WPLM-FM
Encyclopedia
WPLM-FM is an Classic Hits
station serving the Boston radio market from Plymouth, Massachusetts. It is owned by Plymouth Rock Broadcasting Co. and has a sister AM
station by the same callsign. Its transmitter is located in Plymouth.
WPLM-FM has one of the strongest signals in the south of Boston market; additionally, the station can also be received in the Providence
and Cape Cod
markets.
format. This was abandoned in 1993 in favor of an adult contemporary format, branded "Variety 99.1". However, the station saw little success with this format, due to there being several other stations with a similar format within WPLM's coverage area, and as a result it switched to smooth jazz
on June 25, 1995. Initially, programming was largely provided by SW Networks' Smooth FM service; (indeed, the station took the branding "Smooth FM 99.1") however, after Smooth FM closed on December 31, 1996, the station switched to a similar service
from Jones Radio Networks
and reimaged as "Jazzy 99.1". Two years later, this was discontinued in favor of the current "Easy 99.1" format. In the beginning, adult standards
artists such as Frank Sinatra
received a large amount of airplay, but the station has subsequently shifted to more of a contemporary format..
From WPLM-FM's inception, its programming has been simulcast, in whole or in part, with its sister AM station, which signed on six years earlier; however, the AM station has gradually shifted some of its schedule to simulcasts of WADN/WBNW
(1120) since 1997. On December 26, 2010 WPLM Flipped its Soft AC format to Classic Hits, giving Boston
four classic hits
radio stations.
Notable past and present personnel include Ken Coleman, Ron Della Chiesa, Bill O'Connell, and Sean Casey.
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...
station serving the Boston radio market from Plymouth, Massachusetts. It is owned by Plymouth Rock Broadcasting Co. and has a sister AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
station by the same callsign. Its transmitter is located in Plymouth.
WPLM-FM has one of the strongest signals in the south of Boston market; additionally, the station can also be received in the Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
markets.
History
WPLM-FM signed on June 25, 1961. In the station's first decades on the air, it had a big bandBig band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
format. This was abandoned in 1993 in favor of an adult contemporary format, branded "Variety 99.1". However, the station saw little success with this format, due to there being several other stations with a similar format within WPLM's coverage area, and as a result it switched to smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
on June 25, 1995. Initially, programming was largely provided by SW Networks' Smooth FM service; (indeed, the station took the branding "Smooth FM 99.1") however, after Smooth FM closed on December 31, 1996, the station switched to a similar service
Smooth Jazz (radio network)
Smooth Jazz was a 24-hour music network produced by Jones Radio Networks. Its playlist consisted mostly of contemporary smooth jazz music from artists such as Boney James, Joe Sample, Kenny G., The Rippingtons, David Benoit and a dozen more artists...
from Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
and reimaged as "Jazzy 99.1". Two years later, this was discontinued in favor of the current "Easy 99.1" format. In the beginning, 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...
artists such as Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
received a large amount of airplay, but the station has subsequently shifted to more of a contemporary format..
From WPLM-FM's inception, its programming has been simulcast, in whole or in part, with its sister AM station, which signed on six years earlier; however, the AM station has gradually shifted some of its schedule to simulcasts of WADN/WBNW
WBNW
WBNW is a business talk radio station in the Boston market. The station is owned by Money Matters Radio, Inc. and is licensed to Concord, Massachusetts...
(1120) since 1997. On December 26, 2010 WPLM Flipped its Soft AC format to Classic Hits, giving Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
four 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...
radio stations.
Notable past and present personnel include Ken Coleman, Ron Della Chiesa, Bill O'Connell, and Sean Casey.