WLHT-FM

Last updated

WLHT-FM
Broadcast area Grand Rapids, Michigan
Frequency 95.7 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingMix 95.7
Programming
Format Hot adult contemporary
Subchannels HD2: Simulcast of WSLI-FM Smile FM (contemporary Christian)
Affiliations Compass Media Networks
Ownership
Owner
WFGR, WGRD-FM, WNWZ, WTRV
History
First air date
February 26, 1962 (as WKLW)
Former call signs
  • WKLW (1962–1965)
  • WZZM-FM (1965–1977
  • WZZR-FM (1977–1984)
Call sign meaning
"Light music" (previous format)
Technical information
Facility ID 37457
Class B
ERP 40,000 watts
HAAT 168 meters (551 ft)
Translator(s)
Links
Webcast Listen live
Website mix957gr.com

WLHT-FM (95.7 MHz) is a hot adult contemporary music formatted radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan, owned by Townsquare Media. WLHT's studios are located on Ottawa Avenue Northwest in downtown Grand Rapids, while its transmitter is located in Comstock Park.

Contents

WLHT-FM is also licensed for HD Radio operation, and features WSLI-FM on its HD-2 subchannel. [1]

WKLW, WZZM-FM, and WZZR

The station signed on the same day as WOOD-FM (now WSRW-FM) in 1962. The original call letters of 95.7 FM were WKLW. In the mid-1960s, the station came into common ownership with WZZM-TV Channel 13 and became WZZM-FM, an example of the call letters and rounded frequency number both forming ambigrams as "96 WZZM". By 1967, the station was block-programmed, with country music in the morning, Top 40 music in afternoon drive, and middle of the road music at night. Then, in 1968, WZZM-FM converted its format to full-time Top 40. WZZM-FM "Z96" was one of the first FM Top 40s in Michigan to pose a serious challenge to its AM competition: by the end of 1970 it was ahead of WLAV (1340 AM) and WGRD (1410 AM) in several dayparts, including at night, when the AM competition either had poor signals or was off the air, and on the weekends.

In 1971, WZZM-FM picked up a serious competitor when WGRD added an FM signal at 97.9 (formerly WXTO). The reborn WGRD was an instant success. WZZM reacted by evolving its format into a Top 40/AOR hybrid better known as CHR, and then in 1972, into a Top 40/oldies hybrid. The station gained a "second wind" of sorts and posted a #1 12+ Arbitron showing in Grand Rapids in the summer of 1973, but ratings quickly dropped off again afterwards. In 1977, WZZM-FM changed its calls to WZZR and adopted the name Rockradio Z96 (and using the slogan The Wizard of Rock 'n' Roll). WZZR continued to struggle through the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s, shifting back and forth between Top 40/[[adult contemporary". In 1983, WZZR tweaked its format from CHR into a "Rock of the Eighties" format, but ratings remained low.

WLHT

In 1984, WZZR became WLHT and switched to adult contemporary. Once again, 95.7 FM was a pioneer in the market in terms of trying a new format, and once again, its pioneering spirit led to success and acclaim. In 1998 WLHT was named AC station of the year at the Marconi Award ceremonies. Two years later Regent Communications (now Townsquare Media) purchased the station, along with sister stations WGRD-FM, WNWZ, and WTRV.

On April 14, 2006, husband and wife morning team Dave Jagger and Geri Jarvis announced that they would host their final morning show on April 21 after twenty years on the air on W-Lite. They were replaced April 24, 2006, by Denis Pryor and Nanette in morning drive. At the same time, the station re-branded from "95.7 W-Lite" to "Lite Rock 95.7" (but reverted to the "W-Lite" name afterward). WLHT's music rotation also became slightly brighter and more rock-based than previously.

Shift to hot AC

By August 2009, WLHT had moved its format toward hot AC (of which WMAX-FM used to carry until 2008), and its previous mainstream AC format had shifted to sister station WTRV, which previously had aired a MOR/soft AC mix. As a result, WLHT-FM had been leaning adult top 40 until the station dropped AC in 2009 (a similar situation done at adult top 40-leaning ACs such as WNIC in Detroit). Also in 2009, former WOOD-TV news personality Gerry Barnaby took over the morning show.

On October 11, 2010, WLHT re-branded as Channel 95-7 and completed its shift to a hot AC format. The format change brought changes to the station's on-air lineup as well. Channel 95-7 added The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, giving the station a syndicated morning show for the first time in its history, but was cancelled in October 2012 to be replaced by former Madison, WI morning show "Connie and Fish." - and midday host Kim Carson (a veteran of Detroit radio) moved to WTRV, with Wendy Reed, who had formerly held the same shift at WTRV, taking her place.

