WGRD-FM
Encyclopedia
WGRD-FM is an active rock
radio station
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.
WGRD-FM is the flagship station of The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
, a comedy/talk program, on weekday mornings. It consists of five members: Greg "Free Beer" Daniels, Chris "Hot Wings" Michels, Eric (Zeitunian) Zane, Joe "Producer Joe" Gasmann, Jr, and Steve McKiernan. The show is now syndicated in 16 markets throughout the eastern United States.
WGRD has a ERP of 13,000 watts @ 591 feet which is south of Grand Rapids. WGRD reaches as far as Battle Creek but the farther you travel East on I-94 it begins to mix with 97.9 WJLB in Detroit. The northwest part of the signal serves Muskegon.
and operated by Aquinas College
; later, the owners of Top 40 music stations WGRD-AM 1410 in Grand Rapids and WTRU
-AM 1600 Muskegon (Regional Broadcasters, Inc.) took full control of the station in 1971 and changed its call letters to WGRD-FM. The station's transmitter would remain on the Aquinas College campus until 1974. During the mid 1970s, WGRD was frequently the #1 station (12+) in the Grand Rapids market. In the 1979 Fall Arbitron, WGRD dominated the market with a 19 share. By 1985, the station was known as "98ROCKFM, WGRD." WGRD earned a 12.2 share (12+) in the Summer 1986 Arbitron ratings.
). WGRD thus moved its struggling Top 40 format onto its new FM station, making the stereo FM station the primary frequency while having the AM continue to simulcast. The revamped WGRD quickly became the dominant Top 40 station in the market and continued to be for over two decades.
, which had flipped from AC to TOP-40, programmed by former WGRD music director JJ Duling. WGRD switched that year from CHR to the then-emerging and rapidly growing modern rock format, which it has had ever since.
The original WGRD, AM 1410, is now WNWZ
with a Regional Mexican
format. The call letters "GRD" stood for "Grand Rapids Daytime," since WGRD-AM was originally licensed to air only during daytime hours. During the early 1980s, AM-1410 operated as WXQT, with a big-band "MUSIC OF YOUR LIFE" format. WXQT became oldies "GREAT GOLD 14K" for several years (later known at WKTH). In August 2010 a reunion of more than 60 former WGRD staff members was held in Grand Rapids, which included market legend Bruce Grant, the original program director from 1948, and dozens of other personalities from the AM 1410/97.9 history. As of 2010
, in response to Regent becoming Townsquare, WGRD began shifting its format direction to active rock
, and in response, fill the void when Citadel Broadcasting
dropped active rock
for sports talk on WKLQ.
WGRD's target demographic is men ages 18–34 and a secondary of Men 25-54 (Arbitron demographics).
WGRD is the flagship station of the popular syndicated show.
From 10am to anywhere from 10:15 or 10:30 the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show does a local bit, talking about the area of Grand Rapids, and anything they may have missed on the syndicated broadcast.
10/10:15ish- 10:30ish-
Robot is a gag from the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show, that usually is only on for one song, usually to harass or make fun of someone from the station.
10:30ish- 2pm-
12pm- "Liquid Lunch" Request Hour
2pm-7pm-
5pm- "Work Release" request hour, where GRD takes requests from listeners.
--On Wednesdays Dahmer is live 7-11 at Gippers, taking the place of Jackie.
7pm-10pm-
Jackie On Air
Afternoons-
Night-
Afternoons-
Nights-
10pm-12am-
Active 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:...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
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...
. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.
WGRD-FM is the flagship station of The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a syndicated talk radio show based at WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels and Chris "Hot Wings" Michaels with Eric "Zane" Zeitunian, "Producer" Joseph Gasmann, Jr, Assistant Producer Steve McKiernan, and Robot. The...
, a comedy/talk program, on weekday mornings. It consists of five members: Greg "Free Beer" Daniels, Chris "Hot Wings" Michels, Eric (Zeitunian) Zane, Joe "Producer Joe" Gasmann, Jr, and Steve McKiernan. The show is now syndicated in 16 markets throughout the eastern United States.
WGRD has a ERP of 13,000 watts @ 591 feet which is south of Grand Rapids. WGRD reaches as far as Battle Creek but the farther you travel East on I-94 it begins to mix with 97.9 WJLB in Detroit. The northwest part of the signal serves Muskegon.
