This article says it was "WPNT The Point" in the 90's. But I don't remember that? :-/ Typo or no?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WILV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WILV
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Wasn't 100.3 FM referred to as "FM-100" in the 90's?
- Thread starter thenewageriseth
- Start date
For sure WFMF called themselves FM-100, and some of the stations following them were called FM-100, until stations caught on that car radios started displaying exact frequencies, and then they started giving out the exact frequency instead of "rounding" the frequency.
"WFMF -- started up in the late 40s by the Marshall Field & Co. department store chain, using it for store background music. Later was a more conventional, commercial beautiful music station. Call change to WLOO in 1970. Now WNND."
Interesting history of Chicago call signs/frequencies/formats - somewhat out of date: http://www.angelfire.com/zine/forty2/radiohistory.html
This is the FCC call sign history for 100.3 (doesn't include WFMF though)
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=10059&Callsign=WILV
"WFMF -- started up in the late 40s by the Marshall Field & Co. department store chain, using it for store background music. Later was a more conventional, commercial beautiful music station. Call change to WLOO in 1970. Now WNND."
Interesting history of Chicago call signs/frequencies/formats - somewhat out of date: http://www.angelfire.com/zine/forty2/radiohistory.html
This is the FCC call sign history for 100.3 (doesn't include WFMF though)
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=10059&Callsign=WILV
For sure WFMF called themselves FM-100, and some of the stations following them were called FM-100, until stations caught on that car radios started displaying exact frequencies, and then they started giving out the exact frequency instead of "rounding" the frequency.
"WFMF -- started up in the late 40s by the Marshall Field & Co. department store chain, using it for store background music. Later was a more conventional, commercial beautiful music station. Call change to WLOO in 1970. Now WNND."
Interesting history of Chicago call signs/frequencies/formats - somewhat out of date: http://www.angelfire.com/zine/forty2/radiohistory.html
This is the FCC call sign history for 100.3 (doesn't include WFMF though)
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=10059&Callsign=WILV
WPNT had a format similar to WLIT "Lite FM" 93.9 The Point was "okay" They had live 'jocks' but Lite FM was the leader in the format they were running....
"WFMF -- started up in the late 40s by the Marshall Field & Co. department store chain, using it for store background music. Later was a more conventional, commercial beautiful music station. Call change to WLOO in 1970. Now WNND."
Interesting history of Chicago call signs/frequencies/formats - somewhat out of date: http://www.angelfire.com/zine/forty2/radiohistory.html
This is the FCC call sign history for 100.3 (doesn't include WFMF though)
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=10059&Callsign=WILV
WPNT had a format similar to WLIT "Lite FM" 93.9 The Point was "okay" They had live 'jocks' but Lite FM was the leader in the format they were running....
thenewageriseth said:
WFMF was referred to as FM100 as far back as the 50s as far as I know.
Wow,others had this title to
Interesting!
stormy01 said:
Interesting!
In 1990 what was then EZ 100, turned into "Chicago's 100.3 The Point". They used that moniker for about a year or two
until they tweaked the format from hot adult contemporary to a wider playlist. They then called it "Chicago's FM 100".
They stuck with that and the WPNT call letters until they switched to "Windy 100" with the call letters WNND. They put
themselves in direct competition with "Lite FM". In fact they actually beat 93.9 in a couple of books(Arbitron). They were
only EZ 100 for less than 2 years when they switched to "The Point". As everyone knows they were WLOO FM 100 for many
years. The station also simulcast on AM 820 throughout the EZ years, and a couple of month's of the The Point. The AM 820
frequency went silent for a few years, until it was bought by Dan Lee's Diamond broadcasting and The Score was born. I hope
I didn't bore anyone with my post :, but, I know a lot of history of this station. If you have any other questions, feel free
to ask.
until they tweaked the format from hot adult contemporary to a wider playlist. They then called it "Chicago's FM 100".
