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INDIANA'S small market "champs"

H

hipporadio

I’ll offer three [four] “contenders” then invite your discussion and additions to the “Hall of Small market Fame” here in the Hoosier State.

NUMBER ONE – This is a no-brainer.... WLKI Angola :) A “national class” radio outfit - this station “bloomed” within mere months of its rescue from bankruptcy in the late 70s. With minimal resources, Tom Andrews and Bill Kerner focused a demure 3k Class A post-disco adult Top-40 to the Steuben County community... They were in a great area with a great opportunity – and they seized the moment—BIG TIME! From their well-deserved profits, they built a FIRST-RATE facility and community presence. There are employees from the earliest days that are happily and securely-employed today. For over 30-years, this has been one of the FINEST small market stations in this country – Indiana can claim fame for it. CONGRATS, WLKI!

NUMBER TWO – WCBK Martinsville... You CAN’T leave this one out... F-A-R from WLKI from a programming perspective – and FAR-SHORT OF “HIP”, but it’s a fixture nonetheless, and valuable component in its community – the “textbook definition” of “small market radio” [it “works” believe-it-or-not]... It’s greatest kudos come from that – NO FLASH—just “substance”. WCBK is a true Hoosier radio icon... AND – they are LOVED “in town” – a very good thing!

NUMBER THREE – WSVX Shelbyville... A perfect candidate for an FCC license surrender, this highly directional top-of-the-dial station was “rescued” by a group of local businessmen and rebuilt to serve this growing and vibrant community. For nearly 30 years, this station lingered in purgatory – NOTHING WORKED until the Three Towers gang got busy. Shelbyville is a proud community that deserves good local radio service... Three Towers stepped-up in an era that might defy such effort and “gave back” to their market... It appears to be paying-off [thank goodness]. This station is a textbook MODEL for “small market radio” – and they are bravely pursuing such in a difficult environment. Watch them – I don’t think they will fail!

HONORABLE MENTION – WIFE Connersville... For nearly 30-years, 1580 was asleep in a simulcast with 100.3FM... The latter was “sold to Cincy” in a highly controversial manner. 1580 was brought back to life with a new A-1 transmitter plant, rebuilt digital studios, and a FULL service oldies format—one of THE BEST, btw. This station is making the very-best of TWO bad situations – a poor local economy and a demure practical daytimer at the top of the dial. Nonetheless, they appear to be making strides while offering one of the BEST oldies presentations on-air ANYWHERE. Their AM audio quality is second-to-none, and they maintain a live operation with exceptional local news coverage. I LOVE THIS STATION, and I hope that they “hang-on”!

OK... 'Your nominations...
 
Ralph Turpin's WBNL in Boonville has become 'old fashioned local radio' and a strong support base of advertisers in the bedroom-metro county.. AM and only 250 day and a few watts at night, they were on the horn about streaming and have a successful blend that serves the Boonville-Chandler and Newburgh communities.... Two and a half full timers and some part time folks bring back a sound we made fun of as kids, but realize just how 'local' radio did its magic in those post network program days...

Well, If I could find an AM or little FM, I'd sure learn from the above listed stations...

"Skip" on the air at WIKY in Evansville this morning... ;D
 
For "staying power," WHBU-AM in Anderson. While they've been through multiple ownership changes in the past decade, they are one of the first radio stations on the air in the entire country [1920-something], and today still air live local programming [along with syndication]. The programming might actually not be very good, but it's still a community based station, not unlike most AMs in small market clusters that are clearing syndication 24/7 these days. :)
 
Unless you don't consider Terre Haute a small Indiana market, I think you would have to include WTHI-Hi 99. They've dominated the West Central part of the state for nearly two decades.
 
As regional Arbitron rated market.. They are a giant.. 50kw and an owner of renowned.. I think in that regard, they are like WIKY is to the Evansville Metro and ADI..... Or WDDD and WCIL-FM(was) in the Carbondale ADI's... Bloomington has outgrown Terre Haute in population.. Hard for me to get used to that!
 
And we dare not forget the folks at Radio Ridge and the mighty 5KW powerhouse of WSLM! Well over 40 years under the same ownership.
 
One you may miss up here in NE Indiana...maybe not so "small market"...well, Warsaw is about the same size as Angola, give or take a few lakers...
WRSW. A format that works for the area they serve (and face it, country and rock go well in Lake City,) good talent, maybe their power doesn't classify them in this discussion, but their market is mostly Warsaw and surrounds, and hell, if you hit Columbia City that counts for something. (I grew up there...NOBODY GIVES A DAMN ABOUT CC.)
They get the job done in my not so humble opinion. There, I'll get off the stump now. ;D
 
Definately a "second that emotion" to WLKI. A station I always wanted to work for but no such luck. I remember visiting once in the early 80s at the North Wayne Plaza studios, they actually were playing their music off either LPs or 12 inch singles, for better quality. They got competition from Ft Wayne and from Country WNWN "Stereo Country 98" when it was more of a regional station than a Kalamazoo move-in.


