WBBL
Encyclopedia
WJRW is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk
format in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. WJRW is branded as NEWSTALK 1340 WJRW, West Michigan's LIVE & LOCAL Leader. WJRW is owned by Cumulus Media
.
17, a local FOX television affiliate. Fox 17 meteorologists provide weather forecasts and breaking weather coverage for the station.
1340 WJRW has more local programming than all other local news/talk stations, combined. WJRW's local lineup includes Michigan's Morning Show with Michael Patrick Shiels, Marconi award winner Tony Gates with Dave Jaconette, Michelle McKormick, Tim Doctor, and James Gemmell.
1340 WJRW's weekday lineup also includes Mark Levin
, Dennis Miller
, Jim Bohannon
, and Doug McIntyre
.
Weekend programs and hosts include: Kim Komando
, Larry Kudlow, John Batchelor
, Bob Brinker
, Meet The Press
, and The C.A.R. Show. Local programming includes: Travel Michigan, Wild Michigan (outdoors show), Frontlines of Freedom (military), Keeping Your Money (financial), Health and Wellness Solutions, The Home Boys (real estate), Real Estate 411, Discover Good Food, Greening of the Great Lakes, and The Internet Advisor.
format in the late 1970s. It soon overtook rival stations WGRD and WMAX as the dominant popular music station in the market, but its market share declined in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the popularity of FM stations such as 95.7 WZZM
("Z96"), WGRD, and WLAV's own album-rock FM sister station at 96.9. "MUSIC RADIO 1340, WLAV" went to a more adult contemporary sound in 1974, which continued until 1980, when the station tried a talk format as the "1340 Townhouse", WTWN with Lee Harris.
The heritage WLAV-AM calls were restored in 1984, and the station tried a variety of oldies
formats for several years. Although WLAV-AM was a modest success with oldies, it was hurt when WODJ debuted in 1989 as an FM oldies station with a stronger signal and swept the ratings.
In late 1992, the format changed to a modern rock
-based format called "1340 Underground". This happened shortly after an experiment with changing the format to modern rock on WLAV-FM
from the heritage classic rock
and AOR
format had failed. WLAV-FM then reverted their format back to classic rock. The "1340 Underground" format gained a considerable cult following in the Grand Rapids area, even though the night-time signal was very poor. The WBBL calls and sports-talk format debuted in 1994 when ownership of the radio station had changed.
WBBL-FM began as country station WPLB-FM. Then in 1989 it switched its format to oldies and call sign to WODJ until the switch to WKLQ (Previously located at 94.5) in 2004.
On May 28, 2009, WBBL began simulcasting on 107.3 FM in Greenville
, which became WBBL-FM.
On July 27, 2009, the call sign on 1340 AM was changed to WJRW and the format was changed to news/talk on Tuesday, August 18, 2009.
In June 2010, Phil Tower joined 1340 WJRW as content manager of news talk operations, while remaining General Manager of the nationally syndicated "The Allen Hunt Show", a program that switched affiliates to begin airing on WJRW when Phil started with the company.
On November 29, 2010 local talk host Tim Doctor replaced the Detroit-based Frank Beckmann on 1340 WJRW. On the eve of Gov. Rick Snyder unveiling his state budget proposal, Doctor authored an editorial that was published locally.
On January 8, 2011, The Kim Komando Show switched to 1340 WJRW after airing for a decade on a competing station. Shortly thereafter, Kim's weekly technology column began appearing weekly, in Sunday editions of The Grand Rapids Press.
On March 31, 2011, it was announced that local radio veteran Michelle McKormick will be joining 1340 WJRW as host of "The Buzz with Michelle McKormick". Her show debuted on June 6, 2011 and airs weekdays, Noon - 2pm.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. WJRW is branded as NEWSTALK 1340 WJRW, West Michigan's LIVE & LOCAL Leader. WJRW is owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
.
Programming
1340 WJRW features comprehensive news coverage from ABC Radio News, The Grand Rapids Press, MLive.com, Metro Networks, WJR in Detroit, WJIM in Lansing, and WXMIWXMI
WXMI channel 17 is a Fox-affiliated television station in Grand Rapids, Michigan, owned by the Tribune Company. WXMI's studio and office facility is located in Grand Rapids and its transmitter is based southwest of Middleville, Michigan...
17, a local FOX television affiliate. Fox 17 meteorologists provide weather forecasts and breaking weather coverage for the station.
1340 WJRW has more local programming than all other local news/talk stations, combined. WJRW's local lineup includes Michigan's Morning Show with Michael Patrick Shiels, Marconi award winner Tony Gates with Dave Jaconette, Michelle McKormick, Tim Doctor, and James Gemmell.
1340 WJRW's weekday lineup also includes Mark Levin
Mark Levin
Mark Reed Levin is a lawyer, author and the host of American syndicated radio show The Mark Levin Show. Levin served in the cabinet of President Ronald Reagan and was a chief of staff for Attorney General Edwin Meese...
, Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
, Jim Bohannon
Jim Bohannon
James E. "Jim" Bohannon is an American broadcaster who has worked in both television and radio.During the 1980s he was a fill-in for Larry King when King had his popular nighttime national radio program. He also does much work with the Smithsonian Associates...
