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Wikipedia

WGAR-FM

WGAR-FM (99.5 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, and features a country music format. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station serves Greater Cleveland and surrounding Northeast Ohio as the local affiliate for The Bobby Bones Show. WGAR-FM's studios are located at the Six Six Eight Building in downtown Cleveland's Gateway District and the transmitter is in nearby Parma.

WGAR-FM
Broadcast area
Frequency99.5 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding99.5 WGAR
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatCountry music
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
December 15, 1952
(71 years ago)
 (1952-12-15)
Former call signs
  • WGAR-FM (1952–1970)
  • WNCR (1970–1975)
  • WKSW (1975–1984)
Call sign meaning
George A. Richards, founder of WGAR (1220 AM), now WHKW
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID47740
ClassB
ERP50,000 watts
HAAT152 meters (499 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°22′18.00″N 81°43′4.00″W / 41.3716667°N 81.7177778°W / 41.3716667; -81.7177778
Translator(s)101.1 W266CJ (Beachwood)
Links
Public license information
  • Public file
  • LMS
WebcastListen live (via iHeartRadio)
Websitewgar.iheart.com

Signing on in 1952 as the FM extension of WGAR (1220 AM), WGAR-FM mostly operated in obscurity until 1970, when management instituted a progressive rock format as WNCR. Airstaff turnover, conflicts with management and increased competition from other rock stations led to a format change to Top 40 in 1973, country music in 1974 and again to easy listening as WKSW in 1975. Returning to country in 1980, WKSW became WGAR-FM in 1984 in tandem with WGAR, with the AM simulcasting the FM from 1986 to 1990. WGAR-FM has remained in the format ever since, even with multiple ownership, management and airstaff changes. Since 1999, iHeartMedia (known as Clear Channel Communications until 2014) has owned WGAR-FM as part of their Greater Cleveland cluster.

Along with a standard analog transmission, WGAR-FM broadcasts over one HD Radio channel[2] and is available online via iHeartRadio.

History edit

WGAR-FM (1952–1970) edit

 
The Hotel Statler in downtown Cleveland was the first studio home for WGAR, and by proxy, WGAR-FM.

The WGAR Broadcasting Company, a group led by George A. Richards and owner of WGAR (1220 AM), first filed paperwork on January 17, 1944, to establish an FM adjunct at 45.5 MHz[3] but due to the number of applicants exceeding the number of available channels, WGAR's application was put through a competitive hearing in April 1946.[4] The FCC decided in WGAR's favor that June, but the commission's proposed power output and height above average terrain (HAAT) was significantly less than what the station had requested,[5] thus putting the application through another set of oral arguments.[4] Richards died on May 28, 1951, during a prolonged legal fight to keep his station licenses;[6] widow Frances S. Richards was bequeathed the radio station group[7] and sold WGAR to Peoples Broadcasting Corp. for $1.75 million (equivalent to $19.1 million in 2022) on December 4, 1953.[8]

WGAR-FM launched on December 15, 1952, co-located with WGAR at the Hotel Statler in downtown Cleveland and with their transmitter at WGAR's existing Broadview Heights facilities.[9][3] For the next 17 years, WGAR-FM operated either as a simulcast of WGAR for the majority of the day, breaking away in the evenings to carry three hours of classical music,[10] or operated for only two hours a week to maintain their license.[11] Peoples Broadcasting was renamed to Nationwide Communications in February 1967;[3] in an interview with Broadcasting magazine later in the year, George Washington Campbell announced intentions to turn WGAR-FM into a separate entity "as soon as major technical improvements are made".[12] By November 1969, WGAR-FM moved its transmitter to Parma alongside State Road (Ohio SR 94).[3]

WNCR (1970–1975) edit

Starting in 1970, WGAR-FM underwent substantial changes alongside WGAR, both being regarded by Nationwide executives as "sleeping giants" in the Cleveland market.[11] Having upgraded to stereo the year before, WGAR-FM was renamed WNCR on May 4;[3] the callsign being a direct reference to "Nationwide Communications Radio" similar to co-owned WNCI in Columbus.[13] On July 6, 1970, WNCR launched a progressive rock full-time,[14] returning the format to Cleveland for the first time since WMMS had dropped it in late May 1969.[15] The format choice reportedly caught Nationwide management off guard, with some executives expecting the music direction to have a Top 40 style similar to WNCI.[16] One month later, Jack G. Thayer was hired as WGAR's general manager, and along with program director John Lund, initiated an adult contemporary format on the AM station headlined by Don Imus.[17][18] Thayer's managerial style soon conflicted with WNCR's airstaff. After an attempted mediation with Thayer and Imus as a mediator failed, the entire on-air staff staged a walkout on September 18, 1970, demanding contracts for existing staff, the maintaining of control over music selections and managerial changes; all were fired and later conveyed their discontent to Plain Dealer reporter Jane Scott.[19]

If you remember Glenn Miller and Gabriel Heatter, you really ought to tune in and turn on with the likes of Kyle, who sings, and Billy Bass, who introduces the news with the phrase: 'And now WNCR lays the hard stuff on you.'

Bill Barrett, Cleveland Press, April 27, 1971[20]

A replacement airstaff was hired within ten days having astrological signs as their stage names; WCLV (95.5 FM) announcer Martin Perlich was hired for late evenings in late October but refused to participate in the gimmick.[21] WIXY announcer Billy Bass became program director at year's end, and hired two WIXY staffers to augment the airstaff.[22] Bass had prior on-air experience with the first iteration of progressive rock on WMMS in 1968 and had attained considerable success as WIXY's overnight host despite knowing little about the Top 40 format.[23] Both he and Perlich had been under consideration for WNCR's initial airstaff months earlier but were bypassed due to their political beliefs; Bass later referred to Perlich as FM rock's conscience "even though he was a communist!"[24] Even with no managerial experience, Bass has been credited for building WNCR into a credible progressive rock station that he called "People Radio", centered around community involvement.[25] As Bass later stated to Radio & Records, "WNCR became an unbelievable commercial success. We were interested in breaking acts and it just happened. It was great."[23]

