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Coordinates: 42°45′36″N 87°57′54″W / 42.760°N 87.965°W / 42.760; -87.965
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+Category:1961 establishments in Wisconsin; +Category:Racine, Wisconsin using HotCat, script-assisted date audit and style fixes per MOS:NUM; other formatting fixes; add logo, country field, and licensing authority to infobox; these purely-format-based headers can be too choppy and a move from an encyclopedic style at times; rm non-free former logos; fix {{FM station data}}; etc.
 
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WVTY
| name = WVTY
| logo =
| logo = WVTY Country 92.1 logo.png
| city = [[Racine, Wisconsin]]
| city = [[Racine, Wisconsin]]
| country = US
| area = [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]]<br>[[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]]<br> Southern [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]] area
| area = {{ubl|Racine–[[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]]|Southern [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]] suburbs}}
| branding = ''92-1 VTY Country''
| branding = ''92.1 VTY Country''
| frequency = {{Frequency|92.1|MHz}}
| frequency = {{Frequency|92.1|MHz}}
| translator =
| translator =
| repeater =
| repeater =
| airdate = {{Start date|1961}} (as WFNY)
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1961}} (as WFNY)
| format = [[Country music|Country]]
| format = [[Country music|Country]]
| language =
| language =
| power =
| power =
| erp = 2,700 [[watt]]s
| erp = 2,700 [[watt]]s
| haat = 150 meters
| haat = {{convert|150|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = A
| class = A
| facility_id = 41438
| facility_id = 41438
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| coordinates = {{coord|42.760|N|87.965|W|type:landmark_region:US-WI_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|42.760|N|87.965|W|type:landmark_region:US-WI_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = '''W'''e Are '''V'''arie'''TY''' (previous format)
| callsign_meaning = "Variety" (previous format)
| former_callsigns = WFNY (1961–1986)<br>WHKQ (1986–1995)<br>WEZY (1995–2014)<br>WMKQ (2014–2015)
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WFNY (1961–1986)|WHKQ (1986–1995)|WEZY (1995–2014)|WMKQ (2014–2015)}}
| former_frequencies =
| former_frequencies =
| affiliations =
| affiliations =
| owner = Magnum Communications, Inc.
| owner = Magnum Communications, Inc.
| sister_stations = [[WRJN]], [[WMBZ (FM)|WMBZ]], [[WIBD]]
| sister_stations = [[WMBZ (FM)|WMBZ]], [[WRYU]]
| webcast = [http://v6.player.abacast.net/3172 Listen Live]
| webcast = {{listenlive|http://v6.player.abacast.net/3172}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.vtycountry.com/}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.vtycountry.com/}}
}}
}}


'''WVTY''' (92.1 FM, "92-1 VTY Country") is a [[country music]]-formatted radio station in [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]]. It serves Racine, [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]] and [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]]'s southern suburbs. WVTY is owned by David Magnum, through licensee Magnum Communications, Inc., along with sister stations [[WRJN]] and [[West Bend, Wisconsin|West Bend]]-based [[WIBD]] and [[WMBZ (FM)|WMBZ]]. Its studios are in Racine and the transmitter site is in [[Raymond, Wisconsin|Raymond]] (at the former transmitter site of [[WPXE-TV]]).
'''WVTY''' (92.1 [[Hertz|MHz]] "92.1 VTY Country") is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[FM radio|FM]] [[radio station]] in [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]], [[Wisconsin]]. It serves Racine, [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]] and [[Milwaukee]]'s southern suburbs. WVTY airs a [[country music]] [[radio format]] and is co-programmed with [[sister station]] 92.5 [[WMBZ (FM)|WMBZ]] in [[West Bend, Wisconsin|West Bend]]. They are owned by David Magnum, through licensee Magnum Communications, Inc., along with [[WRYU]] in West Bend.

