WMIC
Encyclopedia
WMIC is a news/talk and country
radio station
licensed to Sandusky, Michigan. WMIC signed on the air at 1560 kHz on June 27, 1968, and changed its frequency to the current 660 in 1987, serving Sandusky, the Thumb
and the Blue Water area of Michigan. Part of WMIC 660's success is mostly due to the large area the station covers. WMIC covers the complete Thumb area of Michigan, unlike any other area station. Also, WMIC can be heard from both sides of Lake Huron, Standish and Oscoda to the west, and Goderich
as well as Kincardine, Ontario
to the east. On clear weather days, the station can be heard as far away as Roscommon, Ann Arbor, and Lansing.
WMIC has two co-owned FM sister stations, Light and Easy Listening 97.7 WTGV-FM
and Country 92.5 WBGV
; the stations are locally owned and operated by Sanilac Broadcasting
.
WMIC carries 1,000 watt
s operating during the day only. The station signs off between sunset and sunrise to protect WFAN
New York, a 50,000 watt clear channel radio station.
WMIC has faced tough competition in the Thumb Area Radio Region, due to its full service format. WLEW
in Bad Axe also features a show similar to "Swap Shop", and also has a country format. WPHM
in Port Huron carries a news/talk format, including Sean Hannity
, and Glenn Beck
, as well a morning show similar to WMIC's. Larger FM country stations, like WKCQ
in Saginaw and WSAQ
in Port Huron provide competition. Nevertheless, WMIC has still found an audience of loyal listeners.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Sandusky, Michigan. WMIC signed on the air at 1560 kHz on June 27, 1968, and changed its frequency to the current 660 in 1987, serving Sandusky, the Thumb
The Thumb
The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten; thus the Thumb is the area that looks like the thumb of the mitten. The Thumb is generally considered to be in the Mid-Michigan area of the state, located east of Flint/Tri-Cities...
and the Blue Water area of Michigan. Part of WMIC 660's success is mostly due to the large area the station covers. WMIC covers the complete Thumb area of Michigan, unlike any other area station. Also, WMIC can be heard from both sides of Lake Huron, Standish and Oscoda to the west, and Goderich
Goderich, Ontario
Goderich is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario and is the county seat of Huron County. The town was founded by William "Tiger" Dunlop in 1827. First laid out in 1828, the town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, who was British prime minister at the time. The town...
as well as Kincardine, Ontario
Kincardine, Ontario
The Municipality of Kincardine is located on the shores of Lake Huron in the County of Bruce in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 12,000, and covers an area of 580 square kilometres...
to the east. On clear weather days, the station can be heard as far away as Roscommon, Ann Arbor, and Lansing.
WMIC has two co-owned FM sister stations, Light and Easy Listening 97.7 WTGV-FM
WTGV-FM
WTGV-FM is a radio station broadcasting a soft adult contemporary format, serving Sandusky and the Thumb and Blue Water area of Michigan. WTGV is owned and operated by Sanilac Broadcasting....
and Country 92.5 WBGV
WBGV
WBGV is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Marlette, Michigan. It first began broadcasting in 1999. It serves the central area of Michigan's Thumb, and can be heard as far away as Port Huron, Lapeer, Romeo, and Bad Axe.WBGV offers a wide range of modern country music,...
; the stations are locally owned and operated by Sanilac Broadcasting
Sanilac/GB Broadcasting
Sanilac Broadcasting and GB Broadcasting own and operate three radio stations in Sanilac County, Michigan, and are local ABC affiliates. They are:*WMIC 660 AM, Sandusky, The Thumb's Information Station...
.
WMIC carries 1,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s operating during the day only. The station signs off between sunset and sunrise to protect WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
New York, a 50,000 watt clear channel radio station.
Programming
- WMIC features a news and talk format weekdays, including:
- Rush LimbaughRush LimbaughRush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
weekday afternoons from 2 to 5 pm, and a heavy commitment to local news and information . - An all local morning show, with Paul HarveyPaul HarveyPaul Harvey Aurandt , better known as Paul Harvey, was an American radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks. He broadcast News and Comment on weekday mornings and mid-days, and at noon on Saturdays, as well as his famous The Rest of the Story segments. His listening audience was estimated, at...
news and comment, country music, local news, and local people making news.
- Rush Limbaugh
- A country classics show is aired weekdays from 9am-Noon.
- WMIC 660 AM is home to "Swap ShopTradioTradio is the name given to a type of talk radio show format where listeners call in to buy or sell items. The concept of is analogous to classified ads in local newspapers....
" a buy, sell, and trading show from 1 to 2 pm weekdays, and 8 am Saturdays. This show draws in listeners from all over the regionThe ThumbThe Thumb is a region and a peninsula of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten; thus the Thumb is the area that looks like the thumb of the mitten. The Thumb is generally considered to be in the Mid-Michigan area of the state, located east of Flint/Tri-Cities...
. - On the weekends, the station carries the Glenn Hagee Master Handyman Show, Money Talks with Bob BrinkerBob BrinkerBob Brinker is the host of the radio show Moneytalk, which has been on the air nationally since 1986. He previously had a show on local New York radio on WMCA. Prior to that Brinker hosted talkradio programs on WCAU and WWDB in Philadelphia...
, and a PolkaPolkaThe polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
music show, hosted by Paul Osentoski, a member of the Michigan Polka Hall of Fame. - When not featuring news/talk programming, WMIC plays modern country music. After 6:15 pm weekdays (pending on sign off time), the station is completely dedicated to music.
- Staff list includes legendary reporter and General Manager Bob Armstrong, Program Director Stan Grabitz, Dom Fracassa, News Director Renae Davis, Stephany Fraley, Jessica Fraley, Bron Miller and Paul Osentoski.
WMIC has faced tough competition in the Thumb Area Radio Region, due to its full service format. WLEW
WLEW (AM)
WLEW is a radio station in Bad Axe, Michigan, serving the Thumb area of Michigan. It is owned by Thumb Broadcasting and broadcasts from studios on South Van Dyke Road in Bad Axe. Unusual for small-town radio stations, WLEW is locally programmed and does not rely on satellite feeds for any of...
in Bad Axe also features a show similar to "Swap Shop", and also has a country format. WPHM
WPHM
WPHM is a news, talk and sports radio station in Port Huron, Michigan that broadcasts on AM 1380 with 5,000 watts. WPHM is owned by Radio First. The station includes programming from Dr. Joy Browne, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Dave Ramsey, and local morning show host Paul Miller...
in Port Huron carries a news/talk format, including Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
, and Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, as well a morning show similar to WMIC's. Larger FM country stations, like WKCQ
WKCQ
WKCQ is a radio station licensed to Saginaw, Michigan. The station has broadcast a popular country music format since 1968 . Every year since 1993, the station hosts a free concert on Ojibway Island in downtown Saginaw.- Sources :*...
in Saginaw and WSAQ
WSAQ
WSAQ is a country music radio station in Port Huron, Michigan known as Q Country 107. It began broadcasting August 7, 1964 on 107.1 MHz with 6,000 watts, and remains the same today . It broadcasts from the same site as AM 1450 WHLS. Q-Country plays modern country music along with some...
in Port Huron provide competition. Nevertheless, WMIC has still found an audience of loyal listeners.