Bill Barrett, radio critic for the Cleveland Press, began a multi-part review of WNCR in late April 1971 by replying to a reader asking him what kind of station it was with, "dadburned if I know!"[20] Barrett critiqued the station's use of "musical crudities" in songs played that included "the ultimate four-letter word" along with editorial-heavy newscasts being "a sort of little theater of news" analogous to the conservative-leaning Paul Harvey on WGAR.[26] David Spero—son of area television producer Herman Spero, who produced a half-hour late-night television show starring Don Imus[27]—was hired by WNCR on referral by Imus.[28] WNCR's success got the attention of WMMS general manager David Moorehead, who began extending an invitation for Bass to rejoin that station.[23] An eventual series of conflicts between WNCR management and Nationwide executives led Bass to publicly resign on September 23, 1971, in an interview with alternative newspaper Great Swamp Erie da da Boom, disclosing in the process that he had relieved of his program director role several weeks earlier.[29][30] Moorehead immediately hired not only Bass, but Perlich and Spero, all of whom joined WMMS the following week,[31] but neither of them were aware of WMMS and WHK's pending sale to Malrite Communications three months later or of Moorehead's transfer to KMET in Los Angeles.[23] WNCR continued the format with the remaining airstaff and moved their studios to the Stouffer Building in Playhouse Square,[3] but rumors persisted of internal conflicts between management over the station's musical direction.[32]

WNCR dropped the rock format on January 16, 1973, in favor of Top 40 now directly patterned after WNCI, dismissing the entire airstaff.[33] Future WMMS program director John Gorman saw the move as Nationwide's conservative ownership "torpedoing" the station as they were uncomfortable with a progressive format.[34] The Top 40 format lasted until March 4, 1974, when WNCR switched to country music, marking the first instance of country on the FM dial in a major market.[35][36] Within weeks of WNCR's switch, WHK also flipped to country, a format Malrite had originally intended for WMMS.[37] Despite the immediate competition from WHK, the next Arbitron ratings book showed WNCR as one of four Cleveland FM stations among the market's top ten stations, which was also attributed to increased presence of FM tuners installed in automobiles.[38] Gorman retrospectively stated that WMMS "dodged a bullet" with this switch, as Nationwide had declined to move WGAR's highly rated contemporary format over to the FM dial.[39]

WKSW (1975–1984) edit

Despite positive ratings that Radio & Records columnist Biff Collie referred to as "husky", Nationwide announced WNCR would drop the country format on June 1, 1975, dismissing all airstaff in what was termed a "power struggle in the corporate structure".[40] The station switched to an automated beautiful music/easy listening format developed by, and named after, Jim Schulke; WNCR management cited the success of the Schulke format in 70 other markets.[41] Dubbed "FM-100: All music, All the time",[42] the call sign changed to WKSW on September 15, 1975.[3] "FM-100" featured a minimum of on-air talk and no backselling of songs played, but Schulke would later add a local airstaff in 1979—including veteran middle of the road (MOR) host Ted Lux for mornings—in an experiment to boost ratings.[43] The previous summer, rumors of WKSW flipping to Lee Abrams' "Soft Superstars" format were downplayed by management[44] but WKSW was one of three beautiful music stations in the market and typically ranked third in the ratings.[45] WKSW's format was switched back to country as "KS100"[46] on April 8, 1980, conceding the station's continued ratings struggles.[47]

While initially re-entering into competition with talk-heavy WHK, WWWE also switched to country in December 1981, emphasizing a balance on personality and music as opposed to WKSW, which WWWE's program director likened to "a jukebox ... (playing) maybe 16 or 17 songs an hour."[48] Ratings for all three stations struggled, with WWWE failing to catch on in the Spring 1982 Arbitron book, while WHK and WKSW both saw slight declines.[49] At the same time, WKSW became the target of a "practical joker" who submitted fraudulent press releases of a format change to adult contemporary using the station's old stationery.[50] Chuck Collier, an on-air host at WGAR from 1970 to 1973[51] and again beginning in 1975, moved to WKSW in September 1983 as evening host and music director.[52] WKSW's competition eventually bowed out: WWWE returned to MOR by August 1983,[53][54] while WHK flipped to oldies in April 1984.[55] WWWE general manager Tom Wilson cited WWWE's lackluster ratings performance and WKSW and WHK's struggles as proof of "declining demand" for country, saying "Cleveland is more cosmopolitan than a lot of people take it for."[53]

WGAR-FM (1984–present) edit

Inheriting WGAR's legacy edit

WKSW re-adopted the WGAR-FM call sign on July 15, 1984, a move concurrent with WGAR switching to country;[56] both stations simulcast Paul Tapie's morning show, who had recently taken over for John Lanigan on the AM station.[57] The combination resulted in former WKSW morning host Josh Tyler in middays, John Olsen in afternoons, Collier in evenings, former WGAR host Jay Hudson in overnights, and Jim Szymanski as a fill-in;[55] John Arthur replaced Olsen in afternoons the following year.[58] While initially separately programmed, with WGAR carrying programming from Satellite Music Network for much of the day, the AM station soon began simulcasting the FM outright by the fall of 1986,[59] a move timed with Tapie's departure for WNCX[60] and made possible after the FCC repealed the FM Non-Duplication Rule.[61] WGAR-FM also inherited WGAR's existing news department, which was downscaled to three staffers and newscasts now only scheduled in both drive times, noon and Saturday mornings.[62] WGAR's only deviation from the simulcast occurred with Cleveland Force play-by-play.[63]

Nationwide Communications sold WGAR to Douglas Broadcasting in August 1989 for $2 million (equivalent to $4.72 million in 2022).[64] The AM station having barely registered in the Arbitron ratings on its own[65] as both stations also had a combined rating published by the same agency throughout the simulcast period.[46][66] WGAR broke away from the simulcast on June 29, 1990, to run a ten-minute sendoff prior to midnight;[67] after it ended, WGAR changed calls to WKNR and picked up a satellite music feed.[68] WGAR-FM remained in the Broadview Heights studios for the next few months until a new studio/office facility at the Crown Centre in Independence could be completed, resulting in what one WKNR executive called a claustrophobic "mom-and-pop setup" between the two.[69] The move to Crown Centre was made in mid-March 1991.[70] As WGAR-FM had been directly connected to the AM station for nearly four years, it claimed the AM's history as its own. When WGAR-FM won the 1995 CMA Award for "Station of the Year", Kevin C. Johnson of the Akron Beacon Journal noted the call letters were "perhaps already associated with greatness", invoking the names of Don Imus, John Lanigan and Jack Paar.[71]

