WSBX (FM)

Last updated
WSBX
Simulcasting WUPN Paradise
Broadcast area
Frequency 94.5 MHz
Branding94.5/95.1 The Bridge
Programming
Format Classic hits
Ownership
Owner
  • Billy Sours
  • (Whiskey Sours Broadcasting and Productions, LLC)
History
First air date
September 6, 1989 (as WSSW at 94.3) [1]
Former call signs
WSSW (1986–1993)
WFGE (1993–1995)
WLJZ (1995–2012)
WOEZ (2012–2013)
WJZJ (2013)
WYPV (2013–2023) [2]
Former frequencies
94.3 MHz (1989–1995)
Technical information
Facility ID 53290
Class C2
ERP 50,000 watts
HAAT 116 meters (381 ft)
Links
Webcast Listen live
Website bridgefm.net

WSBX (94.5 FM) is a radio station based in Mackinaw City, Michigan.

Contents

History

The station's original call sign was WSSW (for the station's founder, Sonora S. Wray), which was first issued in October 1986. [3] [2] WSSW first signed on at 94.3 on September 6, 1989, [1] with an automated MOR format, but went dark not long after that. The station, while at 94.3, was a Class A station with an ERP of 3,000 watts, [1] which made the station all but unlistenable outside of the Mackinaw City-St. Ignace area, a seasonal, tourist-driven market barely able to sustain the competing radio stations that were already on the air and firmly established. WSSW's management thought that perhaps packing the station with tourist-related information for the local area would help reverse its fortunes. The station did improve, but not enough. Wray sold the station to Robert A. Naismith in February 1992.

Naismith returned the station to the air in 1993 with a hot adult contemporary format as WFGE, [4] [5] known as "Fudgie 94" (as in Mackinac Island's famous fudge). In 1994, the station adopted Jones Radio Networks' satellite-fed smooth jazz format as "Coast FM". [5] In 1995, the station changed its call sign to WLJZ and changed its frequency to 94.5 with an increase in power to 18,500 watts ERP, [6] [2] which increased its broadcast area substantially to include most of the northern tip of the lower peninsula, bringing a better signal to Petoskey, Gaylord, and Rogers City and reaching almost as far north as Sault Ste. Marie (though the station did, and still does, suffer from interference from co-channel WCEN-FM in the southern fringes of its listening area). In 1997, WJZJ 95.5 in Glen Arbor, Michigan and WAVC 93.9 FM in Mio, Michigan began simulcasting WLJZ. [5] [7] [8]

In 1998, the smooth jazz "Coast FM" format was dropped in favor of a modern rock format as "The Zone." [5] [9] [10] In March 2001, WAVC dropped out of the "Zone" simulcast, and began simulcasting country sister WMKC. [11]

In 2006, WLJZ also abandoned the "Zone" simulcast in favor of a standalone Hot AC format using Waitt Radio Networks' AC Active package, taking the name "Star 94.5". [5] [12] This left WJZJ as the only remaining "Zone" station.

On April 1, 2008, WLJZ changed its format to classic country, branded "Big Country Gold". [5] [13] The classic country package complemented the "Big Country Hits" contemporary-country format on sister stations WMKC and WAVC.

In April 2010, WLJZ announced on-air that its classic country format would be moving to AM sister station WCBY AM 1240, displacing the adult standards format formerly heard there. WLJZ adopted a classic rock format, simulcasting "The Bear" format originating on 98.1 WGFN in Traverse City, Michigan. [5] [14]

On December 5, 2012, WLJZ changed its call sign to WOEZ. [2]

On May 1, 2013, WOEZ changed its call sign to WJZJ. [2]

On May 10, 2013, WJZJ changed its call sign to WYPV. [2] This coincided with a planned station swap between Northern Star Broadcasting and Michigan Broadcasters, LLC involving 94.5 FM Mackinaw City and 106.3 FM Onaway, Michigan. 94.5 FM picked up the "Patriot Voice" talk format formerly heard on 106.3, and 106.3 went to Northern Star to become WOEZ, relaying WQEZ 95.5 FM in the Traverse City area. At the same time, the "Bear" classic rock format moved to 97.7 WCHY licensed to Cheboygan, Michigan.

