WMMQ
Encyclopedia
WMMQ is an American Classic rock
radio station at 94.9 FM, licensed to East Lansing, Michigan
. The station is owned by Cumulus Media
.
The original WMMQ (92.7 FM) began life as WCER-FM in Charlotte, Michigan
, in 1963. The station was co-owned with WCER-AM 1390 (now Christian-formatted WLCM
). On July 1, 1979, WCER-FM changed its calls to WMMQ, and on September 1 of that year, WMMQ separated programming from its AM sister and aired an adult contemporary/sports format as Q92.
By the mid-1980s, WMMQ was struggling in the ratings and losing to its Lansing-based A/C competitors, and the station's owners quietly prepared a format change. On April 15, 1985, WMMQ changed to a then brand-new format called Classic rock
, making it one of the first FM stations in the United States with such a format. The station was consulted by Fred Jacobs, revered as the "father" of the Classic Rock format, and quickly became one of the most popular stations in mid-Michigan, and Jacobs' first Classic Rock success story.
The current home of WMMQ at 94.9 FM bore the WVIC-FM calls for many years. The station initially simulcast WVIC-AM 730, with an MOR and then a Top 40 format. In the mid-1970s, WVIC-FM simulcast the AM's Top 40 programming during the day and then aired progressive rock at night. In the 1980s, the roles were reversed, as WVIC-FM became the dominant station with its CHR
format and WVIC-AM became the simulcast.
WVIC-AM dropped out of the simulcast and became sports-talk WVFN
in June 1992. WVIC-FM's period as Lansing's top CHR station came to an end on March 1, 1995, when the station became "Wild Country 94-9 The Cat" in an attempt to take on longtime country music
station and market leader WITL-FM
. "The Cat" lasted only a few months before the station was acquired by the owners of WITL-FM. Under new ownership, WVIC-FM decided to take on longtime album rocker WJXQ
with an active rock
format as "Buzz 95." The longtime WJXQ morning show team of Tim (Barron) and Deb (Hart) moved to 94.9 in 1997 and the station adjusted its format to a more mainstream rock approach.
On June 1, 1997, WVIC 94.9 FM and WMMQ 92.7 FM switched programming and call signs. WMMQ's Classic rock
format moved to the higher powered signal at 94.9. Tim and Deb stayed on to host the morning show at WMMQ 94.9 after the switch.
The former morning show on WMMQ consisted of Rich Michaels, formerly of sister station WJIM-FM
97.5 (arriving to that station after its format change from Oldies to CHR on September 15, 2005). Joining Michaels is Deb Hart. Ironically, Rich Michaels was also the morning show host on 94.9 during the heyday of the original WVIC in the 1980's and early 1990's.
Michaels was suspended from on air activities on Wednesday August 14, 2008 for on air comments about a building project in Lansing. In 2010, Rich Michaels was let go.
Alice Cooper's syndicated classic rock show is heard weeknights from 7 to Midnight.
A long-standing fixture on WMMQ, dating back to its earliest days in 1985 on 92.7, is "Larry Allen's All-Request Saturday Night." The show runs from 7pm to midnight, usually has a featured artist or theme each week, and consists of a playlist entirely supplied by listener phone and e-mail requests.
WMMQ continues to be consistently rated in Lansing's top 10 - and was ranked in the top three in local adult 25-54 market ratings in the fall of 2006.
The original 92.7 Charlotte-based WMMQ signal (now Classic Hits
WLMI
) moved to 92.9 in late October 2006 and is now licensed to the community of Grand Ledge. WLMI is owned by Wausau, Wisconsin
-based Midwest Communications
. Midwest also owns the current incarnation of WVIC
located at 94.1 FM in Jackson, Michigan
. That station airs a Modern Rock
format.
WMMQ currently streams its programming 24/7 using the Windows Media format through a link on its website listed below.
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
radio station at 94.9 FM, licensed to East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
. The station is 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...
.
The original WMMQ (92.7 FM) began life as WCER-FM in Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County....
, in 1963. The station was co-owned with WCER-AM 1390 (now Christian-formatted WLCM
WLCM
WLCM is a commercial Christian AM radio station located in Charlotte, Michigan. WLCM operates on 1390 KHz from two locations. During the day it broadcasts with 5,000 watts from Charlotte. Beginning on December 29, 2008, WLCM began operating with its new 4,500 watt night-time transmitter located...
). On July 1, 1979, WCER-FM changed its calls to WMMQ, and on September 1 of that year, WMMQ separated programming from its AM sister and aired an adult contemporary/sports format as Q92.
By the mid-1980s, WMMQ was struggling in the ratings and losing to its Lansing-based A/C competitors, and the station's owners quietly prepared a format change. On April 15, 1985, WMMQ changed to a then brand-new format called Classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
, making it one of the first FM stations in the United States with such a format. The station was consulted by Fred Jacobs, revered as the "father" of the Classic Rock format, and quickly became one of the most popular stations in mid-Michigan, and Jacobs' first Classic Rock success story.
