| Broadcast area | Lansing-East Lansing metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1390 kHz |
| Programming | |
| Format | Catholic |
| Affiliations | EWTN |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Ave Maria Media Services |
| History | |
First air date | August 25, 1956 (as WCER) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Lansing's Christian Messenger" (derived from former format) |
| Technical information [1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 42076 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www |
WLCM (1390 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Holt, Michigan and serving the Lansing-East Lansing metropolitan area. It airs a Catholic talk and teaching format and is owned by Ave Maria Media Services. The studios are on Lawrence Highway in Charlotte, Michigan.
WLCM operates from two transmitter locations, both using a directional antennas to protect other stations on 1390 AM from interference. [2] During the day it broadcasts with 5,000 watts from Charlotte, using a two-tower array. At night, it broadcasts from a 4,500-watt transmitter in Holt, with a four-tower array.
As of December 2024, the station was in the process of being sold to Catholic broadcaster Ave Maria Radio for $200,000. [3] By December 2025, WLCM is airing Ave Maria programming and is listed on Ave Maria's website as an affiliate station.
Ave Maria Radio produces Catholic local and nationally syndicated Catholic radio programming. Its national offerings include current event and culture programs Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo and Ave Maria in the Afternoon with Dr. Marcus Peter. [4] Other programs include lifestyle and family counseling programs More2Life with Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak and The Doctor is In with Dr. Ray Guarendi. These programs are syndicated through the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network to more than 350 AM and FM stations across the United States. [5] These programs are also carried on EWTN's SiriusXM channel.
Ave Maria Radio produces a wide variety of programming for its stations in Michigan, including local events and news programs such as Epiphany with Vanessa Denha Garmo.
The station signed on the air on August 25, 1956. It was founded by McLean and Craig Davids as WCER. The call letters stood for Charlotte and Eaton Rapids. WCER was a typical small town station with middle of the road (MOR) music, local news and features. WCER's FM station at 92.7 later became the original frequency of legendary classic rocker WMMQ, and is now WLMI at 92.9.
In 1979, WCER-FM switched to an automated Adult Contemporary music format with the call sign WMMQ. The following year the AM station was sold to Sharon Communications and the call sign became WGWY. The call letters stood for Where God Wants You and the station had a Contemporary Christian format. In 1983, the format changed to traditional Christian music. Throughout both formats, the programming included the Farm Report, which gave grain, livestock, and other agricultural pricing and news. There was also local news and sports that included live, on-site broadcasts; music; weather readings from ticker-tape; regional, state, and national news from ticker-tape; and music spun from vinyl 78s and 45s, as well as from cassettes. Pre-programmed shows purchased from sources such as National Public Radio member stations, were played both from cassettes as well as live. Non-musical advertisements were written and performed by staff, which included everyone from the station manager to the receptionist. Air time for the AM station was from 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Throughout this time period, the WGWY and WMMQ shared facilities at the Charlotte studio, although the stations were separately owned and operated.
In 1986 the FM call sign was changed to WLNF.
ERC Media purchased the station in 1992 and began a short-lived country music format with the call sign WNNY. The next year the station was purchased by Jon Yinger who switched it back to a religious format as WLCM. WLCM stands for Lansing's Christian Messenger.
WLCM is in the process of being purchased by Catholic talk radio network Ave Maria Radio for $250,000. [6] The deal also gives Ave Maria right of first refusal to acquire the station's real estate for $200,000. Ava Maria's flagship station is WDEO in Ann Arbor and features programming from the EWTN network. [7] The purchase brings an end to months of speculation as to which radio station in the market Ava Maria was purchasing. [8]
As of December 2025, WLCM is airing Ave Maria programming.