WMRI
Encyclopedia
WMRI is a radio station
broadcasting a Sports
format. Licensed to Marion, Indiana
, USA, the station serves the Muncie-Marion area. The station is currently owned by Hoosier AM/FM LLC and features programing from ESPN Radio
.
.) Prior to adopting the current WMRI-AM, the station was known as WGOM (for "Giant of Music".inspired by locally-born James Dean
's final movie "Giant")with a Top 40 format before automating in the late 1970s. Rich Coolman,Stan Weil and Dave Gross "The Mad Doctor"(now at WLDE
in Ft. Wayne) were some of WGOM's on-air personalities. The WMRI calls were used originally at 860 AM in the 1950s and 60s before the call letter and format switch to WGOM in 1970. At the time of the call letter switch, the station's Program Director was Ken Roberts, on-air talent included Ed Shannon (Steve Brimmer), Craig Weston (Robert Skaff), Chuck Anthony (Doug Fredlund) and Mel Ballinger as News Director. The station's call letter change was accompanied by a new ID/jingle package from the renowned PAMS agency in Dallas, TX. The station was emulating the sound of WLS-Chicago and other "top-40" era stations. Having transformed the AM station Roberts departed for Ontario, California in late 1971 with Jonathan Morgan (Jim Arnold) arriving from Tucson Arizona (KHUT) as the new Program Director. In this period, WMRI-FM continued its automated music service with pre-programmed tapes. The following year, Arnold with Brimmer and Ballinger all departed for Tucson, AZ albeit different stations - Arnold & Ballinger to KCUB and Brimmer to KIKX. WGOM's Top 40 format competed with Muncie's WERK
(then at 990 AM) and the former WHUT(now WGNR (AM) 1470 AM in Anderson throughout the 1970s. Subsequent formats since the WGOM days have included adult standards
and Southern Gospel
prior to the current ESPN Radio sports format.
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...
broadcasting a Sports
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
format. Licensed to Marion, Indiana
Marion, Indiana
Marion is a city in Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,948 as of the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Grant County...
, USA, the station serves the Muncie-Marion area. The station is currently owned by Hoosier AM/FM LLC and features programing from ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
.
History
The WMRI call letters were previously used on its FM station at 106.9 MHz (the present day WXXCWXXC
WXXC is a 50,000 watt Class B radio station licensed to Marion, Indiana and serving the Muncie-Marion Arbitron market broadcasting on 106.9 MHz. Studios and offices are located at 820 S. Pennsylvania St. in Marion, IN...
.) Prior to adopting the current WMRI-AM, the station was known as WGOM (for "Giant of Music".inspired by locally-born James Dean
James Dean
James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
's final movie "Giant")with a Top 40 format before automating in the late 1970s. Rich Coolman,Stan Weil and Dave Gross "The Mad Doctor"(now at WLDE
WLDE
WLDE is an FM radio station from Fort Wayne, Indiana, which broadcasts a classic hits format. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 101.7 MHz. Popular personalities during the week are "Jim and Carrie," "Captain Chris," and "Dr. Dave."-As WEZV:...
in Ft. Wayne) were some of WGOM's on-air personalities. The WMRI calls were used originally at 860 AM in the 1950s and 60s before the call letter and format switch to WGOM in 1970. At the time of the call letter switch, the station's Program Director was Ken Roberts, on-air talent included Ed Shannon (Steve Brimmer), Craig Weston (Robert Skaff), Chuck Anthony (Doug Fredlund) and Mel Ballinger as News Director. The station's call letter change was accompanied by a new ID/jingle package from the renowned PAMS agency in Dallas, TX. The station was emulating the sound of WLS-Chicago and other "top-40" era stations. Having transformed the AM station Roberts departed for Ontario, California in late 1971 with Jonathan Morgan (Jim Arnold) arriving from Tucson Arizona (KHUT) as the new Program Director. In this period, WMRI-FM continued its automated music service with pre-programmed tapes. The following year, Arnold with Brimmer and Ballinger all departed for Tucson, AZ albeit different stations - Arnold & Ballinger to KCUB and Brimmer to KIKX. WGOM's Top 40 format competed with Muncie's WERK
WERK
WERK is a commercial FM station broadcasting an Oldies format.The station serves the Muncie-Marion area. The former WURK was a simulcast of WERK until January of 2010...
(then at 990 AM) and the former WHUT(now WGNR (AM) 1470 AM in Anderson throughout the 1970s. Subsequent formats since the WGOM days have included 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...
and Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
prior to the current ESPN Radio sports format.