WJIM-FM
Encyclopedia
WJIM-FM is a radio station
in Lansing, Michigan
, broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR)
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 contemporary sound. On Labor Day in 1995, WJIM-FM switched from AC to "Oldies
97.5." The change came days after WIBM
dropped its longtime oldies format in favor of country to compete with WITL-FM
. The station's "good times and great oldies" format was very popular in Lansing for over a decade, with the station consistently rated in the top ten (and frequently the top five) 12+ in the Arbitron ratings.
On September 13, 2005, crosstown competitor WHZZ
101.7 FM abruptly flipped from adult-leaning CHR as "Z101.7" to Variety Hits as "Mike FM." WJIM-FM stepped in to fill the Top 40 void in the market two days later, as "Oldies 97.5" signed off with Don McLean
's "American Pie" at 10 a.m. on September 15 and "The New 97-5" debuted in its place. Longtime "Oldies 97.5" morning man Rich Michaels moved to sister station WMMQ
. On September 7, 2007, the station repositioned from "The New 97-5" to "97-5 Now FM."
The WJIM call letters have a history in Lansing of being associated with Top 40 music, as WJIM-AM
1240 was a leading Top 40 station in Lansing during the 1960s as "Big Jim 1240."
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...
in 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...
, broadcasting a Top 40 (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...
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
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
/beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
format, which evolved during the early 1990s into a soft adult contemporary sound. On Labor Day in 1995, WJIM-FM switched from AC to "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....
97.5." The change came days after WIBM
WVIC
WVIC is a radio station broadcasting a modern rock format. Licensed to Jackson, Michigan, it first began broadcasting on July 14, 1958 as WMKZ-FM simulcasting WIBM-AM. The station broadcasts from a tower near Springport, Michigan. The station can be heard from Kalamazoo to Ypsilanti, and from...
dropped its longtime oldies format in favor of country to compete with WITL-FM
WITL-FM
WITL-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Lansing, Michigan, and serving Ingham, Easton and Clinton Counties in Michigan. It first began broadcasting in 1961 . The station took the WITL-FM call sign in 1966, and adopted a full-time country music format in 1967...
. The station's "good times and great oldies" format was very popular in Lansing for over a decade, with the station consistently rated in the top ten (and frequently the top five) 12+ in the Arbitron ratings.
On September 13, 2005, crosstown competitor WHZZ
WHZZ
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...
101.7 FM abruptly flipped from adult-leaning CHR as "Z101.7" to Variety Hits as "Mike FM." WJIM-FM stepped in to fill the Top 40 void in the market two days later, as "Oldies 97.5" signed off with Don McLean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
's "American Pie" at 10 a.m. on September 15 and "The New 97-5" debuted in its place. Longtime "Oldies 97.5" morning man Rich Michaels moved to sister station WMMQ
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...
. On September 7, 2007, the station repositioned from "The New 97-5" to "97-5 Now FM."
The WJIM call letters have a history in Lansing of being associated with Top 40 music, as WJIM-AM
WJIM (AM)
WJIM is a radio station licensed to Lansing, Michigan broadcasting a news-talk format. WJIM began broadcasting in 1934 on 1210 kHz with 250 watts daytime and 100 watts at night, under the ownership of Gross Telecasting...
1240 was a leading Top 40 station in Lansing during the 1960s as "Big Jim 1240."