WNWV
Encyclopedia
WNWV — branded V107.3 Cleveland — is a commercial radio station
licensed to Elyria
, Ohio
broadcasting an adult album alternative
format. The station serves the Cleveland
radio market and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio
, and is one of the few remaining locally-owned stations in the entire Cleveland metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located in Grafton, Ohio
.
It is not uncommon for the signal to travel northward into Ontario
and the eastern Thumb
of Michigan
. During certain atmospheric conditions WNWV can be heard in the metro Detroit area.
On October 13, 2011, WNWV owner Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
announced plans to sell the station to the Akron, Ohio
-based Rubber City Radio Group, Inc.
through the 1950s and most of the 1960s. The FM installations was established as an adjunct to the AM outlet around the same time as WEOL's 1948 sign-on. By 1960, WEOL-FM started separate programming on the weekdays as "Formula 107," playing a mixture of automated classical music
and pop standards
from 2pm until 10pm weekdays, while both WEOL and WEOL-FM played "Sterophonic Hi-Lites" from 9pm to 11pm on Sundays. WEOL-FM assumed a separate identity on December 8, 1965 as WBEA, with a mostly automated beautiful music
and easy listening
format aimed toward Elyria, their city of license. Many of the area's top broadcast talents made a stop at WBEA and WEOL early in their careers, including Dick Conrad, Jeff Baxter, David Mark, Ronnie Barrett, Ron Penfound
, Jim Mehrling, Rick Martyn, Bob Tayek, and others.
The easy listening soon segued to Top 40 as "WBEA B-107" in the early 1980s, then operated as "Z Rock
" with a heavy metal
rock format and the call letters WCZR from January 1 to November 15, 1987. This format itself originated from the Satellite Music Network (later absorbed into ABC Radio) in Dallas, Texas, and WCZR was only the second station to have picked it up. WCZR gained a cult following in the Cleveland area, as most other rock stations did not devote their playlists to heavy metal rock. However, lackluster ratings and the spread of the "smooth jazz" format (then only known as "New Age" music; the "smooth jazz" name would gain widespread usage a few years later) precipitated the format change less than a year later.
When the station effectively became "The Wave" as WNWV, (patterned after Los Angeles
-based new age
KTWV
) the station changed their broadcasting focus to the entire Cleveland market, while sister station WEOL
continued to focus on Lorain County. Both stations' studios are still located in downtown Elyria, while WNWV has a separate sales office and staff located in suburban Rocky River
.
The station did alter its on-air nickname several times. Around 1992, WNWV became "Cleveland's Cool FM: 107-3 WNWV" before assuming its longtime nickname and logo in 1994. It's airstaff was remarkably stable throughout the rest of the decade, with broadcasters B.J. Hart, Dan Steinberg, Richard Greer, Tom Murphy, Lisa Danevich, Frank Macek (now at WKYC), Grace Roberts, Harvey Zay, Joan Kelly, Starr D'Avril, Mike Kessler (still on-air as Mike Gallagher at WNWV), Michelle Chase, Mark Ribbins, Brian Cruise, Sandy Bennett, Larry Adams, Sarah Greer, Cody Brooks, Mark McQuire, Mark Sanders, Al Pawlowski, Kathy Gudell, Tracey Brich Murphy, Jen Kaminski, Greg Yocum, Tammy Frizzel, Pat Allen, Desiray McCray (now at WDOK
), Nathan Pope, Carmen Kennedy, Lisa Jeffries, Andrea Morris and Carolyn Carr gracing the airwaves. Its programmers included Steve Hibbard, Bernie Kimble and Angie Handa, who went by Angie Calli on-air, as well as syndicated personalities Ramsey Lewis
and Dave Koz
.
In 2003, WNWV became the first station in the Cleveland market to broadcast in the new HD digital format - as well as one of a handful in the country to make the initial switch. WCLV
, licensed to nearby Lorain
, but also aimed at the Cleveland market, was the second.
