WFMR (defunct)
Encyclopedia
WFMR was a classical music station that existed on three different FM frequencies in the Milwaukee area during its 51-year history. Its last frequency was 106.9 MHz.
in Glendale. The next year, the studios moved to downtown Milwaukee. A subsequent move put the studios on the north side of the city, at 711 W. Capitol Drive.
In 1983, the station was sold and was flipped to an adult contemporary format. The owner of a radio station in suburban Menomonee Falls, WXJY (98.3 FM), immediately picked up the classical format and WFMR call letters, and it remained there at that frequency until December 12, 2000, when owner Saga Communications
moved WFMR to the 106.9 FM dial position, and WJMR-FM
's urban AC
format and call letters to 98.3. This was done primarily to boost WJMR-FM
's signal in the urban areas of Milwaukee, and to target WFMR toward the Western and Northern suburbs. Saga moved the studios to Milwaukee the year before, in 1999.
During its time as a classical music station, WFMR was a four-time finalist for the National Association of Broadcasters
' Marconi Award for Classical Station of the Year, and celebrated its 50th year as a classical station in 2006.
At midnight on June 26, 2007, ironically on the 51st anniversary of its original sign-on, WFMR ended its classical music format when it flipped to a smooth jazz format. The decision was made when a rival station, WJZI
, dropped the format a week earlier for light adult contemporary music. Ironically, just days after the flip, KING-FM
/Seattle
posted a banner on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal website telling listeners that they have a new place to turn to for Classical by going to their website.
On July 15, 2007, the station changed its call sign to WJZX. The callsign passed in early 2008 to WOMR
in Provincetown, Massachusetts
to be used as a repeater.
WFMR in Orleans, MA signed on September 16th, 2010 according to the originating station WOMR in Provincetown. The WFMR call letters now stand for "Furthermost Radio".
Former WFMR program director and morning host Steve Murphy is now heard on a nationally syndicated morning show on the World Classical Network
.
History
Originally at 96.5 on the FM dial, WFMR signed on the air with a classical music format on June 26, 1956 from the Bayshore Shopping CenterBayshore Town Center
Bayshore Town Center is a shopping mall/mixed use retail complex in Glendale, Wisconsin anchored by Sears, Boston Store, and Kohl's. Originally an outdoor strip mall built in 1954, it was converted into an enclosed mall in 1974...
in Glendale. The next year, the studios moved to downtown Milwaukee. A subsequent move put the studios on the north side of the city, at 711 W. Capitol Drive.
In 1983, the station was sold and was flipped to an adult contemporary format. The owner of a radio station in suburban Menomonee Falls, WXJY (98.3 FM), immediately picked up the classical format and WFMR call letters, and it remained there at that frequency until December 12, 2000, when owner Saga Communications
Saga Communications
Saga Communications is a broadcasting company that owns and operates stations in 26 markets in the United States. The company, which is based in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, primarily operates radio stations , but it also operates 9 television stations Saga Communications is a broadcasting...
moved WFMR to the 106.9 FM dial position, and WJMR-FM
WJMR-FM
WJMR-FM is an urban adult contemporary radio station serving the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area. They are known on-air as "Jammin' 98.3", and are licensed to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.-98.3 FM History:...
's urban AC
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
format and call letters to 98.3. This was done primarily to boost WJMR-FM
WJMR-FM
WJMR-FM is an urban adult contemporary radio station serving the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area. They are known on-air as "Jammin' 98.3", and are licensed to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.-98.3 FM History:...
's signal in the urban areas of Milwaukee, and to target WFMR toward the Western and Northern suburbs. Saga moved the studios to Milwaukee the year before, in 1999.
During its time as a classical music station, WFMR was a four-time finalist for the National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
' Marconi Award for Classical Station of the Year, and celebrated its 50th year as a classical station in 2006.
At midnight on June 26, 2007, ironically on the 51st anniversary of its original sign-on, WFMR ended its classical music format when it flipped to a smooth jazz format. The decision was made when a rival station, WJZI
WJZI
WLDB is a commercial radio station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, broadcasting on 93.3 FM. Owned and operated by the Milwaukee Radio Alliance, a partnership between Shamrock Communications and All Pro Broadcasting, WLDB airs an adult contemporary/Hot AC music format branded as "B93.3".- History...
, dropped the format a week earlier for light adult contemporary music. Ironically, just days after the flip, KING-FM
KING-FM
KING-FM is a classical music radio station in Seattle, Washington. Its transmitter is located in Issaquah, Washington....
/Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
posted a banner on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal website telling listeners that they have a new place to turn to for Classical by going to their website.
On July 15, 2007, the station changed its call sign to WJZX. The callsign passed in early 2008 to WOMR
WOMR
WOMR is a public broadcasting community radio station based in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Its callsign stands for "OuterMost Radio"...
in Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
to be used as a repeater.
WFMR in Orleans, MA signed on September 16th, 2010 according to the originating station WOMR in Provincetown. The WFMR call letters now stand for "Furthermost Radio".
Former WFMR program director and morning host Steve Murphy is now heard on a nationally syndicated morning show on the World Classical Network
World Classical Network
The World Classical Network is an internet-delivery classical radio broadcasting service owned by Cape Cod Broadcasting in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The service has been in existence since February 1998, when it was owned and operated by Charles River Broadcasting. It filled a void left by the...
.