WKLH

Last updated
WKLH
WKLH HometownRock96.5 logo.png
Broadcast area Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Frequency 96.5 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingHometown Rock 96.5, or simply KLH
Programming
Format Classic rock
Affiliations Compass Media Networks
United Stations Radio Networks
Ownership
Owner
  • Saga Communications
  • (Lakefront Communications, LLC)
WHQG, WJMR-FM, WJOI, WRXS
History
First air date
June 26, 1956 (as WFMR)
Former call signs
WFMR (1956-1983)
WMGF (1983-1986)
Call sign meaning
For an earlier iteration of the classic hits format phonetically before station shifted to classic rock
Technical information
Facility ID 36370
Class B
ERP 20,000 watts
HAAT 247 meters (810 ft)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website wklh.com

WKLH (96.5 FM) is a classic rock-formatted radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of the Milwaukee Radio Group. Its studios (which are shared with the other four sister stations) are located on Milwaukee's West Side and the transmitter is the MPTV tower in Shorewood.

Contents

WKLH broadcasts in the digital hybrid HD Radio format. [1]

History

Classical (1956-1983)

The station received its Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license on November 30, 1955. They signed on the air as WFMR on June 26, 1956 with a classical music format from the Bayshore Shopping Center in Glendale, with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 24.5 kilowatts and an antenna height of 35 feet above average terrain (HAAT). They began broadcasting in stereo in 1962. In June 1969, it boosted its power to 40 kW, becoming the most powerful FM station in Milwaukee at that time. They got another power upgrade in July 1974, this time to 50 kW.

Adult contemporary (1983-1986)

In January 1983, the station's owners switched the format to adult contemporary, picking up the call sign WMGF and named the station Magic 96.5. Three months later, on April 27, 1983, the owner of (WXJY) picked up the WFMR call sign, its classical music format, and several of its air talents.

Classic hits (1986-2005)

WMGF carried on for three years until flipping formats to classic hits as WKLH on January 27, 1986. [2] WKLH was an immediate success, almost tripling its ratings and landing in the top five stations in the market in its first ratings book. [3]

Classic rock (2005-present)

The station tweaked its format to classic rock in early 2005, as the classic hits format itself in the industry drifted towards a more pop-leaning sound with 80s and early 90s music. WKLH has long been a ratings success in the Milwaukee area, and has also won many awards, including Radio & Records "Classic Rock Station of the Year" in 2001.[ citation needed ] On April 23, 2015, WKLH rebranded as "Hometown Rock 96.5." [4]

The WKLH call letters previously belonged to AM 1580 and FM 92.1 (K-92) in Saint Johns, Michigan, from October 1983 to September 1985. But before that, the WKLH call letters belonged to a Montgomery, Alabama radio station operating at 92.3 MHz from 1973 through 1977 and was known as "Stereo 92."

Dave and Carole

The Dave and Carole morning show dominated the Milwaukee radio ratings since WKLH debuted in 1986.[ citation needed ] Based on a yearly 4 rating book average, this show has finished either #1 or #2 in Adults 25-54 for 22 consecutive years.[ citation needed ]

The show was hosted by Dave Luczak and Carole Caine, who did the news and added the "female" perspective. The other regular was Kevin (KB) Brandt. KB is a former stand-up comedian and a musician who also performs in several local bands. Since early 2002, the show has been produced by Marcus Allen.

Over the past 20+ years, the show has featured a rotating cast. Regulars have included many current or former athletes and coaches. These include former Milwaukee Brewer Paul Molitor (86-92), former Brewer manager Phil Garner (92-98), then-Green Bay Packer coach Mike Holmgren (92-98), QB Brett Favre (97-00), defensive lineman Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (02-06), and former Brewer pitching coach Mike Maddux (05-08). Other sports guests include LeRoy Butler, a member of the Packer Hall of Fame and Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal, twice Wisconsin sports writer of the year and famed glee club aficionado.

