WFUR (AM)

Last updated
WFUR
Frequency 1570kHz
BrandingWFUR Classic
Programming
Format Religious
Ownership
OwnerFurniture City Broadcasting Corporation
History
First air date
1947
Call sign meaning
FURniture City
Technical information
Facility ID 22916
Class B
Power 1,000 watts (daytime)
307 watts (Nighttime)
Transmitter coordinates
42°57′14″N85°41′52″W / 42.95389°N 85.69778°W / 42.95389; -85.69778
Translator(s) 92.9/W225BL: Grand Haven, Michigan.

WFUR (1570 AM, "WFUR Classic") is a radio station broadcasting a religious format licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan. It features a variety of teaching and preaching programs. Additionally, it features a variety of music. The music is a mixture of hymns and Christian classics (1960s through 1980s). WFUR transmits with a power of 1,000 watts daytime and 307 watts nighttime.

Contents

In May 2020 music was changed to 1970s to current and the "Classic" designation was mostly dropped. With the sale of sister station WFUR-FM (102.9) there is now only one WFUR on the radio dial. The separate music libraries are being merged.

History

Beginning (1947–1950)

WFUR 1570 was constructed and put on the air in 1947. It was licensed as a 1,000-watt, daytime-only station. A trio of war veterans operated WFUR from 1947–1950. The programing was typical for that time period: Weekdays playing secular music and programs and some paid church programs on the weekends. One of the paid programs was the "Hour of Praise". The "Hour of Praise" had aired weekly for about 10 years on a variety of stations throughout west Michigan. It featured live and/or recorded live hymn-sings and sermons from various area churches. Overseeing those weekly broadcasts was William Kuiper. Kuiper had a clothing store in the Grand Rapids area and did the "Hour of Praise" on a volunteer basis. After some time, the owners of WFUR suggested that perhaps William Kuiper would like to purchase WFUR. Upon thinking and praying about the matter, Kuiper decided to attempt it.

Kuiper ownership (1950–present)

Kuiper's vision for a non-denominational Christian radio station. His unique idea was that it could be supported through advertising. The few Christian radio stations on the air at that time were supported by a single church or on-air fund raising. He felt strongly that people should tithe to their church, not a radio station. Secondly, he wanted to allow various Christian groups to purchase airtime, which at that time was not the norm.

WFUR-FM

In 1960, sister station WFUR-FM 102.9 was put on the air at the same facility location. At 12 noon on May 12, 2020, WFUR-FM played its last sign-off announcement. This ends its history in west Michigan. The station later returned to the air as WYHA, part of the Bible Broadcasting Network.

Translator

Broadcast translators of WFUR
Call sign Frequency
(MHz)
City of license Facility
ID
ERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
Class Transmitter coordinatesFCC info
W225BL92.9 Grand Haven, Michigan 1523502500 m (0 ft)D 42°57′13″N85°41′55″W / 42.95361°N 85.69861°W / 42.95361; -85.69861 FCC LMS

In the summer of 2013, WFUR purchased an FM translator. The translator, W225BL, signed on that November. The antenna is mounted on the WYHA tower.

Sources


Related Research Articles

WUBG is a Spanish CHR station licensed to serve Methuen, Massachusetts. It has an FM translator, W287CW, at 105.3 MHz. The station is called "LatinX". The WUBG transmitter is located in Andover, while W287CW's transmitter is in Medford. The station is owned by Costa-Eagle Radio Ventures Limited Partnership—a partnership between Pat Costa and The Eagle-Tribune

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Radio</span> Public radio network of the University of Michigan

Michigan Radio is a network of five FM public radio stations operated by the University of Michigan through its broadcasting arm, Michigan Public Media. The network is a founding member of National Public Radio and an affiliate of Public Radio International, American Public Media, and BBC World Service. Its main studio is located in Ann Arbor, with satellite studios in Flint and offices in Grand Rapids. It currently airs news and talk, which it has since July 1, 1996. The combined footprint of the five stations covers most of the southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, from Muskegon to Detroit.

KARR is an AM radio station licensed to Kirkland, Washington, United States. It airs a Christian radio format and broadcasts to the Seattle metropolitan area. It is owned by James A Dalke and is an affiliate of the Family Radio Network, based in Oakland, California. KARR airs several Christian ministry broadcasts from noted teachers such as RC Sproul, Alistair Begg, Ken Ham, John F. MacArthur, Adriel Sanchez, Dennis Rainey, John Piper, & others as well as traditional and modern hymns & songs by Keith & Kristyn Getty, The Master's Chorale, Fernando Ortega, Chris Rice, Shane & Shane, Sovereign Grace Music, Sara Groves, & multiple other Christian and Gospel music artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWCD (AM)</span> Radio station in Columbus, Ohio

