WMJK
Encyclopedia
WMJK is a commercial FM radio station, licensed to Clyde, Ohio
, serving the Sandusky, Port Clinton, and Lake Erie Islands
areas. The station broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts at 100.9 FM and is licensed to Clyde, Ohio; about 15 miles west-southwest of Sandusky. The station is branded as "Coast Country 100.9". In January 2009, the station dropped its longtime classic rock
format in favor of country music
. Due to its city of license
of Clyde, the station is considered to be the Sandusky County affiliate of the Cleveland Browns
, airing in conjunction with sister station WLEC
.
WMJK is currently owned by BAS Broadcasting. Clear Channel Communications was its former owner, but as of November 16, 2006, it has been announced for sale as part of Clear Channel's divestiture of almost 450 small and middle-market radio properties in the U.S. The cluster was sold on January 15, 2008, to Fremont-based BAS Broadcasting, and BAS took over all three stations on February 1. BAS switched 100.9 The Coast from mostly locally originating programming (outside of the Bob and Tom morning show) to Waitt Radio Networks
Genuine Classic Rock
satellite format. As a country station, WMJK now uses Waitt's Country Today
format.
Prior to the classic rock format, 100.9 FM had played oldies
under the "Majic 100.9" moniker, similar to sister station WMJI
in Cleveland.
The station also for many years aired ABC Radio's "Pure Gold" (now Classic Hits) format as WNCG ("North Coast Gold"). It is under this moniker that this station would likely be best remembered in its history.
As WNCG, the station had been operated by S & S Broadcasting, a partnership headed by Toledo radio sales executive Dave Searfoss and Michigan radio programmer Kent Smith. Both men operated WNCG under a less-is-more principle, with a small staff and with them doing much of the on-air and sales work hands-on, allowing them to dedicate revenue to the aggressive promotion of their station.
By this efficient means of operation, the lower-powered WNCG grew into a formidable competitor among its higher-powered competitors, largely due to its constant presence at live remote broadcasts for both paid clients and community events. WNCG also installed remote studios in various malls in its listening area, with appropriate signage, to inform listeners that they were on the air just about everywhere.
It was a venture that demonstrated long-term profitability for both Smith and Searfoss. Wishing to relocate his family to northern Michigan to purchase a station for sale there, Smith, along with Searfoss, agreed to sell WNCG in 1998. Smith purchased WMJZ in Gaylord, Michigan
later that year.
Clyde, Ohio
Clyde is a city in Sandusky County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,064 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Clyde as a Tree City USA....
, serving the Sandusky, Port Clinton, and Lake Erie Islands
Lake Erie Islands
The Lake Erie Islands are a chain of archipelagic islands in Lake Erie. They include Kelleys Island, Pelee Island, the Bass Islands, and several others. The majority of these islands are under the sovereignty of Ohio in the United States. Pelee Island is the only major island administered by...
areas. The station broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts at 100.9 FM and is licensed to Clyde, Ohio; about 15 miles west-southwest of Sandusky. The station is branded as "Coast Country 100.9". In January 2009, the station dropped its longtime classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
format in favor of 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...
. Due to its city of license
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
of Clyde, the station is considered to be the Sandusky County affiliate of the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, airing in conjunction with sister station WLEC
WLEC
WLEC is an AM radio station in Sandusky, Ohio, USA broadcasting at 1450 kHz. It is owned by BAS Broadcasting. WLEC carries an Adult Contemporary/Adult Standards format, using Dial Global Local's satellite-delivered format known as The Lounge...
.
WMJK is currently owned by BAS Broadcasting. Clear Channel Communications was its former owner, but as of November 16, 2006, it has been announced for sale as part of Clear Channel's divestiture of almost 450 small and middle-market radio properties in the U.S. The cluster was sold on January 15, 2008, to Fremont-based BAS Broadcasting, and BAS took over all three stations on February 1. BAS switched 100.9 The Coast from mostly locally originating programming (outside of the Bob and Tom morning show) to Waitt Radio Networks
Waitt Radio Networks
Dial Global Local is a national radio network based in Omaha, Nebraska, formerly owned by NRG Media and purchased in April 2008 by Triton Radio Networks...
Genuine Classic Rock
Genuine Classic Rock
Genuine Classic Rock is a 24-hour music format produced by Waitt Radio Networks. Its playlist comprises adult contemporary music released from the 1960s to the 1980s from artists such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc. plus handpicked classic rock from the 1990s...
satellite format. As a country station, WMJK now uses Waitt's Country Today
Country Today
Country Today is a 24-hour music format produced by Waitt Radio Networks. Its playlist is composed of country music released from the 1980s to this day from artists such as Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, George Strait Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney, etc. that mainly targets listeners in the mainstream...
format.
History
This station first signed on the air targeting the local community with Spanish-language programming as WMEX in the early 1980s, changing the station's call letters to WLCO in 1985.Prior to the classic rock format, 100.9 FM had played 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....
under the "Majic 100.9" moniker, similar to sister station WMJI
WMJI
WMJI — branded Majic 105.7 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio broadcasting a classic hits format. The station serves Cleveland, Akron and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio....
in Cleveland.
The station also for many years aired ABC Radio's "Pure Gold" (now Classic Hits) format as WNCG ("North Coast Gold"). It is under this moniker that this station would likely be best remembered in its history.
As WNCG, the station had been operated by S & S Broadcasting, a partnership headed by Toledo radio sales executive Dave Searfoss and Michigan radio programmer Kent Smith. Both men operated WNCG under a less-is-more principle, with a small staff and with them doing much of the on-air and sales work hands-on, allowing them to dedicate revenue to the aggressive promotion of their station.
By this efficient means of operation, the lower-powered WNCG grew into a formidable competitor among its higher-powered competitors, largely due to its constant presence at live remote broadcasts for both paid clients and community events. WNCG also installed remote studios in various malls in its listening area, with appropriate signage, to inform listeners that they were on the air just about everywhere.
It was a venture that demonstrated long-term profitability for both Smith and Searfoss. Wishing to relocate his family to northern Michigan to purchase a station for sale there, Smith, along with Searfoss, agreed to sell WNCG in 1998. Smith purchased WMJZ in Gaylord, Michigan
Gaylord, Michigan
Gaylord is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,681. It is the county seat of Otsego County. The city is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord; it is by far the smallest settlement serving as the location of an active Roman...
later that year.