WMHG
Encyclopedia
WMHG was a radio station
in Muskegon, Michigan
. It broadcast a MOR/Oldies format. WMHG used ABC Radio Networks' satellite-delivered "Timeless Favorites" (formerly known as "Stardust") format.
It first began broadcasting around 1948 under the WKNK call sign, which stood for the original owner of the station, Nick Kurtis. In 1956, WKNK became WTRU, airing a Top 40 music format that would become legendary in the history of West Michigan radio and dominated the Muskegon market through the mid-1970s. Despite the weak signal, WTRU was once one of the most listened-to and most influential contemporary hits stations in Michigan. In the 1970s, during its peak of popularity, its slogan was "The TRU spirit of America". During the station's later years, one of the DJs, Larry Allen
, hosted an FM-like program called "Spectrum" on late Saturday nights. This program rivaled the FM stations of the day. The station's influence and popularity waned with the waxing of FM radio in the late 1970s—by the end of the 1970s, however, as rock music continued its shift from AM to FM, WTRU had shifted to a full-service adult contemporary format.
The Top 40/CHR
format returned to 1600 AM in 1986 as WTRU began to simulcast "Sunny" 104.5 WSNX
-FM, taking the WSNX-AM calls to go along with the simulcast. This continued through 1992, when the station became sports-talk WSFN "The Fan."
In 1996, WMHG was on 107.9 as "Magic 108". Magic 108 was West Michigan's only FM R&B and Urban station at the time which was owned by GoodRich Radio. However due to the fall in ratings Goodrich decided to keep the Urban format and move the WMHG calls to 1600 AM which adopted the urban contemporary
format with the calls WMHG ("Magic"); Goodrich has obatined the extened Band of 1680 which had more power than 1600, The urban format would move up the AM dial to 1680 and "Magic" would become WJNZ "1680 Jamz", and 1600 was replaced by ABC's Stardust format in the fall of 1998.
The "Stardust" format was renamed to "Timeless Favorites" in 2007, by which time the music rotation had moved away from traditional adult standards to soft Top 40 oldies chiefly of the 1960s and 1970s.
WMHG was owned by Cumulus Media
but was operated by Clear Channel Communications
via a Local Marketing Agreement (LMA).
On January 1, 2008, WMHG went dark permanently, to satisfy conditions related to the existence of WDSS (now WPRR). WMHG ultimately handed in its broadcast license to the FCC on February 29, 2008, and were deleted from the FCC database.
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 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...
. It broadcast a MOR/Oldies format. WMHG used ABC Radio Networks' satellite-delivered "Timeless Favorites" (formerly known as "Stardust") format.
It first began broadcasting around 1948 under the WKNK call sign, which stood for the original owner of the station, Nick Kurtis. In 1956, WKNK became WTRU, airing a Top 40 music format that would become legendary in the history of West Michigan radio and dominated the Muskegon market through the mid-1970s. Despite the weak signal, WTRU was once one of the most listened-to and most influential contemporary hits stations in Michigan. In the 1970s, during its peak of popularity, its slogan was "The TRU spirit of America". During the station's later years, one of the DJs, Larry Allen
Larry Allen
Larry Christopher Allen, Sr. is a former American football guard of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft...
, hosted an FM-like program called "Spectrum" on late Saturday nights. This program rivaled the FM stations of the day. The station's influence and popularity waned with the waxing of FM radio in the late 1970s—by the end of the 1970s, however, as rock music continued its shift from AM to FM, WTRU had shifted to a full-service adult contemporary format.
The Top 40/CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format returned to 1600 AM in 1986 as WTRU began to simulcast "Sunny" 104.5 WSNX
WSNX
WSNX-FM is a radio station located in Clear Channel Communications' Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters. The station has a rhythmic-leaning Top 40 format...
-FM, taking the WSNX-AM calls to go along with the simulcast. This continued through 1992, when the station became sports-talk WSFN "The Fan."
In 1996, WMHG was on 107.9 as "Magic 108". Magic 108 was West Michigan's only FM R&B and Urban station at the time which was owned by GoodRich Radio. However due to the fall in ratings Goodrich decided to keep the Urban format and move the WMHG calls to 1600 AM which adopted the urban contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
format with the calls WMHG ("Magic"); Goodrich has obatined the extened Band of 1680 which had more power than 1600, The urban format would move up the AM dial to 1680 and "Magic" would become WJNZ "1680 Jamz", and 1600 was replaced by ABC's Stardust format in the fall of 1998.
The "Stardust" format was renamed to "Timeless Favorites" in 2007, by which time the music rotation had moved away from traditional adult standards to soft Top 40 oldies chiefly of the 1960s and 1970s.
WMHG was 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...
but was operated 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...
via a Local Marketing Agreement (LMA).
On January 1, 2008, WMHG went dark permanently, to satisfy conditions related to the existence of WDSS (now WPRR). WMHG ultimately handed in its broadcast license to the FCC on February 29, 2008, and were deleted from the FCC database.