WMYX-FM
Encyclopedia
WMYX-FM is a Hot AC formatted radio station
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. Identifying themselves on the air as "The Mix", WMYX-FM was the first station in the U.S. to use the "Mix" moniker. WMYX-FM has been airing roughly the same format since late 1981
. The station is owned by Entercom, along with sister stations WXSS-FM and WSSP
. The playlist consists of current hits and previous hits from the 2000s and 1990s.
until 1970
, when it flipped to its own format: WNUW Stereo FM. Over the years, it broadcast an automated oldies
format, soft Top 40, an album-oriented rock
format known as "X-Rock 99", then easy listening
. On October 31, 1978
, the station flipped to Disco 99 and played nonstop disco
music (they would be the first disco station in Milwaukee, pre-dating WLUM's launch into the format four months later in February 1979). WNUW's run as a disco outlet would last for less than 10 months. Afterward, it became known merely as "Music FM 99" WNUW again, this time with a disco-leaning Top 40 hits format, before finally changing to "The Mix" with the WMYX call letters in 1981.
During the 1990s, WMYX's playlist featured a mixture of Hot AC, Soft AC and dance/pop. During the 1996 and 1997 NFL seasons when the Green Bay Packers
went to the Super Bowl
, the station gained notoriety when Dan & Jane (the morning show hosts at the time) recorded parody songs with Packer and football themes. The most famous was the "Packarena" (parody of Los Del Rio
's "Macarena
"). The song was played heavily on the station during the 1996 season. For the 1997 season, Dan & Jane recorded a parody of "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls
under the name "Packer Wannabe." Cassette tapes were sold of the songs at various southeast Wisconsin locations with proceeds went to the Child Abuse Prevention Fund.
When sister station WAMG switched to Top-40 and became WXSS in June of 1998
, WMYX slowly evolved into a more full blown Hot AC with a more focused playlist.
In September 2004
, longtime morning co-host Dan Weber was replaced with WXSS morning hosts Michael Knight and Rahny Taylor in an airstaff shakeup. Jane Matenaer remained on board with Knight and Taylor. At the same time, longtime afternoon host Mark Richards was replaced by crosstown WKTI
evening host Kidd O'Shea. Taylor returned to WXSS-FM soon after. Knight was let go due to differences with management, and Kidd O'Shea was promoted from Afternoon Drive to Mornings.
The "Jane & Kidd In The Morning Show" won the 2006
AIR Award for favorite Milwaukee morning radio show.. Brian Kelly serves as the station's Operations Manager and Program Director, along with overseeing sister station WXSS.
Jane Matenaer was released from WMYX on May 15, 2009. Soon after, Elizabeth Kay, who had sometimes filled in for Jane Matenaer when she was gone, joined Kidd O'Shea for the morning show. It is now known as the "Kidd and Elizabeth in the Morning".
from November until Christmas every year. In 2007, WMYX began Christmas music programming on November 1, a move that made it the highest rated music station in Milwaukee during that time period.http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/graphic.asp?graphic=http://www.jsonline.com/graphics/bym/img/jan08/cuprcol_011108_big.gif In 2008, WMYX went "all Christmas" on October 31 (Halloween
) at 3:21 PM after crosstown Christmas rival WRIT
started playing Christmas music at 3:13 PM. In 2009, WMYX began Christmas programming at roughly 7:00 pm on November 13. WRIT made the switch about 20 minutes later. In 2010, WMYX lost its title as the leading Milwaukee-area Christmas station when rival WRIT switched at approximately 5:15pm on November 18. WMYX waited to air the all-Christmas music format until 12:00am on November 22. In 2011, WMYX switched around 5pm on November 10. WRIT followed shortly at 5:55pm.
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 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. Identifying themselves on the air as "The Mix", WMYX-FM was the first station in the U.S. to use the "Mix" moniker. WMYX-FM has been airing roughly the same format since late 1981
1981 in radio
The year 1981 in radio involved some significant events.-Debuts:* September 22 - WCAU-FM in Philadelphia debuts a new Hot Hits format called "98 Now!" which sweeps the local ratings and inspires parent company CBS to look at converting its other FM stations to similar formats.* October — "The...
. The station is owned by Entercom, along with sister stations WXSS-FM and WSSP
WSSP
WSSP is a Milwaukee-based sports talk station owned by Entercom.The station is the secondary home station for any play-by-play sports coverage on WTMJ-AM which conflicts with another event; for instance the Milwaukee Bucks air on WSSP if a Milwaukee Brewers game airs. If a Green Bay Packers game...
. The playlist consists of current hits and previous hits from the 2000s and 1990s.
History
WMYX-FM began as WEMP-FM in the 1960s, but simply re-broadcast WEMP-AMWSSP
WSSP is a Milwaukee-based sports talk station owned by Entercom.The station is the secondary home station for any play-by-play sports coverage on WTMJ-AM which conflicts with another event; for instance the Milwaukee Bucks air on WSSP if a Milwaukee Brewers game airs. If a Green Bay Packers game...
until 1970
1970 in radio
The year 1970 in radio saw the debut of a nationally sydicated music countdown show and the incorporation of NPR.-Events:* April — KKDA in Dallas, Texas returns to rhythm and blues format....
