WFGF
Encyclopedia
WFGF is a commercial radio station
based in Wapakoneta, Ohio
, broadcasting a country music
format. Its studios are located in Lima, Ohio
, with their transmitter located in Cridersville, Ohio
, between Wapakoneta and Lima.
) when it first took to the air in 1964, under the licensee name West Central Ohio Broadcasters Inc.. WERM was a family owned and operated station located west of Wapakoneta on County Road 33-A (old U.S. Route 33
) in Moulton
which aired local news and sports. Its format was a mix of traditional middle of the road and beautiful music
. In the mid 1970s the gradual shift towards contemporary pop began with the evening shift "6 to 10 Club" and occasional rock music. It also operated an in-house training school for local aspiring broadcasters along with jazz-formatted Xenia sister stations WELX-AM(now southern gospel WGNZ
in Fairborn) and WHBM-FM (now active rock WXEG
in Beavercreek.)
In 1978 WERM was purchased by John A. Bulmer (dba:Bulmer Communications Inc.)who previously managed the former WPNM in Ottawa (now WBUK
) with the call letters switched to WAXC (previously used at an AM station in Rochester,NY now WHIC
) as "Waxcee 92-FM...Your Radio Station" putting greater emphasis on the Wapakoneta/St. Marys community while gradually moving closer to the Lima market when its transmitter was moved from its studios in Moulton to Cridersville in the early 1980s. The station's new owner went as far as installing newer audio equipment and airing major market-styled jingles produced by PAMS
and Jam Creative Productions
along with high energy production values giving it a more professional sound and image over the former WERM with a soft adult contemporary-day/ Hot AC-evening format.
After a short-lived format switch to an adult standards/pop oldies mix, WAXC was sold in 1985 to North America Communications who (under Bulmer's direction as sales manager before his subsequent departure) changed the station's call sign to WZOQ-FM and became Lima's outlet for Top 40 Hits. In 1991 the station was sold to Pennsylvania based Keymarket and then to Forever Broadcasting slowly moving the operation from the small 1960s-styled brick house in Moulton to a former KFC
restaurant on Cable Road in Lima. It also added sister station WYRX later in 1993 both of whom eventually moved up the street to the former WCIT-AM/WLSR-FM studios(now WCIT (AM)
/ WEGE-FM respectively) when Forever purchased both stations and added country newcomer WFGF(formerly WYRX) to the new cluster operation which is where it is located today.
in Delphos switching to a soft adult contemporary format. At midnight on April 2, 2007, the station was rebranded as "Star 92.1". A week later on April 9, 2007, its callsign was changed from WZOQ to WWSR. The WZOQ callsign was moved to its sister station at 940 AM, the former WLJM, before reverting to its original WCIT call sign in 2009.
On June 1, 2009, the sports/talk format on sister station WZOQ was moved over to the 93.1 FM facility, while the country music format and WFGF calls were moved to the 92.1 FM facility, replacing the soft AC "Star" format. WFGF since adjusted their on-air nickname, and are now referred to as "New Country 92.1 The Frog."
also owned WELX-AM / WHBM-FM Xenia
also owned WPNM-FM Ottawa, WZOO-AM / WZOO-FM Ashtabula, WHZR Logansport and WMYJ-AM / WMYJ-FM Erie
also owned WOMP-AM / WOMP-FM Wheeling, WFBC-AM / WFBC-FM Greenville along with WDJO-AM / WDJO-FM Dayton
also owned stations in Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Riverside Calif.
also owned stations in Altoona, Johnstown, State College and Meadville
also owns stations in Santa Rosa Calif, Eau Claire WI and Rockford Ill.
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...
based in Wapakoneta, Ohio
Wapakoneta, Ohio
Wapakoneta is a city in and the county seat of Auglaize County, Ohio, United States with a population of 9,474 as of the 2000 U.S. census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio Micropolitan S A, which is included in the Lima-Van Wert-Wapakoneta, Ohio CSA...
, broadcasting a 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. Its studios are located in Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
, with their transmitter located in Cridersville, Ohio
Cridersville, Ohio
Cridersville is a village in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,817 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, between Wapakoneta and Lima.
History
Originally called WERM (for its main air personality Ernestine R. Miller, wife of the station's founder,the late Harry B. Miller...now with WHJMWHJM
WHJM, "Radio Maria" is a non-commercial FM station operating at 88.7 mHz licensed to Anna, Ohio. It is a repeater station of KJMJ 580 in Alexandria, Louisiana and is owned by Radio Maria Inc...
) when it first took to the air in 1964, under the licensee name West Central Ohio Broadcasters Inc.. WERM was a family owned and operated station located west of Wapakoneta on County Road 33-A (old U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33 is a United States federal highway that runs northwest-southeast for 709 miles from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Ohio and West Virginia en route. Although most odd-numbered U.S...