The current home of WMMQ at 94.9 FM bore the WVIC-FM calls for many years. The station initially simulcast WVIC-AM 730, with an MOR and then a Top 40 format. In the mid-1970s, WVIC-FM simulcast the AM's Top 40 programming during the day and then aired progressive rock at night. In the 1980s, the roles were reversed, as WVIC-FM became the dominant station with its 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 and WVIC-AM became the simulcast.
WVIC-AM dropped out of the simulcast and became sports-talk WVFN
WVFN
WVFN is a radio station licensed to East Lansing, Michigan, broadcasting a sports radio format. It broadcasts on AM frequency 730 kHz and is under the ownership of Cumulus Media....
in June 1992. WVIC-FM's period as Lansing's top CHR station came to an end on March 1, 1995, when the station became "Wild Country 94-9 The Cat" in an attempt to take on longtime 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...
station and market leader WITL-FM
WITL-FM
WITL-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Lansing, Michigan, and serving Ingham, Easton and Clinton Counties in Michigan. It first began broadcasting in 1961 . The station took the WITL-FM call sign in 1966, and adopted a full-time country music format in 1967...
. "The Cat" lasted only a few months before the station was acquired by the owners of WITL-FM. Under new ownership, WVIC-FM decided to take on longtime album rocker WJXQ
WJXQ
WJXQ is a radio station broadcasting a mainstream rock format. Licensed to Charlotte, Michigan, it first began broadcasting under the WKHM-FM call sign. Its studios are located on Cedar St...
with an active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
format as "Buzz 95." The longtime WJXQ morning show team of Tim (Barron) and Deb (Hart) moved to 94.9 in 1997 and the station adjusted its format to a more mainstream rock approach.
On June 1, 1997, WVIC 94.9 FM and WMMQ 92.7 FM switched programming and call signs. WMMQ's Classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
format moved to the higher powered signal at 94.9. Tim and Deb stayed on to host the morning show at WMMQ 94.9 after the switch.
The former morning show on WMMQ consisted of Rich Michaels, formerly of sister station WJIM-FM
WJIM-FM
WJIM-FM is a radio station in Lansing, Michigan, broadcasting a Top 40 format.The station has had the WJIM-FM calls continuously since it signed on in 1960. For over three decades, WJIM-FM broadcast an easy listening/beautiful music format, which evolved during the early 1990s into a soft adult...
97.5 (arriving to that station after its format change from Oldies to CHR on September 15, 2005). Joining Michaels is Deb Hart. Ironically, Rich Michaels was also the morning show host on 94.9 during the heyday of the original WVIC in the 1980's and early 1990's.
Michaels was suspended from on air activities on Wednesday August 14, 2008 for on air comments about a building project in Lansing. In 2010, Rich Michaels was let go.
Alice Cooper's syndicated classic rock show is heard weeknights from 7 to Midnight.
A long-standing fixture on WMMQ, dating back to its earliest days in 1985 on 92.7, is "Larry Allen's All-Request Saturday Night." The show runs from 7pm to midnight, usually has a featured artist or theme each week, and consists of a playlist entirely supplied by listener phone and e-mail requests.
WMMQ continues to be consistently rated in Lansing's top 10 - and was ranked in the top three in local adult 25-54 market ratings in the fall of 2006.
The original 92.7 Charlotte-based WMMQ signal (now Classic Hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
WLMI
WLMI
WVTT is an FM radio station licensed to Portville, New York. The station, broadcasting at 96.7 MHz, is owned by Colonial Radio Group and broadcasts a talk radio format.Prior to October 2011, WVTT was licensed to Kane, Pennsylvania at 103.9 MHz...
) moved to 92.9 in late October 2006 and is now licensed to the community of Grand Ledge. WLMI is owned by Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
-based Midwest Communications
Midwest Communications
Midwest Communications, Inc. consists of Midwest Communications, Inc. and WRIG, Inc., which collectively own forty-six radio stations. The Company got its start in Wausau, Wisconsin, with WRIG, Inc. and the acquisition by the D.E. Wright family of a 1400 kHz, 250 watt AM facility from the...
. Midwest also owns the current incarnation of WVIC
WVIC
WVIC is a radio station broadcasting a modern rock format. Licensed to Jackson, Michigan, it first began broadcasting on July 14, 1958 as WMKZ-FM simulcasting WIBM-AM. The station broadcasts from a tower near Springport, Michigan. The station can be heard from Kalamazoo to Ypsilanti, and from...
located at 94.1 FM in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
. That station airs a Modern Rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
format.
WMMQ currently streams its programming 24/7 using the Windows Media format through a link on its website listed below.