, and Doug McIntyre
Doug McIntyre
Doug McIntyre is the host of "Talking the News" on 77 WABC New York City , the lead-in morning drive show before "Imus in the Morning." He also hosts the four-hour radio talk show "Doug McIntyre's Red Eye Radio", syndicated across the United States on Cumulus Media Networks, and is the page one...
.
Weekend programs and hosts include: Kim Komando
Kim Komando
Kim Komando is the host of an American talk radio program based on the popularity of personal computers, the use of the Internet, and the complexities of consumer electronics. The Kim Komando Show is broadcast and syndicated on over 450 radio stations in the U.S. and two stations in Ontario, Canada...
, Larry Kudlow, John Batchelor
John Batchelor
John Calvin Batchelor is an author and host of The John Batchelor Show radio news magazine. Based at WABC radio in New York for five years from early 2001 to September, 2006; the show was syndicated nationally on the ABC radio network. On October 7, 2007, Batchelor returned to radio on WABC New...
, Bob Brinker
Bob Brinker
Bob Brinker is the host of the radio show Moneytalk, which has been on the air nationally since 1986. He previously had a show on local New York radio on WMCA. Prior to that Brinker hosted talkradio programs on WCAU and WWDB in Philadelphia...
, Meet The Press
Meet the Press
Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
, and The C.A.R. Show. Local programming includes: Travel Michigan, Wild Michigan (outdoors show), Frontlines of Freedom (military), Keeping Your Money (financial), Health and Wellness Solutions, The Home Boys (real estate), Real Estate 411, Discover Good Food, Greening of the Great Lakes, and The Internet Advisor.
History
The station first began broadcasting in 1940 under the WLAV call sign (which stood for Leonard Allen Versluis, the station's original owner). WLAV became a full-time Top 40 music station in the summer of 1963, and was originally consulted by Mike Joseph, who later went on to develop the Hot HitsHot Hits
Hot Hits was a radio format created by consultant Mike Joseph in the 1970s. That concept, which helped spur the birth of what is now known as CHR, also revitalized the Top 40 format and would play a role in bringing the format to the FM band throughout the 1980s.The concept was to play only the...
format in the late 1970s. It soon overtook rival stations WGRD and WMAX as the dominant popular music station in the market, but its market share declined in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the popularity of FM stations such as 95.7 WZZM
WLHT
WLHT-FM, also known as "CHANNEL 95-7" , is a hot adult contemporary music formatted radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan owned by Townsquare Media. Until late April 2006, the station was the home of the husband-and-wife morning team of Dave & Geri.-WKLW, WZZM-FM, and WZZR:The station signed on...
("Z96"), WGRD, and WLAV's own album-rock FM sister station at 96.9. "MUSIC RADIO 1340, WLAV" went to a more adult contemporary sound in 1974, which continued until 1980, when the station tried a talk format as the "1340 Townhouse", WTWN with Lee Harris.
The heritage WLAV-AM calls were restored in 1984, and the station tried a variety of oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
formats for several years. Although WLAV-AM was a modest success with oldies, it was hurt when WODJ debuted in 1989 as an FM oldies station with a stronger signal and swept the ratings.
In late 1992, the format changed to a modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
-based format called "1340 Underground". This happened shortly after an experiment with changing the format to modern rock on WLAV-FM
WLAV-FM
WLAV-FM is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock music format in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is the dominant classic rock-formatted radio station in the market and is generally a top ten performer in the Grand Rapids ratings. WLAV-AM went on the air in 1940. In 1949, WLAV-TV 7 signed on,...
from the heritage classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
and AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
format had failed. WLAV-FM then reverted their format back to classic rock. The "1340 Underground" format gained a considerable cult following in the Grand Rapids area, even though the night-time signal was very poor. The WBBL calls and sports-talk format debuted in 1994 when ownership of the radio station had changed.
WBBL-FM began as country station WPLB-FM. Then in 1989 it switched its format to oldies and call sign to WODJ until the switch to WKLQ (Previously located at 94.5) in 2004.
On May 28, 2009, WBBL began simulcasting on 107.3 FM in Greenville
Greenville, Michigan
Greenville is a city in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. Portions of the county are associated with the Western region while others are more closely associated with the Central Michigan region. The population was 8,481 at the 2010 census...
, which became WBBL-FM.
On July 27, 2009, the call sign on 1340 AM was changed to WJRW and the format was changed to news/talk on Tuesday, August 18, 2009.
In June 2010, Phil Tower joined 1340 WJRW as content manager of news talk operations, while remaining General Manager of the nationally syndicated "The Allen Hunt Show", a program that switched affiliates to begin airing on WJRW when Phil started with the company.
On November 29, 2010 local talk host Tim Doctor replaced the Detroit-based Frank Beckmann on 1340 WJRW. On the eve of Gov. Rick Snyder unveiling his state budget proposal, Doctor authored an editorial that was published locally.
On January 8, 2011, The Kim Komando Show switched to 1340 WJRW after airing for a decade on a competing station. Shortly thereafter, Kim's weekly technology column began appearing weekly, in Sunday editions of The Grand Rapids Press.
On March 31, 2011, it was announced that local radio veteran Michelle McKormick will be joining 1340 WJRW as host of "The Buzz with Michelle McKormick". Her show debuted on June 6, 2011 and airs weekdays, Noon - 2pm.