They stuck with that and the WPNT call letters until they switched to "Windy 100" with the call letters WNND. They put
themselves in direct competition with "Lite FM". In fact they actually beat 93.9 in a couple of books(Arbitron). They were
only EZ 100 for less than 2 years when they switched to "The Point". As everyone knows they were WLOO FM 100 for many
years. The station also simulcast on AM 820 throughout the EZ years, and a couple of month's of the The Point. The AM 820
frequency went silent for a few years, until it was bought by Dan Lee's Diamond broadcasting and The Score was born. I hope
I didn't bore anyone with my post :
, but, I know a lot of history of this station. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
TR1992 said:In 1990 what was then EZ 100, turned into "Chicago's 100.3 The Point". They used that moniker for about a year or two
until they tweaked the format from hot adult contemporary to a wider playlist. They then called it "Chicago's FM 100".
They stuck with that and the WPNT call letters until they switched to "Windy 100" with the call letters WNND. They put
themselves in direct competition with "Lite FM". In fact they actually beat 93.9 in a couple of books(Arbitron). They were
only EZ 100 for less than 2 years when they switched to "The Point". As everyone knows they were WLOO FM 100 for many
years. The station also simulcast on AM 820 throughout the EZ years, and a couple of month's of the The Point. The AM 820
frequency went silent for a few years, until it was bought by Dan Lee's Diamond broadcasting and The Score was born. I hope
I didn't bore anyone with my post :
to ask.
Do you remember what year WFMF bit the dust?
stormy01 said:
I remember my dad always listening to FM100 WFMF. So he must have been listening in the 60s.
Prais said:
And if I remember correctly didn't WSEX call it self "The Bear" when the Bears won in 86?
Didn't they then use the calls WCBR?
radioman148 said:
From the FCC Database:
F O R M A T
---------------------------------------
WCPT-FM 10/27/2008 Progressive Talk
WKIE 12/28/1998 Dance? / The ORIGINAL Kiss FM in the Chicago Market*
WCBR-FM 01/09/1989 Country
WSEX 01/24/1983 "Love" songs
WTCO 04/22/1981 Country
Before the FCC Database:
WWMM 1972-? MOR "Middle Of the Road"
WEXI 1968-1972 Top40 in )))) Stereo ((((
WNWC 1962-1968 Original Call Sign / "Easy Listening"
Check these sites out for Chicago Area Call Sign History, Format Changes and old Program Guides:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://71.57.24.170/public/zecom/museum/1962FMGuide/ChiGuideSun021162.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/zine/forty2/radiohistory.html
* http://www.formatchange.com/927-wkiewkif-925-wdek-92-kiss-fm-becomes-energy-92-7-5/
I remember the Point! It was pretty good. They had Tom Hanson doing mornings and IIRC Fred Winston doing afternoons. Good sound, good jingles. Harv Blain was the program director.
http://www.vallierichardsdonovan.com/blain.html
http://www.vallierichardsdonovan.com/blain.html
stormy01 said:
I really liked WEXI-the first Top 40 station on FM in the Chicago area. They made me very angry though
back in the early 70s after I put an FM stereo receiver in my car and they changed to beautiful music shortly afterward.
Ok kiddies, gather 'round as old Uncle Tom tells you young'ins about the first radio station he ever visited - (when he was about 12 years old) - 1962.
WFMF was on the top floor of the Carbide and Carbon Building (now the Hardrock Hotel) on Michigan Ave (WOW! what a great view of the city!!) and baclk then, was quite interesting as it was 100% on reel to reel tape; music, liners, and commercials. The commercials and lilners were on individual 3 inch reels and the music was made in-house on 7 in. reels. They had 8 Magnecord machines on 2 tables. Their transmitter was up there too, in an adjacent room.
Never "tight" - there was often 5-10 seconds between music track and music track and ads. Only an hour a week of public affairs and early Sunday had Dr. Preston Bradley from his Church. Late Sunday was "The Chicago Sunday Evening Club" an ahead of it's time "new age" service in the 50's/60's. One of the city's FIRST 24/7 operations.
The only dj was on at night for "The LaSalle (Bank) Evening Hour." He did commercials and VERY limited "classy" (what would later be called "card reading.") The program was sponsored from 7-9pm for about 40 years. The "theme song" was Billy Vaughn's orch playing "Moritat" (known as Mack the Knife).
