WHLD
Encyclopedia
WHLD is an AM radio station licensed to Niagara Falls, New York
with an adult standards
format. The station resides at 1270 kHz on the dial and is owned by Citadel Communications
.
and his friend John Peirce Langs from Buffalo
, NY.
The Butler Communications Corporation, which bought radio stations WHLD-AM and WZIR-FM on suburban Grand Island in May 1980 owned the stations until August 1999. At that time WHLD was purchased by Citadel Communications. During the Butler Communications days the station was programmed Big Band / Nostalgia and featured various locally produced programs. The station was billed as "The Station of the Nations, and owner Paul Butler's daughter Mary Ann Butler gave the station its tag line, "The Sound of the Falls."
At midnight on Monday, February 13, 2006 WHLD-AM 1270 gave up its brokered programming
format. Niagara Independent Media began operating the station via an LMA and branded it "News Talk 1270: The Voice of Reason," primarily affiliating with Air America Radio
. That programming was dropped in December 2006 because of financial problems. Some of the non profit programs including Democracy Now were moved to sister station WBBF
.
The station then began an Urban Inspirational (Black Gospel) format through a lease with the Totally Gospel Radio Network. That programming had been carried on daytime only station WBBF since May 1997. On August 2, 2010 Totally Gospel ended its 3½ year lease of WHLD in preparation of the construction of its own station, WFWO
, 89.7 kHz. WHLD then switched to an automated adult standards
format, becoming the first adult standards station in the market since WECK
dropped the format in 2006. On August 11, 2010 WHLD began branding itself "Swing 1270" featuring vocalists associated with the adult standards format. Harv Moore, a well-known local radio personality, was added as the first jock in April 2011. Its only competitor for the adult standard market in the Buffalo market is CFZM located in Toronto, Ontario. That station is not automated and beams a signal that covers the area with a signal strength rivaling that of WHLD especially in the evening.
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
with an adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
format. The station resides at 1270 kHz on the dial and is owned by Citadel Communications
Citadel Communications
Citadel Communications Ltd. is a Bronxville, NY-based private broadcasting company that operates 5 full-power television stations and 1 low-power station...
.
History and programming
WHLD signed on in 1941 under the ownership of Earl C. Hull, who named the station after his wife Hilda L. Duell. The radio station often programmed classical music and featured local artists. Among them was a continuing program of classical piano duets played by Niagara Falls pianist Harold BradleyHarold Bradley
Harold Bradley is a pop guitarist and an American country guitarist.Harold played banjo as a child but switched to guitar on the advice of his elder brother, Owen Bradley. Owen arranged for Harold to tour with Ernest Tubb while Harold was still in high school. After graduation, Harold joined the...
and his friend John Peirce Langs from Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, NY.
The Butler Communications Corporation, which bought radio stations WHLD-AM and WZIR-FM on suburban Grand Island in May 1980 owned the stations until August 1999. At that time WHLD was purchased by Citadel Communications. During the Butler Communications days the station was programmed Big Band / Nostalgia and featured various locally produced programs. The station was billed as "The Station of the Nations, and owner Paul Butler's daughter Mary Ann Butler gave the station its tag line, "The Sound of the Falls."
At midnight on Monday, February 13, 2006 WHLD-AM 1270 gave up its brokered programming
Brokered programming
Brokered programming is a form of broadcast content in which the show's producer pays a radio or television station for air time, rather than exchanging programming for pay or the opportunity to play spot commercials...
format. Niagara Independent Media began operating the station via an LMA and branded it "News Talk 1270: The Voice of Reason," primarily affiliating with Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
. That programming was dropped in December 2006 because of financial problems. Some of the non profit programs including Democracy Now were moved to sister station WBBF
WBBF
WBBF is a radio station located in Buffalo, New York and broadcasting at a frequency of 1120 kHz on the AM band with a daytime power of 1000 watts....
.
The station then began an Urban Inspirational (Black Gospel) format through a lease with the Totally Gospel Radio Network. That programming had been carried on daytime only station WBBF since May 1997. On August 2, 2010 Totally Gospel ended its 3½ year lease of WHLD in preparation of the construction of its own station, WFWO
WFWO
WFWO is a radio station located in Medina, New York and broadcasting at a frequency of 89.7 on the FM band with a power of 2200 watts.The station is owned by FellowshipWorld and is the flagship station of the Totally Gospel Radio Network...
, 89.7 kHz. WHLD then switched to an automated adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
format, becoming the first adult standards station in the market since WECK
WECK
WECK is a radio station located in the Buffalo, New York, area. Founded in 1956 as WNIA, the station currently is owned by Culver Communications...
dropped the format in 2006. On August 11, 2010 WHLD began branding itself "Swing 1270" featuring vocalists associated with the adult standards format. Harv Moore, a well-known local radio personality, was added as the first jock in April 2011. Its only competitor for the adult standard market in the Buffalo market is CFZM located in Toronto, Ontario. That station is not automated and beams a signal that covers the area with a signal strength rivaling that of WHLD especially in the evening.