WHZZ
Encyclopedia
WHZZ is a radio station
licensed to Lansing, Michigan
. It first began broadcasting in 1967 as WILS-FM. Prior to the adoption of the current format in September 2005, WHZZ had programmed a CHR
/top 40 format for over a decade as "Z101.7." After WHZZ's change to "Mike FM", the CHR format was picked up by 97.5 WJIM-FM
.
The station has gone through many different formats over the years. After beginning as a simulcast of WILS
1320 AM, the station separated programming in the late 1960s with an automated MOR format (with the exception of the Jerry Marshall morning show, which was simulcast with WILS-AM from 6 to 10 am). In 1972, WILS-FM launched an automated Country format which was branded as "Hit Country", although the morning simulcast continued. In 1975, WILS-FM abandoned the Country format in favor of a 12-hour daily simulcast with WILS-AM, followed by split programming in the evening, which included an Album Rock format from 6 pm to midnight, and a Jazz
format from midnight to 6 am. In 1978, WILS-FM abandoned the overnight Jazz
and ended the simulcast with WILS-AM, programming the Album Rock format full-time. The Album Rock format proved to quite successful for the station, resulting in respectable ratings despite WILS-FM's 3KW signal.
In August 1983, WILS-AM/FM's original owner, Lansing Broadcasting, sold the station to Sentry Broadcasting (a division of Sentry Insurance
) The new management made changes quickly, deciding to automate sister station WILS-AM with a Nostalgia
format. In December 1983, most of the WILS-FM air staff, including the highly-rated morning team of Doug Burton and Dan Ballard, were let go and replaced by announcers from WILS-AM. Four months later, on April 14, 1984, WILS-FM abruptly changed to an adult contemporary "Love Songs" format using the brand name "LS-102" to compete with top-rated WFMK
. The station's ratings plummeted and would not recover for over a decade, as 101.7 FM went through unsuccessful tries at Hot AC as WKKP and WLYY, and country
formats (the latter with a return to the WILS-FM calls in the early 1990s). The station also went through a number of ownership changes during this period. Sentry Insurance
dissolved their radio division and sold WILS to Northstar Broadcasting in 1986, and after going through an upper-management shakeup, Northstar sold the station to its current owner, MacDonald Broadcasting, in 1989.
In the spring of 1995, WILS-FM became WHZZ "Z101.7," restoring the CHR/Top 40 format to the Lansing airwaves after 94.9 WVIC-FM
dropped its longtime CHR format to compete with country market leader WITL. Z101.7 was frequently criticized by CHR aficionados for featuring an overly conservative, adult-oriented playlist heavy on Hot AC chart currents and 1980s and 1990s gold, but the station enjoyed good Arbitron ratings during its run and even reached #1 overall (12+) at least once.
As "Mike FM," WHZZ continues to do respectably in the Lansing Arbitron ratings, possibly because unlike other Variety Hits stations such as WDRQ
in Detroit, WHZZ employes a staff of actual DJs.
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...
licensed to Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
. It first began broadcasting in 1967 as WILS-FM. Prior to the adoption of the current format in September 2005, WHZZ had programmed a CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
/top 40 format for over a decade as "Z101.7." After WHZZ's change to "Mike FM", the CHR format was picked up by 97.5 WJIM-FM
WJIM-FM
WJIM-FM is a radio station in Lansing, Michigan, broadcasting a Top 40 format.The station has had the WJIM-FM calls continuously since it signed on in 1960. For over three decades, WJIM-FM broadcast an easy listening/beautiful music format, which evolved during the early 1990s into a soft adult...
.
The station has gone through many different formats over the years. After beginning as a simulcast of WILS
WILS
WILS is a radio station located in Lansing, Michigan broadcasting a news-talk format.Until October 2006, WILS aired ABC Radio's satellite-delivered adult standards/MOR music package known as "Timeless Classics" . The station had had this format since the early 1990s and was quite successful in the...
