![]() | |
Broadcast area | LaSalle / Princeton |
---|---|
Frequency | 100.9 MHz |
Branding | 100.9 FM Rocks! |
Programming | |
Format | Classic rock |
Affiliations | Westwood One |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WALS, WGLC-FM, WIVQ, WSTQ, WYYS | |
History | |
First air date | March 15, 1970 [2] |
Former call signs | WGSY (1969–1977) [3] WIVQ (1977–1984) [3] [4] WLRZ (1984–2000) [4] |
Call sign meaning | For aborted rock branding of The Buzz |
Technical information [5] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 69732 |
Class | A |
ERP | 3,000 watts |
HAAT | 100 meters (330 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°18′11″N89°14′10″W / 41.303°N 89.236°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | wbzg.net |
WBZG (100.9 FM) is a radio station licensed to Peru, Illinois, covering, LaSalle, Peru, Princeton, and Vicinity. WBZG airs a classic rock format and is owned by Shaw Media, through licensee Shaw Local Radio Co., after previously being owned by Studstill Media/Mendota Broadcasting, Inc. until April 2023. [1]
The station began broadcasting on March 15, 1970, holding the call sign WGSY. [2] [3] The station was originally owned by George W. Yazell, and had an ERP of 3,000 watts at a HAAT of 145 feet. [3] WGSY aired a variety format. [6] [7] In 1977, the station was sold to Radio Illinois, Ltd. for $85,000. [3] [8]
In 1977, the station's call sign was changed to WIVQ, and the station began airing a MOR format. [3] [9] By 1980, the station had begun airing an adult rock format. [10] By 1983, the station had begun airing a beautiful music/easy listening format. [11] By 1984, the station was airing a MOR format. [12] In 1984, the station was sold to Starved Rock Radio Project for $155,000. [13] [14]
In September 1984, the station's call sign was changed to WLRZ. [4] WLRZ would air an adult contemporary format. [15] By 1990, the station had begun airing a classic rock format. [16] [17] In 1994, the station was sold to Valley Plus Broadcasting for $150,000. [18] [19] In 1997, the station was sold to Mendota Broadcasting, Inc., along with 103.3 WAIV, for $700,000. [20] [21]
In July 2000, the station's call sign was changed to WBZG, and the station was branded "The Buzz". [4] [22] However, in August 2000, 107.7 WBZM in Bloomington would begin broadcasting with "The Buzz" branding, airing a modern rock format. [23] Unbeknownst to WBZG, the owner of WBZM had trademarked "The Buzz" branding for the entire state of Illinois, and WBZG stopped calling itself "The Buzz" to avoid a lawsuit. [23] The station would later be branded "100.9 FM Rocks!". [24]
On January 24, 2023, it was announced that Studstill Media had sold WBZG, along with its sister stations, to Shaw Media in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for a total of $1.8 million. The sale was under FCC review for just under two months before being finalized on March 23, 2023. [25] Shaw Local Radio officially assumed ownership of WBZG and its sister stations on April 3, 2023. [1]