Shortly before the AM station's sale, Dave Perkins was hired as morning host,[72] leaving at the end of 1991 after purchasing KCDQ in Odessa, Texas.[73] Prior to his departure, wife Amy Perkins was abducted and murdered in a downtown Cleveland parking lot[74] on which Progressive Field now stands,[75] the subsequent murder trial attracted significant media attention and sympathy for Perkins.[76] Jim Mantel, who took over in mornings on May 4, 1992,[77] later remarked on the difficulty of debuting under those circumstances, but his friendship with Perkins helped enable listeners to accept him.[76] Danny Wright, known as "Dancin' Danny Wright" at WGCL (now WNCX) in the early 1980s, joined the station in November 1994 after soliciting for job opportunities over Prodigy, which got the attention of WGAR program director Denny Nugent; his debut at WGAR showed immediate success, ranking number one in his timeslot.[78] Throughout the mid-1990s, WGAR boasted an airstaff of Mantel and Erin Weber in mornings, Chuck Collier and Wright middays, John Arthur afternoons, Mike Ivers evenings and Jim Szymanski overnights.[71] Mantel was later paired with John Dobeck and newscaster Ed Richards, while Weber was paired with Arthur.[79]

Post-1996 consolidation edit

A series of ownership transactions and mergers occurred at WGAR-FM in the late 1990s, spurred on by industry consolidation in the wake of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Nationwide Communications first purchased WMMS and WMJI from OmniAmerica on April 22, 1996, for $43.5 million (equivalent to $81.2 million in 2022) and one of Nationwide's Orlando stations.[80][81] Nationwide then sold their entire broadcast group to Jacor for $620 million (equivalent to $1.13 billion in 2022) on October 27, 1997, putting WGAR, WMJI and WMMS under the same ownership as WTAM and WMVX, along with pending acquisition WKNR;[82] Jacor divested WKNR to Capstar Broadcasting in order to complete the deal.[83] Denny Nugent was dismissed as program director following the sale,[84] with Jacor executive Kevin Metheny considering the station to have been "underachieving" and "needed a new energy, a new approach".[79] Replacement program director Clay Hunnicutt implemented several changes, including station promos now having a "smart-alecky" tone, and reduced on-air chatter from "leisurely stories".[85]

The first of multiple budget-related firings also took place, first with afternoon co-hosts John Arthur and Erin Weber,[79] with Arthur expressing disappointment over not being able to say goodbye on-air.[58] The news department was merged into WTAM's, ending past practices of WGAR, WMJI and WMMS each having separate news operations.[86] Concurrent with these moves, Jacor had put itself up for sale, with Clear Channel Communications purchasing it for $6.5 billion (equivalent to $11.7 billion in 2022) on October 8, 1998.[87] General manager John Blassingame was fired in March 2000, hours before he was to speak at the Country Radio Broadcasters' annual "Country Radio Seminar" regarding career survival in a consolidated radio environment.[88] Hunnicutt left several months later, with Meg Stevens becoming program director.[89] All six stations moved to a new combined facility at the former Centerior Energy headquarters in Independence, including WGAR's 40 employees;[90] a 2002 newspaper story called the new studio arrangement "a food court of radio, with McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell".[91]

Downsizing, transitions and after-effects edit

 
Ceremonial sign for "Chuck Collier Boulevard" in Independence, formerly the location of WGAR-FM's studios.

Subsequent downsizing took place over the next decade. Ed Richards was dismissed along with five other on-air hosts throughout the Cleveland cluster in February 2001, while Danny Wright was among eight staffers fired on November 1, 2001, both attributed to the early 2000s recession.[92] Wright was replaced with WPOC personality Michael J. Fox through voice-tracking.[92] John Dobeck was also dismissed in October 2002 after 13 years with the station, but was not a cost-cutting move.[93] Michelle Maloney assumed his role as morning co-host in 2004, with Fox and Collier also switching time slots.[94] Following Bain Capital's 2008 private equity buyout of Clear Channel, Maloney was dismissed in January 2009, followed by program director Brian Jennings (who replaced Stevens in 2007)[95] in March 2009 as part of broader downsizing efforts; an internal "Premium Choice" voice-tracking network was implemented within the company's stations, which WGAR utilizes to this day.[96] Clear Channel was renamed iHeartMedia on September 16, 2014, taking its name from the company's iHeartRadio streaming platform.[97]

Mantel's contract lapsed on August 17, 2010, ending an 18-year run in mornings;[76] Tim Leary and LeeAnn Sommers were named as his replacements,[98] with Brian Fowler taking over for Leary in 2011.[99] Like Wright before them, Fowler and Sommers had lengthy experience in other formats: Sommers was with several CHR, urban and hot AC stations throughout the 1990s and 2000s,[98] while Fowler had been a fixture at WENZ, WMMS and WMVX during the same timeframe.[100] Fowler and Sommers showed immediate success, reaching the number one ranking in the 25–54 demographic in their first year and number one in all key demographics by 2015;[100] their success was attributed in part to a growing mainstream appeal for country music.[101]

There was no one who worked harder than Chuck... with the small size of radio staffs these days, there was always a ton of various details to handle before the end of the day. Chuck did it all. But if you needed him for something or walked up to him in public, YOU were the total focus of his beneficent attention. He was almost the Country Radio Buddha.