Throughout its history the station has been owned by Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
On May 15, 1958, Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. was purchased by the Lorain County Printing and Publishing Company, making it a wholly owned subsidiary. LCP&P also owns the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette; in effect forming a radio/newspaper duopoly. This arrangement has lasted to this day, grandfathered by FCC legislation that now prohibit such arrangements. Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. also owns WEOL
, as well as Norwalk
/Sandusky stations WLKR
1510-AM, WLKR
FM-95.3 and WKFM
96.1-FM.
On December 21, 2009, it was announced that "The Wave" would be changing formats after 22 years of bringing smooth jazz
to Northeast Ohio. WNWV was switching to an adult album alternative
format featuring a mix of alternative and classic rock
. The station cited the nationwide downturn for the smooth jazz format as the reason for the change, despite "The Wave" being a perennially strong ratings performer in Cleveland. The format was officially dropped after midnight on December 28, 2009, officially launching the AAA format at noon that same day; however, the smooth jazz format continues to run on the station's HD2 subchannel, and online. After the format change, Mark Ribbins assumed the title of program director and also served as afternoon host, but the station currently plays only music without on-air personalities. Mike Gallagher is heard every hour during station identification.
WNWV had wanted to call itself Boom! 107.3 as a tribute to legendary radio announcer Len "Boom" Goldberg, but due to copyright restrictions, temporarily became 107.3 Cleveland before settling on V107.3 as its new moniker http://www.ohiomedia.blogspot.com The current lineup as "V-107.3" features holdover morning host Mike Gallagher (Kessler), midday host Ravenna Miceli, afternoon host/program director Ric "Rocco" Bennett, and evening host/music director Brad Hanson.
Inner Sanctum, a showcase of local music that previously aired on former alternative
station WKRK-FM
, began airing Sunday nights on September 4, 2011. WNWV itself has since added more alternative rock to its playlist.
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 Elyria
Elyria, Ohio
-Community:Elyria has an extensive, although financially burdened, community food pantry and "Hot Meals" program administered through the Second Harvest Food Bank and several churches Elyria is served by Elyria Memorial Hospital.-Recreation and parks:...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
broadcasting an adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
format. The station serves the Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
radio market and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio
Greater Cleveland
Greater Cleveland is a nickname for the metropolitan area surrounding Cleveland, Ohio and is part of what used to be the Connecticut Western Reserve.Northeast Ohio refers to a similar but substantially larger area as described below...
, and is one of the few remaining locally-owned stations in the entire Cleveland metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located in Grafton, Ohio
Grafton, Ohio
Grafton is a village in Lorain County, Ohio, United States, along the East Branch of the Black River. The population was 2,302 at the 2000 census...
.
It is not uncommon for the signal to travel northward into Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and the eastern Thumb
The Thumb
The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten; thus the Thumb is the area that looks like the thumb of the mitten. The Thumb is generally considered to be in the Mid-Michigan area of the state, located east of Flint/Tri-Cities...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. During certain atmospheric conditions WNWV can be heard in the metro Detroit area.
On October 13, 2011, WNWV owner Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
The Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. is a privately held holding company of various assets in the broadcast media, based in Elyria, Ohio...
announced plans to sell the station to the Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
-based Rubber City Radio Group, Inc.
History
The station began as WEOL-FM, simulcasting the programming on AM station WEOLWEOL
WEOL — branded AM930 WEOL — is a commercial radio station licensed to Elyria, Ohio. The station serves both Elyria and Lorain, as well as the western portion of Greater Cleveland...
through the 1950s and most of the 1960s. The FM installations was established as an adjunct to the AM outlet around the same time as WEOL's 1948 sign-on. By 1960, WEOL-FM started separate programming on the weekdays as "Formula 107," playing a mixture of automated classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and pop standards
Traditional pop music
Traditional pop or classic pop or standards music denotes, in general, Western popular music that either wholly predates the advent of rock and roll in the mid-1950s, or to any popular music which exists concurrently to rock and roll but originated in a time before the appearance of rock and roll,...
