WILZ
Encyclopedia
WILZ is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock
format in Saginaw, Michigan
, owned by Cumulus Media
. The station is the local affiliate of the syndicated programs The Bob and Tom Show and Nights with Alice Cooper
WILZ can be heard in the Northern thumb area, around their niche market, Saginaw/Bay City. It reaches farther south through the Flint and Lapeer county areas. With weaker radios, an adjustment of the antenna is needed, because of adjacent channel interference from Detroit's WOMC
on 104.3.
104.5 FM began in the early 1990s as WUVE, an album oriented rock station that aired some programming from ABC/Satellite Music Network's "Z Rock
" network (though not an official "Z-Rock" affiliate). The station became WMJA ("Magic") with a classic hits
format in 1995, and then adopted its current calls and format in 1999 (possibly in tribute to former Detroit album-rock station WLLZ 98.7 FM, now Top-40 WVMV
).
WILZ's format was formerly simulcast on then-sister station WYLZ (100.9 FM) (now WLUN
), licensed to Pinconning, Michigan
. WYLZ has broadcast a variety of different formats since signing on in 1983. 104.5 and 100.9 together were known as "Wheelz 104.5 and 101" from 1999 to 2007.
In June 2007, WYLZ was sold by Citadel Broadcasting
(along with nine other stations) to The Last Bastion Station Trust, LLC
, as part of ABC Radio's absorption into Citadel. Upon ending the simulcast, WYLZ switched to a satellite-fed country
format ("Mainstream Country" from Dial Global
) under the "Thunder Country" moniker. Despite the programming changes, WYLZ continued to air play-by-play of Great Lakes Loons
baseball during the summer of 2007. In winter of 2008 the Great Lakes Loons finally took over ownership and changed the station to sports radio under new calls WLUN
. Citadel retained WILZ until its merger with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
format in Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, 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...
. The station is the local affiliate of the syndicated programs The Bob and Tom Show and Nights with Alice Cooper
Nights with Alice Cooper
Nights with Alice Cooper is a radio show hosted by rock and roll artist and shock rock pioneer Alice Cooper. It is syndicated by United Stations Radio Networks and broadcast on over 100 radio stations in the US, seven in Canada, and is also available in the UK , Germany , Ireland, Australia ,...
WILZ can be heard in the Northern thumb area, around their niche market, Saginaw/Bay City. It reaches farther south through the Flint and Lapeer county areas. With weaker radios, an adjustment of the antenna is needed, because of adjacent channel interference from Detroit's WOMC
WOMC
WOMC is a Classic Hits radio station broadcasting in the Detroit, Michigan, USA area. WOMC's transmitter and studios are located on Woodward Heights . near Interstate 75 in Ferndale, Michigan. WOMC broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 190,000 watts from an antenna height of 361 feet...
on 104.3.
104.5 FM began in the early 1990s as WUVE, an album oriented rock station that aired some programming from ABC/Satellite Music Network's "Z Rock
Z Rock
Z-Rock was a nationally syndicated radio network based out of Dallas, Texas, USA, in the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s that played heavy metal and hard rock music. The format was one of ABC Radio Network's 24-hour satellite formats...
" network (though not an official "Z-Rock" affiliate). The station became WMJA ("Magic") with a classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format in 1995, and then adopted its current calls and format in 1999 (possibly in tribute to former Detroit album-rock station WLLZ 98.7 FM, now Top-40 WVMV
WVMV
WDZH is a radio station serving the Metropolitan Detroit area in Southeastern Michigan. WDZH broadcasts a CHR format at 98.7 MHz. The station's transmitter is located near Livernois and West Davison in the City of Detroit...
).
WILZ's format was formerly simulcast on then-sister station WYLZ (100.9 FM) (now WLUN
WLUN
WLUN 100.9 FM is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format in Pinconning, Michigan, USA, owned by the Great Lakes Loons, under the licensee name of Michigan Radio Communications....
), licensed to Pinconning, Michigan
Pinconning, Michigan
Pinconning is a city in Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Bay City, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. WYLZ has broadcast a variety of different formats since signing on in 1983. 104.5 and 100.9 together were known as "Wheelz 104.5 and 101" from 1999 to 2007.
In June 2007, WYLZ was sold 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...
(along with nine other stations) to The Last Bastion Station Trust, LLC
The Last Bastion Station Trust, LLC
The Last Bastion Station Trust, LLC is a privately owned trust company that temporarily owns 6 radio stations previously owned by Citadel Broadcasting...
, as part of ABC Radio's absorption into Citadel. Upon ending the simulcast, WYLZ switched to a satellite-fed country
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...
format ("Mainstream Country" from Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
) under the "Thunder Country" moniker. Despite the programming changes, WYLZ continued to air play-by-play of Great Lakes Loons
Great Lakes Loons
The Great Lakes Loons, based in Midland, Michigan, is a Low Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team plays in the Midwest League and their home park is Dow Diamond, which opened in April 2007.-History:...
baseball during the summer of 2007. In winter of 2008 the Great Lakes Loons finally took over ownership and changed the station to sports radio under new calls WLUN
WLUN
WLUN 100.9 FM is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format in Pinconning, Michigan, USA, owned by the Great Lakes Loons, under the licensee name of Michigan Radio Communications....
. Citadel retained WILZ until its merger with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.