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WXRD

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Coordinates: 41°19′24.1″N 87°21′22.1″W / 41.323361°N 87.356139°W / 41.323361; -87.356139
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the radio station in Woodstock, Illinois, which held the call-letters from 1974 until 1984, see WZSR.
WXRD
Broadcast areaNorthwest Indiana / South Suburban Chicago
Frequency103.9 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingX Rock 103.9
Programming
FormatClassic rock
Affiliationshttps://www.unitedstations.com/
Ownership
Owner
WLJE, WZVN
History
First air date
November 10, 1972 (as WFLM)[1]
Former call signs
  • WFLM (1972[2]-1982)
  • WWJY (1982–1996)[3]
  • WZCO (7/1996-12/1996)[3]
Call sign meaning
'"X-Rock"
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID39382
ClassA
ERP1,350 watts
HAAT137 meters (449 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°19′24.1″N 87°21′22.1″W / 41.323361°N 87.356139°W / 41.323361; -87.356139
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitexrock1039.com

WXRD (103.9 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format using the station name X-Rock 103.9. Licensed to Crown Point, Indiana, United States, it serves Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. The station is currently owned by Adams Radio Group, [5] through licensee ARG of Northern Indiana LLC. The station also features national and local newscasts.

History

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The station began broadcasting November 10, 1972, holding the call sign WFLM, and airing an easy listening format, as the "World's Finest Listening Music".[1][2][6] The station was originally owned by John Meyer.[1][2] In 1982, the station's call sign was changed to WWJY,[3] and the station was branded "Joy"/"South Lake 104".[6] In 1993, John Meyer sold the station to M & M Broadcasting, owned by former Hammond, Indiana mayor Thomas McDermott, Sr., for $600,000.[7] On March 1, 1993, the station's format was changed from easy listening to CHR.[6][7][8] In 1995, the station began to simulcast the rock format of WABT 103.9 in Dundee, Illinois.[9]

In 1996, the station was sold to Z-Spanish Network, along with WABT, for $3.6 million,[10][11] and the station adopted a Spanish language format,[12] as "La Zeta".[13] On July 1, 1996, the station's call sign was changed to WZCO.[3] The station would go silent shortly thereafter, before switching to a country music format in November 1996, with programming from Real Country, under a LMA with M & M Broadcasting, who was in the process of purchasing the station.[14] On December 2, 1996, the station's call sign was changed to WXRD.[3] By 2002, the station's format had been changed to classic rock.[15] In 2004, the station was sold to Radio One Communications, along with WZVN, for $4.9 million.[16][17][18] The station was purchased by Adams Radio Group in 2014.[19][20]

After 18 years, WXRD pulled "The Bob and Tom Show" off the air on June 17, 2019 and began a locally-produced classic rock morning show. As of December, 2021, Nights with Alice Cooper was the station's only syndicated day-part.[21]

Effective June 9, 2023, Adams Radio Group's portfolio of 18 stations and translators, including WXRD, was sold for $12.6 million.

References

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  1. ^ a b c 1974 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1974. p. B-70. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c History Cards for WXRD, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  4. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WXRD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ "Website Disabled".
  6. ^ a b c Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 252-257.
  7. ^ a b "Changing Hands", Broadcasting, February 8, 1993. p. 51. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  8. ^ The M Street Radio Directory. 1995. p. 208. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  9. ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol 12 No. 31. August 2, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  10. ^ "Elsewhere", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13 No. 12. March 20, 1996. p. 8. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "Newsline", Billboard, March 30, 1996. p. 142. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  12. ^ Hevrdejs, Judy; Conklin, Mike. "NBA Champion Trophy Mystery Gets Crystal Clear Solution", Chicago Tribune, June 13, 1996. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  13. ^ "Call Letter Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13 No. 28. July 10, 1996. p. 4. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  14. ^ "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13 No. 48. November 27, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  15. ^ The M Street Radio Directory. 2002-2003. p. 206. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable. January 11, 2004. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  17. ^ Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  18. ^ Erler, Susan. "Radio One adds room to grow", The Times of Northwest Indiana. June 28, 2006. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "Adams Radio Group Closes On Purchase Of Northwest IN's Radio One Communications Stations", Chicagoland Radio and Media. August 6, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  20. ^ Zivanovic, Crista. "Adams Radio closes on deal to buy Valpo's Radio One", The Times of Northwest Indiana. August 6, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "X-Rock 103.9 | The Rock Of The Region | Northwest, IN". X-Rock 103.9 | The Rock Of The Region | Northwest, IN. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
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