) in Moulton
Moulton, Ohio
Moulton is an unincorporated community located in southern Moulton Township, Auglaize County, Ohio, United States.It is located along U.S. Route 33 between Wapakoneta and Saint Marys. The community is served by the Saint Marys City School District and the Wapakoneta post office.The original...
which aired local news and sports. Its format was a mix of traditional middle of the road and beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
. In the mid 1970s the gradual shift towards contemporary pop began with the evening shift "6 to 10 Club" and occasional rock music. It also operated an in-house training school for local aspiring broadcasters along with jazz-formatted Xenia sister stations WELX-AM(now southern gospel WGNZ
WGNZ
WGNZ "Good News 1110" is an AM broadcasting station operating at 1110 kHz licensed to Fairborn, Ohio with studios in Dayton, Ohio and transmitter in Xenia It airs National/Local teaching programs with a Southern Gospel music format. Its power output is 2,500 watts with a critical hours...
in Fairborn) and WHBM-FM (now active rock WXEG
WXEG
WXEG is a modern rock formatted radio station based in Dayton, Ohio, and owned by Clear Channel Communications. The station broadcasts at 103.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 2900 watts. It has three towers located in its city of license of Beavercreek, Ohio, two are...
in Beavercreek.)
In 1978 WERM was purchased by John A. Bulmer (dba:Bulmer Communications Inc.)who previously managed the former WPNM in Ottawa (now WBUK
WBUK
WBUK "106.3 The Fox" is a commercial classic rock FM station at 106.3 MHz licensed to Ottawa, Ohio with studios in Lima and transmitter located near Pandora in southeastern Putnam County north of Bluffton which borders in Allen and Hancock counties....
) with the call letters switched to WAXC (previously used at an AM station in Rochester,NY now WHIC
WHIC
WHIC is a Catholic radio station broadcasting from Rochester, New York. WHIC is located at 1460 on the AM dial. Referred to as The Station of the Cross, WHIC is owned and operated by Holy Family Communications. The station began broadcasting Catholic programming on July 1, 2003...
) as "Waxcee 92-FM...Your Radio Station" putting greater emphasis on the Wapakoneta/St. Marys community while gradually moving closer to the Lima market when its transmitter was moved from its studios in Moulton to Cridersville in the early 1980s. The station's new owner went as far as installing newer audio equipment and airing major market-styled jingles produced by PAMS
PAMS
PAMS , based in Dallas, Texas, was the most famous jingle production company in American broadcasting. It produced identification packages for radio stations around the world, as well as some commercial music.-History:The company was founded by William B. Meeks, Jr. PAMS (an acronym for Production,...
and Jam Creative Productions
JAM Creative Productions
JAM Creative Productions, Inc., is an American company that produces radio jingles, promo music for television, and commercial jingles for advertisers. It has made more radio jingles than any other jingle company and has become part of American pop culture....
along with high energy production values giving it a more professional sound and image over the former WERM with a soft adult contemporary-day/ Hot AC-evening format.
After a short-lived format switch to an adult standards/pop oldies mix, WAXC was sold in 1985 to North America Communications who (under Bulmer's direction as sales manager before his subsequent departure) changed the station's call sign to WZOQ-FM and became Lima's outlet for Top 40 Hits. In 1991 the station was sold to Pennsylvania based Keymarket and then to Forever Broadcasting slowly moving the operation from the small 1960s-styled brick house in Moulton to a former KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
restaurant on Cable Road in Lima. It also added sister station WYRX later in 1993 both of whom eventually moved up the street to the former WCIT-AM/WLSR-FM studios(now WCIT (AM)
WCIT (AM)
WCIT WCIT WCIT (940 AM, is a commercial broadcast radio station in Lima, Ohio, and features a news/talk format. The station, along with FM sister stations WEGE, WWSR and WFGF, share studio facilities on Cable Road in Lima...
/ WEGE-FM respectively) when Forever purchased both stations and added country newcomer WFGF(formerly WYRX) to the new cluster operation which is where it is located today.
Programming history
In 2003, WZOQ along with other Forever-owned Lima stations were sold to Connecticut-based Maverick Media and a year later purchased classic country WDOHWDOH
WDOH is a commercial American FM radio station licensed to Delphos operating at 107.1 mHz with an adult contemporary format. Its studios are located in Delphos and offices are located in Lima, Ohio with transmitter located in Delphos between Van Wert and Lima.-History:WDOH was signed on in...
in Delphos switching to a soft adult contemporary format. At midnight on April 2, 2007, the station was rebranded as "Star 92.1". A week later on April 9, 2007, its callsign was changed from WZOQ to WWSR. The WZOQ callsign was moved to its sister station at 940 AM, the former WLJM, before reverting to its original WCIT call sign in 2009.
On June 1, 2009, the sports/talk format on sister station WZOQ was moved over to the 93.1 FM facility, while the country music format and WFGF calls were moved to the 92.1 FM facility, replacing the soft AC "Star" format. WFGF since adjusted their on-air nickname, and are now referred to as "New Country 92.1 The Frog."
Station Ownership
- 1965 - 1978 WEST CENTRAL OHIO COMMUNICATIONS
also owned WELX-AM / WHBM-FM Xenia
- 1978 - 1986 BULMER COMMUNICATIONS
also owned WPNM-FM Ottawa, WZOO-AM / WZOO-FM Ashtabula, WHZR Logansport and WMYJ-AM / WMYJ-FM Erie
- 1986 - 1991 NORTH AMERICA COMMUNICATIONS
also owned WOMP-AM / WOMP-FM Wheeling, WFBC-AM / WFBC-FM Greenville along with WDJO-AM / WDJO-FM Dayton
- 1991 - 1993 KEYMARKET COMMUNICATIONS
also owned stations in Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Riverside Calif.
- 1993 - 2003 FOREVER COMMUNICATIONS
also owned stations in Altoona, Johnstown, State College and Meadville
- 2003 - NOW MAVERICK MEDIA
also owns stations in Santa Rosa Calif, Eau Claire WI and Rockford Ill.