WWCK-FM

WWCK-FM (105.5 FM, "CK105.5") is a radio station in Flint, Michigan, broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR) format. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and has programmed its current format since 1989. Its studios are located south of the Flint city limits and its transmitter is east of downtown Flint near the intersection of Dort Highway and Interstate 69.

WWCK-FM
CityFlint, Michigan
Broadcast areaFlint
Frequency105.5 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingCK-105.5
SloganFlint's New #1 for All The Hits
Programming
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
Ownership
OwnerCumulus Media
(Cumulus Licensing LLC)
WDZZ, WFBE, WTRX, WWCK
History
First air date
September 1964 (as WMRP-FM)
Former call signs
WMRP-FM (1964-12/5/71)
Call sign meaning
reminiscent of CKLW
Technical information
Facility ID39678
ClassB1
Power25,000 watts
HAAT100 meters
Transmitter coordinates
43°00′39″N 83°39′4″W
Links
WebcastListen live
Websiteck1055.fm

History

Early history: WMRP

105.5 FM originally went on the air in 1964 as WMRP-FM. The WMRP calls stood for Methodist Radio Parish. WMRP-FM aired a beautiful music format while WMRP 1570 played MOR; the conservative owners of the stations prohibited any advertising for tobacco or alcohol products.

WWCK is born as FM 105 Flint's Best Rock

In 1971, the United Methodist Church withdrew support for WMRP-AM-FM, and the stations were sold that year to John W. Nogaj, who changed the FM's call letters to WWCK in November 1971 as a tribute to Windsor, Ontario's powerhouse CKLW and installed a daytime Top 40 and nighttime AOR format. As AM 1570 they went country and later oldies as WCZN.

John sold WCZN and WWCK in 1975 to Reams Broadcasting, who changed WWCK's format in October 1975 to full-time AOR. As "WWCK FM 105, Flint's Best Rock" or "WWCK FM 105, Rock Of The Eighties", WWCK was a market leader in Flint for many years, and was named the top rated rock station in the United States in 1985. WWCK-FM was also the home of WWCK's DJ-turned-filmmaker Michael Moore's Sunday night show "Radio Free Flint" from 1980 through 1985 and "Buffalo Dick's Radio Ranch" with Jeffrey Lamb and Robert Paulsen, voted "Best Local Programming In All Markets" by Billboard Magazine in 1982.

WWCK goes into CHR as CK 105 FM

In December 1988, Reams Broadcasting sold WWCK-AM 1570 and WWCK-FM 105.5 to Majac of Michigan, On January 1, 1989, Majac officially changed WWCK-FM's format from an AOR station to a CHR station as "The All New CK 105 FM" with WWCK AM 1570 serving as a shadowcast of FM 105. This marked the first time Flint had a 2nd FM Top 40/CHR station of its own since WTAC 600 AM changed from Top 40 to country music in 1981. The fans of the old FM 105 era were unhappy with the change, but WWCK's new format took off in the ratings and gain some new fans as in the CHR fanbase as CK 105 posted several number one showings (12+) in the Flint Arbitron reports throughout the 1990s. CK 105.5 is typically still a top ten ratings performer in Flint.

WWCK-FM was once housed at its transmitter location on Lapeer Rd. During the 1990s WWCK-FM allowed requests at the studio window. It was also common for wedding parties to stop by the studio for shout outs and such.

References
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