, when it flipped to its own format: WNUW Stereo FM. Over the years, it broadcast an automated 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....
format, soft Top 40, an album-oriented rock
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...
format known as "X-Rock 99", then easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
. On October 31, 1978
1978 in radio
The year 1978 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:* May 6 – Bob Kingsley, producer of the syndicated "American Country Countdown," takes over as host. He replaces Don Bowman, who had hosted for the first 4½ years...
, the station flipped to Disco 99 and played nonstop disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music (they would be the first disco station in Milwaukee, pre-dating WLUM's launch into the format four months later in February 1979). WNUW's run as a disco outlet would last for less than 10 months. Afterward, it became known merely as "Music FM 99" WNUW again, this time with a disco-leaning Top 40 hits format, before finally changing to "The Mix" with the WMYX call letters in 1981.
During the 1990s, WMYX's playlist featured a mixture of Hot AC, Soft AC and dance/pop. During the 1996 and 1997 NFL seasons when the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
went to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
, the station gained notoriety when Dan & Jane (the morning show hosts at the time) recorded parody songs with Packer and football themes. The most famous was the "Packarena" (parody of Los Del Rio
Los del Río
Los Del Rio, also known as "The Del Rios," was a Spanish Latin dance group formed in 1992 and broke up in mid-2007. They were best known by their smash-hit and hot dance single Macarena originally released in early 1994. The song peaked at the Hot Dance Singles and Billboard 200 by mid-1994. The...
's "Macarena
Macarena (song)
"Macarena" is a Spanish dance song by Los del Río about a woman of the same name. Appearing on the 1994 album A mí me gusta, it was an international hit between 1995 and 1996, and continues to have a cult following. It was ranked the "#1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of all Time" by VH1 in 2002.The song...
"). The song was played heavily on the station during the 1996 season. For the 1997 season, Dan & Jane recorded a parody of "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
under the name "Packer Wannabe." Cassette tapes were sold of the songs at various southeast Wisconsin locations with proceeds went to the Child Abuse Prevention Fund.
When sister station WAMG switched to Top-40 and became WXSS in June of 1998
1998 in radio
The year 1998 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 2 — A gunman shoots Antario Teodoro Filho, Brazilian politician and radio presenter, during a broadcast.*January 21 - Big 105 debuts playing its AC format...
, WMYX slowly evolved into a more full blown Hot AC with a more focused playlist.
In September 2004
2004 in radio
The year 2004 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting history.-Events:*30 October - In the UK a 163-metre-high radio mast at Peterborough collapses in a fire.-Debuts:...
, longtime morning co-host Dan Weber was replaced with WXSS morning hosts Michael Knight and Rahny Taylor in an airstaff shakeup. Jane Matenaer remained on board with Knight and Taylor. At the same time, longtime afternoon host Mark Richards was replaced by crosstown WKTI
WKTI-FM
WLWK-FM is a radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin broadasting at 94.5 FM. The station is owned by the Milwaukee-based Journal Communications , and broadcasts an adult hits format.-History:The owner of the Milwaukee Journal was an early pioneer of FM broadcasting...
evening host Kidd O'Shea. Taylor returned to WXSS-FM soon after. Knight was let go due to differences with management, and Kidd O'Shea was promoted from Afternoon Drive to Mornings.
The "Jane & Kidd In The Morning Show" won the 2006
2006 in radio
The year 2006 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*January 3 - The BJ Shea Morning Experience switches to KISW in Seattle, Washington, from the former FM Talk station KKWF....
AIR Award for favorite Milwaukee morning radio show.. Brian Kelly serves as the station's Operations Manager and Program Director, along with overseeing sister station WXSS.
Jane Matenaer was released from WMYX on May 15, 2009. Soon after, Elizabeth Kay, who had sometimes filled in for Jane Matenaer when she was gone, joined Kidd O'Shea for the morning show. It is now known as the "Kidd and Elizabeth in the Morning".
Christmas music
Since 2003, "The Mix" has aired Christmas musicChristmas 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:...
from November until Christmas every year. In 2007, WMYX began Christmas music programming on November 1, a move that made it the highest rated music station in Milwaukee during that time period.http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/graphic.asp?graphic=http://www.jsonline.com/graphics/bym/img/jan08/cuprcol_011108_big.gif In 2008, WMYX went "all Christmas" on October 31 (Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
) at 3:21 PM after crosstown Christmas rival WRIT
Writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
started playing Christmas music at 3:13 PM. In 2009, WMYX began Christmas programming at roughly 7:00 pm on November 13. WRIT made the switch about 20 minutes later. In 2010, WMYX lost its title as the leading Milwaukee-area Christmas station when rival WRIT switched at approximately 5:15pm on November 18. WMYX waited to air the all-Christmas music format until 12:00am on November 22. In 2011, WMYX switched around 5pm on November 10. WRIT followed shortly at 5:55pm.