WSDS
Encyclopedia
WSDS is a radio station
in Superior Charter Township
, Michigan
, that broadcasts at 1480 kHz. Known as "La Explosiva," WSDS carries an all-Spanish
schedule featuring contemporary music from a wide variety of genres, most notably Regional Mexican
but also including romantica
, Spanish rock
, salsa
, Hurban
, and reggaeton
. The station prides itself on being the only 24-hour Spanish-language radio station on traditional analog radio serving the Detroit area (although WYCD
-FM features a Spanish Contemporary format called "Muevete" on one of its HD side channels). WSDS previously had a classic country music
format until its sale to Birach Broadcasting from Koch Broadcasting.
WSDS began broadcasting in 1963 as WYSI (Ypsilanti), airing a Top 40 format; by 1966, the station had switched to country music
format. In 1968, WSDS adopted a new strategy of focusing on the western suburbs of Detroit, using the slogan "We Serve Detroit's Suburbs" and sending its broadcasting van to events in the area; this focus faded away by 1980. By the early 2000s, "Suds" was still playing country music but had become a classic country
station out of necessity, since major record labels were no longer supplying the station with current product. Weekends included specialty programming in Chinese and Spanish, as well as some classic rock and roll oldies.
"La Explosiva" was born in July of 2001 when Alex Resendez and Rafael Barrios, two local Mexican-American radio personalities, leased time on WSDS for three hours of Regional Mexican
music programming weekly. By 2005, the station, by then sold to ethnic broadcaster Sima Birach, was airing five hours of "La Explosiva" programming six days a week, and in June of that year, "La Explosiva" became a 24-hour format over WSDS.
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 Superior Charter Township
Superior Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Superior Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,740 at the 2000 census....
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, that broadcasts at 1480 kHz. Known as "La Explosiva," WSDS carries an all-Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
schedule featuring contemporary music from a wide variety of genres, most notably 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....
but also including romantica
Romantica
-Track listing:# "Lovedust" – 4:00# "Weird and Woozy" – 3:12# "Black Postcards" – 5:12# "Black Champagne" – 3:34# "Swedish Fish" – 2:54# "Renée Is Crying" – 3:13# "Mermaid Eyes" – 3:31...
, Spanish rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
, Hurban
Hurban
Hurban is a relatively new radio programming format from radio chain giant Clear Channel Communications and Senior VP Alfredo Alonso. Hurban radio stations target young Hispanics in the United States, primarily consisting of reggaeton, hip-hop, and dance music...
, and reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
. The station prides itself on being the only 24-hour Spanish-language radio station on traditional analog radio serving the Detroit area (although WYCD
WYCD
WYCD is a radio station in Detroit, Michigan. The station is the only country music station in the Detroit area. WYCD's offices and studios are located on Woodward Heights . near Interstate 75 in Ferndale, Michigan...
-FM features a Spanish Contemporary format called "Muevete" on one of its HD side channels). WSDS previously had a classic 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...
format until its sale to Birach Broadcasting from Koch Broadcasting.
WSDS began broadcasting in 1963 as WYSI (Ypsilanti), airing a Top 40 format; by 1966, the station had switched to 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...
format. In 1968, WSDS adopted a new strategy of focusing on the western suburbs of Detroit, using the slogan "We Serve Detroit's Suburbs" and sending its broadcasting van to events in the area; this focus faded away by 1980. By the early 2000s, "Suds" was still playing country music but had become a classic country
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
station out of necessity, since major record labels were no longer supplying the station with current product. Weekends included specialty programming in Chinese and Spanish, as well as some classic rock and roll oldies.
"La Explosiva" was born in July of 2001 when Alex Resendez and Rafael Barrios, two local Mexican-American radio personalities, leased time on WSDS for three hours of 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....
music programming weekly. By 2005, the station, by then sold to ethnic broadcaster Sima Birach, was airing five hours of "La Explosiva" programming six days a week, and in June of that year, "La Explosiva" became a 24-hour format over WSDS.