February 15, 1981 (final sign-off as WMJX-FM 96.3)[]
On February 15, 1981, WMJX-FM was ordered off the air for use of fake newscasts to promote a station contest and fraudulent billing issues. On that day, Stuart Elliott was the last DJ on duty. After playing Yarbrough and Peoples' "Don't Stop The Music", Elliott, struggling to keep his composure, signed-off the air and introduced a pre-recorded message by WMJX general manager Bob Allen:
Elliott: "96X, 11:59. South Florida, thank you very much. And uh, in closing, here's the Vice President & General Manager of 96X, Bob Allen."
Allen: "This is Bob Allen, Executive Vice President & General Manager of WMJX, 96X -- a Charter Broadcasting station. It is with great regret that tonight has been our last broadcast in the South Florida radio market. Charter Broadcasting still disagrees with the decision of the Federal Communications Commission in closing us down because of actions of the prior management of Bartell Broadcasting, Inc. But with no recourse available to us, we will follow the mandate of the Commission and tonight end broadcasting on this frequency. We want to thank you, the listening audience, for the fantastic support you have given 96X over the years. We at Charter Broadcasting have tried our hardest to sincerely service the South Florida radio market to be more than just a radio station, but a strong influence and help for all charitable agencies and causes. I particularly want to thank our 96X staff -- the greatest and most loyal group of people I've had the pleasure of working with in my 28 years in the broadcasting business. Thank Al Shael, Mike Bell, Tim Catrell, David Eugenio, Sandy Drake, Stuart Elliott, Donny France, Gale Garten, Rick Gillenis, Max Gomez, Bobby Grant, Ed Gurrein, Irene Healy and Bruce Kelly, Harvey Kramer, Steven Margolin, Maury Nicholson, Michael Mindidge, Frank Motech, and you, Bob McKay and Ed Overse and Jeanie Patterson and Judy Patajnik, Lauren Powell, Michael Ritter, and a lot to you, Bob Rose, Jeff Ross, Mara Rovinger, Larry Steele, Miriam Strang, Mayra Torres, Gail Wald, Brian Wilson, and last but not least, Julie Wilson. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts at Charter Broadcasting, and of course, mine in particular; and to you, South Florida radio: thank you, our good 96X listeners."
[The Beatles' "The Long And Winding Road" plays]
Elliott: [through tears] "96X is WMJX, Miami."
[static]
https://formatchangearchive.com/96x-miami-loses-its-license/
After a battle between a series of aspiring applicants, the station was eventually returned to the air in 1985 as WCJX, retaining the 96X branding.