Other current or former regular cast members include:;

Mike Gousha from WISN 12 in Milwaukee, improv master Dylan Bolin "Out Of The Box", Segway King Angelo "Mort" Snotlocker, Rudy "Itchy" Itchkowski, Gino (The Judge) Salomone, "MR. Angry", Dutch "Wandering Wisconsin", Joyce Garbaciak from WISN-12, Katrina Cravy from FOX 6, Greg "The Gristleman" Koch, John McGivern, Willy Porter, Genesis touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer and more.

Dave and Carole have also hosted hundreds of thousands of comedians in their studios. Since 1988 they have featured the weekly headliner at the Comedy Cafe in Milwaukee. Other comedy "regulars" include: Fred Klett, Jim Gaffigan, Kyle Cease, Kathleen Madigan and Stephen Lynch and Wisconsin native Frank Caliendo.

Dave and Carole also produce and host many live shows in the Milwaukee area. These include their yearly "Comedy 4 Kids" at the Riverside Theater, "Dave and Carole-ing" for Christmas, their annual Christmas show also at the Riverside Theater, and the "Music of the Morning 'KLH" featuring the talented musicians of the morning show. All of these shows are fund raisers for their various charity endeavors and all shows typically sell out within seconds.

On June 29, 2015, Carole Caine was let go by Saga after her contract was not renewed, ending a 29-year career at WKLH. [5] Mornings are currently hosted by Dave Luczak.

Miracle Marathon

Once every year starting in 1998, WKLH's morning show, Dave & Carole, host the "Miracle Marathon" to raise money for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Over the course of three days in 2008, they raised over $1.4 million. Dave and Carole's 11-year total is over $11 million.

Related Research Articles

WWPW – branded as Power 96-1 – is a commercial contemporary hit radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station serves the Atlanta metropolitan area and is the Atlanta affiliate for American Top 40. The WWPW studios are located in Atlanta's Underwood Hills district inside the Works ATL development, while the station transmitter resides in nearby North Druid Hills. Besides a standard analog transmission, WWPW broadcasts over three HD Radio channels, and is available online via iHeartRadio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTMJ (AM)</span> Radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

WTMJ is a commercial AM radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Owned by Good Karma Brands, the station has a news/talk radio format. Its sign-on dates back to 1922 and for most of its history it was owned by The Milwaukee Journal newspaper. On weekdays, it airs news blocks during drive time, local talk shows in middays, sports in the evening and syndicated shows in late nights. It is the flagship station for Milwaukee Brewers baseball and Milwaukee Bucks basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WISN-TV</span> ABC affiliate in Milwaukee

WISN-TV is a television station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, affiliated with ABC. Owned by Hearst Television, it is the second-oldest television station to remain with the company in all of its various iterations behind flagship WBAL-TV in Baltimore. WISN-TV's studios are located on North 19th Street on the west end of the Marquette University campus, and its transmitter is located at Lincoln Park in the northeastern part of Milwaukee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WINS-FM</span> All-news radio station in New York City

WINS-FM is a radio station licensed to New York, New York and owned by Audacy, Inc. WINS-FM simulcasts an all-news radio format branded as "1010 WINS"; with the call sign phonetically pronounced as "wins". The station's studios are located in the Hudson Square neighborhood in Manhattan and its transmitter is located at the Empire State Building. WINS-FM also broadcasts in HD Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRXS</span> Radio station in Brookfield, Wisconsin

WRXS is a commercial radio station licensed to Brookfield, Wisconsin, and serving the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Milwaukee Radio Group. It broadcasts an oldies radio format, known as "Pure Oldies," concentrating on 1950s, 60s and 70s hits. It switches to Christmas music during the holiday season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHQG</span> Radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

WHQG is a commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It airs an active rock radio format and is owned by Saga Communications, operating as part of its Milwaukee Radio Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXSS</span> Radio station in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

WXSS is a commercial radio station licensed to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and serving Greater Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin. It broadcasts a Top 40 (CHR) radio format and is owned by Audacy, Inc. Its studios are on West Grange Avenue in Hales Corners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRNW</span> Sports talk radio station in Milwaukee

