WMFN
Encyclopedia
WMFN is a radio station
broadcasting a brokered Regional Mexican
format. The station is known on-air as "La Poderosa" (Spanish for "the powerful one"). The station is owned by Birach Broadcasting. Licensed to Zeeland, Michigan
, it first began broadcasting in 1990 under the WBMX call sign, and has been through a number of different formats and call signs since, including the Radio AAHS
children's format, mainstream talk, and sports talk. During its sports talk days former NFL great Ray Bentley
hosted his own afternoon program.
For a time, the station also played adult standards
(Westwood One
's AM Only
) at night as a continuation of daytimer sister station WMJH
810 AM's format. Since WMJH was known at the time as "Majic 810," WMFN's nighttime standards programming was called "Night Majic."
In 1995 am 640 became WMFN, taking a sports format branded "West Michigan's Fan". In 1999 WMFN adopted a Business News format branded "West Michigan's Financial News". Starting in 2000 WMFN evolved into a News Talk Sports format eventually becoming "Hot Talk 640". In 2005 WMFN's talk format was dropped in favor of an Adult Urban Contemporary format branded "Smooth Vibes AM 640".
From about 2006 until November 2008, the station was leased to Tyrone Bynum, a controversial talk show host and deejay who hosted many of his programs on this station, which went under the name "Smooth Vibes"; during periods when there was no talk programming, Bynum (or his staffers) would play Urban Adult Contemporary
music.
In November 2008, Bynum opted not to renew his lease with Birach; on November 7, 2008, the station began carrying Regional Mexican programming, moved from WMJH. As "La Poderosa," the station battles with 1410 WNWZ
and 1530 WYGR
for West Michigan's Spanish-speaking audiences; when the format was on WMJH, that station did fairly well in the ratings.
During daytime hours, WMFN is heard as far away as Chicago, Illinois and Lansing, Michigan
.
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 brokered 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....
format. The station is known on-air as "La Poderosa" (Spanish for "the powerful one"). The station is owned by Birach Broadcasting. Licensed to Zeeland, Michigan
Zeeland, Michigan
Zeeland is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,805 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township which is politically independent. Its name is derived from the Dutch province of Zeeland...
, it first began broadcasting in 1990 under the WBMX call sign, and has been through a number of different formats and call signs since, including the Radio AAHS
Radio AAHS
Radio AAHS was a radio network managed by the Children's Broadcasting Corporation. Its flagship station was WWTC-AM 1280 in Minneapolis, which broadcast from the former First Federal Bank building at Highway 100 and Excelsior Boulevard in St. Louis Park. At its height in 1996, Radio AAHS had 29...
children's format, mainstream talk, and sports talk. During its sports talk days former NFL great Ray Bentley
Ray Bentley
Ray Russell Bentley is a former professional American football linebacker.-Playing career:...
hosted his own afternoon program.
For a time, the station also played adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
(Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
's AM Only
America's Best Music
America's Best Music is the on-air branding of an adult standards 24-hour radio network, known internally as Adult Standards and formerly known as AM Only, currently owned by Dial Global. It was one of the original Westwood One's Transtar networks...
) at night as a continuation of daytimer sister station WMJH
WMJH
WMJH is a radio station broadcasting a brokered Regional Mexican format, licensed to Rockford, Michigan and serving the Grand Rapids, Michigan market...
810 AM's format. Since WMJH was known at the time as "Majic 810," WMFN's nighttime standards programming was called "Night Majic."
In 1995 am 640 became WMFN, taking a sports format branded "West Michigan's Fan". In 1999 WMFN adopted a Business News format branded "West Michigan's Financial News". Starting in 2000 WMFN evolved into a News Talk Sports format eventually becoming "Hot Talk 640". In 2005 WMFN's talk format was dropped in favor of an Adult Urban Contemporary format branded "Smooth Vibes AM 640".
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
music.
In November 2008, Bynum opted not to renew his lease with Birach; on November 7, 2008, the station began carrying Regional Mexican programming, moved from WMJH. As "La Poderosa," the station battles with 1410 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:...
and 1530 WYGR
WYGR
WYGR is a radio station broadcasting an Urban Adult Contemporary format, licensed to Wyoming, Michigan and serving the Grand Rapids area. The station operates with 500 watts during the day and 250 watts critical hours, but must sign off at night to protect 1530 WCKY in Cincinnati...
for West Michigan's Spanish-speaking audiences; when the format was on WMJH, that station did fairly well in the ratings.
During daytime hours, WMFN is heard as far away as Chicago, Illinois and Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
.