WWCD is a commercial alternative rock radio station licensed to serve Columbus, Ohio, servicing the Columbus metropolitan area. Owned by ICS Communications, Inc., and operated by WWCD Limited, the WWCD studios are located in the Brewery District, while the station transmitter resides in Columbus' Brandywine neighborhood. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WWCD is relayed over low-power analog Columbus translator W225CS (92.9 FM), as well as broadcast at WQCD, a commercial alternative rock radio station licensed to serve Delaware, Ohio, locally owned by Brent Casagrande through licensee Delmar Communications, Inc. and operated by WWCD, Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHLS</span> Radio station in Michigan, United States

WHLS is an alternative rock radio station licensed to Port Huron, Michigan, with a power output of 1,000 watts, covering much of St. Clair County, Michigan. It is the oldest continuously operating radio station serving St. Clair County. The station is owned by Radio First and broadcasts from studios on Huron Avenue in Downtown Port Huron. Its programming is also simulcasted on FM Translator W288BT, licensed to St. Clair, Michigan at 105.5 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 49 watts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WONU</span> Christian radio station of Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois

WONU is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Kankakee, Illinois, United States, and serving the region south of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is a non-profit, listener-supported station owned and operated by Olivet Nazarene University, which is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It airs a Christian Contemporary Music radio format.

WECZ is an American commercially licensed daytime-only radio station, licensed to serve the community of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The station operates with a maximum power output of 5,000 watts daytime, and 1,000 watts during critical hours. WECZ is owned by Renda Radio, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Renda Broadcasting Corporation of Pittsburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KGGR</span> Radio station in Dallas, Texas

KGGR is a commercial radio station, licensed to Dallas, Texas and serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is owned by MARC Radio Group, through licensee MARC Radio Dallas, LLC, and airs an urban gospel radio format, in place since 1990. The call sign stands for Great Gospel Radio.

WKAR is an educational radio station, licensed to the trustees of Michigan State University (MSU) at East Lansing, Michigan, United States. The station is part of MSU's Broadcasting Services Division, along with WKAR-FM and WKAR-TV. Studios and offices are located in the Communication Arts and Sciences Building, at the southeast corner of Wilson and Red Cedar Roads on the MSU campus.

WYHA is a radio station broadcasting the Bible Broadcasting Network in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.

WNWZ is a radio station broadcasting an urban contemporary format, licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

WYGR is a radio station broadcasting a classic country 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. WYGR programming is simulcast on FM translator W235BN at 94.9 FM, which can be heard in the immediate Grand Rapids area as far north as Cedar Springs and Allendale but gives way to co-channel WMMQ out of East Lansing east of Grand Rapids and fellow co-channel WKZC north and west of the Grand Rapids area. A second FM translator W258DF in Lowell was added in February 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMRR</span> Radio station in Muskegon Heights, Michigan

WMRR is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. Licensed to Muskegon Heights, Michigan, it first began broadcasting under the WKJR call sign.

WOAP is a commercial radio station broadcasting Regional Mexican Syndication of WMJH. Licensed to Owosso, Michigan, it serves Shiawassee County. While the station is a daytimer, licensed to operate during daylight hours only, its programming is heard around the clock on its FM translator W276CZ (103.1 MHz) in Saginaw.

WMPC is a non-commercial AM radio station licensed to Lapeer, Michigan, and serving the northern suburbs of Detroit and the Flint area. It broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format and is owned by the Calvary Bible Church of Lapeer. It first began broadcasting on December 6, 1926, and is the oldest continuously operating Christian radio station in the United States.

WKPR was a radio station that served the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area of the United States.

WMDG is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to East Point, Georgia, the station serves the Atlanta metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLBQ</span> Radio station in Morgantown, Kentucky

WLBQ, known locally on air as "BeechTree Radio," or simply as "The Q", is a radio station broadcasting a Classic Hits format. Licensed to Morgantown, Kentucky, United States, the station is currently owned by Beech Tree Publishing. Its transmitter is located along South Main Street, and the studios are located at 107 West Ohio Street in downtown Morgantown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWVT-FM</span> Public radio station in Ferrum, Virginia

WWVT and WWVT-FM are non-commercial public radio stations. WWVT is licensed to Christiansburg, Virginia, and WWVT-FM is licensed to Ferrum, Virginia. They broadcast a classical music format and are owned and operated by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. WWVT-FM is the flagship station of WVTF Music, a companion service to WVTF, Southwestern Virginia's NPR member news and information station. WWVT-AM-FM have their studios and offices at WVTF's facility in Roanoke.

WKBZ was a radio station on 1520 kHz in Muskegon Heights, Michigan. It broadcast between 1963 and 2001 and was last owned by WLC Broadcasting.