WPBG
Encyclopedia
WPBG is an FM broadcasting
station with a Classic Hits
format. Licensed for Peoria, Illinois
, USA, the station serves the Bloomington, Peoria, LaSalle-Peru area. The station is currently owned by Monterey Licenses, LLC.
s on 92.5 MHz as a sister station to 1470 WMBD (AM)
, the only other station in Peoria; the nearest other FM station was 101.5 WJBC-FM (now WBNQ
) in Bloomington
, established the same month as a sister station of 1230 WJBC (AM)
. By 1950, WMBD-FM was licensed for 20,000 watts. WMBD-FM duplicated WMBD (AM) during its early years. It was sold (with AM and TV) to Fetzer Stations on February 1, 1953.
The station signed-on as with a beautiful music format and utilized the slogan "Music Only For a Woman". The station was originally on 92.5 MHz but moved to 93.3 MHz in the early 1960s.
For several years, WMBD-FM went by the slogan of Rock 93. Then, in late 1977 the station adopted a Rock Top 40 format as WKZW. The station, calling itself "KZ-93" was successful immediately and rapidly overtook Top 40 AM
WIRL in the ratings. In late-1983 KZ-93 started a transition from being a rock-based CHR Contemporary hit radio
outlet to playing mainstream CHR. KZ-93 DJs included Tom Wood, Mark Maloney, Gary Olson, Jeff Moore, Cristy Ryan, Keith Edwards, Scott Wheeler, Gene Stern, Derek Johnson, Lee Malcolm, Ken Hackney (Ken Cook), Troy Hamilton, Jeff Kingsley, Glen Thomas, Kenny Blum, Andy Masur, and Dan Baker. "KZ-93" was at or near the top of the ratings in the Peoria radio market throughout its reign as the premiere Top 40 outlet in Central Illinois. Then, in the early part of 1994 Peoria's 93.3 FM flipped to a hard adult contemporary format as WMXP and the slogan "Mix 93.3". During the MIX years, The morning show was hosted by Dave Kallaway and Bec Ryan. Other jocks included Gene Stern, Scott Wheeler (now mornings on WCIC
Pekin), Mary Lynn, Chris McIntyre (now program director and mornings on WKAY
Galesburg, Illinois), and Keith Kelly. Also, for a portion of its time as "Mix 93.3" the morning radio show was simulcast with the television show on sister station WMBD-TV
. This simulcast show was known as "The Morning Mix". The simulcast ended in late-1996 when the station again flipped to an oldies format as "Big Oldies 93.3" and adopted the current call sign. At that time "The Morning Mix" continued on WMBD-TV for quite some time. The station used the "Big Oldies 93.3" slogan before the current format of classic hits was adopted in late summer 2006.
The station is owned by Triad Broadcasting
. Sister stations include WIRL, WMBD (AM)
, WDQX
, WXCL
and WSWT
.
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
station with a Classic Hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format. Licensed for Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
, USA, the station serves the Bloomington, Peoria, LaSalle-Peru area. The station is currently owned by Monterey Licenses, LLC.
History
WMBD-FM was established in April 1947 with 17,000 wattWatt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s on 92.5 MHz as a sister station to 1470 WMBD (AM)
WMBD (AM)
WMBD is the oldest radio station in Peoria, Illinois. It broadcasts on 1470 kHz with 5000 watts day and night, with a 2-tower pattern during the day and a 4-tower pattern at night.The station started broadcasting in 1927...
, the only other station in Peoria; the nearest other FM station was 101.5 WJBC-FM (now WBNQ
WBNQ
WBNQ is the most powerful FM radio station in McLean County, Illinois: 50,000 watts on 101.5 MHz. It has had a contemporary hit radio music format since the early 1980s.-History:...
) in Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, established the same month as a sister station of 1230 WJBC (AM)
WJBC (AM)
WJBC is an AM radio station based in the twin cities of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois.In 2006, Janae Jontry, the station manager, said a focus on localism differentiated WJBC from most of the competition. Part of a five-station cluster owned by Regent Communications, WJBC was the only AM station of...
