WMJZ-FM
Encyclopedia
WMJZ-FM is a commercial radio station
licensed to the city of Gaylord, Michigan
. It broadcasts at the assigned frequency of 101.5 Megahertz with a power output of 50,000 watts. The station airs a variety hits format as Eagle 101.5, Classic Hits at Random, and is owned by Darby Advertising, a company headed by Kent Smith.
format, as the FM sister station of AM 900 WZXM, which had been on the air since 1950, first as WATC, which was originally part of Lester Biederman's Paul Bunyan Network. As WZXM was a daytime-only station at this time, the presence of WZXM allowed Otsego County to enjoy local radio service after FCC rules mandated shutdown of the AM station after sunset.
WZXM was sold in June 1986 to a Detroit broadcaster, then later a local group headed by Bill Rolinski. The call letters were changed to WMJZ as part of an AM and FM simulcast of adult contemporary and oldies
music, provided by ABC Radio/SMN
's Starstation satellite-delivered format along with a local community involvement.
In June 1996, Classic Radio, Inc. decided to sell the station to Morning Dove, Inc., a company owned by David and Jo'Anne Essmaker.
Morning Dove made upgrades to the equipment and ended the satellite format relationship and began a new format of Hot Adult Contemporary music, all programmed locally on-site The station dropped its "Majic" branding and became known as "Z95." In February 1998, David Essmaker received an offer to sell the stations to Sandusky, Ohio-based broadcaster Kent Smith
that year.
. Darby Advertising applied for a construction permit to move WMJZ from 95.3 to 101.5 that summer. The FCC approved the application in October 1998.
Smith brought an oldies format and added emphasis to local programming and information to WMJZ in February of the following year. WMJZ moved to 101.5 and was rebilled as "Oldies 101.5", with programming from Jones Radio Networks
' Good Time Oldies format and its power now doubled to 6,000 watts.
In 2002, Darby Advertising silenced its AM sister, known by this time as adult standards
-formatted WSNQ.
The FCC granted a request in February 2004 for WMJZ to move its antenna to a taller tower and increase its power to 50,000 watts, covering much of Michigan's northern lower peninsula and Mackinac Straits area. While the power increase and tower relocation move was pending, WMJZ moved from its longtime home at 650 East Main Street to a new, state-of-the-art facility at 3687 Old 27 South in Gaylord.
The station is currently focused on local programming - the music is programmed locally and the station is hosted by local personalities. Kent Smith has also begun operating several other "Eagle"-formatted stations across the Upper Peninsula, serving the Newberry
, Ishpeming
and Escanaba
areas.
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 the city of Gaylord, Michigan
Gaylord, Michigan
Gaylord is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,681. It is the county seat of Otsego County. The city is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord; it is by far the smallest settlement serving as the location of an active Roman...
. It broadcasts at the assigned frequency of 101.5 Megahertz with a power output of 50,000 watts. The station airs a variety hits format as Eagle 101.5, Classic Hits at Random, and is owned by Darby Advertising, a company headed by Kent Smith.
Beginnings
For many years, WMJZ operated at the class A frequency of 95.3 FM, and a power output of only 3,000 watts. The station first went on the air on February 20, 1984, as WZXM-FM with a CHRContemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format, as the FM sister station of AM 900 WZXM, which had been on the air since 1950, first as WATC, which was originally part of Lester Biederman's Paul Bunyan Network. As WZXM was a daytime-only station at this time, the presence of WZXM allowed Otsego County to enjoy local radio service after FCC rules mandated shutdown of the AM station after sunset.
WZXM was sold in June 1986 to a Detroit broadcaster, then later a local group headed by Bill Rolinski. The call letters were changed to WMJZ as part of an AM and FM simulcast of adult contemporary and oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
music, provided by ABC Radio/SMN
Satellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered network to provide complete live 24-hour a day music programming to local stations, under several different formats...
's Starstation satellite-delivered format along with a local community involvement.
Simulcast abandoned: WMJZ comes into its own
Classic Radio decided to end the simulcast between the two stations in 1990, as WMJZ-AM had been granted limited nighttime power by the FCC and had the ability to have its own identity.In June 1996, Classic Radio, Inc. decided to sell the station to Morning Dove, Inc., a company owned by David and Jo'Anne Essmaker.
Morning Dove made upgrades to the equipment and ended the satellite format relationship and began a new format of Hot Adult Contemporary music, all programmed locally on-site The station dropped its "Majic" branding and became known as "Z95." In February 1998, David Essmaker received an offer to sell the stations to Sandusky, Ohio-based broadcaster Kent Smith
Kent Smith
Kent Smith was an American actor who had a lengthy career in film, theater, and television.Born Frank Kent Smith in New York, New York, Smith made his acting debut on Broadway in 1932 in and, after spending a few years there, moved to Hollywood, California, where he made his film debut in The...
that year.
Kent Smith/Darby Advertising Era
Kent Smith of Darby Advertising had operated oldies-formatted FM station WNCG (Northcoast Gold 101) FM 100.9, licensed to Clyde, OhioClyde, Ohio
Clyde is a city in Sandusky County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,064 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Clyde as a Tree City USA....
. Darby Advertising applied for a construction permit to move WMJZ from 95.3 to 101.5 that summer. The FCC approved the application in October 1998.
Smith brought an oldies format and added emphasis to local programming and information to WMJZ in February of the following year. WMJZ moved to 101.5 and was rebilled as "Oldies 101.5", with programming from Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
' Good Time Oldies format and its power now doubled to 6,000 watts.
In 2002, Darby Advertising silenced its AM sister, known by this time as adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
-formatted WSNQ.
The FCC granted a request in February 2004 for WMJZ to move its antenna to a taller tower and increase its power to 50,000 watts, covering much of Michigan's northern lower peninsula and Mackinac Straits area. While the power increase and tower relocation move was pending, WMJZ moved from its longtime home at 650 East Main Street to a new, state-of-the-art facility at 3687 Old 27 South in Gaylord.
WMJZ Today
In early 2006, WMJZ ended its oldies format in favor of a very broad-based variety hits format blending music from the rock, pop, oldies and country genres under the name "Eagle 101.5...We Play Everything". Since then, the station has begun leaning more toward classic rock and classic hits and has changed its slogan to "Classic Hits at Random."The station is currently focused on local programming - the music is programmed locally and the station is hosted by local personalities. Kent Smith has also begun operating several other "Eagle"-formatted stations across the Upper Peninsula, serving the Newberry
Newberry, Michigan
Newberry is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Luce County. Located within McMillan Township at its very southern end, it shares some administrative responsibilities with the surrounding township. The population was 2,686 at the 2000 census.The village was named in...
, Ishpeming
Ishpeming, Michigan
Ishpeming is a city in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,686 at the 2000 census. This is down from a higher population in the 1950s and 1960s when the economically supportive iron ore mines had a much higher employment level...
and Escanaba
Escanaba, Michigan
Escanaba is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, located in the banana belt on the state's Upper Peninsula. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 13,140, making it the third-largest city in the Upper Peninsula after Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie...
areas.