Smile FM

Last updated

Smile FM
Smilefmlogo.jpg
Programming
Format Religious; Contemporary Christian
Ownership
OwnerSuperior Communications
History
Founded1996 [1]
Links
Webcast www.smile.fm/streaming/
Website www.smile.fm

Smile FM is a network of non-commercial, contemporary Christian radio stations in the state of Michigan owned by Superior Communications, a nonprofit organization. Most programming originates from studios in Williamston (just east of Lansing) and is relayed (with local inserts) by an expanding number of stations throughout the state. The network also has studios in Imlay City, Michigan.

Contents

Smile FM was originally two separate networks. The first, The Light, was founded in December 1996, when WLGH in Leroy Township, serving Lansing, signed on. [2] The second, Joy FM, began on December 12, 2000, with WHYT (renamed as WWKM and again as WDTR) in Imlay City. While both played contemporary Christian music, The Light aimed for a younger audience. In June 2004, the two networks were combined to form Smile FM in a "wedding ceremony" conducted at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing. [3] [4] The new name eliminated confusion since many other unrelated stations used The Light and Joy FM names.

The network is notable for putting stations on the air at a low cost. They lease existing towers and manufacture some of their own equipment. Unlike many Christian stations, they play music with only a few short breaks for weather, news, announcements, and features. Smile FM has also pioneered the use of new technology to help distribute and customize its programming, including developing an emergency weather notification system that is faster and more reliable than the required EAS system (which they also operate).

The licenses for the stations are split between four subsidiaries: Superior Communications, Michigan Community Radio, Northland Community Broadcasters and Smile FM.

In January 2008, Smile FM established WWKM (now WDTR) Imlay City as the flagship of an experimental Smile FM Praise network playing Christian contemporary worship music. Previously, the station had broadcast traditional Christian music and hymns. The Smile FM Praise experiment was ended in 2009 and plans made to move that station to the northern suburbs of Detroit.

The owners have often recycled the call letters of famous Michigan stations of the past for their stations. WDTR (now WRCJ), WHYT (now WDVD), and WVMV (now WDZH) were once used by Detroit stations. WTAC (now WSNL) was the leading top 40 station in Flint during the 1960s (and, ironically, a pioneering contemporary Christian station during the 1980s). WKPK was used by a popular top 40 station of the 1980s and 1990s in northern Michigan (now WSRT). WAIR was an oldies station in northern Michigan (now WFDX) and the calls were also used for a construction permit for a station in Honor (now WSRJ). WWKM was a now-defunct station in Harrison (and Smile FM's 88.5 FM station in the Alpena area, WSFP, once bore the calls of WWKM's sister station WKKM, which is now WTWS in Houghton Lake).

Others were named for the original formats of the stations. WLGH and WTLI were The Light. All of the stations beginning with WJ were in or scheduled to be in the Joy FM network. All call letters beginning with WDT (WDTE, WDTP, and WDTR) serve portions of the Detroit metropolitan area.

Smile FM Network Stations

The combined footprint of Smile FM's stations covers most of Michigan's densely populated area (though much of West Michigan relies on translators).

Stations owned and operated by Smile FM include:

