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WFHM-FM
Broadcast area
Frequency95.5MHz
Branding95.5 The Fish
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatContemporary Christian
AffiliationsSalem Radio Network
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
April 1, 1960(1960-04-01)[1]
Former call signs
  • WDGO (1960–1962)
  • WCLV (1962–2001)
  • WHK-FM (2001)
Call signmeaning
"ForHim"[2]
Technical information[3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID54778
ClassB
ERP31,000watts
HAAT189 meters (620 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°26′32.2″N81°29′27.4″W/ 41.442278°N 81.490944°W/41.442278; -81.490944
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Website955thefish

WFHM-FM(95.5FM) is a commercialradio stationlicensed toCleveland, Ohio,known as "95.5 The Fish" and featuring acontemporary Christianformat. Owned by theSalem Media Group,the station servesGreater Clevelandand much of surroundingNortheast Ohio.WFHM-FM's studios are located in the Cleveland suburb ofIndependenceand the station transmitter resides inWarrensville Heights.In addition to a standardanalog transmission,WFHM-FM is available online.[4]

History

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WDGO (1960–1962)

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WFHM-FM first launched on April 1, 1960, as WDGO.[1]The station derived itscall lettersfrom its principal owner: Douglas G. Oviatt. The correct call sign for the station caused confusion among some listeners since the station used aScotty dogas a logo, causing the letters sometimes to be transposed as WDOG.

The station was purchased in 1962 by C.K. "Pat" Patrick and Robert Conrad as an outlet for classical music. At the time, most large American cities had at least one commercial radio station that devoted either a large part or all of its broadcast day to classical programming; most non-commercial classical stations were operated by colleges and universities, established years before the advent of theNational Public Radionetwork.

WCLV (1962–2001)

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Not to be confused with Cleveland radio stationWCLVsince 2022.

Patrick and Conrad formed Radio Seaway, Inc., taking its name from theSt. Lawrence Seaway,which had opened in 1959 and had made Cleveland an ocean port. The new owners wanted to shed the "WDOG" image and wanted a new callsign that would reflect their orientation toward community service to the greater Cleveland area. The initial choice was WCLE, as "CLE" was theInternational Air Transport Associationairport codeforCleveland Hopkins International Airport.Those call signs also had a previous history in the market, as they were used on a daytime-only station owned by United Broadcasting, a company organized byThe Plain Dealer'sparent company, Forest City Publishing, in the 1930s. At the same time, United Broadcasting also ownedWHK,which now broadcast on a full-time basis. Due to new regulations enacted that prohibited duopolies in a single market, WCLE was relocated to Akron, Ohio as station WHKK, which today broadcasts asWHLO.[5][6]

1969 print ad forThe Perlich Project

However, the WCLE calls had already been taken by a station inCleveland, Tennessee,and the WCLD calls were in use by a station inCleveland, Mississippi.As a result, Patrick and Conrad opted for the call letters WCLV, and branded the station "WCLV 95/5" on November 1, 1962; the forward slash was always used in print instead of a point on the frequency number in station promotions and identification.

The station immediately launched an impressive, for its day, line-up of classical music programming.FM stereobroadcasts were begun on February 4, 1963, just three months after the debut. Two hour-long evening programming blocks also were unveiled within months of each other: first, theSymphony at Sevensponsored by Cleveland Trust on October 5, 1964, and theHeinen's Concert Hallon February 1, 1965.Concert Hallended its run in 2003, whileSymphony at Sevencontinues to this very day, its sponsorship carried over by Cleveland Trust's successors (Ameritrust,Society BankandKeyBank).[7]

One of WCLV's booth announcers,Martin Perlich,debuted thePerlich Projectin late 1966 – a mixture of classical music with the early selections ofprogressive rockalong with Perlich's own personal comments and editorials on events of the day. His show would gain renown as one of the earliest such shows on commercial radio, and as a model for the progressive rock medium itself.

In 1965, the station began broadcasting concerts of theCleveland Orchestraon Sunday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. That time slot has remained virtually unchanged since. WCLV eventually started national distribution of the Orchestras' broadcasts to stations throughout the country, through its subsidiary syndication arm Seaway Productions. WCLV and Seaway also started to syndicate other programs, includingKarl Haas'Adventures in Good Music(which ran from 1970 until 2007), and concert broadcasts of theDetroit Symphony,theRoyal Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra,theRotterdam Philharmonic,and theSan Francisco Symphony.

Studios were moved from the original location in the Eastgate Shopping Center inMayfield Heightsto downtown Cleveland'sTerminal Towerin 1968, toWarrensville Heightsin 1986, and finally to the current location in the Idea Center at Playhouse Square inDowntown Cleveland(as of December 2010).

