WONC
Encyclopedia
WONC is a radio station
broadcasting an album-oriented rock
format. Licensed to Naperville, Illinois
, United States
, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by North Central College
.
Since succeeding Jon Yoder on September 1, 1980, John V. Madormo has been the faculty advisor and general manager of WONC. Formerly a producer for Chicago's WGN
radio, Madormo's experience has led WONC to being recognized as one of the premier college radio stations in the country. The station has won 20 Marconi awards
during his tenure; no other college station has won more.
(commonly known within the radio business as AOR) since approximately 1987 and uses the slogan Pure Rock FM 89. From the station's inception to the 1980s, it was a more typical college free-form station. An adult contemporary format was aired for a time during that period prior to the switch to the current format.
The station provides coverage of North Central College's football games, men's and women's basketball games, and select home baseball and softball games.
WONC is also the official radio station for DuPage Valley Conference high school football featuring the Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers, Naperville Central Redhawks and Naperville North Huskies.
Through the month of June the station becomes the location for North Central College's Radio Camps. Typically, the first two weeks after the college's graduation is Jr. High (conducted in a "day camp" format) followed by a week long Sr. high camp in which the students reside on the campus itself.
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...
broadcasting an album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
format. Licensed to Naperville, Illinois
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by North Central College
North Central College
North Central College is a leading liberal arts college providing students at different stages of life and from different ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds with comprehensive educational programs.-Academics:...
.
History
The station has been in operation since 1968 and currently broadcasts from studios in a renovated house at 232 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville. Prior to 1997, WONC's studios were located on the fourth floor of the Old Main campus building at 30 N. Brainard St. The broadcast tower is located at 1805 High Grove Lane on the western edge of Naperville.Since succeeding Jon Yoder on September 1, 1980, John V. Madormo has been the faculty advisor and general manager of WONC. Formerly a producer for Chicago's WGN
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
radio, Madormo's experience has led WONC to being recognized as one of the premier college radio stations in the country. The station has won 20 Marconi awards
NAB Marconi Radio Awards
The Marconi Radio Awards are presented annually by the National Association of Broadcasters to the top radio stations and on-air personalities in the United States. The awards are named in honor of Guglielmo Marconi, the man generally credited as the "Father of Wireless Telegraphy." NAB member...
during his tenure; no other college station has won more.
Format
The format has been album-oriented rockAlbum-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
(commonly known within the radio business as AOR) since approximately 1987 and uses the slogan Pure Rock FM 89. From the station's inception to the 1980s, it was a more typical college free-form station. An adult contemporary format was aired for a time during that period prior to the switch to the current format.
The station provides coverage of North Central College's football games, men's and women's basketball games, and select home baseball and softball games.
WONC is also the official radio station for DuPage Valley Conference high school football featuring the Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers, Naperville Central Redhawks and Naperville North Huskies.
Through the month of June the station becomes the location for North Central College's Radio Camps. Typically, the first two weeks after the college's graduation is Jr. High (conducted in a "day camp" format) followed by a week long Sr. high camp in which the students reside on the campus itself.