WXER
Encyclopedia
WXER is a Hot AC FM
radio station
broadcasting on 104.5 MHz in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, which is owned by Midwest Communications. The station is licensed to the city of Plymouth
and broadcasts from a tower southwest of the city.
The station also has a translator station with the calls W241AG broadcasting at 96.1 FM from the tower site behind the Midwest studios in Sheboygan, which was launched in June 2006 due to ongoing interference problems with WBFM and WHBZ within the city on the 104.5 frequency. The stations are marketed together as 104-5 & 96-1, The Point, with the call letters completely de-emphasized beyond station identification
purposes.
The station launched in 1990 with an easy listening
format, then slowly over the years went more towards a more adult contemporary format. In 1999, the transition was complete, and the station took on The Point branding, then a popular brand for radio stations using that format. After then-adult contemporary WWJR became an active rock
station in 2000 under the calls WHBZ
, the station became the market's sole AC station until 2003, when Cleveland
-based WKTT switched from country to AC
as WLKN
. At this time, the station was owned by Mountain Dog Media. The station carried syndicated programming on the weekends, including radio-optimized programming from the VH1 Radio Network
, Nina Blackwood
's Absolutely 80's, and The Retro Pop Reunion.
In 2005, Mountain Dog sold the station to Midwest Communications
while keeping ESPN Radio
affiliate WCLB, which was restricted by a non-compete agreement until 2010 . Shortly after, Midwest changed tweaked the format to Hot AC and ended syndicated programming on the station (except for a Sunday airing of American Top 40
), and replaced the station's airstaff with new personalities, including voice tracked
personalities from other Midwest stations in Green Bay and Wausau. In September 2008, the station took a CHR (Top 40)
format, adding current hip-hop/R&B songs to their playlist and narrowing it down to music after 2001, with a few pre-2001 tracks sprinkled in through the playlist. On September 2009, WXER returned to a Hot AC format after a one-year run with CHR (Top 40)
.
(1420, now WJUB) on Highway 57 east of the city (which remain the home of WJUB and current sister station WSTM-FM
), but in 1994 after WPLY was sold off, moved them to Falls Plaza, a small shopping center off Fond du Lac Avenue in Sheboygan Falls
, which were shared by former sister station WCNZ/WCLB
(950 AM). Finally, the station moved to the Washington Avenue facilities of Midwest's other stations in Sheboygan
when bought by the group in 2005.
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
radio station
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...
broadcasting on 104.5 MHz in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, which is owned by Midwest Communications. The station is licensed to the city of Plymouth
Plymouth, Wisconsin
Plymouth is a city in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, along the Mullet River. The population was 7,781 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located within the Town of Plymouth, but is politically independent...
and broadcasts from a tower southwest of the city.
The station also has a translator station with the calls W241AG broadcasting at 96.1 FM from the tower site behind the Midwest studios in Sheboygan, which was launched in June 2006 due to ongoing interference problems with WBFM and WHBZ within the city on the 104.5 frequency. The stations are marketed together as 104-5 & 96-1, The Point, with the call letters completely de-emphasized beyond station identification
Station identification
Station identification is the practice of radio or television stations or networks identifying themselves on air, typically by means of a call sign or brand name...
purposes.
History
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...
format, then slowly over the years went more towards a more adult contemporary format. In 1999, the transition was complete, and the station took on The Point branding, then a popular brand for radio stations using that format. After then-adult contemporary WWJR became 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:...
station in 2000 under the calls WHBZ
WHBZ
WHBZ is a Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin--licensed radio station based in Sheboygan that plays a Active Rock format. The station is currently owned by Midwest Communications and features the syndicated The Bob and Tom Show in the mornings, with some Fox News Radio updates and forecasts provided by...
, the station became the market's sole AC station until 2003, when Cleveland
Cleveland, Wisconsin
Cleveland is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Wisconsin:*Cleveland, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, a town*Cleveland, Jackson County, Wisconsin, a town*Cleveland, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, a village*Cleveland, Marathon County, Wisconsin, a town...
-based WKTT switched from country to AC
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
as WLKN
WLKN
WLKN is a radio station serving the lakeshore cities of Sheboygan and Manitowoc/Two Rivers, Wisconsin, along with Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties in general...
. At this time, the station was owned by Mountain Dog Media. The station carried syndicated programming on the weekends, including radio-optimized programming from the VH1 Radio Network
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, Nina Blackwood
Nina Blackwood
Nina Blackwood is an American disc jockey and music journalist, who was the first of the original five MTV VJs. She has also been an actress and model.-Early life and career:...
's Absolutely 80's, and The Retro Pop Reunion.
In 2005, Mountain Dog sold the station to 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...
while keeping ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
affiliate WCLB, which was restricted by a non-compete agreement until 2010 . Shortly after, Midwest changed tweaked the format to Hot AC and ended syndicated programming on the station (except for a Sunday airing of American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
), and replaced the station's airstaff with new personalities, including voice tracked
Voice-tracking
Voice-tracking, also called cyber jocking and referred to sometimes colloquially as a robojock, is a technique employed by some radio stations in radio broadcasting to produce the illusion of a live disc jockey or announcer sitting in the radio studios of the station when one is not actually...
personalities from other Midwest stations in Green Bay and Wausau. In September 2008, the station took a CHR (Top 40)
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, adding current hip-hop/R&B songs to their playlist and narrowing it down to music after 2001, with a few pre-2001 tracks sprinkled in through the playlist. On September 2009, WXER returned to a Hot AC format after a one-year run with CHR (Top 40)
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...
.
Studio facilities history
WXER originally broadcast from studios with then co-owned WPLYWJUB
WJUB is a radio station licensed to Plymouth, Wisconsin which has a standards format. WJUB previously aired a Christian format, and as WPLY, Adult Contemporary and Top 40 formats. The station broadcasts at 1420 kHz, on the AM band. Owner Jubilation Ministries, Inc. also operates WSTM-FM , and...
(1420, now WJUB) on Highway 57 east of the city (which remain the home of WJUB and current sister station WSTM-FM
WSTM-FM
WSTM is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Inspirational format. Licensed to Kiel, Wisconsin, USA. The station is currently owned by Jubilation Ministries Inc and features programing from Salem Communications.-History:...
), but in 1994 after WPLY was sold off, moved them to Falls Plaza, a small shopping center off Fond du Lac Avenue in Sheboygan Falls
Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
Sheboygan Falls is a city in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States whose population was 6,772 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, which were shared by former sister station WCNZ/WCLB
WCLB
WCLB is a radio station in Sheboygan, Wisconsin which airs a sports talk format and is a full affiliate of Fox Sports Radio. It is operated as a sister station to Chilton's WMBE, and both stations carry the same programming...
(950 AM). Finally, the station moved to the Washington Avenue facilities of Midwest's other stations in Sheboygan
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...
when bought by the group in 2005.