The station did continue one traditional program from the old WDGO days. On Saturday night, WCLV broke away from its usual classical music programming to present an eclectic program offolkandnoveltymusic and comedy calledWCLV Saturday Night;the program was rebroadcast on Wednesday afternoon under the titleWCLV Saturday Night on Wednesday Afternoon.The program also initiated some friendly feuding with rival classical music stationWCRBinBoston.Hosted by WCLV President and longtime Cleveland Orchestra commentator Robert Conrad,WCLV Saturday Nightspawned an hourlong syndicated version in 1982 titledWeekend Radio;it is still heard on numerous NPR-affiliated stations elsewhere in the U.S. By 1990, Conrad decided to retire the full three or so live hours on WCLV in favor of the hourlong version. At about the same time, he reformatted the show, substituting light classical pieces for the folk and novelty songs of past years.

Beginning in 1970, the station pre-empted regular programming for a week in September to broadcast requested concert recordings of the Cleveland Orchestra as a fund-raiser for the Orchestra, an event known as the "Cleveland Orchestra Marathon."

Under WCLV's classical music format, FM 95.5 won theNational Association of BroadcastersMarconi Awardfor Classical Music Station of the Year in 1995.[8]

2001 "frequency swap"

[edit]
For more information on the July 3, 2001, exchange involving seven Northeast Ohio radio stations, see2001 in radio.
Map
Grade A signal contours for 104.9 FM (blue), located inAvon,and 95.5 FM (red), located inWarrensville Heights.

On November 1, 2000, the 38th anniversary of WDGO's call sign change to WCLV, Radio Seaway announced the station'sintellectual propertyand format would be donated to a newly-establishednonprofit organization.[9]To enable the donation, Radio Seaway sold WCLV'sbroadcast licensetoSalem Communicationsand purchased both the licenses toWHK (1420AM)from Salem andWAKS (104.9FM)fromClear Channel,which in turn purchasedthe98.1FMfacilitylicensed toCantonfrom Salem. Conrad and Radio Seaway partner Rich Marschner negotiated between the two chains for two years[10]and saw the move as a means to perpetuate the classical format amidst ownership consolidation.[11]When the donation was announced, the95.5FMlicense had anestimated valueof $45 million (equivalent to $79.6 million in 2023), while the104.9FMlicense—a class A signal licensed toLorain[12]and with a tower inAvon[13]—was valued at $8 million (equivalent to $14.2 million in 2023).[9]Conrad later explained, "we were paid a lot to move WCLV from 95.5 to 104.9."[14]Radio Seaway ultimately donated WCLV toideastream,one of the partners behind the WCLV Foundation,[9]on November 1, 2011.[15]

Radio Seaway's original plan was to use1420AMas a simulcast of104.9FM,[16]but purchased the intellectual property andadult standardsformat ofWRMR(which was to be replaced on850AMwith WKNR'ssportsformat and call sign) prior to consummation.[17]While generally regarded as a "frequency swap",[16]when the asset deals closed on July 3, 2001, WCLV changed format tocontemporary Christian music(CCM) as "95.5 The Fish" under the WHK-FM call sign, while WAKS changed calls to WCLV-FM, bringing over the classical format intact and retaining all on- and off-air staff.[18]WHK-FM was again renamed as WFHM-FM on August 16, 2001.

WFHM-FM (2001–present)

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Salem's installation of CCM on95.5FMfollowed the implementation of similar "Fish" -themed stations in Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta, with the brand alluding toIchthys,a traditional Christian symbol.[19]The move also returned the format to Greater Cleveland for the first time since May 1999, when Clear Channel changed104.9FM's format from CCM (under the WZLE calls) tocontemporary hit radioas WAKS.[20][21]The initial airstaff for "The Fish" included former WZLE operations manager Len Howser, along with secular radio personalities Dan Deely, Daune Robinson and Rob Schuler.[22]Sue Wilson, a veteran programmer best known for her tenure at secularadult contemporaryWDOK, was named as program director; Wilson emphasized that WFHM's format would be "... positive, uplifting music, and definitely spiritual, but it's not churchy, it's not preachy."[19]

Among the station's earliest notable personalities under the CCM format was longtime Cleveland TV news anchor and former national talk show hostRobin Swoboda,who co-hosted the WFHM morning show from 2002 to 2005.[23][24]

Current programming

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The Fish lineup features local DJs Len Howser and Sara Carnes (mornings), with Josh Booth, Kristine Lane, and Greg Mack in afternoon drive. Syndicated hosts include Kevin Avery and Taylor Scott middays (fromSalem Music Network), and Penny Mitchell evenings (from Keep The Faith Radio).[25][26]

WFHM-FM airsChristmas musicduring theholiday season.[27]

