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Coordinates: 43°16′36″N 86°15′14″W / 43.27667°N 86.25389°W / 43.27667; -86.25389
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{{short description|Radio station in Muskegon, Michigan}}
{{short description|Radio station in Muskegon, Michigan}}
{{about|the station at 1090 AM in Muskegon, Michigan|prior holders of the call sign|WSMZ (AM)|and|WKBZ (1520 AM)}}
{{Infobox radio station
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WKBZ
| name = WKBZ
| image = File:WKBZ NewsTalk1090 logo.png
| logo = File:WKBZ NewsTalk1090 logo.png
| city = [[Muskegon, Michigan]]
| city = [[Muskegon, Michigan]]
| area =
| area =
| branding = NewsTalk 1090
| branding = NewsTalk 1090
| airdate = {{start date and age|1947}}
| slogan = The Talk of Muskegon
⚫
| frequency = 1090 [[Kilohertz|kHz]]
| airdate =
| format = [[Talk radio|News/talk]]
⚫
| frequency = 1090 [[Kilohertz|kHz]]
⚫
| power = 1,000 [[watt]]s day
| format = [[News-Talk]]
| facility_id = 25087
⚫
| power = 1,000 [[watt]]s (Daytime)
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| erp =
| class = D
| class = D
| callsign_meaning = Former call letters of two Muskegon stations, [[WSMZ (AM)|850]] and [[WKBZ (1520 AM)|1520]] AM
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns = WMUS (?-4/15/05)
| former_callsigns = WMUS (1947–2005)
| owner = [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
| owner = [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
| licensee = CC Licenses, LLC
| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC
| sister_stations = WKBZ, [[WMRR]], [[WOOD-FM]], [[WMUS]]
| sister_stations = [[WMRR]], [[WOOD-FM]], [[WMUS]]
| webcast = [https://www.iheart.com/live/newstalk-1090-wkbz-1185/ Listen Live]
| webcast = [https://www.iheart.com/live/newstalk-1090-wkbz-1185/ Listen Live]
| website = [https://newstalk1090.iheart.com/ https://newstalk1090.iheart.com/]
| website = [https://newstalk1090.iheart.com/ newstalk1090.iheart.com]
| affiliations = [[Fox News Radio]]<br>[[Compass Media Networks]]<br>[[Premiere Networks]]
| affiliations =
}}
}}


'''WKBZ''' is a [[news]]/[[Talk radio|talk]] [[radio]] station in [[Muskegon, Michigan]] on the frequency of 1090 AM owned by [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]].
'''WKBZ''' (1090 [[AM broadcasting|AM]]) is a [[talk radio|news/talk]] [[radio station]] in [[Muskegon, Michigan]] owned by [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]


==History==
⚫
The current WKBZ is the former WMUS. WMUS began operations in 1947 and became the second radio station serving Muskegon, after the original WKBZ (see below); it began as a general-interest independent variety station featuring [[Associated Press]] newscasts. WMUS also inaugurated the first FM broadcasts in Muskegon in the summer of 1947, just a few months after the AM signed on, with [[WMUS]]-FM at 100.5; the FM station was dark by the start of the 1950s but came back on at its current frequency in 1962.


⚫
The current WKBZ is the former WMUS. WMUS began operations in 1947 and became the second radio station serving Muskegon, after the original WKBZ (today's [[WSMZ (AM)|WSMZ]]); it began as a general-interest independent variety station featuring [[Associated Press]] newscasts. WMUS also inaugurated the first FM broadcasts in Muskegon in the summer of 1947, just a few months after the AM signed on, with [[WMUS]]-FM at 100.5; the FM station was dark by the start of the 1950s but came back on at its current frequency in 1962.
⚫
WMUS moved into a [[Middle of the road (music)|MOR]]/[[beautiful music]] format in the early 1960s, promoting itself as "the AM station with the FM sound" ([http://www.michiguide.com/history/fmhistory/case1.pdf 1]). Then in 1965, WMUS changed format to [[country music]] using the moniker "Top Gun Radio." A few years later WMUS-FM 106.9 began to simulcast WMUS's country format, and eventually the roles were reversed, with WMUS-FM becoming the primary signal and WMUS becoming the simulcast. This continued until April 2001, when both stations were sold to Clear Channel Communications. The AM facility adopted a news/talk format, while the FM facility remained unchanged. In April 2005, the call sign of WMUS was changed to WKBZ, marking the return of the callsign to the radio market after 4 years of absence.


