WILC
Encyclopedia
WILC is a radio station
broadcasting a Spanish Contemporary format, licensed in Laurel, Maryland
, USA. The station is currently owned by ZGS Communications
and features programming from CNN Radio. On March 14, 2011, WILC flipped to a Spanish AC format as Romantica 900 AM.
began their careers with the station.
Before 1969, WLMD was a MOR (Middle Of The Road) formatted radio station and held to the model created by WMAL and WBAL in Washington and Baltimore, respectively. Unfortunately, its lack of power, poor coverage area and day-time only FCC license severely limited its success.
Broadcaster Ty Ford started his career at WLMD in October 1969, which was then under the management of ex-WBAL radio executive Tom Carr of Annapolis. Ford was only there for several months before being recruited by Lloyd and Betty Smith who operated Rau Radio-owned, Mutual Radio Network Affiliate WNAV and WNAV-FM in Annapolis.
By the mid 1970s, WLMD had switched to a progressive country format in an effort to find a programming niche that wasn't being served in the area. Bob Showacre was the originator of the format that played acoustic and electric music with a "Hickory Smoked" flavor. Artists included Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles and other west coast country and folk artists, The Allman Brothers and most of the Capricorn library and a large number of folk, bluegrass, singer-songwriter and country artists who would never be have been heard otherwise. Ty Ford came back to WLMD during 1976 to work that format before Denise Oliver tapped him to join her in putting WIYY-FM (98 Rock) on the air in Baltimore on March 28, 1977.
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...
broadcasting a Spanish Contemporary format, licensed in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
, USA. The station is currently owned by ZGS Communications
ZGS Communications
ZGS Communications, also referred to as the ZGS Group or ZGS Broadcasting, is a television and radio station operator in the United States, based in Arlington, Virginia. The company operates 18 stations: 15 television stations , and 3 radio stations...
and features programming from CNN Radio. On March 14, 2011, WILC flipped to a Spanish AC format as Romantica 900 AM.
History
From 1965 to the early 1980s, the station (then WLMD) broadcast a succession of formats in English; several radio personalitiesRadio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
began their careers with the station.
Before 1969, WLMD was a MOR (Middle Of The Road) formatted radio station and held to the model created by WMAL and WBAL in Washington and Baltimore, respectively. Unfortunately, its lack of power, poor coverage area and day-time only FCC license severely limited its success.
Broadcaster Ty Ford started his career at WLMD in October 1969, which was then under the management of ex-WBAL radio executive Tom Carr of Annapolis. Ford was only there for several months before being recruited by Lloyd and Betty Smith who operated Rau Radio-owned, Mutual Radio Network Affiliate WNAV and WNAV-FM in Annapolis.
By the mid 1970s, WLMD had switched to a progressive country format in an effort to find a programming niche that wasn't being served in the area. Bob Showacre was the originator of the format that played acoustic and electric music with a "Hickory Smoked" flavor. Artists included Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles and other west coast country and folk artists, The Allman Brothers and most of the Capricorn library and a large number of folk, bluegrass, singer-songwriter and country artists who would never be have been heard otherwise. Ty Ford came back to WLMD during 1976 to work that format before Denise Oliver tapped him to join her in putting WIYY-FM (98 Rock) on the air in Baltimore on March 28, 1977.