WVIB
Encyclopedia
WVIB is a radio station
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 urban AC format fed via satellite from Cumulus Media Networks (known as "The Touch
The Touch (radio network)
The Touch is a 24-hour music format produced by Cumulus Media Networks . It draws an adult audience between the ages of 25-49 with an Urban Adult Contemporary format since its inception by Satellite Music Network in 1972.In January 2010, Citadel Broadcasting has rebranded this network as...

" or "Today's R&B and Old School"). The station is licensed to Holton, Michigan and serves the Muskegon market.

History

The station began as WSHN-FM in Fremont, Michigan
Fremont, Michigan
Fremont is a city in Newaygo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,081 at the 2010 census.- History :The first inhabitants of the Fremont area were native Americans. A group of settlers led by Daniel Weaver first settled in the area in 1855. The Weaver homestead served as the...

, which for many years featured a country
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...

 format (as "Fun Country 100 FM") oriented toward Fremont and Newaygo County. The WSHN calls stand for Stuart and Helene Noordyk, the station's original owners.

In January 2002, the Noordyks were granted a construction permit to change WSHN-FM's city of license from Fremont to Holton and move into the Muskegon market (WSHN
WSHN
WSHN is a radio station licensed to serve Fremont, Michigan, USA. The station is owned by Noordyk Broadcasting.-History:During 2006, WSHN carried programming from ESPN Radio, but broadcast the feed strictly as fed, with no local commercials or even station identification.In June 2007, the station...

-AM 1550 remained in Fremont and remains owned by Noordyk to this day). The following month, "Fun Country 100" became "The New Sunny FM" with a Hot AC format. The station chose the name "The New Sunny FM" to evoke memories of WSNX
WSNX
WSNX-FM is a radio station located in Clear Channel Communications' Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters. The station has a rhythmic-leaning Top 40 format...

's days as "Sunny FM" during the 1980s and 1990s. The intention was to provide a "grown-up" version of "Sunny FM", without hip hop and rap music and with classic '80s and '90s hits mixed in. However, the revamped "Sunny FM" was a ratings failure.

In February 2004, Tony "Boomer" Burke, former on-air talent for Grand Rapids active rock station WKLQ and South Bend's CHR/Top 40 station U-93 WNDV, was hired as Program Director and Weekday Afternoon Host for "Sunny-FM". "Boomer"'s duties also included heading up the other Noordyk stations (WEFG, WLCS, WSHN-AM). In an attempt to push the station into direct competition with WSNX, WSHN's music format quickly evolved from Hot AC to CHR/Top 40, aiming directly at teens and young adults just in time for summer.

By June 2004, "100.1 The New Sunny-FM" had a fresh new sound. "Boomer" had added rap and hip hop music in a limited capacity compared to WSNX. Intense song rotation was given to current and recent hits as well as music from the early 2000s. Selected Top 40 hits from the '90s remained, but very limited. '80s songs were dropped altogether other than during special programming and syndicated programming. All this was an effort to try to bring in the 12–24 and 18–34 male-female demographic. A tweaked moniker and logo, a new voice-over by Jeff Straub complete with brand new fast paced imaging and jingles, as well as new air talent, helped kick off WSHN's Top 40 effort in June 2004. This coincided with the week-long Muskegon Summer Celebration. Taking advantage of the timing, the station sponsored Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....

, who performed in concert during the week-long festival. In June, changes in staff also were made, including revamping the morning show. "Boomer" replaced owner Don Noordyk on the morning team. Noordyk stepped back to focus exclusively on managerial duties. Brandon James was hired to replace "Boomer" as Weekday Afternoon Host to help continue the Top 40 approach and improve listener interaction. Along with several new contests and show features, Brandon's show was request and caller driven. A new Friday evening show titled Mix at Six also debuted, featuring a full hour of Modern Dance and club music.

In August 2004, these efforts too were proven not to be long-lived at Sunny-FM. Creative differences between talent and management over the direction of music decisions led to the departure of Tony "Boomer" Burke and Brandon James, who both resigned on the same day in late August. WSHN pretty much reverted to its adult-driven Hot AC format until November.

After Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...

 took over the station in November 2004, 100.1 FM was switched to the current adult-urban format, which has proven popular among the African American community in Muskegon. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...

 on September 16, 2011.

WVIB is the only commercial radio station in the Muskegon area programmed for the black community. It competes with non-commercial LPFM stations WUVS-LP
WUVS-LP
WUVS-LP is a low power radio station licensed to Muskegon, Michigan....

 and WMMT-LP
WMMT-LP
WMMT-LP is a radio station broadcasting a Rhythmic Oldies format. Licensed to Muskegon, Michigan, USA. The station is currently owned by Muskegon Training & Education Center ....

.

Sources

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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