WJLK
Encyclopedia
WJLK is an Adult CHR radio station that plays '80s, '90s, recent, and Contemporary Hit Music. The station broadcasts on the 94.3 FM frequency. Their variety of music stretches from bands such as Green Day
to Gwen Stefani
or Rob Thomas
. The station is owned by Millennium Radio in New Jersey. Its transmitter is located near exit 100 along the Garden State Parkway
in Tinton Falls, New Jersey
. It is the sister station of 105.7 The Hawk and 1310 WADB.
, wanting to spread into the still newly forming radio business in the 1940s. Originally destined to be WDJT at 104.3, by November 1946 the call letters had changed to WJLK, to honor the late J. Lyle Kinmonth. Kinmonth had been a pioneering publisher for the Press, and died the previous year. In addition, shortly before the first broadcast, the station changed from the 104.3 to the 94.3 megacycles.
The station's first broadcast took place on November 20, 1947, Kinmonth's birthday. When WJLK opened, it was one of an estimated 75 FM radio stations nation-wide. WJLK also made history as the first FCC licensed radio station in New Jersey. The station was dedicated to news, and at this time broadcast from 6:30 A.M to midnight Monday through Saturday, and 8 A.M to midnight on Sundays.
Eventually, The Press purchased an AM radio station, WCAP, which they promptly renamed WJLK-AM, located at 1310 on the radio dial. The FM station rebroadcast the AM station's programming. The newscasts for the station were 15 minutes long at the top of every hour, as well as a briefer at every half hour. In between newscasts, there was a wide variety of shows featuring different types of music, or shows on specific subjects, such as gardening.
By the mid 1970s, it was obvious that specialized FM stations were doing better than stations with a format such as WJLK's. A man named Robert E. McAllen, an on-air personality in the early 70s, devised a new format with its emphasis on adult contemporary music. Eventually the format evolved into adult contemporary played often and block programming at night, playing Top 40, oldies, or talk.
In 1989, the company sold both the AM and FM stations of WJLK, which had now been broadcasting under "K-94" to Devlin and Ferrari Broadcasting Company of New York for $12.5 million. The sale had been ordered by the FCC in exchange for allowing The Press to buy the stations WKXW-FM
and WBUD-AM, both based in Ewing, New Jersey for $12.1 million.
By August 1989, the K-94 format was discontinued and the station returned to broadcasting adult contemporary. Then, in 1993, the station began a simulcast with the 98.5 frequency and was billed as "Soft Rock WJLK". Slightly more than four years later, in May of 1997, after being sold to Nassau Broadcasting, the simulcast was dropped and the station went towards the format it has today, broadcasting under "94.3 the Point".
From 1997 through May 2002, 94.3 The Point was one of the five stations referred to as Nassau Broadcasting Partner's "Shore Group." The sound of WJLK was polished up and the station became a true leader in the market. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 the station became very active in helping the community heal. A significant amount of money was raised for the families of Trade Center victims. The Old Mill School in Wall, New Jersey (K-5) had a walk-a-thon and donated all the money to the Nassau charity. As a result, the Point rewarded the kids by having Michelle Branch
perform in the auditorium of their school in late 2001.
The Point and Jersey Shore Medical Center also organized "Kites Against Cancer" to benefit the breast care center at JSMC originally and eventually all of "The Breast Care Centers of The Meridian Healthcare." This successful event got the Point into the Guinness Book of World Records for flying the most kites at one time in a single location.
In June 2002, the sale of the "shore group" was completed and Millennium Radio Group took over WJLK and its sister stations, B-98.5 (See WHTG), WOBM-AM and 92.7 WOBM-FM, WADB-AM and eventually WCHR-FM, 105-7 The Hawk.
In July 2007, WJLK began broadcasting in HD Radio. In October 2007, WJLK launched an HD2 channel, which is a simulcast of the classic rock format from sister station 105.7 The Hawk (WCHR-FM). In 2009, WJLK-HD2 launched S*ALT ("ShoreAlternative.com") in response to WHTG's departure of the alternative format, attempting to fill the void left in the Monmouth/Ocean market.
In February 2009, WJLK started using new station IDs and branding, referring to itself as "The Jersey Shore's Hit Music Channel", despite still mostly playing adult contemporary music, in response to WHTG
rebranding itself as "The Jersey Shore's Hit Music Connection" and adopting a Top 40 format the previous month. The sound of WJLK remains largely the same, with an emphasis on hits from the '80s, '90s, and today.
Midday:
Afternoons:
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
to Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
or Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas (musician)
Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas is an American rock recording artist and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist...
. The station is owned by Millennium Radio in New Jersey. Its transmitter is located near exit 100 along the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
in Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Tinton Falls, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 15,053 people, 5,883 households, and 3,976 families residing in the borough. The population density was 965.7 people per square mile . There were 6,211 housing units at an average density of 398.4 per square mile...
