WLHT
Encyclopedia
WLHT-FM, also known as "CHANNEL 95-7" (formerly "95.7 W-Lite"), 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.
) in 1962. The original call letters of 95.7 FM were WKLW. In the mid-1960s, the station came into common ownership with WZZM-TV Channel 13 and became WZZM-FM. 96 WZZM 96 was spelled the same upside down as right-side up. By 1967, the station was block-programmed, with country music
in the morning, Top 40 hit music in afternoon drive, and MOR music at night. Then, in 1968, WZZM-FM converted its format to full-time Top 40. WZZM-FM was one of the first FM Top 40s in Michigan to pose a serious challenge to its AM competition: by the end of 1970 it was ahead of WLAV (1340 AM) and WGRD (1410 AM) in several dayparts, including at night, when the AM competition either had poor signals or was off the air, and on the weekends.
In 1971, WZZM-FM picked up a serious competitor when WGRD added an FM signal at 97.9 (formerly WXTO). The reborn WGRD was an instant success. WZZM reacted by evolving its format into a Top 40-AOR
hybrid, and then in 1972, into a Top 40-Oldies
hybrid. The station gained a "second wind" of sorts and posted a #1 12+ Arbitron showing in Grand Rapids in the summer of 1973, but ratings quickly dropped off again afterwards. WZZM-FM, which in 1977 changed its calls to WZZR and adopted the names "Z96" and "The Wizard of Rock", continued to struggle through the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s, shifting back and forth between Top 40 and Adult Contemporary. In 1983 WZZR tweaked its format from CHR into a "new wave"/"Rock of the Eighties"-type format, but ratings remained low.
Regent Communications (now Townsquare Media) purchased the station, along with sister stations WGRD-FM, WNWZ-AM, and WTRV-FM.
In November 2007, WLHT shifted to an all-Christmas music
format for the holiday season - the first time the station had ever done so - to compete with WOOD-FM (now WSRW), which has been going all-Christmas in November since 2001. However, WLHT's sister station, WTRV, which pioneered the all-Christmas format in Grand Rapids, stuck to its normal Soft AC format.
By August 2009
, WLHT had moved its format toward Hot AC (of which WMAX-FM
used to carry until 2008
), and its previous mainstream AC format had shifted to sister station WTRV, which previously had aired a MOR/soft AC mix. As a result, WLHT-FM had been leaning adult top 40 until the station dropped AC in 2009 (a similar situation done at adult top 40-leaning ACs such as WNIC
Detroit). Also in 2009, former WOOD-TV
news personality Gerry Barnaby took over the morning show. The radio station's jockeys began referring to the station as LHT, dropping the W except when plugging the station's web page and at the top of the hour for mandatory recitation of the full call sign.
WLHT-FM is licensed for HD Radio operations, and the station's secondary HD subchannel features a simulcast of Regional Mexican
sister station WNWZ
AM 1410 ("La Maquina Musical").
(up until January 2011
), even though Townsquare's true AC station in the Grand Rapids market is WTRV. Nielsen BDS now reports the station as a hot AC as of November 2010
.
The format change brought changes to the station's on-air lineup as well. Channel 957 added Kidd Kraddick
's morning show - giving the station a syndicated morning show for the first time in its history - and midday host Kim Carson (a veteran of Detroit radio) moved to WTRV, with Wendy Reed, who had formerly held the same shift at WTRV, taking her place. Jerry Noble, another veteran of Detroit (and various other Michigan markets) radio, holds down afternoon drive.
Currently, WLHT uses Hallem FM 2006, KMYI 2010, and as of October 2011 KHMX 2004 and KDMX 2011, all from Reelworld. The KHMX and KDMX packages feature the current Hallem FM logo enstead of the original
logo.
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...
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 the same day as WOOD-FM (now WSRW-FMWSRW-FM
WQLX is a radio station broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format. Licensed to Chillicothe, Ohio, USA, it formerly broadcast country music from Hillsboro, Ohio at 106.7 FM. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications and features programing from Premiere Radio Networks...
) in 1962. The original call letters of 95.7 FM were WKLW. In the mid-1960s, the station came into common ownership with WZZM-TV Channel 13 and became WZZM-FM. 96 WZZM 96 was spelled the same upside down as right-side up. By 1967, the station was block-programmed, with 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...
in the morning, Top 40 hit music in afternoon drive, and MOR music at night. Then, in 1968, WZZM-FM converted its format to full-time Top 40. WZZM-FM was one of the first FM Top 40s in Michigan to pose a serious challenge to its AM competition: by the end of 1970 it was ahead of WLAV (1340 AM) and WGRD (1410 AM) in several dayparts, including at night, when the AM competition either had poor signals or was off the air, and on the weekends.
In 1971, WZZM-FM picked up a serious competitor when WGRD added an FM signal at 97.9 (formerly WXTO). The reborn WGRD was an instant success. WZZM reacted by evolving its format into a Top 40-AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
hybrid, and then in 1972, into a Top 40-Oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
hybrid. The station gained a "second wind" of sorts and posted a #1 12+ Arbitron showing in Grand Rapids in the summer of 1973, but ratings quickly dropped off again afterwards. WZZM-FM, which in 1977 changed its calls to WZZR and adopted the names "Z96" and "The Wizard of Rock", continued to struggle through the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s, shifting back and forth between Top 40 and Adult Contemporary. In 1983 WZZR tweaked its format from CHR into a "new wave"/"Rock of the Eighties"-type format, but ratings remained low.
