WMJZ-FM

WMJZ-FM (Eagle 101.5 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to the city of Gaylord, Michigan. It broadcasts at the assigned frequency of 101.5 Megahertz with a power output of 50,000 watts. The station airs an Adult Hits format as Eagle 101.5, and is owned by 45 North Media Inc, a company owned by Bryan & Joyce Hollenbaugh.

WMJZ-FM
CityGaylord, Michigan
Broadcast areaNorthern Michigan
Frequency101.5 MHz
BrandingEagle 101-5
Slogan"Uniquely Northern Michigan"
Programming
FormatClassic Hits
AffiliationsABC News
Ownership
OwnerBryan and Joyce Hollenbaugh
(45 North Media Inc)
WMTE-FM
History
First air date
February 20, 1984
Former call signs
WZXM-FM (1/11/84-7/13/87)
WEGS (4/30/82-1/11/84)
Former frequencies
95.3 MHz (1984-1998)
Call sign meaning
MaJic 95 (previous format)
Technical information
Facility ID11756
ClassC2
ERP50,000 watts
HAAT150 meters
Links
Website

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 a CHR format, 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 of adult contemporary and oldies music, provided by ABC Radio/SMN's Starstation satellite-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 from Jones 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 along M-32 to a new site north of Vienna Corners, Michigan.

In early 2006, WMJZ ended its oldies format in favor of an adult hits format under the name Eagle 101.5.

45 North Media Inc

On January 1, 2018 WMJZ was sold to veteran broadcaster Bryan Hollenbaugh.[1] Hollenbaugh was most recently a general manager at group of radio stations in Albany, New York.[2] The sale was consummated on July 31, 2018, at a price of $750,000.

Shortly after the sale, the station was re-positioned to Northern Michigan's Home for Classic Hits. 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 20 years; airing weekdays from 6 to 10 am. Kris Daniels hosts middays from 10am-3pm. Program Director Rob Weaver hosts weekday afternoons 3pm-8pm.[3]

Shortly after the ownership change, WMJZ launched a new website and a mobile application where the station streams live.

Specialty features, including Eagle on Tap and Live at Five weekdays feature local happenings in the bar and restaurant scene and local musicians performing in studio.

Weekend programming consists of Big Boys Radio a local hunting and fishing show on Saturday Mornings; Sunday Over Easy an oldies show that airs Sunday Mornings, hosted by station owner Bryan Hollenbaugh; local church services; and Acoustic Cafe a regionally programmed show on Sunday nights, hosted by Rob Reinhart.

WMJZ is also an affiliate of the Spartan Sports Radio Network; ABC News Radio; and airs play-by-play coverage various high school football, basketball and hockey games throughout respective seasons for Gaylord High School, St Mary's Cathedral School, and Johannesburg-Lewiston High School.

WMJZ gains a sister station

In November 2018, 45 North Media expanded to the Manistee market, purchasing WMTE-FM from Mitten Media, replacing the station's Adult album alternative format with similar adult hits format as Eagle 101.5. Despite the station's similar branding and identical frequency, WMTE is not a simulcast of WMJZ. Rather, they are independently programmed with personalities from both Gaylord and Manistee voice-tracking air shifts on each station.[4]

References
  1. Judy Wagley (2018-01-26). "New owner lands 'the Eagle,' looks to continue community focus | Top-gallery". petoskeynews.com. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  2. https://radioink.com/2018/02/16/manager-owner-heres/
  3. "Rob | Eagle 101.5 | Northern Michigan's Home For Classic Hits | Gaylord, MI". Eagle 101.5. 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  4. Venta, Lance (2018-11-13). "Eagle Flies Into Manistee". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2019-01-28.

Sources

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