History
WGRD-FM began as WXTO, a station owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand RapidsRoman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in western Michigan, in the United States. It comprises 102 churches in Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Montcalm, Mecosta, Lake, Mason, and Osceola counties in Michigan. The diocese was created on...
and operated by Aquinas College
Aquinas College (Michigan)
Aquinas College is a small Catholic college that aims to provide a liberal arts education located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Aquinas is considered one of the best liberal arts colleges in the Midwest region by U.S. News and World Report ....
; later, the owners of Top 40 music stations WGRD-AM 1410 in Grand Rapids and WTRU
WTRU
WTRU is a radio station licensed to Kernersville, North Carolina. It operates on 830 AM, with broadcasting power of 50 kilowatts during the day and at 10 kilowatts during the night...
-AM 1600 Muskegon (Regional Broadcasters, Inc.) took full control of the station in 1971 and changed its call letters to WGRD-FM. The station's transmitter would remain on the Aquinas College campus until 1974. During the mid 1970s, WGRD was frequently the #1 station (12+) in the Grand Rapids market. In the 1979 Fall Arbitron, WGRD dominated the market with a 19 share. By 1985, the station was known as "98ROCKFM, WGRD." WGRD earned a 12.2 share (12+) in the Summer 1986 Arbitron ratings.
WXTO/WGRD
WGRD-AM 1410 (which had had a Top 40 music format in place since 1959) was struggling in the ratings at the time against pop-rock competitors WLAV-AM 1340 and WZZM-FM 95.7 (then known as "Z96", now WLHTWLHT
WLHT-FM, also known as "CHANNEL 95-7" , is a hot adult contemporary music formatted radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan owned by Townsquare Media. Until late April 2006, the station was the home of the husband-and-wife morning team of Dave & Geri.-WKLW, WZZM-FM, and WZZR:The station signed on...
). WGRD thus moved its struggling Top 40 format onto its new FM station, making the stereo FM station the primary frequency while having the AM continue to simulcast. The revamped WGRD quickly became the dominant Top 40 station in the market and continued to be for over two decades.
Top 40/Alternative
In the Summer of 1993 the station moniker was "Grand Rapids #1 Hit music Station "98WGRD" . By 1994, however, the station had lost significant market share to Muskegon's 104.5 Sunny-FM WSNXWSNX
WSNX-FM is a radio station located in Clear Channel Communications' Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters. The station has a rhythmic-leaning Top 40 format...
, which had flipped from AC to TOP-40, programmed by former WGRD music director JJ Duling. WGRD switched that year from CHR to the then-emerging and rapidly growing modern rock format, which it has had ever since.
The original WGRD, AM 1410, is now WNWZ
WNWZ
WNWZ is a radio station broadcasting a comedy format, licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan.The station is simulcast on the HD2 subchannel of adult contemporary sister station WLHT 95.7.-WGRD:...
with a Regional Mexican
Regional Mexican
Regional Mexican is a radio format for music radio, typically defined to include Banda, Ranchera, Mariachi and Norteña. It is the most popular radio format targeting Hispanic Americans in the United States....
format. The call letters "GRD" stood for "Grand Rapids Daytime," since WGRD-AM was originally licensed to air only during daytime hours. During the early 1980s, AM-1410 operated as WXQT, with a big-band "MUSIC OF YOUR LIFE" format. WXQT became oldies "GREAT GOLD 14K" for several years (later known at WKTH). In August 2010 a reunion of more than 60 former WGRD staff members was held in Grand Rapids, which included market legend Bruce Grant, the original program director from 1948, and dozens of other personalities from the AM 1410/97.9 history. As of 2010
2010 in radio
The following events occurred in radio in 2010.-Events:*Date Unknown: CHOI/Quebec City flips from Alternative Rock to News/Talk.*January 4: KJCS/Lufkin, Texas goes silent....
, in response to Regent becoming Townsquare, WGRD began shifting its format direction to active rock
Active 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:...
, and in response, fill the void when 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...
dropped active rock
Active 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:...
for sports talk on WKLQ.
WGRD's target demographic is men ages 18–34 and a secondary of Men 25-54 (Arbitron demographics).