1320 AM, the station separated programming in the late 1960s with an automated MOR format (with the exception of the Jerry Marshall morning show, which was simulcast with WILS-AM from 6 to 10 am). In 1972, WILS-FM launched an automated Country format which was branded as "Hit Country", although the morning simulcast continued. In 1975, WILS-FM abandoned the Country format in favor of a 12-hour daily simulcast with WILS-AM, followed by split programming in the evening, which included an Album Rock format from 6 pm to midnight, and a Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
format from midnight to 6 am. In 1978, WILS-FM abandoned the overnight Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and ended the simulcast with WILS-AM, programming the Album Rock format full-time. The Album Rock format proved to quite successful for the station, resulting in respectable ratings despite WILS-FM's 3KW signal.
In August 1983, WILS-AM/FM's original owner, Lansing Broadcasting, sold the station to Sentry Broadcasting (a division of Sentry Insurance
Sentry Insurance
Sentry Insurance, founded in 1904, is a mutual insurance company located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It was founded by members of the Wisconsin Retail Hardware Association, now the Midwest Hardware Association, to provide insurance for its members and was originally called Hardware Mutual. Today...
) The new management made changes quickly, deciding to automate sister station WILS-AM with a Nostalgia
Nostalgia
The term nostalgia describes a yearning for the past, often in idealized form.The word is a learned formation of a Greek compound, consisting of , meaning "returning home", a Homeric word, and , meaning "pain, ache"...
format. In December 1983, most of the WILS-FM air staff, including the highly-rated morning team of Doug Burton and Dan Ballard, were let go and replaced by announcers from WILS-AM. Four months later, on April 14, 1984, WILS-FM abruptly changed to an adult contemporary "Love Songs" format using the brand name "LS-102" to compete with top-rated WFMK
WFMK
WFMK is an adult contemporary radio station licensed to East Lansing, Michigan. It is owned by Cumulus Media.WFMK is one of the United States' oldest adult contemporary stations, having programmed the format for almost four decades. The station signed on in 1959 as WSWM, and offered a MOR...
. The station's ratings plummeted and would not recover for over a decade, as 101.7 FM went through unsuccessful tries at Hot AC as WKKP and WLYY, and country
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...
formats (the latter with a return to the WILS-FM calls in the early 1990s). The station also went through a number of ownership changes during this period. Sentry Insurance
Sentry Insurance
Sentry Insurance, founded in 1904, is a mutual insurance company located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It was founded by members of the Wisconsin Retail Hardware Association, now the Midwest Hardware Association, to provide insurance for its members and was originally called Hardware Mutual. Today...
dissolved their radio division and sold WILS to Northstar Broadcasting in 1986, and after going through an upper-management shakeup, Northstar sold the station to its current owner, MacDonald Broadcasting, in 1989.
In the spring of 1995, WILS-FM became WHZZ "Z101.7," restoring the CHR/Top 40 format to the Lansing airwaves after 94.9 WVIC-FM
WMMQ
WMMQ is an American Classic rock radio station at 94.9 FM, licensed to East Lansing, Michigan. The station is owned by Cumulus Media.The original WMMQ began life as WCER-FM in Charlotte, Michigan, in 1963. The station was co-owned with WCER-AM 1390...
dropped its longtime CHR format to compete with country market leader WITL. Z101.7 was frequently criticized by CHR aficionados for featuring an overly conservative, adult-oriented playlist heavy on Hot AC chart currents and 1980s and 1990s gold, but the station enjoyed good Arbitron ratings during its run and even reached #1 overall (12+) at least once.
As "Mike FM," WHZZ continues to do respectably in the Lansing Arbitron ratings, possibly because unlike other Variety Hits stations such as WDRQ
WDRQ
WDRQ is an FM radio station in Detroit, Michigan. The station is branded as 93.1 Doug FM. Doug FM broadcasts from the Fisher Building just north of downtown Detroit and transmits its signal from an antenna 669 feet in length located at the intersection of Ten Mile and Greenfield Roads in suburban...
in Detroit, WHZZ employes a staff of actual DJs.