from 2pm until 10pm weekdays, while both WEOL and WEOL-FM played "Sterophonic Hi-Lites" from 9pm to 11pm on Sundays. WEOL-FM assumed a separate identity on December 8, 1965 as WBEA, with a mostly automated beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
and 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...
format aimed toward Elyria, their city of license. Many of the area's top broadcast talents made a stop at WBEA and WEOL early in their careers, including Dick Conrad, Jeff Baxter, David Mark, Ronnie Barrett, Ron Penfound
Ron Penfound
Ronald A. Penfound was a local television personality in the Cleveland, Ohio market, specifically on WEWS-TV channel 5 where from 1955 to 1971 he hosted an afternoon program for children...
, Jim Mehrling, Rick Martyn, Bob Tayek, and others.
The easy listening soon segued to Top 40 as "WBEA B-107" in the early 1980s, then operated as "Z Rock
Z Rock
Z-Rock was a nationally syndicated radio network based out of Dallas, Texas, USA, in the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s that played heavy metal and hard rock music. The format was one of ABC Radio Network's 24-hour satellite formats...
" with a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
rock format and the call letters WCZR from January 1 to November 15, 1987. This format itself originated from the Satellite Music Network (later absorbed into ABC Radio) in Dallas, Texas, and WCZR was only the second station to have picked it up. WCZR gained a cult following in the Cleveland area, as most other rock stations did not devote their playlists to heavy metal rock. However, lackluster ratings and the spread of the "smooth jazz" format (then only known as "New Age" music; the "smooth jazz" name would gain widespread usage a few years later) precipitated the format change less than a year later.
When the station effectively became "The Wave" as WNWV, (patterned after Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based new age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
KTWV
KTWV
KTWV is a commercial radio station located in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside–San Bernardino and Ventura County areas on 94.7 FM. KTWV airs a hybrid Smooth AC radio format branded as "94.7 The Wave"...
) the station changed their broadcasting focus to the entire Cleveland market, while sister station WEOL
WEOL
WEOL — branded AM930 WEOL — is a commercial radio station licensed to Elyria, Ohio. The station serves both Elyria and Lorain, as well as the western portion of Greater Cleveland...
continued to focus on Lorain County. Both stations' studios are still located in downtown Elyria, while WNWV has a separate sales office and staff located in suburban Rocky River
Rocky River, Ohio
Rocky River is an affluent western suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, United States located in Cuyahoga County approximately nine miles west of Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The city is named for the river that forms its eastern border...
.
The station did alter its on-air nickname several times. Around 1992, WNWV became "Cleveland's Cool FM: 107-3 WNWV" before assuming its longtime nickname and logo in 1994. It's airstaff was remarkably stable throughout the rest of the decade, with broadcasters B.J. Hart, Dan Steinberg, Richard Greer, Tom Murphy, Lisa Danevich, Frank Macek (now at WKYC), Grace Roberts, Harvey Zay, Joan Kelly, Starr D'Avril, Mike Kessler (still on-air as Mike Gallagher at WNWV), Michelle Chase, Mark Ribbins, Brian Cruise, Sandy Bennett, Larry Adams, Sarah Greer, Cody Brooks, Mark McQuire, Mark Sanders, Al Pawlowski, Kathy Gudell, Tracey Brich Murphy, Jen Kaminski, Greg Yocum, Tammy Frizzel, Pat Allen, Desiray McCray (now at WDOK
WDOK
WDOK — branded Soft Rock 102.1 WDOK — is a commercial adult contemporary radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio. Studios are located at One Radio Lane along with CBS Radio sister station WQAL, and its transmitter is located in Parma on a tower that it shares with WQHS-TV channel 61...
