WJZJ
Encyclopedia
WJZJ in Glen Arbor, Michigan is an American
radio station
, which airs a mainstream rock
format branded as Real Rock 105.1/95.5 (simulcasting on WGFM 105.1 FM in Cheboygan, Michigan
). Together, the two signals cover most of the Traverse City
-Petoskey
radio
market.
WJZJ's signal serves primarily the immediate Traverse City area and carries across the waters of Lake Michigan
, and can frequently be heard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin
and the eastern shoreline of Door County, Wisconsin
. WGFM boasts a 100,000-watt signal which easily covers most of northwestern Lower Michigan from Grayling northward and extends into the eastern Upper Peninsula.
WJZJ, along with WAVC 93.9 in Mio
and WLJZ
94.5 in Mackinaw City, MI, launched The Zone, Northern Michigan's Modern Rock, in 1998, replacing the low-rated satellite-delivered smooth jazz
format "Coast-FM", after having been sold from Del Reynolds to Northern Star Broadcasting.
The Zone was originally adult-leaning, whose core artists included Jewel
, Paula Cole
, Alanis Morissette
, Barenaked Ladies
, Sheryl Crow
, and Goo Goo Dolls
. In its early years, The Zone could be more accurately described as a Modern Adult Contemporary station, and the station, which positioned itself as "Modern Rock" even while it continued to play primarily adult alternative and Hot AC crossover material, received criticism from fans of harder rock for not including harder-edged artists such as KoRn
and Limp Bizkit
, whose music was rarely played on classic rock-leaning rival WKLT
. It was not until 2000 that "The Zone" became a true "modern rock" radio station. The Zone's revamped "modern rock" format borrowed from both "alternative" and "active" rock formats.
After the format change, ratings improved dramatically, but once again soon fell, partially due to a translator station launched on 95.5 in Boyne City, Michigan
, only slightly outside 95.5 Glen Arbor's protected signal contour. The Boyne City station relayed Classic Hits-formatted competitor "The Fox" (WFCX-FM 94.3/WFDX-FM 92.5). However, the "Fox" translator moved down to 95.3 FM in December 2006 (and has since switched to relaying talk radio sister station WSRT), alleviating some of the interference to WJZJ in its northern fringe coverage.
WAVC dropped out of The Zone's simulcast in 2000, choosing to simulcast the country
station WMKC
(102.9 FM, St. Ignace, "Big Country 102.9 & 93.9"). It now simulcasts 98.1 WGFN
as part of "The Bear" classic rock network.
On June 5, 2006, the station became an affiliate of Waitt Radio Networks
' now-defunct "Alternative Now" format. As a result, the only live and local program the station carried was its morning show, "The Morning Freakshow" hosted by Cartman, Homeless Jake, and Mizz Christal.
On June 26, WJZJ became the sole carrier of The Zone as WLJZ broke the simulcast to switch to Hot AC. After less than two years, it switched to classic country. Since April 2010, WAVC and WLJZ simulcast "Bear" classic rock programming.
On December 28, 2007, the station began broadcasting out of their Traverse City, Michigan
studios.
On September 14, 2009, the station began carrying The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
. It was also on that day when they started simulcasting with WGFM 105.1 Cheboygan
as Real Rock 105.1/95.5, airing a mix of The Zone's harder rock artists such as KoRn
, Metallica
and Alice in Chains
with harder classic rockers such as Aerosmith
, Ozzy Osbourne
and Van Halen
. 105.1 carried Bob and Tom due to the duo's ratings in the upper northern Michigan region until August 2 2010, when The Free Beer And Hot Wings Show replaced it on 105.1 as well.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, which airs a mainstream rock
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
format branded as Real Rock 105.1/95.5 (simulcasting on WGFM 105.1 FM in Cheboygan, Michigan
Cheboygan, Michigan
Cheboygan is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,295. It is the county seat of Cheboygan County....
). Together, the two signals cover most of the Traverse City
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
-Petoskey
Petoskey, Michigan
Petoskey is a city and coastal resort community in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,080. It is the county seat of Emmet County....
radio
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
market.
WJZJ's signal serves primarily the immediate Traverse City area and carries across the waters of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
, and can frequently be heard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc is a city in and the county seat of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The city is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. According to the 2000 census, Manitowoc had a population of 34,053, with over 50,000 residents in the surrounding communities...
and the eastern shoreline of Door County, Wisconsin
Door County, Wisconsin
Door County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 27,961. Its county seat is Sturgeon Bay. Door County is a popular vacation and tourist destination, especially for residents of Wisconsin and Illinois....
. WGFM boasts a 100,000-watt signal which easily covers most of northwestern Lower Michigan from Grayling northward and extends into the eastern Upper Peninsula.