WRNW is a commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, known as "97.3 The Game." It airs a sports radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios are on West Howard Avenue in Greenfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJMR-FM</span> Radio station in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

WJMR-FM is an urban adult contemporary radio station serving the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area. They are known on-air as "Jammin' 98.3", and are licensed to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Under ownership of Saga Communications, its studios and transmitter are located in Milwaukee's West Side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKTI</span> ESPN Radio affiliate in Milwaukee

WKTI – branded 94.5 ESPN Milwaukee – is a commercial sports radio station licensed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Owned by Good Karma Brands, WKTI is an affiliate for ESPN Radio. WKTI is known as ESPN Milwaukee; also jointly identified as ESPN Wisconsin alongside Madison-based sister station WTLX, which simulcasts much of WKTI's local programming. WKTI also serves as the flagship station for the Marquette Golden Eagles; and the radio home of Mark Chmura, Mark Tauscher, Tony Smith and Steve True. WKTI shares its transmitter and tower facility with WTMJ-TV from its former studio located off of Capitol Drive in Milwaukee, an Art Deco facility known as "Radio City", in tribute to the New York complex of the same name. WTMJ radio, WKTI and WGKB moved to a new studio within the Third Street Market Hall in downtown Milwaukee at the end of 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOKY</span> Radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

WOKY is a commercial AM radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It is one of two sports radio stations owned by iHeart in Milwaukee. WRNW 97.3 FM focuses on Wisconsin-based sports shows, while WOKY 920 mostly airs national programs from Fox Sports Radio, including Dan Patrick and Colin Cowherd. WOKY's studios and offices, which became the home of all iHeart Milwaukee stations in 2000 after a building expansion, are on West Howard Avenue in Greenfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WISN (AM)</span> Radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

WISN is a commercial AM radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It broadcasts a conservative talk radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios are on Howard Avenue in the Milwaukee suburb of Greenfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTUE</span> Radio station in Dayton, Ohio

WTUE is a classic rock formatted radio station with studios in Dayton. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. Its transmitter is located in Moraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXXM</span> Radio station in Sun Prairie–Madison, Wisconsin, United States

WXXM is a commercial radio station licensed to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and serving the Madison metropolitan area. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, and broadcasts an adult hits radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. The station is noted for its runs as an alternative rock station during the 1980s and 1990s and as a progressive talk station in the 2000s and 2010s.

WJJO is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Watertown, Wisconsin, and serving the Madison metropolitan area. It has an active rock radio format and is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting. Its studios are on Rayovac Drive in Madison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOZN (AM)</span> Radio station in Madison, Wisconsin

WOZN is a sports AM radio station licensed to and serving Madison, Wisconsin. Owned and operated by Mid-West Family Broadcasting, WOZN is also simulcast on low-powered translator W244DR (96.7 MHz).

WQTX is a radio station broadcasting a rhythmic adult contemporary format to the Lansing, Michigan radio market. Licensed to St. Johns, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1972, and has been through a number of different calls and formats during its history.

WFMR was a classical music radio station that existed on three different FM frequencies around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during its 51-year history. Its last frequency was 106.9 MHz.

WDUX-FM is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to Waupaca, Wisconsin, United States, the station is currently owned by Tower Road Media. Current on-air personalities include Rick Winters.

WIBA is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Madison, Wisconsin. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station airs a Conservative Talk format, under the slogan "Madison's News/Talk Station."

References

  1. ↑ "not found".
  2. ↑ "Tom Joerres - WKLH/Milwaukee · The History of Classic Rock Radio". Archived from the original on 2016-02-23.
  3. ↑ "Billboard". 1986-08-02.
  4. ↑ "WKLH Becomes Milwaukee's Hometown Rock – RadioInsight". 23 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "duanedudek.com". ww38.duanedudek.com. Retrieved 2024-01-25.

43°05′49″N87°54′18″W / 43.097°N 87.905°W / 43.097; -87.905

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.