Chris Miller, former WGAR-FM program director, on Chuck Collier[102]

The biggest loss to the station occurred when Chuck Collier died of a heart attack on September 22, 2011,[103] having become synonymous with WGAR through his lengthy tenure of 39 years and 13 different program directors.[102] Collier was also a 2009 inductee into the Country Music Radio Hall of Fame[104] and was remembered for his devotion to the station and strong work ethic, scheduling WGAR's music playlists, interacting with industry representatives and later voice-tracking middays at WMJI.[102] Oak Tree Boulevard was ceremonially renamed to "Chuck Collier Boulevard" by the city of Independence on March 9, 2012.[105]

Fowler left the station in early October 2018,[106] with Steve Wazz taking over alongside incumbent co-host LeeAnn Sommers shortly thereafter.[107] A schedule realignment in May 2020 saw Sommers swap timeslots with afternoon host/program director Carletta Blake.[108] Along with the other eight stations in iHeartMedia's Cleveland operations, WGAR announced plans on March 21, 2021, to move to a new combined studio/office facility at the Six Six Eight building in downtown Cleveland, utilizing cloud storage technology.[109] The relocation process was completed in July 2022.[110]

Current programming edit

WGAR's local personalities include Steve Wazz and Carletta Blake in morning drive, and LeeAnn Sommers in afternoon drive.[108] The station also carries The Bobby Bones Show in evenings and After MidNite with Granger Smith overnight, both through Premiere Networks.[111][112] All other air talent, including midday host Wayne D (Danielson), is voice-tracked via iHeartMedia's internal "Premium Choice" network.[96]

FM translator edit

WGAR-FM is additionally relayed over the following low-power FM translator:

References edit

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Bibliography edit

  • Gorman, John; Feran, Tom (2007). The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio. Cleveland: Gray & Co. ISBN 9781886228474.
  • Olszewski, Mike (2003). Radio Daze: Stories from the Front in Cleveland's FM Air Wars. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. ISBN 9780873387736. from the original on December 9, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Google Books.
  • Olszewski, Mike; Berg, Richard; Wolff, Carlo (2011). WIXY 1260: Pixies, Six-Packs, and Supermen (PDF). Kent, Ohio: Black Squirrel Books. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-60635-099-7. (PDF) from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  • In re Applications of G.A. Richards, transferor, and Harry J. Klinger, Lawrence P. Fisher and John H. Hannah, transferees, for consent to the transfer of control of KMPC, the Station of the Stars, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., Docket No. 9402, WJR, the Goodwill Station, Inc., Detroit, Michigan, Docket No. 9403 [and] WGAR Broadcasting Company, Cleveland, Ohio, Docket No. 9404. For renewal of license of Radio Stations KMPC, the Station of the Stars, Inc. ... Docket No. 9468, File No. BR-18, WJR, the Goodwill Station, Inc. ... Docket No. 9469, File No. BR-331 [and] WGAR Broadcasting Company ... Docket No. 9405, File No. BR-283: Exhibits of the WGAR Broadcasting Company (PDF). Vol. 1. Washington, D.C.: Fulton, Walter & Halley. 1948. (PDF) from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  • In re Applications of G.A. Richards, transferor, and Harry J. Klinger, Lawrence P. Fisher and John H. Hannah, transferees, for consent to the transfer of control of KMPC, the Station of the Stars, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., Docket No. 9402, WJR, the Goodwill Station, Inc., Detroit, Michigan, Docket No. 9403 [and] WGAR Broadcasting Company, Cleveland, Ohio, Docket No. 9404. For renewal of license of Radio Stations KMPC, the Station of the Stars, Inc. ... Docket No. 9468, File No. BR-18, WJR, the Goodwill Station, Inc. ... Docket No. 9469, File No. BR-331 [and] WGAR Broadcasting Company ... Docket No. 9405, File No. BR-283: Exhibits of the WGAR Broadcasting Company (PDF). Vol. 2. Washington, D.C.: Fulton, Walter & Halley. 1948. (PDF) from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021 – via World Radio History.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • WGAR in the FCC FM station database
  • WGAR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
  •   Media related to WGAR-FM at Wikimedia Commons
  • W266CJ in the FCC FM station database
  • W266CJ at FCCdata.org