. It is the sister station of 105.7 The Hawk and 1310 WADB.
History
WJLK was created due to a New Jersey newspaper, The Asbury Park PressAsbury Park Press
The Asbury Park Press is a daily newspaper in Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey and has the third largest circulation in the state...
, wanting to spread into the still newly forming radio business in the 1940s. Originally destined to be WDJT at 104.3, by November 1946 the call letters had changed to WJLK, to honor the late J. Lyle Kinmonth. Kinmonth had been a pioneering publisher for the Press, and died the previous year. In addition, shortly before the first broadcast, the station changed from the 104.3 to the 94.3 megacycles.
The station's first broadcast took place on November 20, 1947, Kinmonth's birthday. When WJLK opened, it was one of an estimated 75 FM radio stations nation-wide. WJLK also made history as the first FCC licensed radio station in New Jersey. The station was dedicated to news, and at this time broadcast from 6:30 A.M to midnight Monday through Saturday, and 8 A.M to midnight on Sundays.
Eventually, The Press purchased an AM radio station, WCAP, which they promptly renamed WJLK-AM, located at 1310 on the radio dial. The FM station rebroadcast the AM station's programming. The newscasts for the station were 15 minutes long at the top of every hour, as well as a briefer at every half hour. In between newscasts, there was a wide variety of shows featuring different types of music, or shows on specific subjects, such as gardening.
By the mid 1970s, it was obvious that specialized FM stations were doing better than stations with a format such as WJLK's. A man named Robert E. McAllen, an on-air personality in the early 70s, devised a new format with its emphasis on adult contemporary music. Eventually the format evolved into adult contemporary played often and block programming at night, playing Top 40, oldies, or talk.
In 1989, the company sold both the AM and FM stations of WJLK, which had now been broadcasting under "K-94" to Devlin and Ferrari Broadcasting Company of New York for $12.5 million. The sale had been ordered by the FCC in exchange for allowing The Press to buy the stations WKXW-FM
WKXW-FM
WKXW is a radio station based just outside of Trenton, New Jersey. The station is licensed to serve the Trenton area on 101.5 MHz FM and is also streamed on the station's website. It is owned by Townsquare Media...
and WBUD-AM, both based in Ewing, New Jersey for $12.1 million.
By August 1989, the K-94 format was discontinued and the station returned to broadcasting adult contemporary. Then, in 1993, the station began a simulcast with the 98.5 frequency and was billed as "Soft Rock WJLK". Slightly more than four years later, in May of 1997, after being sold to Nassau Broadcasting, the simulcast was dropped and the station went towards the format it has today, broadcasting under "94.3 the Point".
From 1997 through May 2002, 94.3 The Point was one of the five stations referred to as Nassau Broadcasting Partner's "Shore Group." The sound of WJLK was polished up and the station became a true leader in the market. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 the station became very active in helping the community heal. A significant amount of money was raised for the families of Trade Center victims. The Old Mill School in Wall, New Jersey (K-5) had a walk-a-thon and donated all the money to the Nassau charity. As a result, the Point rewarded the kids by having Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch
Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, and was subsequently nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2003...
perform in the auditorium of their school in late 2001.
The Point and Jersey Shore Medical Center also organized "Kites Against Cancer" to benefit the breast care center at JSMC originally and eventually all of "The Breast Care Centers of The Meridian Healthcare." This successful event got the Point into the Guinness Book of World Records for flying the most kites at one time in a single location.
In June 2002, the sale of the "shore group" was completed and Millennium Radio Group took over WJLK and its sister stations, B-98.5 (See WHTG), WOBM-AM and 92.7 WOBM-FM, WADB-AM and eventually WCHR-FM, 105-7 The Hawk.
In July 2007, WJLK began broadcasting in HD Radio. In October 2007, WJLK launched an HD2 channel, which is a simulcast of the classic rock format from sister station 105.7 The Hawk (WCHR-FM). In 2009, WJLK-HD2 launched S*ALT ("ShoreAlternative.com") in response to WHTG's departure of the alternative format, attempting to fill the void left in the Monmouth/Ocean market.
In February 2009, WJLK started using new station IDs and branding, referring to itself as "The Jersey Shore's Hit Music Channel", despite still mostly playing adult contemporary music, in response to WHTG
WHTG-FM
WBBO is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Hit Radio format. Licensed to Ocean Acres, New Jersey, it serves Ocean & Burlington counties in New Jersey as well as the New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia. It first began broadcasting in 1993 under the call sign WQNJ, but more recently operated...
rebranding itself as "The Jersey Shore's Hit Music Connection" and adopting a Top 40 format the previous month. The sound of WJLK remains largely the same, with an emphasis on hits from the '80s, '90s, and today.
On The Air
Mornings:- Lou & Liz in the Morning - 5am-10am
Midday:
- Laurie Cataldo - 10am-3pm
Afternoons:
- Matt Ryan - 3pm-8pm