WNNW
Encyclopedia
WNNW is a radio station
licensed
to serve Lawrence, Massachusetts
, USA. The station is owned by Costa-Eagle Radio Ventures, LP, a partnership between Pat Costa and his chief investor, the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune. It airs a Spanish Tropical music format. The station is also heard on a translator at 102.9 FM, W275BH; this frequency is oriented to Lawrence and Lowell
, while the AM signal is oriented to Boston
.
, who changed WGHJ's call letters to WCCM-FM that year, before fully separating 93.7 from the WCCM simulcast as WCGY in 1974. By then, WCCM had a middle-of-the-road format, with some talk
and Spanish
programming.
After Curt Gowdy sold WCGY (now WEEI-FM
) to American Radio Systems in 1994, WCCM was put up for sale. However, a buyer was not found until 1997, when Costa-Eagle agreed to purchase the station. Soon after taking over a year later, Costa-Eagle shifted the station from adult standards
to adult contemporary The following year, WCCM began marketing itself to the Lowell
area, after WLLH
(1400 AM) was sold and converted to Spanish-language programming; the station opened a Lowell studio, hired several former WLLH personalities (including news anchor Bob Ellis), and began carrying Lowell Spinners
baseball, which had previously aired on WLLH. The station also began shifting back to standards, replacing satellite talk programming from Talk America with Music of Your Life
a few months later. The Lowell studio was closed in 2002 after the station gradually phased out its use. WCCM also phased out much of its music programming in favor of increased talk programming, with local talk programming during the day and sports radio
programming from ESPN Radio
during evenings, nights, and weekends.
The station was assigned the WNNW call letters on August 29, 2002 as part of a larger shuffle that resulted in WNNW moving its Spanish tropical format from 1110 AM and WCCM
moving to 1490 AM, taking WHAV off-the-air in favor of WCEC
, which took over 1110 AM with WHAV's former programming. The changes formally took effect on-air that September.
In 2008, Pat Costa received Radio Ink
Magazine's Medallas de Cortez Award for General Manager of the Year. Later that year, Costa-Eagle purchased W275BH (102.9 FM), a construction permit
for a translator in Newton, New Hampshire
. Costa-Eagle moved it to 92.1 FM in Lawrence in 2009 (thereby changing its call letters to W221CH). and put it on the air that March as a repeater of WNNW. In June 2011, the translator was moved to 102.9 FM (reclaiming the W275BH call letters) due to interference complaints from WFEX and WPHX-FM.
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
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to serve Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
, USA. The station is owned by Costa-Eagle Radio Ventures, LP, a partnership between Pat Costa and his chief investor, the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune. It airs a Spanish Tropical music format. The station is also heard on a translator at 102.9 FM, W275BH; this frequency is oriented to Lawrence and Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
, while the AM signal is oriented to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
History
The 800 kHz frequency in Lawrence first went on the air in August 1947 as the original home of WCCM, owned by Lawrence Broadcasting Company. An FM sister station, WGHJ (93.7 FM) was launched in April 1960 as a full-time simulcast of WCCM; three years later, the stations were sold to Curt GowdyCurt Gowdy
Curtis Edward "Curt" Gowdy was an American sportscaster, well known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox and for his coverage of many nationally-televised sporting events, primarily for NBC Sports in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:The son of a manager for the Union Pacific railroad,...
, who changed WGHJ's call letters to WCCM-FM that year, before fully separating 93.7 from the WCCM simulcast as WCGY in 1974. By then, WCCM had a middle-of-the-road format, with some talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
programming.
After Curt Gowdy sold WCGY (now WEEI-FM
WEEI-FM
WVEI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format, largely simulcasting Boston-based WEEI. Licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, USA. The station is currently owned by Entercom Communications...
) to American Radio Systems in 1994, WCCM was put up for sale. However, a buyer was not found until 1997, when Costa-Eagle agreed to purchase the station. Soon after taking over a year later, Costa-Eagle shifted the station from 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...
to adult contemporary The following year, WCCM began marketing itself to the Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
area, after WLLH
WLLH
WLLH is a radio station in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts, licensed to Lowell, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Gois Broadcasting, LLC, and airs a tropical music format. In addition to a transmitter in Lowell, there is a synchronous transmitter in Lawrence, together forming...
(1400 AM) was sold and converted to Spanish-language programming; the station opened a Lowell studio, hired several former WLLH personalities (including news anchor Bob Ellis), and began carrying Lowell Spinners
Lowell Spinners
The Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.-History:Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a...
baseball, which had previously aired on WLLH. The station also began shifting back to standards, replacing satellite talk programming from Talk America with Music of Your Life
Music of Your Life
Music of Your Life is a satellite-delivered radio network featuring the Adult Standards music format. Created by record executive and jingle writer Al Ham, and now under the direction of Marc Angell, Music of Your Life has more than 50 AM, FM and HD-2 radio station affiliates, and has been in...
a few months later. The Lowell studio was closed in 2002 after the station gradually phased out its use. WCCM also phased out much of its music programming in favor of increased talk programming, with local talk programming during the day and sports radio
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...
programming 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...
during evenings, nights, and weekends.
The station was assigned the WNNW call letters on August 29, 2002 as part of a larger shuffle that resulted in WNNW moving its Spanish tropical format from 1110 AM and WCCM
WCCM (AM)
WCCM is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Salem, New Hampshire, USA, the station is currently owned by Costa-Eagle Radio Ventures Limited Partnership, a partnership between Pat Costa and his chief investor, The Eagle-Tribune.-History:The 1110 frequency in...
moving to 1490 AM, taking WHAV off-the-air in favor of WCEC
WCEC
WCEC is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish News/Talk format. Licensed to Haverhill, Massachusetts, USA, the station is currently owned by Costa-Eagle Radio Ventures Limited Partnership.-History:...
, which took over 1110 AM with WHAV's former programming. The changes formally took effect on-air that September.
In 2008, Pat Costa received Radio Ink
Radio Ink
Radio Ink is a radio broadcasting industry trade magazine owned by Streamline Publishing. Radio Ink serves the management community of the radio industry in the United States and in 43 Countries worldwide...
Magazine's Medallas de Cortez Award for General Manager of the Year. Later that year, Costa-Eagle purchased W275BH (102.9 FM), a construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
for a translator in Newton, New Hampshire
Newton, New Hampshire
Newton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,603 at the 2010 census.- History :The sixth town to be granted from the Masonian land purchase of 1746, Newton was originally part of Salisbury, Massachusetts; later, part of Amesbury, Massachusetts; then...
. Costa-Eagle moved it to 92.1 FM in Lawrence in 2009 (thereby changing its call letters to W221CH). and put it on the air that March as a repeater of WNNW. In June 2011, the translator was moved to 102.9 FM (reclaiming the W275BH call letters) due to interference complaints from WFEX and WPHX-FM.
On-air staff
- El Calenton de La Manana: Richie Herrera, Awilda Reyes, Paul Easy
- Baby Paisa
- El Baron the Show
- Crazy J
- Luis Perez Pena
- DJ Frankie
- Master Eddy