wgar, cleveland, radio, station, which, identified, wgar, from, 1930, 1990, whkw, commercial, radio, station, licensed, cleveland, ohio, features, country, music, format, owned, iheartmedia, station, serves, greater, cleveland, surrounding, northeast, ohio, lo. For the Cleveland AM radio station which identified as WGAR from 1930 to 1990 see WHKW WGAR FM 99 5 FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Ohio and features a country music format Owned by iHeartMedia the station serves Greater Cleveland and surrounding Northeast Ohio as the local affiliate for The Bobby Bones Show WGAR FM s studios are located at the Six Six Eight Building in downtown Cleveland s Gateway District and the transmitter is in nearby Parma WGAR FMCleveland OhioUnited StatesBroadcast areaGreater ClevelandNortheast OhioFrequency99 5 MHz HD Radio Branding99 5 WGARProgrammingLanguage s EnglishFormatCountry musicAffiliationsPremiere NetworksOwnershipOwneriHeartMedia iHM Licenses LLC Sister stationsWAKS HD2 WARFWHLKWMJIWMMS HD2 WTAMHistoryFirst air dateDecember 15 1952 71 years ago 1952 12 15 Former call signsWGAR FM 1952 1970 WNCR 1970 1975 WKSW 1975 1984 Call sign meaningGeorge A Richards founder of WGAR 1220 AM now WHKWTechnical information 1 Licensing authorityFCCFacility ID47740ClassBERP50 000 wattsHAAT152 meters 499 ft Transmitter coordinates41 22 18 00 N 81 43 4 00 W 41 3716667 N 81 7177778 W 41 3716667 81 7177778Translator s 101 1 W266CJ Beachwood LinksPublic license informationPublic fileLMSWebcastListen live via iHeartRadio Websitewgar wbr iheart wbr comSigning on in 1952 as the FM extension of WGAR 1220 AM WGAR FM mostly operated in obscurity until 1970 when management instituted a progressive rock format as WNCR Airstaff turnover conflicts with management and increased competition from other rock stations led to a format change to Top 40 in 1973 country music in 1974 and again to easy listening as WKSW in 1975 Returning to country in 1980 WKSW became WGAR FM in 1984 in tandem with WGAR with the AM simulcasting the FM from 1986 to 1990 WGAR FM has remained in the format ever since even with multiple ownership management and airstaff changes Since 1999 iHeartMedia known as Clear Channel Communications until 2014 has owned WGAR FM as part of their Greater Cleveland cluster Along with a standard analog transmission WGAR FM broadcasts over one HD Radio channel 2 and is available online via iHeartRadio Contents 1 History 1 1 WGAR FM 1952 1970 1 2 WNCR 1970 1975 1 3 WKSW 1975 1984 1 4 WGAR FM 1984 present 1 4 1 Inheriting WGAR s legacy 1 4 2 Post 1996 consolidation 1 4 3 Downsizing transitions and after effects 2 Current programming 3 FM translator 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory editWGAR FM 1952 1970 edit Further information WHKW nbsp The Hotel Statler in downtown Cleveland was the first studio home for WGAR and by proxy WGAR FM The WGAR Broadcasting Company a group led by George A Richards and owner of WGAR 1220 AM first filed paperwork on January 17 1944 to establish an FM adjunct at 45 5 MHz 3 but due to the number of applicants exceeding the number of available channels WGAR s application was put through a competitive hearing in April 1946 4 The FCC decided in WGAR s favor that June but the commission s proposed power output and height above average terrain HAAT was significantly less than what the station had requested 5 thus putting the application through another set of oral arguments 4 Richards died on May 28 1951 during a prolonged legal fight to keep his station licenses 6 widow Frances S Richards was bequeathed the radio station group 7 and sold WGAR to Peoples Broadcasting Corp for 1 75 million equivalent to 19 1 million in 2022 on December 4 1953 8 WGAR FM launched on December 15 1952 co located with WGAR at the Hotel Statler in downtown Cleveland and with their transmitter at WGAR s existing Broadview Heights facilities 9 3 For the next 17 years WGAR FM operated either as a simulcast of WGAR for the majority of the day breaking away in the evenings to carry three hours of classical music 10 or operated for only two hours a week to maintain their license 11 Peoples Broadcasting was renamed to Nationwide Communications in February 1967 3 in an interview with Broadcasting magazine later in the year George Washington Campbell announced intentions to turn WGAR FM into a separate entity as soon as major technical improvements are made 12 By November 1969 WGAR FM moved its transmitter to Parma alongside State Road Ohio SR 94 3 WNCR 1970 1975 edit Starting in 1970 WGAR FM underwent substantial changes alongside WGAR both being regarded by Nationwide executives as sleeping giants in the Cleveland market 11 Having upgraded to stereo the year before WGAR FM was renamed WNCR on May 4 3 the callsign being a direct reference to Nationwide Communications Radio similar to co owned WNCI in Columbus 13 On July 6 1970 WNCR launched a progressive rock full time 14 returning the format to Cleveland for the first time since WMMS had dropped it in late May 1969 15 The format choice reportedly caught Nationwide management off guard with some executives expecting the music direction to have a Top 40 style similar to WNCI 16 One month later Jack G Thayer was hired as WGAR s general manager and along with program director John Lund initiated an adult contemporary format on the AM station headlined by Don Imus 17 18 Thayer s managerial style soon conflicted with WNCR s airstaff After an attempted mediation with Thayer and Imus as a mediator failed the entire on air staff staged a walkout on September 18 1970 demanding contracts for existing staff the maintaining of control over music selections and managerial changes all were fired and later conveyed their discontent to Plain Dealer reporter Jane Scott 19 If you remember Glenn Miller and Gabriel Heatter you really ought to tune in and turn on with the likes of Kyle who sings and Billy Bass who introduces the news with the phrase And now WNCR lays the hard stuff on you Bill Barrett Cleveland Press April 27 1971 20 A replacement airstaff was hired within ten days having astrological signs as their stage names WCLV 95 5 FM announcer Martin Perlich was hired for late evenings in late October but refused to participate in the gimmick 21 WIXY announcer Billy Bass became program director at year s end and hired two WIXY staffers to augment the airstaff 22 Bass had prior on air experience with the first iteration of progressive rock on WMMS in 1968 and had attained considerable success as WIXY s overnight host despite knowing little about the Top 40 format 23 Both he and Perlich had been under consideration for WNCR s initial airstaff months earlier but were bypassed due to their political beliefs Bass later referred to Perlich as FM rock s conscience even though he was a communist 24 Even with no managerial experience Bass has been credited for building WNCR into a credible progressive rock station that he called People Radio centered around community involvement 25 As Bass later stated to Radio amp Records WNCR became an unbelievable commercial success We were interested in breaking acts and it just happened It was great 23 Bill Barrett radio critic for the Cleveland Press began a multi part review of WNCR in late April 1971 by replying to a reader asking him what kind of station it was with dadburned if I know 20 Barrett critiqued the station s use of musical crudities in songs played that included the ultimate four letter word along with editorial heavy newscasts being a sort of little theater