Effective November 9, 2018, Michigan Broadcasters sold WYPV to John Yob's Mitten News LLC for $200,000.

On November 7, 2019, WYPV changed its format from talk to adult contemporary, branded as "94.5 & 106.3 North FM". [15]

On June 22, 2020, WYPV changed its format from adult contemporary to a simulcast of album-oriented rock-formatted WQON 100.3 FM Grayling. [16]

On March 31, 2023, WYPV went silent, due to the end of an LMA between Blarney Stone Broadcasting and Mitten News. [17]

Effective July 31, 2023, Mitten News sold WYPV to Billy Sours' Whiskey Sours Broadcasting and Productions, LLC for $140,000. On August 2, the station changed its call sign to WSBX. On August 4, 2023, WSBX returned to the air with a classic rock/classic hits hybrid format. [18]

On April 30, 2024, WSBX switched to a simulcast of WUPN 95.1 FM Paradise, rebranding as "94.5/95.1 The Bridge". [19]

Related Research Articles

WJML is a radio station licensed to Petoskey, Michigan, which is owned by John Yob, through licensee Mitten News LLC.

WLDR-FM 101.9 Traverse City, Michigan is a radio station owned by broadcaster Roy Henderson, who is WLDR's third owner in its 53-year history.

WGFN is a radio station in Northern Michigan that airs a classic rock format under the branding of "The Bear", and is currently owned by Black Diamond Broadcast Holdings, LLC. WGFN is based out of Glen Arbor, Michigan, airing at 98.1 FM to the Traverse City market. WGFN has been the flagship station of the Bear network of classic rock stations that have aired in Northern Michigan since the early 2000s, which peaked with 4 regional stations from 2002-2009 and 2010-2012. The only other surviving Bear station in the region is 95.3 WWSS, which airs the same programming and playlist as WGFN, but features differing station identifications and commercial content for its market. The Bear aired the popular syndicated morning radio program The Bob & Tom Show until September 2017, and currently airs Detroit Tigers baseball games and Detroit Lions football games. The current lineup includes Smitty in morning drive, "California Girl" Nicole Pence in mid-days, and Jay Roberts on afternoon drive.

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

WGFM in Cheboygan, Michigan and is an American radio station that airs a mainstream rock format branded as Rock 105 & 95.5. WGFM boasts a 43,000-watt signal which easily covers most of northern Lower Michigan from Grayling northward and extends into the eastern Upper Peninsula. WGFE's signal serves primarily the immediate Traverse City area and carries across the waters of Lake Michigan, and can frequently be heard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and the eastern shoreline of Door County, Wisconsin. The station is simulcast on WGFE 95.5 FM in Glen Arbor, Michigan, and is also heard on translator W279CC in Alpena.

WMKC is a radio station licensed to Indian River, Michigan. It airs a country music format called Big Country 102.9. The station is owned by Black Diamond Broadcast Holdings, LLC.

WWMN is a radio station owned by John Yob, through licensee Mitten News LLC. Licensed to Thompsonville, Michigan, the station serves the Traverse City market with a coverage area extending from the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula south to Manistee and Cadillac.

WIHC is an American radio station licensed to Newberry, Michigan to serve the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The station is owned by West Central Michigan Media Ministries, broadcasting a Christian talk radio format simulcasted from Cadillac, Michigan under the branding "Strong Tower Radio".

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

WBNZ is a radio station licensed to Frankfort, Michigan.