References

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  1. ^ab"U.S. Stations Directory, including AM/FM profiles: Ohio"(PDF),Broadcasting1963 Yearbook Issue via AmericanRadioHistory,Broadcasting Publications, Inc., p. B-139, 1963,WDGO (FM) 95.5 mc...
  2. ^Cleveland, Ohio Broadcast Radio Archives Project.Cleve-radio (March 4, 2002). Retrieved on 2014-08-18.
  3. ^"Facility Technical Data for WFHM-FM".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^"Salem Radio Stations".Salem.cc.Salem Communications Corporation.2010.RetrievedDecember 20,2010.
  5. ^Encyclopedia of Cleveland History: WCLV.Ech.case.edu. Retrieved on August 18, 2014.
  6. ^Cleveland, Ohio Broadcast Radio Archives Project.Cleve-radio (March 4, 2002). Retrieved on 2014-08-18.
  7. ^Carnegie, Jim (October 22, 2004)."40 years, same sponsor".RBR's Daily Morning Epaper.Vol. 21, no. 207. Radio Business Report.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2004.RetrievedDecember 25,2022.
  8. ^NAB Awards: Marconi Radio Awards | Past Award Winners.Nab.org. Retrieved on August 18, 2014.
  9. ^abcRosenberg, Donald; Feran, Tom (November 2, 2000)."Arts group will take ownership of WCLV".The Plain Dealer.Cleveland, Ohio. p. 1A.Archivedfrom the original on March 29, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 22,2021– via NewsBank.
  10. ^Feran, Tom (November 8, 2000)."Completing the score on WCLV deal".The Plain Dealer.Cleveland, Ohio. p. 1E.Archivedfrom the original on March 29, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 22,2021– via NewsBank.
  11. ^Guregian, Elaine (July 9, 2001)."WCLV's static stirs up Blossom, but hornist is clear".Akron Beacon Journal.Akron, Ohio. pp. D8,D12.Archivedfrom the original on March 29, 2022.RetrievedMarch 28,2022– via Newspapers.
  12. ^Venta, Lance (February 25, 2022)."Ideastream Sets Cleveland Public Radio Frequency Change Date".RadioInsight.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 25,2022.
  13. ^Fenske, Sarah (March 16, 2000)."Radio station eyes tower site".The Morning Journal.Lorain, Ohio. p. B1.Archivedfrom the original on December 2, 2022.RetrievedDecember 1,2022– via NewsBank.
  14. ^Segall, Grant (January 15, 2020)."Robert Conrad has led WCLV since 1962: My Cleveland".The Plain Dealer.Cleveland, Ohio.Archivedfrom the original on July 21, 2022.RetrievedDecember 25,2022.
  15. ^"Classical music station WCLV-FM to join Ideastream".Crain's Cleveland Business.Crain Communications, Inc. May 4, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on May 8, 2011.RetrievedDecember 3,2011.
  16. ^abQuinn, Jim (June 18, 2001)."Seven area radio stations will play musical chairs".Akron Beacon Journal.Akron, Ohio. pp. A1,A5.Archivedfrom the original on August 15, 2021.RetrievedAugust 14,2021– via Newspapers.
  17. ^O'Connor, Clint (June 1, 2001)."Classic pop radio will stay alive here: Actually will expand on WCLV AM".The Plain Dealer.Cleveland, Ohio. p. 1A.Archivedfrom the original on March 29, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 22,2021– via NewsBank.
  18. ^Quinn, Jim (June 29, 2001)."It's time to reset your radio dial: Seven stations will get new frequencies Tuesday".Akron Beacon Journal.Akron, Ohio. pp. B1,B3.Archivedfrom the original on August 15, 2021.RetrievedAugust 14,2021– via Newspapers.
  19. ^abO'Connor, Clint (May 12, 2001)."Fish swims in as Christian station on FM/95.5".The Plain Dealer.Cleveland, Ohio. p. 9E.Archivedfrom the original on December 26, 2022.RetrievedDecember 25,2022– via NewsBank.
  20. ^Vidika, Ron (May 22, 1999)."Christian radio station changes format: WZLE now belts out pop, rock".The Morning Journal.Lorain, Ohio. p. D1.Archivedfrom the original on December 2, 2022.RetrievedDecember 1,2022– via NewsBank.
  21. ^Feran, Tom (May 19, 1999)."WJMO gives up soul for gospel".The Plain Dealer.Cleveland, Ohio. p. 2E.Archivedfrom the original on March 29, 2022.RetrievedMarch 27,2022– via NewsBank.
  22. ^O'Connor, Clint (July 2, 2001)."DO touch that dial: Six radio stations switch frequencies".The Plain Dealer.Cleveland, Ohio. p. 1C.Archivedfrom the original on March 29, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 22,2021– via NewsBank.
  23. ^Contemporary Christian Music - Salem.cc
  24. ^"Robin Swaboda bio".WKYC.RetrievedDecember 20,2014.
  25. ^Penny - Keep The Faith Radio
  26. ^WFHM line-up - 955thefish
  27. ^"Cleveland's The Fish starts playing Christmas music".NewsNet5.The E.W. Scripps Co. November 4, 2015.RetrievedNovember 14,2015.
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