WJZJ, along with WAVC 93.9 in Mio
Mio, Michigan
Mio is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Oscoda County and is situated along the boundary between Mentor Township on the east and Big Creek Township on the west....
and WLJZ
WLJZ
WLJZ, "The Bear," is an FM radio station at 94.5 MHz based in Mackinaw City, Michigan, which features a Classic rock format simulcast from WGFN 98.1 FM "The Bear" in the Traverse City area. The station aired a Classic Country format, satellite-fed from Dial Global Local, until April 2010, when the...
94.5 in Mackinaw City, MI, launched The Zone, Northern Michigan's Modern Rock, in 1998, replacing the low-rated satellite-delivered smooth jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
format "Coast-FM", after having been sold from Del Reynolds to Northern Star Broadcasting.
The Zone was originally adult-leaning, whose core artists included Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
, Paula Cole
Paula Cole
Paula Cole is an American singer/songwriter. Her single "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997, and the following year she won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.-Early life:...
, Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
, Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, and Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska...
. In its early years, The Zone could be more accurately described as a Modern Adult Contemporary station, and the station, which positioned itself as "Modern Rock" even while it continued to play primarily adult alternative and Hot AC crossover material, received criticism from fans of harder rock for not including harder-edged artists such as KoRn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
and Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
, whose music was rarely played on classic rock-leaning rival WKLT
WKLT
WKLT 97.5 Kalkaska and WKLZ-FM 98.9 Petoskey are mainstream rock stations simulcasting as "KLT The Rock Station". The station serves the Traverse City-Petoskey radio market. It can Be Heard as far North as Sault Ste Marie, Ontario...
. It was not until 2000 that "The Zone" became a true "modern rock" radio station. The Zone's revamped "modern rock" format borrowed from both "alternative" and "active" rock formats.
After the format change, ratings improved dramatically, but once again soon fell, partially due to a translator station launched on 95.5 in Boyne City, Michigan
Boyne City, Michigan
Boyne City is a city in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,503 at the 2000 census.Boyne City is at the southeast end of the east arm of Lake Charlevoix, where the Boyne River enters the lake...
, only slightly outside 95.5 Glen Arbor's protected signal contour. The Boyne City station relayed Classic Hits-formatted competitor "The Fox" (WFCX-FM 94.3/WFDX-FM 92.5). However, the "Fox" translator moved down to 95.3 FM in December 2006 (and has since switched to relaying talk radio sister station WSRT), alleviating some of the interference to WJZJ in its northern fringe coverage.
WAVC dropped out of The Zone's simulcast in 2000, choosing to simulcast the 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...
station WMKC
WMKC
WMKC is a radio station licensed to Indian River, Michigan. It airs a country music format called Big Country 102.9. WMKD 105.5 in Pickford airs mostly the same programming as WMKC, but IDs separately as "Big Country 105.5." These stations are all owned by Northern Star...
(102.9 FM, St. Ignace, "Big Country 102.9 & 93.9"). It now simulcasts 98.1 WGFN
WGFN
WGFN is one of four radio stations in the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan that simulcast a classic rock format, with The Bob & Tom Show & Nights with Alice Cooper, called "The Bear"...
as part of "The Bear" classic rock network.
On June 5, 2006, the station became an affiliate of Waitt Radio Networks
Waitt Radio Networks
Dial Global Local is a national radio network based in Omaha, Nebraska, formerly owned by NRG Media and purchased in April 2008 by Triton Radio Networks...
' now-defunct "Alternative Now" format. As a result, the only live and local program the station carried was its morning show, "The Morning Freakshow" hosted by Cartman, Homeless Jake, and Mizz Christal.
On June 26, WJZJ became the sole carrier of The Zone as WLJZ broke the simulcast to switch to Hot AC. After less than two years, it switched to classic country. Since April 2010, WAVC and WLJZ simulcast "Bear" classic rock programming.
On December 28, 2007, the station began broadcasting out of their Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
studios.
On September 14, 2009, the station began carrying 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...
. It was also on that day when they started simulcasting with WGFM 105.1 Cheboygan
Cheboygan
Cheboygan may refer to a location in the United States:*Cheboygan, Michigan, the city*Cheboygan County, Michigan*Cheboygan River*Cheboygan Point in Lake Huron near the city of Cheboygan*Cheboygan State Park near the city of CheboyganSee also*Sheboygan...
as Real Rock 105.1/95.5, airing a mix of The Zone's harder rock artists such as KoRn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
and Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
with harder classic rockers such as Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
and Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
. 105.1 carried Bob and Tom due to the duo's ratings in the upper northern Michigan region until August 2 2010, when The Free Beer And Hot Wings Show replaced it on 105.1 as well.