of news analogous to the conservative leaning Paul Harvey on WGAR 26 David Spero son of area television producer Herman Spero who produced a half hour late night television show starring Don Imus 27 was hired by WNCR on referral by Imus 28 WNCR s success got the attention of WMMS general manager David Moorehead who began extending an invitation for Bass to rejoin that station 23 An eventual series of conflicts between WNCR management and Nationwide executives led Bass to publicly resign on September 23 1971 in an interview with alternative newspaper Great Swamp Erie da da Boom disclosing in the process that he had relieved of his program director role several weeks earlier 29 30 Moorehead immediately hired not only Bass but Perlich and Spero all of whom joined WMMS the following week 31 but neither of them were aware of WMMS and WHK s pending sale to Malrite Communications three months later or of Moorehead s transfer to KMET in Los Angeles 23 WNCR continued the format with the remaining airstaff and moved their studios to the Stouffer Building in Playhouse Square 3 but rumors persisted of internal conflicts between management over the station s musical direction 32 WNCR dropped the rock format on January 16 1973 in favor of Top 40 now directly patterned after WNCI dismissing the entire airstaff 33 Future WMMS program director John Gorman saw the move as Nationwide s conservative ownership torpedoing the station as they were uncomfortable with a progressive format 34 The Top 40 format lasted until March 4 1974 when WNCR switched to country music marking the first instance of country on the FM dial in a major market 35 36 Within weeks of WNCR s switch WHK also flipped to country a format Malrite had originally intended for WMMS 37 Despite the immediate competition from WHK the next Arbitron ratings book showed WNCR as one of four Cleveland FM stations among the market s top ten stations which was also attributed to increased presence of FM tuners installed in automobiles 38 Gorman retrospectively stated that WMMS dodged a bullet with this switch as Nationwide had declined to move WGAR s highly rated contemporary format over to the FM dial 39 WKSW 1975 1984 edit Despite positive ratings that Radio amp Records columnist Biff Collie referred to as husky Nationwide announced WNCR would drop the country format on June 1 1975 dismissing all airstaff in what was termed a power struggle in the corporate structure 40 The station switched to an automated beautiful music easy listening format developed by and named after Jim Schulke WNCR management cited the success of the Schulke format in 70 other markets 41 Dubbed FM 100 All music All the time 42 the call sign changed to WKSW on September 15 1975 3 FM 100 featured a minimum of on air talk and no backselling of songs played but Schulke would later add a local airstaff in 1979 including veteran middle of the road MOR host Ted Lux for mornings in an experiment to boost ratings 43 The previous summer rumors of WKSW flipping to Lee Abrams Soft Superstars format were downplayed by management 44 but WKSW was one of three beautiful music stations in the market and typically ranked third in the ratings 45 WKSW s format was switched back to country as KS100 46 on April 8 1980 conceding the station s continued ratings struggles 47 While initially re entering into competition with talk heavy WHK WWWE also switched to country in December 1981 emphasizing a balance on personality and music as opposed to WKSW which WWWE s program director likened to a jukebox playing maybe 16 or 17 songs an hour 48 Ratings for all three stations struggled with WWWE failing to catch on in the Spring 1982 Arbitron book while WHK and WKSW both saw slight declines 49 At the same time WKSW became the target of a practical joker who submitted fraudulent press releases of a format change to adult contemporary using the station s old stationery 50 Chuck Collier an on air host at WGAR from 1970 to 1973 51 and again beginning in 1975 moved to WKSW in September 1983 as evening host and music director 52 WKSW s competition eventually bowed out WWWE returned to MOR by August 1983 53 54 while WHK flipped to oldies in April 1984 55 WWWE general manager Tom Wilson cited WWWE s lackluster ratings performance and WKSW and WHK s struggles as proof of declining demand for country saying Cleveland is more cosmopolitan than a lot of people take it for 53 WGAR FM 1984 present edit Inheriting WGAR s legacy edit WKSW re adopted the WGAR FM call sign on July 15 1984 a move concurrent with WGAR switching to country 56 both stations simulcast Paul Tapie s morning show who had recently taken over for John Lanigan on the AM station 57 The combination resulted in former WKSW morning host Josh Tyler in middays John Olsen in afternoons Collier in evenings former WGAR host Jay Hudson in overnights and Jim Szymanski as a fill in 55 John Arthur replaced Olsen in afternoons the following year 58 While initially separately programmed with WGAR carrying programming from Satellite Music Network for much of the day the AM station soon began simulcasting the FM outright by the fall of 1986 59 a move timed with Tapie s departure for WNCX 60 and made possible after the FCC repealed the FM Non Duplication Rule 61 WGAR FM also inherited WGAR s existing news department which was downscaled to three staffers and newscasts now only scheduled in both drive times noon and Saturday mornings 62 WGAR s only deviation from the simulcast occurred with Cleveland Force play by play 63 Nationwide Communications sold WGAR to Douglas Broadcasting in August 1989 for 2 million equivalent to 4 72 million in 2022 64 The AM station having barely registered in the Arbitron ratings on its own 65 as both stations also had a combined rating published by the same agency throughout the simulcast period 46 66 WGAR broke away from the simulcast on June 29 1990 to run a ten minute sendoff prior to midnight 67 after it ended WGAR changed calls to WKNR and picked up a satellite music feed 68 WGAR FM remained in the Broadview Heights studios for the next few months until a new studio office facility at the Crown Centre in Independence could be completed resulting in what one WKNR executive called a claustrophobic mom and pop setup between the two 69 The move to Crown Centre was made in mid March 1991 70 As WGAR FM had been directly connected to the AM station for nearly four years it claimed the AM s history as its own When WGAR FM won the 1995 CMA Award for Station of the Year Kevin C Johnson of the Akron Beacon Journal noted the call letters were perhaps already associated with greatness invoking the names of Don Imus John Lanigan and Jack Paar 71 Shortly before the AM station s sale Dave Perkins was hired as morning host 72 leaving at the end of 1991 after purchasing KCDQ in Odessa Texas 73 Prior to his departure wife Amy Perkins was abducted and murdered in a downtown Cleveland parking lot 74 on which Progressive Field now stands 75 the subsequent murder trial attracted significant media attention and sympathy for Perkins 76 Jim Mantel who took over in mornings on May 4 1992 77 later remarked on the difficulty of debuting under those circumstances but his friendship with Perkins helped enable listeners to accept him 76 Danny Wright known as Dancin Danny Wright at WGCL now WNCX in the early 1980s joined the station in November 1994 after soliciting for job opportunities over Prodigy which got the attention of WGAR program director Denny Nugent his debut at WGAR showed immediate success ranking