On November 6, 2017, WLHT-FM rebranded as Mix 95.7, with no change in format. [2]

Sources

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSUL</span> Radio station in Monticello, New York

WSUL is a commercial radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary radio format. Licensed to Monticello, New York, the station is currently owned by Vince Benedetto, through licensee Bold Gold Media Group, L.P.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGRD-FM</span> Rock radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan

WGRD-FM is a mainstream rock radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The station is owned by Townsquare Media. It is the flagship station of The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show, a comedy/talk program, on weekday mornings. It consists of five members: Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels, Chris "Hot Wings" Michels, Steve McKiernan and Kelly Cheesborough. The show is now syndicated in 38 markets throughout the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLXT</span> Radio station in Petoskey, Michigan

WLXT is an adult contemporary radio station licensed to Petoskey, Michigan, at an ERP of 100,000 watts, covering most of northern Michigan. It is owned by Trish MacDonald-Garber, whose family has owned the station for over 30 years. Between mid-November and December each year, WLXT switches to an all-Christmas music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBCT</span> Country music radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan

WBCT is a commercial radio station licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and owned by iHeartMedia. The studios and offices are located at 77 Monroe Center in Downtown Grand Rapids. The station has had a country music radio format since July 24, 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDHT (FM)</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Denver

KDHT is a commercial FM radio station in Denver, Colorado. KDHT broadcasts a top 40 format branded as "Hits 95.7", and is owned by iHeartMedia. The station has studios and offices on South Monaco Street in the Denver Tech Center, while the transmitter site is atop Lookout Mountain in Golden.

WSJO is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. The station is owned by Townsquare Media, through licensee Townsquare License, LLC, and broadcasts a Top 40 (CHR) format.

WKFR-FM, also known as KFR, is a top 40 (CHR) outlet serving the Kalamazoo, Michigan radio market. It broadcasts with an ERP of 50 kW from Battle Creek, Michigan and is owned by Townsquare Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFTE</span> Radio station in Abbeville, Louisiana

KFTE is a commercial radio station in Abbeville, Louisiana, broadcasting to the Lafayette, Louisiana, area. KFTE airs a classic rock music format, and is owned by Townsquare Media. Its studios are located on Bertrand Road in Lafayette, and its transmitter is located north of Abbeville, Louisiana.

KCHH is a radio station licensed to Worden, Montana, and serving the Billings, Montana metropolitan area. The station airs an adult contemporary format. KCHH is owned by Townsquare Media. KCHH also offers a translator at 95.1 (MHz) K236AB broadcasting off the Crown Plaza in Downtown Billings.

WJRW – branded as The Ticket – is a commercial sports radio station licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, serving the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. Owned by Cumulus Media, WJRW is the Grand Rapids affiliate for the BetQL Network, CBS Sports Radio, and Fox Sports Radio. The WJRW studios and transmitter both reside in Grand Rapids. In addition to a standard analog transmission, the station also simulcasts over low-power FM translator W291DJ and is available online.

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

WTRV is a commercial radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary radio format. The station is licensed to Walker, Michigan, and serves the Grand Rapids metropolitan area radio market. WTRV is a Class A station, so it is limited to 3,000 watts. Its signal can be heard as far south as Otsego, far east as Ionia, and as far north as Fremont.

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">WJIM-FM</span> Radio station in Lansing, Michigan

WJIM-FM is a radio station in Lansing, Michigan, broadcasting a top 40 (CHR) format. It is owned by Townsquare Media and has an ERP of 45,000 watts, making it a class B radio station

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBCK</span> Radio station in Battle Creek, Michigan

WBCK is a radio station in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States, owned by Townsquare Media. WBCK has a news/talk format.

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

KTEM is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Temple, Texas. It serves the Killeen-Temple area with a talk radio format. KTEM is owned by Townsquare Media, through licensee Townsquare Media Killeen-Temple License, LLC. Its studios and offices are on Moody Lane in Temple.

KALE is a radio station licensed to Richland, Washington, United States, the station serves the Tri-Cities, Washington area. The station is owned by Stephens Media Group.

WIYN is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Deposit, New York, and serving the Binghamton metropolitan area. The station is presently silent; it last simulcast a classic rock radio format with WDHI in Delhi. The stations are owned by Townsquare Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTYL-FM</span> Radio station in Tyler, Texas

KTYL-FM is a Townsquare Media radio station, licensed to Tyler, Texas, serving the Tyler-Longview-Jacksonville area, with a Top 40 format. KTYL operates with an ERP of 82 kW from a transmitter site near Overton in western Rusk County. Studios are located on Brookside Drive in south Tyler in a building shared with Townsquare's other Tyler stations.

WLTC is a radio station that is licensed in Cusseta, Georgia and serves the city of Columbus, Georgia and its metro area. It broadcasts an adult contemporary format.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.rbr.com/smile-townsquare-sells-michigan-am-to-religious-operator/ Townsquare Sells Michigan AM To Religious Operator
  2. ↑ "WLHT Rebrands As Mix 95.7". RadioInsight. November 6, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

43°01′59″N85°41′46″W / 43.033°N 85.696°W / 43.033; -85.696

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.