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
KOYH95.5 FM Elaine, Arkansas 1904306,00085  m (279  ft)A LMS
WLGH 88.1 FM Leroy Township, Ingham County, Michigan 784606,700174 m (571 ft)B1 LMS
WSMF88.1 FM Monroe, Michigan 892771,20041 m (135 ft)A LMS
WHYT88.1 FM Goodland Township, Michigan 84187400177 m (581 ft)A LMS
WEJC88.3 FM White Star, Michigan 6402155,000114 m (374 ft)C1 LMS
WKPK88.3 FM Michigamme, Michigan 9224115,000252 m (827 ft)C2 LMS
WSMZ-FM88.3 FM Crystal Valley, Michigan 1755661,500200 m (656 ft)A LMS
WDTE88.3 FM Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan 1750935,50050 m (164 ft)A LMS
WJOM88.5 FM Eagle, Michigan 1217944,300 [nb 1] 40 m (131 ft)A LMS
WSIS88.7 FM Riverside, Michigan 7416476,000117 m (384 ft)B1 LMS
WDTR88.9 FM Imlay City, Michigan 926353,20061 m (200 ft)A LMS
WTLI89.3 FM Bear Creek Township, Michigan 8447950,000312 m (1,024 ft)C1 LMS
WSMB89.3 FM Harbor Beach, Michigan 17524912,000145 m (476 ft)C3 LMS
WDTP89.5 FM Huron Charter Township, Michigan 17630270095 m (312 ft)A LMS
WJOJ89.7 FM Rust Township, Michigan 8866731,000143 m (469 ft)C2 LMS
WTAC89.7 FM Burton, Michigan 8804015,000110 m (361 ft)B1 LMS
WSLI-FM90.9 FM Belding, Michigan 9144611,50073 m (240 ft)B1 LMS
WJOG91.3 FM Good Hart, Michigan 1217766,000209.2 m (686 ft)C2 LMS
WVMV91.5 FM China Township, Michigan 1762151,05075 m (246 ft)A LMS
WAIR104.9 FM Lake City, Michigan 923452,800149 m (489 ft)A LMS
WJOH91.5 FM Raco, Michigan 1217955,500100 m (328 ft)A LMS
WYOR88.5 FM Republic, Ohio 17421310032 m (105 ft)A LMS

Translators

Translators rebroadcasting Smile FM include:

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC infoNotes
W242BH96.3 FM Marshall, Michigan 14524117032.1  m (105  ft)D LMS repeats WLGH ; serves Battle Creek
W246CW97.1 FM Long Lake Township, Michigan 15828310260.8 m (856 ft)D LMS repeats WTLI; serves Traverse City
W247CU97.3 FM Fort Gratiot, Michigan 1570542583 m (272 ft)D LMS repeats WVMV; serves Port Huron
W262AF100.3 FM Parchment, Michigan 783873852.5 m (172 ft)D LMS repeats WSIS; serves Kalamazoo
W273CI102.5 FM Grand Haven, Michigan 148894250191 m (627 ft)D LMS repeats WSMZ-FM; serves Muskegon
W280EL103.9 FM Yates, Michigan 15635710119.3 m (391 ft)D LMS repeats WVMV; serves northern Metro Detroit suburbs
W286CI105.1 FM Saginaw, Michigan 14316125049 m (161 ft)D LMS repeats WEJC
W299CB107.7 FM Manistee, Michigan 1531831998 m (322 ft)D LMS repeats WSMZ-FM
W272DG102.3 FM Pittsfield Township, Michigan 1571191998 m (322 ft)D LMS repeats WTAC; serves Ann Arbor
W244EN96.7 FM Lapeer, Michigan 157076250276.5 m (907 ft)D LMS repeats WTAC; serves Flint
W260CQ99.9 FM Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan 15853810126 m (413 ft)D LMS repeats WSLI-FM; serves Grand Rapids
WLHT 95.7 FM Grand Rapids, Michigan 3745740,000147 m (482 ft)B LMS uses HD2 subchannel, repeats WSLI-FM

Future stations

On October 6, 2022, it was announced that Smile FM has filed a $60,000 deal to purchase WGVU (1480 AM) in Grand Rapids from Grand Valley State University. [5] The station, along with WGVS (850 AM) in Muskegon, originally carried an oldies radio format until January 7, 2022, when both stations closed down. [6] Smile FM had already acquired WGVS effective June 28, 2022, for $25,000.

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ WJOM currently holds a construction permit to increase to 25,000 watts.[ citation needed ]

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References

  1. ↑ Demske, Kristyne E. "Smile! It's a new radio station", St. Clair Shores Sentinel. May 16, 2012. p. 3A.
  2. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000 . Broadcasting & Cable. 2000. p. D-227. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ Austerman, Mike. "June 2004 News and Notes", Michiguide.com. June 30, 2004. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Josh Strickland Exits Townsquare/Lansing To Join Smile FM Radio Network". All Access. June 19, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Deal Digest: New Owners for Adams Radio, TelevisaUnivision Sells in San Juan".
  6. ↑ Venta, Lance (December 29, 2021). "WGVU To Shut Down Real Oldies 1480/850". RadioInsight. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
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