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

WCBY is a radio station in Cheboygan, Michigan, broadcasting a classic country format delivered by Westwood One "Big Country Gold" is the slogan, which plays off sister country FM WMKC 102.9 known as "Big Country - 102-9". WCBY is owned by Black Diamond Broadcast Holdings, LLC.

WJNL is a radio station licensed to Kingsley, Michigan, and serving the Traverse City area. The station is owned by Mitten News LLC. The station is also rebroadcast on 101.1 FM, through a translator in Traverse City, Michigan.

WQON is a radio station broadcasting an album-oriented rock (AOR) format. Licensed to Grayling, Michigan, the seat of government in Crawford County, it first began broadcasting in 1978. The station brands itself as Q-100.

WMTE-FM is a radio station located in Manistee, Michigan, United States, and owned by 45 North Media, Inc. WMTE-FM airs an adult hits format and positions itself as Uniquely Northern Michigan.

WHAK is a radio station licensed to Rogers City, Michigan. The station is owned by John Yob, through licensee Mitten News LLC.

WGHN is an AM radio station licensed to Grand Haven, Michigan. The station broadcasts an album-oriented rock format.

Northern Star Broadcasting was a radio broadcasting company which owned various radio stations in Michigan from 1998–2016, with offices in Cheboygan and Traverse City. Northern Star was owned by Reynolds Communications, ran by Del & Mary Reynolds.

WUPN is an American FM radio station licensed to serve the community of Paradise, an unincorporated community in Whitefish Township, Chippewa County, Michigan. The station is owned by Timothy S. Ellis, through licensee TSE Broadcasting LLC. WUPN broadcasts a classic hits format to the Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGFE</span> Radio station in Glen Arbor, Michigan

WGFE is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Glen Arbor, Michigan. The station is owned by Black Diamond Broadcasting. The station airs an active rock format, simulcasting 105.1 WGFM in Cheboygan, Michigan.

WOUF is a radio station licensed to Petoskey, Michigan, and owned by Suzanne Henderson through N Content Marketing.

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

WWMK is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Onaway, Michigan. WWMK is imaged as "106.3 Mac FM". The station is owned by Black Diamond Broadcast Holdings, LLC. ABC Entertainment Network news is featured. WWMK's signal covers the northern tip of the lower peninsula and much of the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. WWMK is also heard on translator 98.1 W251AD in Alpena.

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Broadcasting Yearbook 1990 , Broadcasting & Cable, 1990. p. B-160. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Call Letters", Broadcasting , October 20, 1986. p. 82. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 10 No. 40. October 6, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 WLJZ FM 94.5 Mackinaw City, Michiguide.com. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Facilities/Parameters: Grants", The M Street Journal. Vol. 12 No. 34. August 23, 1995. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14 No. 10. March 12, 1997. p. 2. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14 No. 31. August 6, 1997. p. 1. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15 No. 11. March 18, 1998. p. 2. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  10. ↑ "The Zone - Modern Rock for a Modern World". The Zone. Archived from the original on February 5, 2001. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  11. ↑ WMKC FM 102.9 Indian River, Michiguide.com. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Format changes: week of June 28, 2006", Michiguide.com. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Northern Star Broadcasting". Northern Star Broadcasting. Archived from the original on February 4, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Classic Rock The Bear 94.5/93.9/98.1/107.1". The Bear. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  15. ↑ Blarney Stone Broadcasting Launches North-FM In Traverse City After LMA Collapse Radioinsight - November 6, 2019
  16. ↑ Q100 Returning to Traverse City Radioinsight - June 18, 2020
  17. ↑ WQON and WGRY-FM Lose Simulcast Partners as Mitten News LMA Comes to an End Radioinsight - Radioinsight - April 12, 2023
  18. ↑ Everything Classic Comes to Northern Michigan Radioinsight - August 4, 2023
  19. ↑ WSBX & WUPN Bridge Together Radioinsight - April 30, 2024

45°40′01″N84°38′06″W / 45.667°N 84.635°W / 45.667; -84.635

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