WMJZ-FM

WMJZ-FM

Gaylord, Michigan
Broadcast area	Northern Michigan
Frequency	101.5MHz
Branding	Eagle 101.5
Programming
Format	Adult hits
Affiliations	ABC News Radio United Stations Radio Networks
Ownership
Owner	Bryan Hollenbaugh (45 North Media Inc)
Sister stations	WMTE-FM
History
First air date	February 20,1984(as WZXM-FM at 95.3)
Former call signs	WZXM-FM (1/11/84-7/13/87) WEGS (4/30/82-1/11/84, CP)
Former frequencies	95.3 MHz (1984–1998)
Call signmeaning	MaJic 95 (previous format)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	11756
Class	C2
ERP	50,000watts
HAAT	150 meters
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	eagle1015.com

WMJZ-FM(101.5MHz) is a commercialradio stationlicensed to the city ofGaylord, Michigan.It broadcasts with a power output of 50,000watts.The station airs anadult hitsformatasEagle 101.5,and is owned by 45 North Media Inc, a company owned by Bryan Hollenbaugh.

History

Beginnings

For many years, WMJZ operated at the class A frequency of 95.3 FM, and a power output of only 3,000 watts. The station first went on the air on February 20, 1984, as WZXM-FM with aTop 40/CHRformat, as the FM sister station of AM 900 WZXM, which had been on the air since 1950, first as WATC, which was originally part of the Paul Bunyan Network. As WZXM was a daytime-only station at this time, the presence of WZXM allowed Otsego County to enjoy local radio service after FCC rules mandated shutdown of the AM station after sunset.

WZXM was sold in June 1986 to a Detroit broadcaster. The call letters were changed to WMJZ as part of an AM and FM simulcast ofadult contemporaryandoldiesmusic, provided byABC Radio/SMN'sStarstationsatellite-delivered format along with a local community involvement.

Simulcast abandoned: WMJZ comes into its own

Classic Radio decided to end the simulcast between the two stations in 1990, as WMJZ-AM had been granted limited nighttime power by the FCC and had the ability to have its own identity. WMJZ then adopted a satellite-delivered adult contemporary format, while the AM adopted the call letters WSNQ and broadcast a syndicated news/talk format from the Sun Radio Network. In June 1996, Classic Radio, Inc. decided to sell the station to Morning Dove, Inc., a company owned by David and Jo'Anne Essmaker.

Morning Dove made upgrades to the equipment and ended the satellite format relationship over the FM and began a new format of Hot Adult Contemporary music, all programmed locally on-site. The station dropped its "Majic" branding and became known as "Z95." In February 1998, Morning Dove agreed to sell the station to Darby Advertising.

Darby Advertising

Darby Advertising applied for a construction permit to move WMJZ from 95.3 to 101.5. The FCC approved the application in October 1998. WMJZ moved to 101.5 and was rebilled as "Oldies 101.5", with programming fromJones Radio Networks' Good Time Oldies format and its power now doubled to 6,000 watts.

The FCC granted a request in February 2004 for WMJZ to move its antenna to a taller tower and increase its power to 50,000 watts, covering much of Michigan's northern lower peninsula and Mackinac Straits area. WMJZ also moved tower locations, from a site on the east side of Gaylord alongM-32to a new site north ofVienna Corners, Michigan.

In early 2006, WMJZ ended its oldies format in favor of anclassic hitsformat under the nameEagle 101.5.

45 North Media Inc

On January 1, 2018, WMJZ was sold to veteran broadcaster Bryan Hollenbaugh.Hollenbaugh was most recently a general manager at group of radio stations inAlbany, New York.The sale was consummated on July 31, 2018, at a price of $750,000.

The station was re-positioned to Adult Hits and 'Uniquely Northern Michigan'. The format of the station became more contemporary, adding titles from the 1990s and 2000s into the mix. Long-time morning show host Mike Reling has been a station staple; having hosted mornings for over 25 years; airing weekdays from 6 to 10 am. Kris Daniels hosts middays from 10am-3pm. Program Director Rob Weaver hosts weekday afternoons 3pm-8pm.

Specialty features, includingEagle on TapandLive at Fiveweekdays feature local happenings in the bar and restaurant scene and local musicians performing in studio. Weekend programming consists of locally produced showsBig Boys Radioa local hunting and fishing show on Saturday Mornings; "Michigan Rocks!" hosted by Mark Sandstedt, andSunday Over Easyanoldiesshow that airs Sunday Mornings, hosted by station owner Bryan Hollenbaugh; local church services; and the regionally producedAcoustic Cafe,hosted by Rob Reinhart. Other specialty programs include New Wave Nation, Retro Mix and Time Warp.

WMJZ is also an affiliate ofABC News Radio;and airs play-by-play coverage various high school football and basketball games throughout respective seasons for Gaylord High School.

WMJZ gains a sister station

In November 2018, 45 North Media expanded to the Manistee market, purchasingWMTE-FMfrom Mitten Media, replacing the station'sAdult album alternativeformat with similar adult hits format asEagle 101.5.Despite the station's similar branding and identicalfrequency,WMTE is not a simulcast of WMJZ. Rather, they are independently programmed.

Sources

• Michiguide.com - WMJZ-FM History

External links

• Facility details for Facility ID 11756 (WMJZ-FM)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
• WMJZ-FMinNielsen Audio's FM station database