Weekdays
5am- 10am-- The Free Beer and Hot Wings ShowThe Free Beer and Hot Wings ShowThe Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a syndicated talk radio show based at WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels and Chris "Hot Wings" Michaels with Eric "Zane" Zeitunian, "Producer" Joseph Gasmann, Jr, Assistant Producer Steve McKiernan, and Robot. The...
.
WGRD is the flagship station of the popular syndicated show.
From 10am to anywhere from 10:15 or 10:30 the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show does a local bit, talking about the area of Grand Rapids, and anything they may have missed on the syndicated broadcast.
10/10:15ish- 10:30ish-
- Robot
Robot is a gag from the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show, that usually is only on for one song, usually to harass or make fun of someone from the station.
10:30ish- 2pm-
- Program Director Jerry Tarrants (JT).
12pm- "Liquid Lunch" Request Hour
2pm-7pm-
- Dahmer Before Dark
5pm- "Work Release" request hour, where GRD takes requests from listeners.
--On Wednesdays Dahmer is live 7-11 at Gippers, taking the place of Jackie.
7pm-10pm-
- Jackie On Air
Saturday
Mornings-- Best Of The Free Beer and Hot Wings ShowThe Free Beer and Hot Wings ShowThe Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a syndicated talk radio show based at WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels and Chris "Hot Wings" Michaels with Eric "Zane" Zeitunian, "Producer" Joseph Gasmann, Jr, Assistant Producer Steve McKiernan, and Robot. The...
followed by
Jackie On Air
Afternoons-
- Dave Kim
Night-
- Dahmer
Sunday
Mornings-- Jackie On Air
Afternoons-
- Green Day Gary
Nights-
10pm-12am-
- Full Metal JackieFull Metal JackieFull Metal Jackie, Jackie Kajzer, is the host and creator of the nationally accredited and syndicated radio metal show, Full Metal Jackie. She is known for her unique playlists and detailed interviews with legendary rock artists, including Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Zakk Wylde and Children of Bodom....
Former on-air staff
- Bubba the Love SpongeBubba the Love SpongeTodd Alan Clem is an American radio personality better known by his Legal name Bubba the Love Sponge Clem. He is the host of The Bubba the Love Sponge Show on various Cox Radio and Beasley Broadcast Group stations, formerly on Sirius XM Howard 101, as well as on RadioIO.-Early career and the...
- Michael Grey- Now with the morning show at 107.3 WBBLWBBL-FMWBBL-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...
. - Dave Fox
- Spud
- Lynae
- Kevin Matthews- Morning host at WLAV
- Chuck Bailey
- Michelle McKormickMichelle McKormickMichelle McKormick is a Grand Rapids, Michigan based talk radio personality. She is the former co-host of Mouth 2 Mouth on WOOD with Scott Winters....
- Midday co-host at WOOD (AM)WOOD (AM)WOOD is a news/talk radio station broadcasting at 1300 kHz and 106.9 FM in Michigan, United States. WOOD-AM is licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan and WOOD-FM to Muskegon, Michigan.-Full-service station:... - Scott WintersScott WintersRichard Scott Winters is an American radio talk show host.Winters is a 1981 graduate of Union High School in Grand Rapids. After graduating high school, he began working in the commercial printing industry...
-Midday co-host at WOOD-AM - Darla JayeDarla JayeDarla Jaye is a talk show host at radio station KMBZ in Kansas City, Missouri. Until July 1, 2005, Darla Jaye hosted the afternoon show at WVNN in Huntsville, Alabama....
-talk show host at KMBZ in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties... - Rick BeckettRick BeckettRichard Blaine Beckett was an American radio broadcaster.Rick was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan and moved to Grand Rapids shortly thereafter. He began his radio career while still in high school at Union High School in Grand Rapids at WZZM-FM in 1970, where he worked part time on weekends...
-former midday co-host at WOOD-AM (deceased) - Stephanie Webb-co-host of Take 5 And Company at WZZM
- Sean Stevens-afternoon drive at WVFM in Kalamazoo, MichiganKalamazoo, MichiganThe area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
- Rockin' Ray Baker
- Bob Berry
- Bob Hendryx
- Jack Swart
- JJ Duling
- Rich Kennedy
- Larry Olek
- Allen Jackson Wilkerson
- Buddy Hollis
- Michael Ferris
- Mark Roberts/Johnny Walker
- Shaun Hendricks