WBBL-FM
Encyclopedia
WBBL-FM is a radio station broadcasting an all-sports
format in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. WBBL is sometimes received on the east side of the state during certain atmospheric conditions and during the Spring and Summer months, the signal tends to trickle into East Michigan. It first began broadcasting in 1979
under the call sign WPLB-FM. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media
. WBBL-FM is currently Grand Rapids' affiliates of Fox Sports Radio
. The station has been touted as the area's first FM sports station. The format originated on the 1340 AM frequency, but after many years, was moved over to 107.3 FM during May 2009. Three months later, the AM frequency was changed to a talk radio
format and the call sign was changed to WJRW.
. It was sister station to WPLB-AM (1060 and later 1380). The station became oldies-formatted on November 15, 1989 and the call sign was changed to WODJ. The WPLB-FM call sign was subsequently moved to 106.3 FM in Lakeview, Michigan
(the AM and FM are now known as WGLM
).
station WKLQ, which had been replaced by country music
station WTNR
after 20 years on 94.5 FM. The WODJ calls were most recently used by Citadel Broadcasting
on talk-radio station 1490 AM in Whitehall, Michigan
which was also replaced by the WKLQ call sign in 2009. The call sign is now held by Mentor Partners of Big Rapids, Michigan
, on a construction permit for a new AM station for 1590 kHz.
Shortly before KLQ's move to 107.3, They hired Justice and Jim for mornings. In Summer 2005, the duo created controversy when they announced on the air that they were going to drown a dog. The announcement persuaded several listeners to call 911. A day later, they announced that it was only a stunt.
On July 19, 2006, Justice and Jim were fired and replaced by The Opie and Anthony Show.
WKLQ launched Grey & Kluck mornings featuring Grand Rapids market veteran Michael Grey and Warren Kluck on July 17, 2008. Kluck spent three years previously doing morning drive at WRKR-FM in Kalamazoo, MI.
Repeater station WKOQ (92.5 FM) signed on the air on August 15, 2005, the WODJ call sign that was abandoned by WKLQ in 2004 had been parked on this frequency prior to going on the air. It transmitted from the same tower as television station
WZZM
in Newaygo County
, near Grant
. The simulcast was terminated on May 1, 2006 when the station became WLAW-FM, "The Outlaw," airing a blend of country music and Southern Rock.
Michael Grey left WBBL in May 2011. Ray Bentley, former inside linebacker for the Buffalo Bills has stepped in and the show has been rebranded as "Bakita & Bentley." Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
format in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. WBBL is sometimes received on the east side of the state during certain atmospheric conditions and during the Spring and Summer months, the signal tends to trickle into East Michigan. It first began broadcasting in 1979
1979 in radio
The year 1979 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*September - KDWB-FM in Minneapolis, Minnesota breaks away from their Top 40 AM sister, becoming album-oriented rock as "K101"...
under the call sign WPLB-FM. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
. WBBL-FM is currently Grand Rapids' affiliates of Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
. The station has been touted as the area's first FM sports station. The format originated on the 1340 AM frequency, but after many years, was moved over to 107.3 FM during May 2009. Three months later, the AM frequency was changed to a talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format and the call sign was changed to WJRW.
History
The station was first assigned the call sign WPLB-FM in 1962 and was originally licensed to Greenville, MichiganGreenville, Michigan
Greenville is a city in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. Portions of the county are associated with the Western region while others are more closely associated with the Central Michigan region. The population was 8,481 at the 2010 census...
. It was sister station to WPLB-AM (1060 and later 1380). The station became oldies-formatted on November 15, 1989 and the call sign was changed to WODJ. The WPLB-FM call sign was subsequently moved to 106.3 FM in Lakeview, Michigan
Lakeview, Michigan
Lakeview is a village in Cato Township in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,112 at the 2000 census. The village is within Cato Township.- History :...
(the AM and FM are now known as WGLM
WGLM
WKHL is a radio station licensed to West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. WKHL broadcasts at an effective radiated power of 6,000 watts with a tower located in rural northwestern Tippecanoe County....
).
WODJ
WPLB-FM became WODJ, an oldies station targeting the Grand Rapids market, in 1989, and was an immediate success, reaching number one in the 12+ Arbitron ratings for Grand Rapids the following year. The station's success was built on its visibility at community events, such as the Grand Center Boat Show, which took place at the Grand Center in downtown Grand Rapids. By 2000, however, the station was struggling to make the top ten in 12+ ratings. Oldies 107.3 also featured the syndicated Dick Clark documentary series entitled "Rock, Roll and Remember", which aired on Sunday afternoons.WKLQ
On October 11, 2004, WODJ and the oldies format was replaced by Active rockActive rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
station WKLQ, which had been replaced by country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station WTNR
WTNR
WTNR , is a country radio station located in Holland, Michigan, owned by Cumulus Media. It was established in October 2004, as a station that focueses mostly on new country music, with songs from the 1990's and early 2000's. It competes with B-93...
after 20 years on 94.5 FM. The WODJ calls were most recently used by Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
on talk-radio station 1490 AM in Whitehall, Michigan
Whitehall, Michigan
Whitehall is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,884 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the southwest corner of Whitehall Township. Montague, Michigan is its neighbor....
which was also replaced by the WKLQ call sign in 2009. The call sign is now held by Mentor Partners of Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
, on a construction permit for a new AM station for 1590 kHz.
Shortly before KLQ's move to 107.3, They hired Justice and Jim for mornings. In Summer 2005, the duo created controversy when they announced on the air that they were going to drown a dog. The announcement persuaded several listeners to call 911. A day later, they announced that it was only a stunt.
On July 19, 2006, Justice and Jim were fired and replaced by The Opie and Anthony Show.
WKLQ launched Grey & Kluck mornings featuring Grand Rapids market veteran Michael Grey and Warren Kluck on July 17, 2008. Kluck spent three years previously doing morning drive at WRKR-FM in Kalamazoo, MI.
Repeater station WKOQ (92.5 FM) signed on the air on August 15, 2005, the WODJ call sign that was abandoned by WKLQ in 2004 had been parked on this frequency prior to going on the air. It transmitted from the same tower as television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
WZZM
WZZM-TV
WZZM channel 13 is the Western Michigan affiliate television station for the American Broadcasting Company. It's based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, broadcasting at 16.5 kilowatts of power from a tower located in Newaygo County, near Grant...
in Newaygo County
Newaygo County, Michigan
Newaygo County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Grand Rapids–Wyoming, MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,460. The county seat is White Cloud. Newaygo County was either named for an Ojibwe leader who signed the Saginaw...
, near Grant
Grant, Michigan
Grant is a city in Newaygo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 894 at the 2010 census. The city is on the boundary between Grant Township and Ashland Township, but is politically independent of both...
. The simulcast was terminated on May 1, 2006 when the station became WLAW-FM, "The Outlaw," airing a blend of country music and Southern Rock.
WBBL-FM
On May 28, 2009, WKLQ was replaced with sister station WBBL, which was previously on the AM dial (now WJRW), and WKLQ was made an exclusive web-station. The Grey and Kluck Morning show was pulled off the air. Warren Kluck went to do the Kevin Matthews Morning Show. Michael Grey went on to The Starting Line Up with Bret Bakita on the new WBBL-FM.Michael Grey left WBBL in May 2011. Ray Bentley, former inside linebacker for the Buffalo Bills has stepped in and the show has been rebranded as "Bakita & Bentley." Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.