), Nathan Pope, Carmen Kennedy, Lisa Jeffries, Andrea Morris and Carolyn Carr gracing the airwaves. Its programmers included Steve Hibbard, Bernie Kimble and Angie Handa, who went by Angie Calli on-air, as well as syndicated personalities Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. is an American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality. Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received seven gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.-Biography:...
and Dave Koz
Dave Koz
Dave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist.- Life and career :Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in Encino, California....
.
In 2003, WNWV became the first station in the Cleveland market to broadcast in the new HD digital format - as well as one of a handful in the country to make the initial switch. WCLV
WCLV
WCLV — branded WCLV 104.9 — is the classical radio station licensed to Lorain, Ohio serving Greater Cleveland and western parts of surrounding Northeast Ohio; WCLV is one of the few remaining classical music stations in the United States....
, licensed to nearby Lorain
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
, but also aimed at the Cleveland market, was the second.
Throughout its history the station has been owned by Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
The Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. is a privately held holding company of various assets in the broadcast media, based in Elyria, Ohio...
On May 15, 1958, Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. was purchased by the Lorain County Printing and Publishing Company, making it a wholly owned subsidiary. LCP&P also owns the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette; in effect forming a radio/newspaper duopoly. This arrangement has lasted to this day, grandfathered by FCC legislation that now prohibit such arrangements. Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. also owns WEOL
WEOL
WEOL — branded AM930 WEOL — is a commercial radio station licensed to Elyria, Ohio. The station serves both Elyria and Lorain, as well as the western portion of Greater Cleveland...
, as well as Norwalk
Norwalk, Ohio
At the 2000 census, there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,950.3 per square mile . There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of 803.1 per square mile...
/Sandusky stations WLKR
WLKR (AM)
WLKR is an AM radio station licensed to Norwalk, Ohio, operating on 1510 kHz during the daytime hours only. Its transmitter is in Norwalk and studios are in Milan, along with sister stations WLKR-FM and WKFM. The station is locally owned by Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co...
1510-AM, WLKR
WLKR-FM
WLKR-FM is an FM radio station licensed to Norwalk, Ohio, operating on 95.3 MHz. Its transmitter is located just outside of Norwalk near the intersection of Huber Road and Lamereaux Road. However, its studios are in Milan, along with sister stations WLKR and WKFM...
FM-95.3 and WKFM
WKFM
WKFM is an FM radio station licensed to Huron, Ohio, operating on 96.1 MHz. Its transmitter is in Berlin Heights and its studios are in Milan, along with sister stations WLKR-FM and WLKR...
96.1-FM.
On December 21, 2009, it was announced that "The Wave" would be changing formats after 22 years of bringing smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
to Northeast Ohio. WNWV was switching to an adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
format featuring a mix of alternative and 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...
. The station cited the nationwide downturn for the smooth jazz format as the reason for the change, despite "The Wave" being a perennially strong ratings performer in Cleveland. The format was officially dropped after midnight on December 28, 2009, officially launching the AAA format at noon that same day; however, the smooth jazz format continues to run on the station's HD2 subchannel, and online. After the format change, Mark Ribbins assumed the title of program director and also served as afternoon host, but the station currently plays only music without on-air personalities. Mike Gallagher is heard every hour during station identification.
WNWV had wanted to call itself Boom! 107.3 as a tribute to legendary radio announcer Len "Boom" Goldberg, but due to copyright restrictions, temporarily became 107.3 Cleveland before settling on V107.3 as its new moniker http://www.ohiomedia.blogspot.com The current lineup as "V-107.3" features holdover morning host Mike Gallagher (Kessler), midday host Ravenna Miceli, afternoon host/program director Ric "Rocco" Bennett, and evening host/music director Brad Hanson.
Inner Sanctum, a showcase of local music that previously aired on former alternative
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
station WKRK-FM
WKRK-FM
WKRK-FM — branded Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio, WKRK-FM is owned by CBS Radio and broadcasts a sports format...
, began airing Sunday nights on September 4, 2011. WNWV itself has since added more alternative rock to its playlist.