WFMK
Encyclopedia
WFMK is an adult contemporary radio station licensed to East Lansing, Michigan
. It is owned by Cumulus Media
.
WFMK is one of the United States' oldest adult contemporary stations, having programmed the format for almost four decades. The station signed on in 1959 as WSWM, and offered a MOR format.
WSWM was purchased by Robert G. Liggett Jr. in 1971. Liggett changed the station's call sign to WFMK, and initially programmed a mix of Adult Contemporary music as "Stereo Island, WFMK 99" during the day (using the Stereo Island approach pioneered at WKNR-FM
in Detroit), and Album Oriented Rock overnight. The AOR
portion of the format was dropped in the mid-1970s, and the Adult Contemporary format expanded to 24 hours a day, under the moniker Easy Rockin' FM 99.
Over the years WFMK's adult contemporary format has evolved to the point that the station's current slogan is "The Best Variety of Lite Rock" WFMK has long been one of the most popular and most highly-rated stations in the Lansing area.
When WHZZ
in Lansing, Michigan
abruptly changed format from Contemporary Hit Radio
to Adult Hits
in 2005, WFMK, along with WQHH
and WJXQ
temporarily took advantage of the format switch, touting the many CHR artists on the station until WFMK's sister station, WJIM-FM
changed format from oldies
to CHR a few days later.
In 2010, WFMK shifted to an all-Christmas Music
format for the holiday season. It was the first time the station had ever gone all-Christmas around the clock. This move was most likely due to crosstown WLMI
going all-Christmas as well, just a few weeks before.
WFMK has had its jingle melody changed over the years. During the mid and late 1980s
, WFMK's jingles were by JAM Creative Productions
and used the WENS melody. In the 1990s, WFMK's jingles, by TM Century, also used the WENS melody, which also was the call sign melody for WMXV. WFMK's jingle melody was changed again when the station began using the "Cuddle" jingle package from Thompson Creative
; this package remained for seven years. The most recent jingle melody change came in 2007 when WFMK began using Reelworld's 2007 WLIT
jingle package; WFMK has stayed with Reelworld and the WLIT melody ever since.
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
. It is 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...
.
WFMK is one of the United States' oldest adult contemporary stations, having programmed the format for almost four decades. The station signed on in 1959 as WSWM, and offered a MOR format.
WSWM was purchased by Robert G. Liggett Jr. in 1971. Liggett changed the station's call sign to WFMK, and initially programmed a mix of Adult Contemporary music as "Stereo Island, WFMK 99" during the day (using the Stereo Island approach pioneered at WKNR-FM
WNIC
WNIC is an American radio station based in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting at 100.3 MHz FM. WNIC's studios and offices are located in Farmington Hills, MI. WNIC's transmitter is located near Schoolcraft and Livernois Avenue in the City of Detroit on the near west side. WNIC broadcasts with an...
in Detroit), and Album Oriented Rock overnight. The AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
portion of the format was dropped in the mid-1970s, and the Adult Contemporary format expanded to 24 hours a day, under the moniker Easy Rockin' FM 99.
Over the years WFMK's adult contemporary format has evolved to the point that the station's current slogan is "The Best Variety of Lite Rock" WFMK has long been one of the most popular and most highly-rated stations in the Lansing area.
When WHZZ
WHZZ
WHZZ is a radio station licensed to Lansing, Michigan. It first began broadcasting in 1967 as WILS-FM. Prior to the adoption of the current format in September 2005, WHZZ had programmed a CHR/top 40 format for over a decade as "Z101.7." After WHZZ's change to "Mike FM", the CHR format was picked...
in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
abruptly changed format from Contemporary Hit Radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
to Adult Hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
in 2005, WFMK, along with WQHH
WQHH
WQHH is a commercial FM radio station located in DeWitt, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan. The station broadcasts on 96.5 MHz with 6,000 watts. The station plays hip hop as well as rhythm & blues music.WQHH began broadcasting on May 26, 1991 with 3,000 watts...
and WJXQ
WJXQ
WJXQ is a radio station broadcasting a mainstream rock format. Licensed to Charlotte, Michigan, it first began broadcasting under the WKHM-FM call sign. Its studios are located on Cedar St...
temporarily took advantage of the format switch, touting the many CHR artists on the station until WFMK's sister station, WJIM-FM
WJIM-FM
WJIM-FM is a radio station in Lansing, Michigan, broadcasting a Top 40 format.The station has had the WJIM-FM calls continuously since it signed on in 1960. For over three decades, WJIM-FM broadcast an easy listening/beautiful music format, which evolved during the early 1990s into a soft adult...
changed format from oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
to CHR a few days later.
In 2010, WFMK shifted to an all-Christmas Music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
format for the holiday season. It was the first time the station had ever gone all-Christmas around the clock. This move was most likely due to crosstown WLMI
WLMI
WVTT is an FM radio station licensed to Portville, New York. The station, broadcasting at 96.7 MHz, is owned by Colonial Radio Group and broadcasts a talk radio format.Prior to October 2011, WVTT was licensed to Kane, Pennsylvania at 103.9 MHz...
going all-Christmas as well, just a few weeks before.
WFMK has had its jingle melody changed over the years. During the mid and late 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, WFMK's jingles were by JAM Creative Productions
JAM Creative Productions
JAM Creative Productions, Inc., is an American company that produces radio jingles, promo music for television, and commercial jingles for advertisers. It has made more radio jingles than any other jingle company and has become part of American pop culture....
and used the WENS melody. In the 1990s, WFMK's jingles, by TM Century, also used the WENS melody, which also was the call sign melody for WMXV. WFMK's jingle melody was changed again when the station began using the "Cuddle" jingle package from Thompson Creative
Thompson Creative
Thompson Creative is an American radio jingle production company formerly based in Dallas, Texas.-History:In 1986, broadcasters Larry and Susan Thompson set up Thompson Creative with the idea of updating the "traditional" jingle sound...
; this package remained for seven years. The most recent jingle melody change came in 2007 when WFMK began using Reelworld's 2007 WLIT
WLIT
WLIT-FM is a radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, featuring a format of adult contemporary music. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications.In February 2006, WLIT began broadcasting in HD Radio...
jingle package; WFMK has stayed with Reelworld and the WLIT melody ever since.