WLHT
In 1984, WZZR became WLHT and switched to its current adult contemporary format. Once again, 95.7 FM was a pioneer in the market in terms of trying a new format, and once again, its pioneering spirit led to success and acclaim. In 1998 WLHT was named AC station of the year at the Marconi Award ceremonies. Two years later2000 in radio
The year 2000 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*The Real Radio & Century Radio networks become active on - air, through the United Kingdom....
Regent Communications (now Townsquare Media) purchased the station, along with sister stations WGRD-FM, WNWZ-AM, and WTRV-FM.
The 2000s Bring Changes
On April 14, 2006, husband and wife morning team Dave Jagger and Geri Jarvis announced that they would host their final morning show on April 21 after twenty years on the air on W-Lite. They were replaced April 24, 2006, by Denis Pryor and Nanette in morning drive. At the same time the station changed its on-air nickname from 95.7 W-Lite to Lite Rock 95.7 (but reverted to the "W-Lite" name afterward). WLHT's music rotation also became slightly brighter and more rock-based than previously. The station's ratings have also dipped considerably since Dave and Geri's departure (see: 1).In November 2007, WLHT shifted to an all-Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
format for the holiday season - the first time the station had ever done so - to compete with WOOD-FM (now WSRW), which has been going all-Christmas in November since 2001. However, WLHT's sister station, WTRV, which pioneered the all-Christmas format in Grand Rapids, stuck to its normal Soft AC format.
By August 2009
2009 in radio
The following events occurred in radio in 2009.- Events :* January 1: Kurdish TV starts broadcasting in Turkey.* January: Michael Smerconish, morning host at talk radio WPHT Philadelphia, begins syndication of his morning show to WHFS in Washington and WOR in New York City.* January 17: Two well...
, WLHT had moved its format toward Hot AC (of which WMAX-FM
WMAX-FM
WMAX-FM are the call letters of a radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, transmitting on a frequency of 96.1 MHz....
used to carry until 2008
2008 in radio
Several events occurred in radio in 2008.- Events :* January 2: WWFT finished Christmas music stunting, rolling out the red carpet for Adult contemporary music branded as "Warm."...
), and its previous mainstream AC format had shifted to sister station WTRV, which previously had aired a MOR/soft AC mix. As a result, WLHT-FM had been leaning adult top 40 until the station dropped AC in 2009 (a similar situation done at adult top 40-leaning ACs such as WNIC
WNIC
WNIC is an American radio station based in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting at 100.3 MHz FM. WNIC's studios and offices are located in Farmington Hills, MI. WNIC's transmitter is located near Schoolcraft and Livernois Avenue in the City of Detroit on the near west side. WNIC broadcasts with an...
Detroit). Also in 2009, former WOOD-TV
WOOD-TV
WOOD-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Southwestern Michigan licensed to Grand Rapids. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 7 from a transmitter in Middleville near the Barry and Allegan County line. The station can also be seen on Comcast and Charter channel...
news personality Gerry Barnaby took over the morning show. The radio station's jockeys began referring to the station as LHT, dropping the W except when plugging the station's web page and at the top of the hour for mandatory recitation of the full call sign.
WLHT-FM is licensed for HD Radio operations, and the station's secondary HD subchannel features a simulcast of 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....
sister station 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:...
AM 1410 ("La Maquina Musical").
Channel 957 Debuts
On October 11, 2010 WLHT became a full-blown Hot AC and changed its moniker to CHANNEL 957; however, WLHT-FM was still reported as AC by MediabaseMediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
(up until January 2011
2011 in radio
The following events occurred in radio broadcasting in 2011.-Events:*January 1: 2 Knoxville stations change formats as WDLF and WYLV flip to K-LOVE and Air 1 , and a few Pittsburgh station change formats, as ESPN Radio moves from WEAE to WBGG, and Radio Disney moves from WWCS to the renamed WDDZ,...
), even though Townsquare's true AC station in the Grand Rapids market is WTRV. Nielsen BDS now reports the station as a hot AC as of November 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....
.
The format change brought changes to the station's on-air lineup as well. Channel 957 added Kidd Kraddick
Kidd Kraddick
Kidd Kraddick is an American radio host. His nationally-syndicated morning radio show, Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, is based in Las Colinas, Texas, in Irving, a suburb of Dallas, and airs throughout the United States, syndicated by Kraddick's company, Yea Network.-Early life:Kraddick was born on...
's morning show - giving the station a syndicated morning show for the first time in its history - and midday host Kim Carson (a veteran of Detroit radio) moved to WTRV, with Wendy Reed, who had formerly held the same shift at WTRV, taking her place. Jerry Noble, another veteran of Detroit (and various other Michigan markets) radio, holds down afternoon drive.
Jingles
During WLHT'S AC history, the station used various TM packages In 2006, The station used Key 103 2006 from Reelworld.Currently, WLHT uses Hallem FM 2006, KMYI 2010, and as of October 2011 KHMX 2004 and KDMX 2011, all from Reelworld. The KHMX and KDMX packages feature the current Hallem FM logo enstead of the original
logo.