WVTY is a [[list of broadcast station classes|Class A]] FM station with an [[effective radiated power]] (ERP) of 2,700 [[watt]]s. The [[transmitter]] is off 2 Mile Road in [[Raymond, Wisconsin|Raymond]] (atop a [[radio masts and towers|tower]] previously used by [[WPXE-TV]]).<REF>[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=wvty&x=0&y=0&sr=Y&s=C Radio-Locator.com/WVTY]</REF>


==History==
==History==
The station [[sign-on|signed on]] the air in 1961<ref>''[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting Yeabook]] 1965'' [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1965/B-All-Radio-1965-YB-All.pdf page B-173]. Retrieved November 20, 2023.</ref> as WFNY, a [[call sign]] derived from the name of owner Jerome Feeny. It was only powered at 1,000 watts and was a rare stand-alone FM station, with no co-owned AM outlet. WFNY aired a [[beautiful music]] format. It played quarter-hour sweeps of mostly soft instrumental [[cover version]]s of popular hits, with some [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] and [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] [[show tune]]s.
⚫
The station signed on in 1961 as '''WFNY''', (taken from owner Jerome Feeny's name) broadcasting a [[beautiful music]] format. Eventually an automated music playback system was installed, but live announcers remained on staff. Some of the air personalities over the years have included [[Paul Weyrich]], Lou Rugani, Dave Garland, Don Jensen, Jerry Grimmer, Kevin Kellogg, Mike Kristof, Tim Yorgan, Chris Morreau, Gene Miller, Mike Petersen, and Frank Ricchio.

⚫
Eventually an [[broadcast automation|automated]] music playback system was installed, but live announcers remained on staff. Some of the air personalities over the years have included [[Paul Weyrich]], Lou Rugani, Dave Garland, Don Jensen, Jerry Grimmer, Kevin Kellogg, Mike Kristof, Tim Yorgan, Chris Morreau, Gene Miller, Mike Petersen, and Frank Ricchio. In the 1980s, to make the sound a bit younger, more soft vocals were added to the [[playlist]] and the instrumentals were scaled back.


WFNY was sold in 1986 and the format was flipped to [[adult contemporary]] as '''WHKQ'''. Two years later, WHKQ became "Country 92". The station was sold once again in 1991, with the format returning to its easy listening origins. Later, the station adopted the '''WEZY''' call letters using the branding "EZ92 WEZY" The easy listening format would simulcast on sister WRJN overnights from midnight-7AM.
WFNY was sold in 1986 and the format was flipped to [[adult contemporary]] as WHKQ. Two years later, WHKQ became "Country 92". The station was sold once again in 1991, with the format returning to its [[easy listening]] origins. In 1995, the station adopted the WEZY call sign, using the branding "EZ92 WEZY". The easy listening format was simulcast on then-sister station [[WRJN]] overnights.


In 1997, Bliss Communications, owners of eight radio stations in Wisconsin and numerous newspapers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, purchased the station and its sister, WRJN. On December 26, 1997, the station adopted an adult contemporary format. On January 2, 2007, WEZY changed its moniker to "Lite Rock 92.1". On June 25, 2014, Bliss Communications announced that it would sell WEZY and WRJN, along with WBKV and WBWI-FM in West Bend, to David Magnum's Magnum Communications, Inc.<ref name=tjg-saletomagnum>{{cite news|title=Bliss Communications to sell West Bend, Racine radio stations|url=http://www.gazettextra.com/20140625/bliss_communications_to_sell_west_bend_racine_radio_stations|access-date=June 26, 2014|work=The Janesville Gazette|date=June 25, 2014}}</ref> The sale, at a price of $2.25 million, was consummated on October 31, 2014.
In 1997, Bliss Communications purchased WEZY and WRJN. Bliss owned eight other radio stations in Wisconsin and numerous newspapers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. On December 26, 1997, the station returned to a [[soft adult contemporary]] format. On January 2, 2007, WEZY changed its moniker to "Lite Rock 92.1".