number one in his timeslot 78 Throughout the mid 1990s WGAR boasted an airstaff of Mantel and Erin Weber in mornings Chuck Collier and Wright middays John Arthur afternoons Mike Ivers evenings and Jim Szymanski overnights 71 Mantel was later paired with John Dobeck and newscaster Ed Richards while Weber was paired with Arthur 79 Post 1996 consolidation edit A series of ownership transactions and mergers occurred at WGAR FM in the late 1990s spurred on by industry consolidation in the wake of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 Nationwide Communications first purchased WMMS and WMJI from OmniAmerica on April 22 1996 for 43 5 million equivalent to 81 2 million in 2022 and one of Nationwide s Orlando stations 80 81 Nationwide then sold their entire broadcast group to Jacor for 620 million equivalent to 1 13 billion in 2022 on October 27 1997 putting WGAR WMJI and WMMS under the same ownership as WTAM and WMVX along with pending acquisition WKNR 82 Jacor divested WKNR to Capstar Broadcasting in order to complete the deal 83 Denny Nugent was dismissed as program director following the sale 84 with Jacor executive Kevin Metheny considering the station to have been underachieving and needed a new energy a new approach 79 Replacement program director Clay Hunnicutt implemented several changes including station promos now having a smart alecky tone and reduced on air chatter from leisurely stories 85 The first of multiple budget related firings also took place first with afternoon co hosts John Arthur and Erin Weber 79 with Arthur expressing disappointment over not being able to say goodbye on air 58 The news department was merged into WTAM s ending past practices of WGAR WMJI and WMMS each having separate news operations 86 Concurrent with these moves Jacor had put itself up for sale with Clear Channel Communications purchasing it for 6 5 billion equivalent to 11 7 billion in 2022 on October 8 1998 87 General manager John Blassingame was fired in March 2000 hours before he was to speak at the Country Radio Broadcasters annual Country Radio Seminar regarding career survival in a consolidated radio environment 88 Hunnicutt left several months later with Meg Stevens becoming program director 89 All six stations moved to a new combined facility at the former Centerior Energy headquarters in Independence including WGAR s 40 employees 90 a 2002 newspaper story called the new studio arrangement a food court of radio with McDonald s Burger King and Taco Bell 91 Downsizing transitions and after effects edit nbsp Ceremonial sign for Chuck Collier Boulevard in Independence formerly the location of WGAR FM s studios Subsequent downsizing took place over the next decade Ed Richards was dismissed along with five other on air hosts throughout the Cleveland cluster in February 2001 while Danny Wright was among eight staffers fired on November 1 2001 both attributed to the early 2000s recession 92 Wright was replaced with WPOC personality Michael J Fox through voice tracking 92 John Dobeck was also dismissed in October 2002 after 13 years with the station but was not a cost cutting move 93 Michelle Maloney assumed his role as morning co host in 2004 with Fox and Collier also switching time slots 94 Following Bain Capital s 2008 private equity buyout of Clear Channel Maloney was dismissed in January 2009 followed by program director Brian Jennings who replaced Stevens in 2007 95 in March 2009 as part of broader downsizing efforts an internal Premium Choice voice tracking network was implemented within the company s stations which WGAR utilizes to this day 96 Clear Channel was renamed iHeartMedia on September 16 2014 taking its name from the company s iHeartRadio streaming platform 97 Mantel s contract lapsed on August 17 2010 ending an 18 year run in mornings 76 Tim Leary and LeeAnn Sommers were named as his replacements 98 with Brian Fowler taking over for Leary in 2011 99 Like Wright before them Fowler and Sommers had lengthy experience in other formats Sommers was with several CHR urban and hot AC stations throughout the 1990s and 2000s 98 while Fowler had been a fixture at WENZ WMMS and WMVX during the same timeframe 100 Fowler and Sommers showed immediate success reaching the number one ranking in the 25 54 demographic in their first year and number one in all key demographics by 2015 100 their success was attributed in part to a growing mainstream appeal for country music 101 There was no one who worked harder than Chuck with the small size of radio staffs these days there was always a ton of various details to handle before the end of the day Chuck did it all But if you needed him for something or walked up to him in public YOU were the total focus of his beneficent attention He was almost the Country Radio Buddha Chris Miller former WGAR FM program director on Chuck Collier 102 The biggest loss to the station occurred when Chuck Collier died of a heart attack on September 22 2011 103 having become synonymous with WGAR through his lengthy tenure of 39 years and 13 different program directors 102 Collier was also a 2009 inductee into the Country Music Radio Hall of Fame 104 and was remembered for his devotion to the station and strong work ethic scheduling WGAR s music playlists interacting with industry representatives and later voice tracking middays at WMJI 102 Oak Tree Boulevard was ceremonially renamed to Chuck Collier Boulevard by the city of Independence on March 9 2012 105 Fowler left the station in early October 2018 106 with Steve Wazz taking over alongside incumbent co host LeeAnn Sommers shortly thereafter 107 A schedule realignment in May 2020 saw Sommers swap timeslots with afternoon host program director Carletta Blake 108 Along with the other eight stations in iHeartMedia s Cleveland operations WGAR announced plans on March 21 2021 to move to a new combined studio office facility at the Six Six Eight building in downtown Cleveland utilizing cloud storage technology 109 The relocation process was completed in July 2022 110 Current programming editWGAR s local personalities include Steve Wazz and Carletta Blake in morning drive and LeeAnn Sommers in afternoon drive 108 The station also carries The Bobby Bones Show in evenings and After MidNite with Granger Smith overnight both through Premiere Networks 111 112 All other air talent including midday host Wayne D Danielson is voice tracked via iHeartMedia s internal Premium Choice network 96 FM translator editWGAR FM is additionally relayed over the following low power FM translator Broadcast translator for WGAR FM Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP W HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC infoW266CJ 101 1 FM Beachwood Ohio 144180 250 296 67 m 973 ft D 41 26 32 00 N 81 29 29 00 W 41 4422222 N 81 4913889 W 41 4422222 81 4913889 LMSReferences edit Facility Technical Data for WGAR FM Licensing and Management System Federal Communications Commission HD Radio Guide for Cleveland WGAR HD Radio com Archived from the original on September 27 2015 Retrieved September 26 2015 a b c d e f g FCC History Cards for WGAR FM a b In re Applications of G A Richards Vol 1 1948 pp 8 9 Cleveland Gets 7 FM Grants Two to Akron One to Elyria PDF Broadcasting Telecasting Vol 33 no 15 October 13 1947 p 85 Archived PDF from the original on November 8 2021 Retrieved August 10 2022 via World Radio History Owner Of Radio Stations Dies Dayton Daily News Dayton Ohio United Press May 28 1951 p 25 Archived from the original on August 30 2021 Retrieved August 29 2021 Goodwill