I'd heard WITZ in Jasper was pretty good. Wasn't there a CHR in Vincennes at one time?
 
CHR in Vincennes was 1450 AM back in the (early) 80s.

Now I guess you'd say the CHR is WVUB 91.1.
 
WTRB was 106.5 I think.
 
Let's not forget WILO-1570 in Frankfort, IN. Vern Kaspar has owned and operated that station for 50 Years now ! He put WILO-FM-99.7 (Now WSHW) on-the-air a few years later in the early 60's. Last I heard, Vern was still actively involved in the station at the age of 85 (or so). WILO was (and still is) a very community involved station.
 
WRTB was on both frequencies. Originally, it was on 96.7 as the FM sister to WAOV. Later, Robert Green bought Washington's 106.5 and moved the WRTB calls and format there. 96.7 was donated to Vincennes University and took the WFML calls, launching a country format.

Now for worst small market station, I'd nominate WKMD 94.3 Logootee. When I went to VU in 1990-1991, they seemed to only come to life for H.S. basketball. The rest of the time, they played music off a CD changer with no announcers or ID.
 
Not sure I can bring myself to praise Vern. Not among my favorite places to work.

I can recall WSAL being pretty good, and far enough away from other metros to be a service to the town.
 
WAOV... "We're Alice of Old Vincennes"... War of 1812 history stuff.. One of Indiana's first stations and did some block Top-40 in the 60's and 70's... Went country around '80 and stayed live and 24/7 down the Penthouse hall of the "Executive Inn" from "Hit 96" (96.7) / WRTB (Green named it, the old WAOV-FM that was "Fun Music Radio" Top-40/Mono in the 70's, after Robert (son), Tom (son) and Bob (owner)...)....
Once out of the bank building in downtown Vin-Sins (boy did Vinny sin), we were live on 96.7 and held our own between Terre Haute and Evansville.. Then early in '86 we bought Draper out in Washington (Newspaper guy who had WFML-FM and WAMW-AM)... He kept the AM till Greene Electric bought it and then added new docket drop (Class "A") WAMW-FM 107.9.... Dave Crooks owns 1580 and 107.9 at this time.. We moved WRTB to 106.5 and studios to Washington and "Electric-106.5/B-1065)" became a rockin' Top-40 with a great crew, signal and processing on the old Uri Compressor and 8100A Orban-Optimod..... Mitch "In The Morning" Cooley in AM Drive...Keith Jones in the midday...Danny Wayne in the Afternoon...Herb "Bogey" Bogard in the evening... "Lady Di" Dianne late night until she went to WTTS-FM and then B-96 in Bloomington.. I took that shift when she left....Mike Maloy (Lauf) did overnights.. I was there four years as the 'seventh man out' to fill anyshift while in seminary and did my first CCM show on Sunday AM from 6 to 9... Always did one other weekend shift and sometimes two.... Did sports play-by-play on 1450/WAOV when needed... Great fun and we were the small market WKRP with fun at every turn...... I left after finishing up at Oakland City University and went to Fort Myers to help build and worked as Music Director/Promotions until Mark Rider came on board to be Operations Manager and held the PD title until moving to build Way-Fm Nashville.... Hey! Let's hear some "Styx", "The Romantics" and "Janet Jackson" back to back!
 
Do you mean best of all-time? I'd say WCSI/Columbus in the late-70's-mid 80's (but I'm biased too LOL). I'm glad someone mentioned WITZ/Jasper. That station does more for the community and has a staff that has been there FOREVER. There are a lot of smaller-market stations that have a "larger market" sound (WKKG,WMDH,WRZQ, etc,). I wasn't sure what criteria you wanted us to use.
 
the "Original" WERK 990 the 250 watt 6 tower- DAYTIMER- was a powerhouse in Muncie and dominated radio with T-40 in the day with a big market sound in the mid 60's to late 70's. dave letterman worked there!
 
Small Market Champs? In my book, WLKI Angola & WERK Muncie were the "best of the best" at programming.

I noticed several posts noting length of time on the air. I'm not sure that qualifies for a "champ" but there is something to be said for a station that can stay on the air for 80+ years... somehow they managed to inspire enough local advertising with their programming. :'(

I worked at WPGW Portland and remember the obit report was sponsored on alternating days by the two local funeral homes. And God help you if you got a name wrong... a listener was on the phone to correct you. Not compelling programming but it did garner listeners with local programming.
 
Rob Weaver is still operating WPGW in Portland and still giving young broadcasters the opportunity to make mistakes and learn how to be good broadcasters. It's part of what's sorely missing in this business. A chance to learn without totally ruining a station's rep. There are very few "small market learning centers" left. Portland is still one. I belive Rob also owns 92.7 in Berne.
 
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