. By 1950, WMBD-FM was licensed for 20,000 watts. WMBD-FM duplicated WMBD (AM) during its early years. It was sold (with AM and TV) to Fetzer Stations on February 1, 1953.
The station signed-on as with a beautiful music format and utilized the slogan "Music Only For a Woman". The station was originally on 92.5 MHz but moved to 93.3 MHz in the early 1960s.
For several years, WMBD-FM went by the slogan of Rock 93. Then, in late 1977 the station adopted a Rock Top 40 format as WKZW. The station, calling itself "KZ-93" was successful immediately and rapidly overtook Top 40 AM
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
WIRL in the ratings. In late-1983 KZ-93 started a transition from being a rock-based CHR Contemporary hit radio
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...
outlet to playing mainstream CHR. KZ-93 DJs included Tom Wood, Mark Maloney, Gary Olson, Jeff Moore, Cristy Ryan, Keith Edwards, Scott Wheeler, Gene Stern, Derek Johnson, Lee Malcolm, Ken Hackney (Ken Cook), Troy Hamilton, Jeff Kingsley, Glen Thomas, Kenny Blum, Andy Masur, and Dan Baker. "KZ-93" was at or near the top of the ratings in the Peoria radio market throughout its reign as the premiere Top 40 outlet in Central Illinois. Then, in the early part of 1994 Peoria's 93.3 FM flipped to a hard adult contemporary format as WMXP and the slogan "Mix 93.3". During the MIX years, The morning show was hosted by Dave Kallaway and Bec Ryan. Other jocks included Gene Stern, Scott Wheeler (now mornings on WCIC
WCIC
-Sister stations:The Illinois Bible Institute owns 3 other station clusters in addition to WCIC's:* WBGL in Eastern Illinois* WIBI in the St. Louis area* WTSG southeast of Springfield-External links:* - official website* - sister station info...
Pekin), Mary Lynn, Chris McIntyre (now program director and mornings on WKAY
WKAY
WKAY 105.3 FM is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Knoxville, Illinois, the station serves the Galesburg area including Knoxville, Monmouth, Abingdon and surrounding communities. WKAY is owned by Galesburg Broadcasting Company...
Galesburg, Illinois), and Keith Kelly. Also, for a portion of its time as "Mix 93.3" the morning radio show was simulcast with the television show on sister station WMBD-TV
WMBD-TV
WMBD-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Central Illinois licensed to Peoria. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 30 from a transmitter on Pinecrest Drive in Groveland Township's East Peoria section. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 7 and in...
. This simulcast show was known as "The Morning Mix". The simulcast ended in late-1996 when the station again flipped to an oldies format as "Big Oldies 93.3" and adopted the current call sign. At that time "The Morning Mix" continued on WMBD-TV for quite some time. The station used the "Big Oldies 93.3" slogan before the current format of classic hits was adopted in late summer 2006.
The station is owned by Triad Broadcasting
Triad Broadcasting
Triad Broadcasting Company, LLC is a large owner of radio stations in small and medium markets in the United States with over 40 radio stations. Based in Monterey, California, the company is one of the largest radio station owners after Clear Channel Communications, CBS Radio, Cox Radio, and...
. Sister stations include WIRL, WMBD (AM)
WMBD (AM)
WMBD is the oldest radio station in Peoria, Illinois. It broadcasts on 1470 kHz with 5000 watts day and night, with a 2-tower pattern during the day and a 4-tower pattern at night.The station started broadcasting in 1927...
, WDQX
WDQX
WDQX is an FM radio station, licensed to 102.3 MHz in Morton, Illinois near Peoria. It is owned by JMP Media, a part of Triad Broadcasting of California...
, WXCL
WXCL
WXCL is a country music radio station licensed to Pekin, Illinois and owned by JMP Media, a subsidiary of Triad Broadcasting.-History:104.9 signed on the air in the early 70's as WZRO with an oldies format...
and WSWT
WSWT
WSWT is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Contemporary format. It is licensed to Peoria, Illinois in the Peoria radio market. The station is currently owned by Monterey Licenses, LLC. Mornings are hosted by Randy Rundle and Stacy Campbell...
.