On December 2, 2014, at 12:55&nbsp;a.m., the station flipped to [[country music]] as ''Q92''; afterward, the station changed its call letters to '''WMKQ'''.<ref name=mjs-wezycountry>{{cite news|title=Racine station WEZY-FM switches to country music format|url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/racine-station-wezy-fm-switches-to-country-music-format-b99401395z1-284500671.html|access-date=18 June 2015|work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel}}</ref><ref>https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/91054/wezy-flips-to-country/</ref><ref>http://formatchange.com/wezy-becomes-q92/</ref>
On June 25, 2014, Bliss Communications announced that it would sell WEZY and WRJN, along with [[WRYU|WBKV]] and [[WMBZ (FM)|WBWI-FM]] in West Bend, to David Magnum's Magnum Communications, Inc.<ref name=tjg-saletomagnum>{{cite news|title=Bliss Communications to sell West Bend, Racine radio stations|url=http://www.gazettextra.com/20140625/bliss_communications_to_sell_west_bend_racine_radio_stations|access-date=June 26, 2014|work=The Janesville Gazette|date=June 25, 2014}}</ref> The sale, at a price of $2.25 million, was consummated on October 31, 2014. On December 2, 2014, at 12:55&nbsp;a.m., the station flipped to [[country music]] as ''Q92''. Afterward, the station changed its call letters to WMKQ.<ref name=mjs-wezycountry>{{cite news|title=Racine station WEZY-FM switches to country music format|url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/racine-station-wezy-fm-switches-to-country-music-format-b99401395z1-284500671.html|access-date=June 18, 2015|work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/91054/wezy-flips-to-country/|title = WEZY Flips to Country}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://formatchange.com/wezy-becomes-q92/|title = WEZY Becomes Q92|date = December 2, 2014}}</ref>


On May 29, 2015, WMKQ flipped to adult hits as ''92.1 The Lake''; this move came the same day that competing station WLWK, which also branded as ''The Lake'' with an identical logo, flipped to country itself as [[WKTI|WKTI-FM]]. The de facto "swap" was intentional, with Magnum citing the "heritage" of the format in Milwaukee, and the decision by the station's new owner, [[The E.W. Scripps Company]], to drop it, as justification for the abrupt change. The change in branding and Magnum's appropriation of WKTI's former branding caught Scripps off-guard; representatives of both companies indicated that they were in discussions over the matter. On June 7, 2015, WMKQ changed their call letters to '''WVTY'''; ''Radio Insight'' also reported that Magnum had registered new domain names and social media accounts with different possible brands, ''92.1 The Shore'' and ''Variety 92.1''.<ref name=journaltimes-scrippslake>{{cite news|title=Radio station owners 'surprised' by 92.1 FM's new name, logo|url=http://journaltimes.com/news/local/radio-station-owners-surprised-by-fm-s-new-name-logo/article_3dd4f0a8-38c1-5244-8d4c-5c5e84fb22da.html|access-date=18 June 2015|work=The Journal Times|date=June 3, 2015}}</ref> On June 29, 2015, WVTY rebranded as ''92.1 The Shore''.<ref name=ri-theshore>{{cite web|title=A Shore Change For Lake Brand Battle|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/93207/scripps-goes-after-wmkqs-lake-branding/|website=Radio Insight|access-date=18 June 2015}}</ref>
On May 29, 2015, WMKQ flipped to [[adult hits]] as ''92.1 The Lake''. This move came the same day that Milwaukee station 94.5 WLWK, which also branded as ''The Lake'' with an identical logo, flipped to country music as [[WKTI|WKTI-FM]]. The de facto "swap" was intentional, with Magnum citing the "heritage" of the format in Milwaukee, and the decision by the station's new owner, [[The E.W. Scripps Company]], to drop it.


