WNWZ
| Broadcast area | Grand Rapids metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1410kHz |
| Branding | Magic 104.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban contemporary |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WFGR,WGRD-FM,WLHT-FM,WTRV | |
| History | |
First air date | 1948(as WGRD) |
Former call signs | WRCV (7/5/96-9/4/98) WGRD (5/14/90-7/5/96) WKTH (3/17/86-5/14/90) WXQT (6/29/81-3/17/86) WGRD (1948-6/29/81) |
Call signmeaning | WNeWZ(former news branding) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 55648 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 1,000wattsday 48 watts night |
| Translator(s) | 104.9W285FO (Grand Rapids) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | mymagicgr |
WNWZ(1410AM,"Magic 104.9" ) is aradio stationbroadcasting anurban contemporaryformat,licensed toGrand Rapids, Michigan.
The station is simulcast on FM translator W285FO (104.9), licensed to Grand Rapids.
History
[edit]WGRD
[edit]The station first began broadcasting under theWGRDcall sign in 1948. As AM 1410 was originally a daytime-only station, theWGRDcalls stood forGrandRapidsDaytime. The station adopted theTop 40music format in 1959 and was a top-rated station in the Grand Rapids market during the late 1950s and early 1960s, though the station had lost ground toWLAV1340 and WZZM-FM 95.7 by the end of the decade.WGRDmade a number of format adjustments in the mid-1960s in response to its falling ratings, shifting to anadult contemporaryformat in 1964 and then to a Top 40/oldies mix the following year before tweaking back to Top 40 in 1967.WGRDreclaimed its market dominance after it added an FM signal at 97.9 MHz in 1971 (formerlyWXTO), though AM 1410 was relegated to being a simulcast of the FM signal mornings and afternoons. For part of that time middays were "shadowcast." Same format, different dj.
WXQT/Great Gold 14-K
[edit]In 1981, WGRD dropped its simulcast (middays were shadowcast) of the FM station and switched to a "Big Band"Music of Your Lifeformat asWXQT.In 1984,WXQTflipped to oldies as "GREAT GOLD 14-K", which stood for "14 Karat Gold", focusing on pop oldies from 1958-1972. Under the direction ofPDAllen Jackson, "The NEW 14-K" featured Jack Stack (who had done mornings onWGRDandWLAVback in the 1960s) mornings, Rich Kennedy middays, Larry Olek afternoons and Pugs Stella evenings. The station earned a respectable 2.4 share 12+ in the Summer 1984 Arbitron. In 1986, the local lineup was dropped in favor of theABC/Satellite Music Network"Pure Gold" satellite format. Ratings crashed to a 0.9 share in the summer of 1986 Arbitron, under the new call signWKTH.
More changes
[edit]In 1988, the station adopted Satellite Music Network'sZ-Rockformat, keeping theWKTHcall letters. The station reverted to the WGRD calls in 1991, moving back to a simulcast of 97.9 FM'sCHRformat (which changed toModern Rockin 1994). In 1996, WGRD changed calls toWRCVand switched toABC Radio's syndicated "Real Country" format. The station continued to be a non-factor in the ratings. In September 1998, 1410 changed its calls toWNWZand adopted a simulcast ofCNN Headline News,which was replaced by News/Talk in October 2001 (mostly syndicated from the Michigan Talk Radio Network).
La Maquina Musical
[edit]A Spanish pop hits format was adopted on January 1, 2003, and was somewhat successful in the ratings given its poor signal, often ranking as Grand Rapids' third most popular AM station (behind only WOOD and WBBL) (see:1). WNWZ was the first radio station to cater to the Spanish-speaking community in Grand Rapids 24 hours a day. In August 2010, a reunion of more than 60 former WGRD staff members was held in Grand Rapids, which included market legend Bruce Grant, the original program director from 1948, and dozens of other personalities from the AM 1410/97.9 history.
Funny 1410
[edit]On November 14, 2011, the station changed its format to comedy calling itself "Funny 1410".[2]
Touch 1410
[edit]On August 3, 2013, WNWZ flipped toUrban Adult Contemporary,branded as "The Touch".[3]The station became the West Michigan home of theSteve HarveyMorning Show and remains as such today. Outside of the morning show, the station airedWestwood One's "The Touch"full-time.
Magic 94.1
[edit]On June 10, 2016, WNWZ began simulcasting on FM translator W231DD (94.1, licensed to Grand Rapids), and rebranded as "Magic 94.1." The station also dropped the "Touch" feed for locally originated programming.[4]
Magic 104.9
[edit]On October 24, 2016, WNWZ rebranded as "Magic 104.9" as translator W231DD moved from 94.1 FM to 104.9 FM as W285FO and raised power from 88 watts to 250 watts.[5]
In March 2020, WNWZ began adding more hip hop tracks, and shifted tourban contemporary,while retaining the "Magic" moniker.[6]
Previous logo
[edit]
(WNWZ's logo under previous 94.1 translator frequency)
(WNWZ's logo under previousUrban Adult Contemporaryformat)
References
[edit]- ^"Facility Technical Data for WNWZ".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^"All comedy format debuts on Grand Rapids AM radio with Funny 1410".15 November 2011.
- ^"Grand Rapids Gets Touched and Its Not Funny".
- ^Urban AC "Magic 94.1" Launches in Grand RapidsRadioinsight - June 10, 2016
- ^Magic 94.1 Grand Rapids Moves to 104.9Radioinsight - October 24, 2016
- ^Magic 104.9 Grand Rapids Makes Music, Morning ChangesRadioinsight - March 23, 2020
External links
[edit]- FCC History Cards for WNWZ
- Facility details for Facility ID 55648 (WNWZ)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WNWZinNielsen Audio's AM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 144400 (W285FO)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- W285FOat FCCdata.org