WKBZ
Encyclopedia
WKBZ is a news
/talk
radio
station in Muskegon, Michigan
on the frequency of 1090 AM owned by Clear Channel Communications
.
The current WKBZ is the former WMUS (AM). WMUS began operations in 1947 and became the second radio station serving Muskegon, after the original WKBZ (see below); it began as a general-interest independent variety station featuring Associated Press
newscasts. WMUS also inaugurated the first FM broadcasts in Muskegon in the summer of 1947, just a few months after the AM signed on, with WMUS
-FM at 100.5; the FM station was dark by the start of the 1950s but came back on at its current frequency in 1962.
WMUS moved into a MOR/beautiful music
format in the early 1960s, promoting itself as "the AM station with the FM sound" (1). Then in 1965, WMUS changed format to country music
using the moniker "Top Gun Radio." A few years later WMUS-FM 106.9 began to simulcast WMUS's country format, and eventually the roles were reversed, with WMUS-FM becoming the primary signal and WMUS becoming the simulcast. This continued until April 2001, when both stations were sold to Clear Channel Communications. The AM facility adopted a news/talk format, while the FM facility remained unchanged. In April 2005, the call sign of WMUS was changed to WKBZ, marking the return of the callsign to the radio market after 4 years of absence.
in 1926 on 1500 AM. The city of license was later changed to Muskegon as well as the frequency. The station was moved to Muskegon in 1934 by its original owner, Grant Ashbacker, and is the oldest station serving Muskegon. (Ashbacker's father, Karl L. Ashbacker, later founded WKLA
in Ludington in 1944, taking his initials for the station's callsign.)
The frequency moved from 1500, to 1490, and finally to 850. During the 1990s, there were several ownership changes. In March 1999, a major reorganization occurred. The station was donated to Grand Valley State University
and the callsign changed to WGVS. The callsign WKBZ, the station's staff, and programming were transferred to a sister station, WQWQ AM 1520. However the owner of WKBZ, WLC Communications, was financially troubled. The station went off the air in March 2001 when WLC Communications became bankrupt
and its assets claimed by creditors. The station became an affiliate of Radio Disney
during its final month of operation. The station's license was officially cancelled in June 2002.
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
/talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station in Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
on the frequency of 1090 AM owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
.
The current WKBZ is the former WMUS (AM). WMUS began operations in 1947 and became the second radio station serving Muskegon, after the original WKBZ (see below); it began as a general-interest independent variety station featuring Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
newscasts. WMUS also inaugurated the first FM broadcasts in Muskegon in the summer of 1947, just a few months after the AM signed on, with WMUS
WMUS
This article is about the current WOOD-FM in Muskegon, Michigan. For the station that bore the WOOD-FM call letters from 1962 to 2010, see WSRW-FM....
-FM at 100.5; the FM station was dark by the start of the 1950s but came back on at its current frequency in 1962.
WMUS moved into a MOR/beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
format in the early 1960s, promoting itself as "the AM station with the FM sound" (1). Then in 1965, WMUS changed format to country music
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...
using the moniker "Top Gun Radio." A few years later WMUS-FM 106.9 began to simulcast WMUS's country format, and eventually the roles were reversed, with WMUS-FM becoming the primary signal and WMUS becoming the simulcast. This continued until April 2001, when both stations were sold to Clear Channel Communications. The AM facility adopted a news/talk format, while the FM facility remained unchanged. In April 2005, the call sign of WMUS was changed to WKBZ, marking the return of the callsign to the radio market after 4 years of absence.
History of the Original WKBZ
The original WKBZ went on the air in Ludington, MichiganLudington, Michigan
Ludington is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,357. It is the county seat of Mason County.Ludington is a harbor town located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River...
in 1926 on 1500 AM. The city of license was later changed to Muskegon as well as the frequency. The station was moved to Muskegon in 1934 by its original owner, Grant Ashbacker, and is the oldest station serving Muskegon. (Ashbacker's father, Karl L. Ashbacker, later founded WKLA
WKLA
WKLA-FM is an FM radio station owned by Lake Michigan Broadcasting. It broadcasts from Ludington, Michigan. It plays Adult Contemporary music & can be heard from Kaleva, Michigan in the north to Hart, Michigan in the south.-History:...
in Ludington in 1944, taking his initials for the station's callsign.)
The frequency moved from 1500, to 1490, and finally to 850. During the 1990s, there were several ownership changes. In March 1999, a major reorganization occurred. The station was donated to Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
and the callsign changed to WGVS. The callsign WKBZ, the station's staff, and programming were transferred to a sister station, WQWQ AM 1520. However the owner of WKBZ, WLC Communications, was financially troubled. The station went off the air in March 2001 when WLC Communications became bankrupt
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and its assets claimed by creditors. The station became an affiliate of Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
during its final month of operation. The station's license was officially cancelled in June 2002.