Some machines (the decks that they used to play commercials) ONLY fed the air signal. Some decks fed BOTH the air signal and the "background music" channel. The background music was called "Functional Music Inc." When ads ran on WFMF there was silence on the background music channel. I remember ALOT of hiss from the tape decks that made it on the air. Later, the station provided syndicated music tapes for LOTS of other radio stations, and had very intensive instructions about running the format. This company also provided the "IN FLIGHT" MUSIC (on 2" wide tape with a special player) for United Airlines. Remember gettig headphones when you flew?
WFMF had a GREAT ad sales team. In the 60's (prior to FM making it BIG) it was ALL LOCAL. They sold "on the street." They would blitz a particular Chicago street. The sales staff (of more than 10) would hit (example from 1500 to 3600 Milwaukee Ave, When they were sastisfied they had it all, they moved up the street. It was VERY powerful and very successful. Advertisers got flourescent orange window stickers.
For a time, when owned by WAIT, WFMF TAPED WAIT's news and rebroadcast it an hour later.
WFMF/WLOO was consistently The #! station in tsl and CREAMED their (Bonneville beautiful music) competitor.
Later they moved to the Hancock, when Century Broadcasting owned them, and the station became EVEN MORE financially successful.
WFMF was on the top floor of the Carbide and Carbon Building (now the Hardrock Hotel) on Michigan Ave (WOW! what a great view of the city!!) and baclk then, was quite interesting as it was 100% on reel to reel tape; music, liners, and commercials. The commercials and lilners were on individual 3 inch reels and the music was made in-house on 7 in. reels. They had 8 Magnecord machines on 2 tables. Their transmitter was up there too, in an adjacent room.
Never "tight" - there was often 5-10 seconds between music track and music track and ads. Only an hour a week of public affairs and early Sunday had Dr. Preston Bradley from his Church. Late Sunday was "The Chicago Sunday Evening Club" an ahead of it's time "new age" service in the 50's/60's. One of the city's FIRST 24/7 operations.
The only dj was on at night for "The LaSalle (Bank) Evening Hour." He did commercials and VERY limited "classy" (what would later be called "card reading.") The program was sponsored from 7-9pm for about 40 years. The "theme song" was Billy Vaughn's orch playing "Moritat" (known as Mack the Knife).
Some machines (the decks that they used to play commercials) ONLY fed the air signal. Some decks fed BOTH the air signal and the "background music" channel. The background music was called "Functional Music Inc." When ads ran on WFMF there was silence on the background music channel. I remember ALOT of hiss from the tape decks that made it on the air. Later, the station provided syndicated music tapes for LOTS of other radio stations, and had very intensive instructions about running the format. This company also provided the "IN FLIGHT" MUSIC (on 2" wide tape with a special player) for United Airlines. Remember gettig headphones when you flew?
WFMF had a GREAT ad sales team. In the 60's (prior to FM making it BIG) it was ALL LOCAL. They sold "on the street." They would blitz a particular Chicago street. The sales staff (of more than 10) would hit (example from 1500 to 3600 Milwaukee Ave, When they were sastisfied they had it all, they moved up the street. It was VERY powerful and very successful. Advertisers got flourescent orange window stickers.
For a time, when owned by WAIT, WFMF TAPED WAIT's news and rebroadcast it an hour later.
WFMF/WLOO was consistently The #! station in tsl and CREAMED their (Bonneville beautiful music) competitor.
Later they moved to the Hancock, when Century Broadcasting owned them, and the station became EVEN MORE financially successful.
I heard that WJJD was also in the Carbide & Carbon building originally before they moved to Des Plaines.
In fact when they played Rock & Roll in the late 50s their phone number was State 2-5466.
Anyone ever go to their studios when they were up there?
In fact when they played Rock & Roll in the late 50s their phone number was State 2-5466.
Anyone ever go to their studios when they were up there?
radioman148 said:
I did visit WJJD during the country days while they were still in the Carbon and Carbide Building. Seems like they were on the 4th or 5th
floor, a pretty nondescript studio, and had some kind of automation. This was 1975-6 ish.
A pale green paint and "sparse" equipment is my best memory of WJJD.
But they were accomodating of teenagers visiting them.
Not nearly as memorable as meeting Paul Harvey in the elevator at the Stone Container Building a hour or two before!
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