WYGR
Encyclopedia
WYGR is a radio station
broadcasting an Urban Adult Contemporary
format, licensed to Wyoming, Michigan
and serving the Grand Rapids
area. The station operates with 500 watts during the day and 250 watts critical hours, but must sign off at night to protect 1530 WCKY
in Cincinnati. It Signal Can Be Heard As Far East As ewamo, Michigan], As Far South As Otsego, Michigan
, And As Far North As Morley, Michigan
The station first began broadcasting in 1964 under the WERX call sign. WERX began as a MOR station but changed to Top 40 during the summer of 1965, and enjoyed moderate success as a Top 40 rocker until dropping the format in May 1968. The station's potential was always limited due to its poor signal and the fact that co-channel WCKY would begin to interfere with WERX's signal even before WERX's sign-off (and still does to this day). WERX provided an early air shift for John "Records" Landecker
, later of WLS
fame.
The station has also aired news/talk (as WTKG) and adult standards
(as WYGR) formats. From 1999 until February 2010, the station featured a Spanish-language format known as "La Furia." The format consisted of a wide variety of different Spanish-language musical genres, including regional Mexican
, grupera
, ranchera
, tropical
, and mainstream Spanish pop and rock. Sunday programming included church services in Spanish and English as well as English-language polka
and adult standards
shows.
In early February 2010, the former owner of WJNZ 1140 AM "1140 Jamz," Robert S. Womack, moved that station's Urban AC format and air lineup to WYGR, in anticipation of WJNZ's switch to a Catholic religious format in the wake of its sale to Holy Family Radio. WJNZ, like WYGR, is a daytimer. It is unclear at this time if the WJNZ calls will migrate to 1530 AM to match the new format.
WYGR is expected to soon have an FM rebroadcaster in the form of translator W236BK at 95.1 MHz, licensed to Forest Hills. W236BK is co-owned with 1530 AM and was purchased from Horizon Christian Fellowship in May 2010. The translator will allow WYGR's programming to be heard around the clock; WNWN-AM
in Kalamazoo is a similarly formatted station with a likewise arrangement.
Morning Show, followed by the midday drive featuring local Disc Jockey "DJ Z". Weekdays are concluded with the political talk show named "The Pulse Of The City" Hosted by Station General Manager and community activist Robert S. Womack.
Local Programming on the weekends include Grand Rapids only Hip-Hop radio program "The Maddog Show" featuring "DJ Maddog", who started working with Womack at WJNZ in 2008.
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 an Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
format, licensed to Wyoming, Michigan
Wyoming, Michigan
Wyoming is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 72,125. That makes it the 2nd largest community or city in West Michigan, the 14th largest city in the state of Michigan, and the 18th largest community in the state as well...
and serving the Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
area. The station operates with 500 watts during the day and 250 watts critical hours, but must sign off at night to protect 1530 WCKY
WCKY (AM)
WCKY is an AM radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, broadcasting at 1530 kHz with 50,000 watts, and its transmitter is located in nearby Villa Hills, Kentucky. It is a class A clear channel station, sharing the frequency with KFBK in Sacramento, and can be heard, particularly at night, over most...
in Cincinnati. It Signal Can Be Heard As Far East As ewamo, Michigan], As Far South As Otsego, Michigan
Otsego, Michigan
Otsego is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,934 at the 2000 census. The city is within Otsego Township, but is administratively autonomous....
, And As Far North As Morley, Michigan
Morley, Michigan
Morley is a village in Deerfield Township, Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 495 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
The station first began broadcasting in 1964 under the WERX call sign. WERX began as a MOR station but changed to Top 40 during the summer of 1965, and enjoyed moderate success as a Top 40 rocker until dropping the format in May 1968. The station's potential was always limited due to its poor signal and the fact that co-channel WCKY would begin to interfere with WERX's signal even before WERX's sign-off (and still does to this day). WERX provided an early air shift for John "Records" Landecker
John Landecker
John Records Landecker is a Top40/Oldies disc jockey best known for creating "Boogie Check," "Americana Panorama," and satirical songs and bits based on current events such as "Make a Date with the Watergate," and "Press My Conference." He currently hosts a TKO Radio Networks syndicated weekend...
, later of WLS
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
fame.
The station has also aired news/talk (as WTKG) and 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...
(as WYGR) formats. From 1999 until February 2010, the station featured a Spanish-language format known as "La Furia." The format consisted of a wide variety of different Spanish-language musical genres, including regional Mexican
Regional Mexican
Regional Mexican is a radio format for music radio, typically defined to include Banda, Ranchera, Mariachi and Norteña. It is the most popular radio format targeting Hispanic Americans in the United States....
, grupera
Grupera
Grupera is a genre of Mexican folk music. It is influenced by the styles of cumbia, norteño, and ranchera, and reached the height of its popularity in the 1980s, especially in rural areas. The music actually has roots in the rock groups of the 1960s, but today generally consists of five or fewer...
, ranchera
Ranchera
Ranchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco. Ranchera today is also played...
, tropical
Tropical music
Musica tropical or tropical music is a broad term for vocal and instrumental music with "tropical" flavor usually associated with the Afro-Caribbean music. It is part of an even broader category of Latin music. Usually it is an upbeat dance music, but also includes ballads. It features complex,...
, and mainstream Spanish pop and rock. Sunday programming included church services in Spanish and English as well as English-language polka
Polka
The 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...
and 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...
shows.
In early February 2010, the former owner of WJNZ 1140 AM "1140 Jamz," Robert S. Womack, moved that station's Urban AC format and air lineup to WYGR, in anticipation of WJNZ's switch to a Catholic religious format in the wake of its sale to Holy Family Radio. WJNZ, like WYGR, is a daytimer. It is unclear at this time if the WJNZ calls will migrate to 1530 AM to match the new format.
WYGR is expected to soon have an FM rebroadcaster in the form of translator W236BK at 95.1 MHz, licensed to Forest Hills. W236BK is co-owned with 1530 AM and was purchased from Horizon Christian Fellowship in May 2010. The translator will allow WYGR's programming to be heard around the clock; WNWN-AM
WNWN (AM)
WNWN is a radio station licensed to Portage, Michigan broadcasting an urban adult contemporary format, provided by ABC Radio Networks . The station serves the greater Kalamazoo, Michigan area....
in Kalamazoo is a similarly formatted station with a likewise arrangement.
Programming
The weekday hours consist of the nationally syndicated Tom JoynerTom Joyner
Thomas "Tom" Joyner is an American radio host, host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and also founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation, and BlackAmericaWeb.com.-Early life:...
Morning Show, followed by the midday drive featuring local Disc Jockey "DJ Z". Weekdays are concluded with the political talk show named "The Pulse Of The City" Hosted by Station General Manager and community activist Robert S. Womack.
Local Programming on the weekends include Grand Rapids only Hip-Hop radio program "The Maddog Show" featuring "DJ Maddog", who started working with Womack at WJNZ in 2008.