The change in branding and Magnum's appropriation of WKTI's former branding caught Scripps off-guard. Representatives of both companies indicated that they were in discussions over the matter. On June 7, 2015, WMKQ changed its call letters to WVTY. ''Radio Insight'' also reported that Magnum had registered new domain names and social media accounts with different possible brands, ''92.1 The Shore'' and ''Variety 92.1''.<ref name=journaltimes-scrippslake>{{cite news|title=Radio station owners 'surprised' by 92.1 FM's new name, logo|url=http://journaltimes.com/news/local/radio-station-owners-surprised-by-fm-s-new-name-logo/article_3dd4f0a8-38c1-5244-8d4c-5c5e84fb22da.html|access-date=June 18, 2015|work=The Journal Times|date=June 3, 2015}}</ref> On June 29, 2015, WVTY dropped its "Lake" moniker and rebranded as ''92.1 The Shore''.<ref name=ri-theshore>{{cite web|title=A Shore Change For Lake Brand Battle|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/93207/scripps-goes-after-wmkqs-lake-branding/|website=Radio Insight|access-date=June 18, 2015}}</ref>
⚫
On October 30, 2018, in anticipation of WKTI's November 1 flip from country to [[ESPN Radio]] as part of its sale by Scripps to [[Good Karma Brands]], WVTY returned to country itself as ''92.1 VTY Country''. As with its use of the former ''Lake'' branding earlier, the station's new branding and logo is based heavily on the branding previously used by WKTI. Through November 2, Magnum Communications purchased advertising time on WKTI to help redirect listeners to WVTY and sister station [[WMBZ (FM)|WMBZ]].<ref name="mjs-wvtycountry">{{cite news |last1=Foran |first1=Chris |title=Radio station switches back to country after WKTI makes move to an all-sports format |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2018/10/31/radio-station-switches-back-country-after-wkti-shifts-all-sports/1836041002/ |date=October 31, 2018 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |language=en}}</ref>


⚫
On October 30, 2018, WVTY's management learned of WKTI's pending November 1 flip from country to [[ESPN Radio]] as part of its sale by Scripps to [[Good Karma Brands]]. That prompted WVTY to return to country music as ''92.1 VTY Country''. As with its use of the former ''Lake'' branding earlier, the station's new branding and logo is based heavily on the branding previously used by WKTI. Magnum Communications also purchased advertising time on WKTI to promote WVTY and West Bend sister station 92.5 WMBZ to its former listeners.<ref name="mjs-wvtycountry">{{cite news |last1=Foran |first1=Chris |title=Radio station switches back to country after WKTI makes move to an all-sports format |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2018/10/31/radio-station-switches-back-country-after-wkti-shifts-all-sports/1836041002/ |date=October 31, 2018 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=WVTY Goes Country Ahead of WKTI Flip|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/171645/wvty-goes-country-ahead-of-wkti-flip/|website=Radio Insight|access-date=September 7, 2023}}</ref> While WVTY and WMBZ air separate commercials, they have the same [[disc jockey|DJ]]s and play the same music.
==Past logos==
<gallery>
Image:WEZY.png|"EZ92 WEZY" logo from early 2000s-2007
Image:WHKQ.jpg|"WHKQ" logo from the late 1980s
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
Line 53: Line 56:
==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.vtycountry.com/}}
*{{Official website|http://www.vtycountry.com/}}
*{{FM station data|WVTY}}
*{{FM station data|41438|WVTY}}


{{Milwaukee Radio}}
{{Milwaukee Radio}}
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[[Category:Radio stations in the Milwaukee metropolitan area|VTY]]
[[Category:Radio stations in the Milwaukee metropolitan area|VTY]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1961]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1961]]
[[Category:1961 establishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Country radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Country radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Racine, Wisconsin]]

Latest revision as of 01:42, 7 July 2024

WVTY
Broadcast area
Frequency92.1 MHz
Branding92.1 VTY Country
Programming
FormatCountry
Ownership
OwnerMagnum Communications, Inc.
WMBZ, WRYU
History
First air date
1961; 63 years ago (1961) (as WFNY)
Former call signs
  • WFNY (1961–1986)
  • WHKQ (1986–1995)
  • WEZY (1995–2014)
  • WMKQ (2014–2015)
Call sign meaning
"Variety" (previous format)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID41438
ClassA
ERP2,700 watts
HAAT150 meters (490 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
42°45′36″N 87°57′54″W / 42.760°N 87.965°W / 42.760; -87.965
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.vtycountry.com

WVTY (92.1 MHz "92.1 VTY Country") is a commercial FM radio station in Racine, Wisconsin. It serves Racine, Kenosha and Milwaukee's southern suburbs. WVTY airs a country music radio format and is co-programmed with sister station 92.5 WMBZ in West Bend. They are owned by David Magnum, through licensee Magnum Communications, Inc., along with WRYU in West Bend.