⚫
WMUS moved into a [[Middle of the road (music)|MOR]]/[[beautiful music]] format in the early 1960s, promoting itself as "the AM station with the FM sound" ([http://www.michiguide.com/history/fmhistory/case1.pdf 1]). Then in 1965, WMUS changed format to [[country music]] using the moniker "Top Gun Radio." A few years later WMUS-FM 106.9 began to simulcast WMUS's country format, and eventually the roles were reversed, with WMUS-FM becoming the primary signal and WMUS becoming the simulcast. This continued until April 2001, when both stations were sold to Clear Channel Communications. The AM facility adopted a news/talk format, while the FM facility remained unchanged. In April 2005, the call sign of WMUS was changed to WKBZ, marking the return of the call letters to the radio market after 4 years of absence. (They had been on the 850 frequency, now WSMZ, from 1926 to 1999, and on [[WKBZ (1520 AM)|1520 kHz]] from 1999 to 2001.)
==History of the original WKBZ==
The original WKBZ went on the air in [[Ludington, Michigan]] in 1926 on 1500 AM. The city of license was later changed to Muskegon as well as the frequency. The station was moved to Muskegon in 1934 by its original owner, [[Grant Ashbacker]], and is the oldest station serving Muskegon. (Ashbacker's father, [[Karl L. Ashbacker]], later founded [[WKLA (AM)|WKLA]] in Ludington in 1944, taking his initials for the station's callsign.)

The frequency moved from 1500, to 1490, and finally to 850. During the 1990s, there were several ownership changes. In March 1999, a major reorganization occurred. The station was donated to [[Grand Valley State University]] and the callsign changed to [[WGVS (AM)|WGVS]]. The callsign WKBZ, the station's staff, and programming were transferred to a sister station, WQWQ AM 1520. However the owner of WKBZ, WLC Communications, was financially troubled. The station went off the air in March 2001 when WLC Communications became [[bankruptcy|bankrupt]] and its assets claimed by creditors. The station became an affiliate of [[Radio Disney]] during its final month of operation. The station's license was officially cancelled in June 2002.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-j/wkbz.html Michiguide.com - WKBZ History]
*[http://www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-j/wkbz.html Michiguide.com - WKBZ History]
*[http://www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-j/dwkbz.html Michiguide.com - Defunct WKBZ History]
*[http://www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-j/dwkbz.html Michiguide.com - Defunct WKBZ History]


==External links==
==External links==
{{AM station data|WKBZ}}
{{AM station data|25087|WKBZ}}


{{Muskegon Radio}}
{{Muskegon Radio}}
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[[Category:Radio stations in Michigan|KBZ]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Michigan|KBZ]]
[[Category:Muskegon County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Muskegon County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 2005]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1947]]
[[Category:IHeartMedia radio stations]]
[[Category:IHeartMedia radio stations]]
[[Category:Daytime-only radio stations]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Daytime-only radio stations in Michigan|KBZ]]




Latest revision as of 06:23, 24 July 2024

This article is about the station at 1090 AM in Muskegon, Michigan. For prior holders of the call sign, see WSMZ (AM) and WKBZ (1520 AM).
WKBZ
Frequency1090 kHz
BrandingNewsTalk 1090
Programming
FormatNews/talk
AffiliationsFox News Radio
Compass Media Networks
Premiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
WMRR, WOOD-FM, WMUS
History
First air date
1947; 77 years ago (1947)
Former call signs
WMUS (1947–2005)
Call sign meaning
Former call letters of two Muskegon stations, 850 and 1520 AM
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID25087
ClassD
Power1,000 watts day
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitenewstalk1090.iheart.com

WKBZ (1090 AM) is a news/talk radio station in Muskegon, Michigan owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.

History

[edit]

The current WKBZ is the former WMUS. WMUS began operations in 1947 and became the second radio station serving Muskegon, after the original WKBZ (today's WSMZ); it began as a general-interest independent variety station featuring Associated Press newscasts. WMUS also inaugurated the first FM broadcasts in Muskegon in the summer of 1947, just a few months after the AM signed on, with WMUS-FM at 100.5; the FM station was dark by the start of the 1950s but came back on at its current frequency in 1962.

WMUS moved into a MOR/beautiful music format in the early 1960s, promoting itself as "the AM station with the FM sound" (1). Then in 1965, WMUS changed format to country music using the moniker "Top Gun Radio." A few years later WMUS-FM 106.9 began to simulcast WMUS's country format, and eventually the roles were reversed, with WMUS-FM becoming the primary signal and WMUS becoming the simulcast. This continued until April 2001, when both stations were sold to Clear Channel Communications. The AM facility adopted a news/talk format, while the FM facility remained unchanged. In April 2005, the call sign of WMUS was changed to WKBZ, marking the return of the call letters to the radio market after 4 years of absence. (They had been on the 850 frequency, now WSMZ, from 1926 to 1999, and on 1520 kHz from 1999 to 2001.)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WKBZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
[edit]

43°16′36″N 86°15′14″W / 43.27667°N 86.25389°W / 43.27667; -86.25389


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