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 owned by Superior Communications, a nonprofit organization. Most programming originates from studios in Williamston, Michigan (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 Lansing, Michigan began broadcasting. [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 four 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).

Map of stations and translators Smile FM stations.png
Map of stations and translators

Stations owned and operated by Smile FM include:

Call sign Frequency City of license ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
KOYH95.5 FM Elaine, Arkansas 6,00085  m (279  ft)A FMQ
WLGH 88.1 FM Leroy Township, Ingham County, Michigan 6,700174 m (571 ft)B1 FMQ
WSMF88.1 FM Monroe, Michigan 1,20041 m (135 ft)A FMQ
WHYT88.1 FM Goodland Township, Michigan 400177 m (581 ft)A FMQ
WEJC88.3 FM White Star, Michigan 55,000114 m (374 ft)C1 FMQ
WKPK88.3 FM Michigamme, Michigan 15,000252 m (827 ft)C2 FMQ
WSMZ-FM88.3 FM Crystal Valley, Michigan 1,500200 m (656 ft)A FMQ
WDTE88.3 FM Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan 5,50050 m (164 ft)A FMQ
WJOM88.5 FM Eagle, Michigan 4,300 [nb 1] 40 m (131 ft)A FMQ
WSIS88.7 FM Riverside, Michigan 6,000117 m (384 ft)B1 FMQ
WDTR88.9 FM Imlay City, Michigan 3,20061 m (200 ft)A FMQ
WTLI89.3 FM Bear Creek Township, Michigan 50,000312 m (1,024 ft)C1 FMQ
WSMB89.3 FM Harbor Beach, Michigan 12,000145 m (476 ft)C3 FMQ
WDTP89.5 FM Huron Charter Township, Michigan 70095 m (312 ft)A FMQ
WJOJ89.7 FM Rust Township, Michigan 31,000143 m (469 ft)C2 FMQ
WTAC89.7 FM Burton, Michigan 15,000110 m (361 ft)B1 FMQ
WSLI-FM90.9 FM Belding, Michigan 11,50073 m (240 ft)B1 FMQ
WJOG91.3 FM Good Hart, Michigan 6,000209.2 m (686 ft)C2 FMQ
WVMV91.5 FM China Township, Michigan 1,05075 m (246 ft)A FMQ
WAIR104.9 FM Lake City, Michigan 2,800149 m (489 ft)A FMQ
WJOH91.5 FM Raco, Michigan 5,500100 m (328 ft)A FMQ
WYOR88.5 FM Republic, Ohio 10032 m (105 ft)A FMQ

Translators

Translators rebroadcasting Smile FM include:

Call sign Frequency City of license ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC infoNotes
W242BH96.3 FM Marshall, Michigan 17032.1  m (105  ft)D FMQ repeats WLGH ; serves Battle Creek
W246CW97.1 FM Long Lake Township, Michigan 10260.8 m (856 ft)D FMQ repeats WTLI; serves Traverse City
W247CU97.3 FM Fort Gratiot, Michigan 2583 m (272 ft)D FMQ repeats WVMV; serves Port Huron
W262AF100.3 FM Parchment, Michigan 3852.5 m (172 ft)D FMQ repeats WSIS; serves Kalamazoo
W273CI102.5 FM Grand Haven, Michigan 250191 m (627 ft)D FMQ repeats WSMZ-FM; serves Muskegon
W280EL103.9 FM Yates, Michigan 10119.3 m (391 ft)D FMQ repeats WVMV; serves northern Metro Detroit suburbs
W286CI105.1 FM Saginaw, Michigan 25049 m (161 ft)D FMQ repeats WEJC
W299CB107.7 FM Manistee, Michigan 1998 m (322 ft)D FMQ repeats WSMZ-FM
W272DG102.3 FM Pittsfield Township, Michigan 1998 m (322 ft)D FMQ repeats WTAC; serves Ann Arbor
W244EN96.7 FM Lapeer, Michigan 250276.5 m (907 ft)D FMQ repeats WLCO; serves Flint
W260CQ99.9 FM Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan 10126 m (413 ft)D FMQ repeats WSLI-FM; serves Grand Rapids
WLHT 95.7 FM Grand Rapids, Michigan 40,000147 m (482 ft)B FMQ 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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