Wikipedia

WXRD

For the radio station in Woodstock, Illinois which held the call-letters from 1974 until 1984, see WZSR.

WXRD (103.9 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format using the station name X-Rock 103.9. Licensed to Crown Point, Indiana, United States, it serves Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. The station is currently owned by Adams Radio Group, [5] through licensee ARG of Northern Indiana LLC. The station also features national and local newscasts.

WXRD
Broadcast areaNorthwest Indiana / South Suburban Chicago
Frequency103.9 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingX Rock 103.9
Programming
FormatClassic rock
Affiliationshttps://www.unitedstations.com/
Ownership
Owner
WLJE, WZVN
History
First air date
November 10, 1972 (as WFLM)[1]
Former call signs
WFLM (1972[2]-1982)
WWJY (1982-1996)[3]
WZCO (7/1996-12/1996)[3]
Call sign meaning
W X Rock D
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID39382
ClassA
ERP1,350 watts
HAAT137 meters (449 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°19′24.00″N 87°21′22.00″W / 41.3233333°N 87.3561111°W / 41.3233333; -87.3561111
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitexrock1039.com

History edit

The station began broadcasting November 10, 1972, holding the call sign WFLM, and airing an easy listening format, as the "World's Finest Listening Music".[1][2][6] The station was originally owned by John Meyer.[1][2] In 1982, the station's call sign was changed to WWJY,[3] and the station was branded "Joy"/"South Lake 104".[6] In 1993, John Meyer sold the station to M & M Broadcasting, owned by former Hammond, Indiana mayor Thomas McDermott, Sr., for $600,000.[7] On March 1, 1993, the station's format was changed from easy listening to CHR.[6][7][8] In 1995, the station began to simulcast the rock format of WABT 103.9 in Dundee, Illinois.[9]

In 1996, the station was sold to Z-Spanish Network, along with WABT, for $3.6 million,[10][11] and the station adopted a Spanish language format,[12] as "La Zeta".[13] On July 1, 1996, the station's call sign was changed to WZCO.[3] The station would go silent shortly thereafter, before switching to a country music format in November 1996, with programming from Real Country, under a LMA with M & M Broadcasting, who was in the process of purchasing the station.[14] On December 2, 1996, the station's call sign was changed to WXRD.[3] By 2002, the station's format had been changed to classic rock.[15] In 2004, the station was sold to Radio One Communications, along with WZVN, for $4.9 million.[16][17][18] The station was purchased by Adams Radio Group in 2014.[19][20]

After 18 years, WXRD pulled "The Bob and Tom Show" off the air on June 17, 2019 and began a locally-produced classic rock morning show. As of December, 2021, Nights with Alice Cooper was the station's only syndicated day-part.[21]

Effective June 9, 2023, Adams Radio Group's portfolio of 18 stations and translators, including WXRD, was sold for $12.6 million.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c 1974 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1974. p. B-70. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c History Cards for WXRD, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  4. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WXRD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ "Website Disabled".
  6. ^ a b c Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 252-257.
  7. ^ a b "Changing Hands", Broadcasting, February 8, 1993. p. 51. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  8. ^ The M Street Radio Directory. 1995. p. 208. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  9. ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol 12 No. 31. August 2, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  10. ^ "Elsewhere", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13 No. 12. March 20, 1996. p. 8. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "Newsline", Billboard, March 30, 1996. p. 142. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  12. ^ Hevrdejs, Judy; Conklin, Mike. "NBA Champion Trophy Mystery Gets Crystal Clear Solution", Chicago Tribune, June 13, 1996. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  13. ^ "Call Letter Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13 No. 28. July 10, 1996. p. 4. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  14. ^ "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13 No. 48. November 27, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  15. ^ The M Street Radio Directory. 2002-2003. p. 206. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable. January 11, 2004. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  17. ^ Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  18. ^ Erler, Susan. "Radio One adds room to grow", The Times of Northwest Indiana. June 28, 2006. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "Adams Radio Group Closes On Purchase Of Northwest IN's Radio One Communications Stations", Chicagoland Radio and Media. August 6, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  20. ^ Zivanovic, Crista. "Adams Radio closes on deal to buy Valpo's Radio One", The Times of Northwest Indiana. August 6, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "X-Rock 103.9 | The Rock Of The Region | Northwest, IN". X-Rock 103.9 | The Rock Of The Region | Northwest, IN. Retrieved 2021-12-22.

External links edit

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