WVTY is a Class A FM station with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 2,700 watts. The transmitter is off 2 Mile Road in Raymond (atop a tower previously used by WPXE-TV).[2]

History

[edit]

The station signed on the air in 1961[3] as WFNY, a call sign derived from the name of owner Jerome Feeny. It was only powered at 1,000 watts and was a rare stand-alone FM station, with no co-owned AM outlet. WFNY aired a beautiful music format. It played quarter-hour sweeps of mostly soft instrumental cover versions of popular hits, with some Broadway and Hollywood show tunes.

Eventually an automated music playback system was installed, but live announcers remained on staff. Some of the air personalities over the years have included Paul Weyrich, Lou Rugani, Dave Garland, Don Jensen, Jerry Grimmer, Kevin Kellogg, Mike Kristof, Tim Yorgan, Chris Morreau, Gene Miller, Mike Petersen, and Frank Ricchio. In the 1980s, to make the sound a bit younger, more soft vocals were added to the playlist and the instrumentals were scaled back.

WFNY was sold in 1986 and the format was flipped to adult contemporary as WHKQ. Two years later, WHKQ became "Country 92". The station was sold once again in 1991, with the format returning to its easy listening origins. In 1995, the station adopted the WEZY call sign, using the branding "EZ92 WEZY". The easy listening format was simulcast on then-sister station WRJN overnights.

In 1997, Bliss Communications purchased WEZY and WRJN. Bliss owned eight other radio stations in Wisconsin and numerous newspapers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. On December 26, 1997, the station returned to a soft adult contemporary format. On January 2, 2007, WEZY changed its moniker to "Lite Rock 92.1".

On June 25, 2014, Bliss Communications announced that it would sell WEZY and WRJN, along with WBKV and WBWI-FM in West Bend, to David Magnum's Magnum Communications, Inc.[4] The sale, at a price of $2.25 million, was consummated on October 31, 2014. On December 2, 2014, at 12:55 a.m., the station flipped to country music as Q92. Afterward, the station changed its call letters to WMKQ.[5][6][7]

On May 29, 2015, WMKQ flipped to adult hits as 92.1 The Lake. This move came the same day that Milwaukee station 94.5 WLWK, which also branded as The Lake with an identical logo, flipped to country music as WKTI-FM. The de facto "swap" was intentional, with Magnum citing the "heritage" of the format in Milwaukee, and the decision by the station's new owner, The E.W. Scripps Company, to drop it.

The change in branding and Magnum's appropriation of WKTI's former branding caught Scripps off-guard. Representatives of both companies indicated that they were in discussions over the matter. On June 7, 2015, WMKQ changed its call letters to WVTY. Radio Insight also reported that Magnum had registered new domain names and social media accounts with different possible brands, 92.1 The Shore and Variety 92.1.[8] On June 29, 2015, WVTY dropped its "Lake" moniker and rebranded as 92.1 The Shore.[9]

On October 30, 2018, WVTY's management learned of WKTI's pending November 1 flip from country to ESPN Radio as part of its sale by Scripps to Good Karma Brands. That prompted WVTY to return to country music as 92.1 VTY Country. As with its use of the former Lake branding earlier, the station's new branding and logo is based heavily on the branding previously used by WKTI. Magnum Communications also purchased advertising time on WKTI to promote WVTY and West Bend sister station 92.5 WMBZ to its former listeners.[10][11] While WVTY and WMBZ air separate commercials, they have the same DJs and play the same music.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WVTY". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WVTY
  3. ^ Broadcasting Yeabook 1965 page B-173. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "Bliss Communications to sell West Bend, Racine radio stations". The Janesville Gazette. June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  5. ^ "Racine station WEZY-FM switches to country music format". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  6. ^ "WEZY Flips to Country".
  7. ^ "WEZY Becomes Q92". December 2, 2014.
  8. ^ "Radio station owners 'surprised' by 92.1 FM's new name, logo". The Journal Times. June 3, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "A Shore Change For Lake Brand Battle". Radio Insight. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  10. ^ Foran, Chris (October 31, 2018). "Radio station switches back to country after WKTI makes move to an all-sports format". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  11. ^ "WVTY Goes Country Ahead of WKTI Flip". Radio Insight. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
[edit]
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