Hollywood, Anaheim, Lake Elsinore, and more. Live broadcasts were conducted from venues like BeX Bar & Grill and Ruben's Bar & Grill in Lancaster, The Avalon in Hollywood, and more. Surge interviewed artists live including Cosmic Gate, Emma Hewitt, and JES; and had ticket giveaways for shows including Chris Lake at Vo**ur Nightclub in San Diego. In early 2012, Surge was simulcasting nightly on KNIZ 90.1 FM in Gallup, New Mexico. The Surge Radio brand was trademarked with the United States Patent & Trademark Office in the summer of 2013. When LoudCIty ceased operations in February 2014, Surge also ceased broadcasting. Surge Radio had a final sign off party at Ruben's Bar & Grill in Lancaster, CA.
In October 2014, Surge Media, LLC was formed in the state of North Carolina. On November 15, 2014 Surge made its third appearance, this time in Duplin County, North Carolina on WEGG 710 AM serving "From The Capital To The Coast!" and W263BE 100.5 FM serving Duplin, Pender, and Sampson counties. The station was branded as "Surge 100" with Michael Oaks (owner of Energy98.fm, former PD of KNRJ-Energy 92.7 & 101.1 in Phoenix, AZ and former APD/MD of KVBE-Vibe 94.5 in Las Vegas) at the helm as Music Director and Assistant Program Director. Surge 100 offered a Dance-heavy Rhythmic Hot Adult Contemporary music format, and was infamously known for its remixes. In addition, Surge 100 offered North Carolina News Network, Southern Farm Network, AccuWeather Forecasts, Local High School Football, Wallace Chamber of Commerce Talk Show, Community News & Information, and Sunday Gospel programming.
Surge Media sponsored many local events including the Duplin County Sheriff's Ball, Wallace Strawberry Festival, Beulaville Hog Wild Festival, Kenansville Muscadine Festival, Rose Hill Poultry Jubilee, UNC Lineberger Golf Tournament at River Landing, A Taste of Duplin County, and more. Surge was regularly seen in the community, conducting many remotes at various local businesses, festivals, and events.
On March 1, 2016 Surge Radio expanded its coverage by taking over WSTK 104.5 FM, serving Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Hyde, and Pamlico counties; including New Bern, Little Washington, and Morehead City. Surge quickly grew in popularity, even achieving a 0.5 share in the Jacksonville-New Bern-Greenville market ratings, despite 104.5 not covering the entire market and frequent tropospheric interference issues during certain parts of the day. However, with small businesses in the market being very disappointed by the results of local commercial radio and the advertising dollars of larger companies being controlled by advertising agencies that refuse to invest in anything other than large corporate radio; Surge Media was unable to generate even a single cent from WSTK, and ultimately was faced with the difficult decision to terminate the LMA on WSTK effective August 31, 2016.
On September 1, 2016 WEGG-Surge Radio 100.5 FM & 710 AM relaunched with all new imaging, and a refocused format with a heavier focus on Dance music. On October 30, 2016 Surge Media entered into a time brokerage agreement with KCXL 102.9 FM & 1140 AM in Kansas City, Missouri and WEGG-Surge Radio began simulcasting nightly 12am-6am (plus Sundays 6pm-6am) on KCXL. KCXL added another translator at 104.7 FM, adding supplemental coverage in downtown Kansas City. Surge began hosting bimonthly events at Papa's Coffee in Liberty, Missouri.
As Surge began shifting its focus toward its new venture in Kansas City, Surge Media made the decision to lease WEGG to Unique Media in early 2017, who flipped the station to Urban AC/Rhythmic Oldies as "The Dream 100.5 FM & 710 AM." Later, WEGG would once again be paired with WSTK and become "The Vine Connection" Gospel radio. Surge Radio's headquarters were relocated to the Kansas City area, and continued streaming online 24 hours a day. Surge announced that it would expand its time on KCXL with every 1000 new likes on Facebook. After hitting 8000 likes on Facebook, Surge added 11pm nightly on KCXL.
WEGG continued to demand a heavy pull on Surge Media's resources. Additionally, mainstream Dance music was taking an unfortunate direction away from what Surge's long-standing focus had been, instead favoring lower BPM subgenres known as Tropical House, Trap, and Dubstep. Several long-time Surge resident DJs were becoming discouraged with the state of Dance music and stopped producing new mixes. As a result of this new, unfortunate direction, Surge Media was left with a tough decision; either play the mass appeal game, or transition to online radio where the rules don't apply. Surge Media made the tough decision to end the time brokerage agreement with KCXL and signed off on July 17, 2017 at 6am. 11 days later, Surge Radio returned as an internet-only radio station, apart of the Live365 Network, and so here we are today.