Stations Ask Immediate Renewal PDF Broadcasting Telecasting Vol 41 no 1 July 2 1951 pp 29 38 Archived PDF from the original on August 30 2021 Retrieved August 30 2021 via World Radio History Insurance Firm Buys Station Dayton Daily News Dayton Ohio Associated Press December 6 1953 p SECOND 18 Archived from the original on August 30 2021 Retrieved August 30 2021 FCC History Cards for WHKW 1930 1980 Radio Response Rating Cleveland Ohio 3rd Cycle Stations By Format PDF Billboard Vol 78 no 6 February 5 1966 pp 20 22 Archived PDF from the original on February 8 2022 Retrieved August 9 2022 via World Radio History a b Olszewski 2003 p 25 Week s Profile Nationwide succeeds by stimulating PDF Broadcasting Vol 73 no 12 September 18 1967 p 93 Archived PDF from the original on November 8 2021 Retrieved August 10 2022 via World Radio History Olszewski 2003 pp 26 27 Olszewski 2003 pp 25 27 29 Olszewski 2003 p 21 Olszewski 2003 p 27 WGAR Promo Sparks New Play PDF Billboard Vol 82 no 38 September 19 1970 pp 24 27 Archived PDF from the original on August 18 2021 Retrieved August 17 2021 via World Radio History Imus Focuses on New Humor PDF Billboard Vol 83 no 2 January 9 1971 pp 25 26 Archived PDF from the original on August 18 2021 Retrieved August 17 2021 via World Radio History Olszewski 2003 pp 35 37 a b Barrett Bill April 27 1971 WNCR May Make You Gasp as it Zings on the Young Cleveland Press Cleveland Ohio Barrett Bill April 28 1971 WNCR Aims Its Rock Music at Sophisticated Listeners Cleveland Press Cleveland Ohio Olszewski 2003 pp 37 39 Olszewski Berg amp Wolff 2011 p 91 a b c d Tusken Candy May 16 1975 Record Industry Profile Billy Bass United Artists PDF Radio amp Records Vol 3 no 19 pp 24 35 Archived PDF from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via World Radio History Olszewski 2003 pp 27 28 39 Olszewski 2003 p 42 Olszewski 2003 pp 45 46 WGAR Push On Deejay PDF Billboard Vol 82 no 46 November 14 1970 p 26 Archived PDF from the original on August 18 2021 Retrieved August 18 2021 via World Radio History Olszewski 2003 pp 44 45 Billy Bass Quits WNCR Great Swamp Erie da da Boom Vol 1 no 18 Cleveland Ohio September 21 October 5 1971 p 1 Olszewski 2003 pp 53 58 Olszewski 2003 p 58 Olszewski 2003 pp 60 63 64 Olszewski 2003 pp 89 90 Gorman amp Feran 2007 p 155 Olszewski 2003 p 101 Stereo Rocker WNCR Cleveland Goes Country PDF Radio amp Records Vol 2 no 6 February 15 1974 p 3 Archived PDF from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History Gorman amp Feran 2007 pp 41 43 Olszewski Berg amp Wolff 2011 pp 112 113 Gorman amp Feran 2007 pp 41 42 156 Collie Biff May 16 1975 Inside Nashville PDF Radio amp Records Vol 3 no 19 p 30 Archived PDF from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History Cleveland s NCR To Schulke Format PDF Billboard Vol 87 no 26 June 28 1975 p 16 Archived PDF from the original on February 8 2022 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History Now hear this BLAIR RADIO PROUDLY ANNOUNCES REPRESENTATION OF FM 100 all music all the time WNCR Cleveland Ohio advertisement PDF Broadcasting Vol 88 no 24 June 16 1975 p 17 Archived PDF from the original on November 8 2021 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History Talk Test For Schulke Show PDF Billboard Vol 91 no 35 September 1 1979 p 26 Archived PDF from the original on April 6 2022 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History Street Talk PDF Radio amp Records No 237 June 23 1978 p 10 Archived PDF from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History Cunniff Al March 14 1981 FMers Explain Shift to Country Format PDF Record World Vol 37 no 1754 pp 52 55 Archived PDF from the original on April 27 2022 Retrieved August 27 2022 via World Radio History a b Helton Lon August 14 1987 ARB Analyses For Whom The Spring Excelled PDF Radio amp Records No 699 pp 54 56 Archived PDF from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History WKSW goes country The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio April 8 1980 p 6B Mehno John February 13 1982 WWWE AM Keys On Country Competition PDF Billboard Vol 94 no 6 p 27 Archived PDF from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 via World Radio History Hall Douglas E July 24 1982 Arbitrons Put Spotlight On AM Ratings Decline PDF Billboard Vol 94 no 28 pp 1 18 19 27 Archived PDF from the original on February 8 2022 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History WKSW FM Victim Of Practical Joker PDF Billboard Vol 94 no 13 April 3 1982 p 23 Archived PDF from the original on February 8 2022 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History Kerins Annabelle September 29 1981 Radio Love affair with rock Newsday Part II Hempstead New York p 31 Archived from the original on February 9 2022 Retrieved February 9 2022 via Newspapers com Bornstein Rollye September 10 1983 Vox Jox Collier Leaves WGAR For WRSW sic PDF Billboard Vol 95 no 37 pp 12 64 Archived PDF from the original on August 19 2021 Retrieved August 18 2021 via World Radio History a b WWWE Converts From Country To MOR PDF Radio amp Records No 498 August 26 1983 pp 3 30 Archived PDF from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 via World Radio History WWWE Switches To AC PDF Billboard Vol 95 no 35 August 27 1983 p 12 Archived PDF from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 via World Radio History a b Arnold Thomas K July 14 1984 Clark Promoted As WGAR Goes Country PDF Billboard Vol 96 no 28 p 12 Archived PDF from the original on February 8 2022 Retrieved August 23 2022 via World Radio History WGAR Switches From A C To Country PDF Radio amp Records No 541 July 6 1984 pp 1 25 Archived PDF from the original on October 1 2021 Retrieved August 17 2021 via World Radio History Zban Milan September 16 1984 The serious side of Billy J Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp 22 24 25 Archived from the original on August 17 2021 Retrieved August 17 2021 via Newspapers com a b Brown Roger November 9 1998 Bottom line is reason for WGAR axing The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 1E Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Helton Lon November 21 1986 Summertime Less Than Good Ol Time PDF Radio amp Records No 662 pp 61 62 Archived PDF from the original on September 28 2021 Retrieved August 22 2021 via World Radio History CHR ENDS WGCL CALLS Gorman WNCX VP Sanders PD PDF Radio amp Records October 17 1986 pp 1 4 Archived PDF from the original on March 22 2022 Retrieved December 18 2019 via World Radio History Dyer Bob April 6 1986 FCC drops AM FM separate programming rule Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p D2 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 15 2021 via Newspapers com Sowd David January 14 1990 Where s local radio news Cutbacks leave a big void The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on July 6 2022 Retrieved August 19 2021 via NewsBank Shippy Dick December 1 1987 Wolsteins radio purchases won t affect Force for now Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p D3 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 15 2021 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob January 21 1990 New station owner takes charge in a big way Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p H2 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 15 2021 via Newspapers com Ocker Sheldon October 10 1994 And now a word from Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp B1 B5 Archived from the original on August 17 2021 Retrieved August 16 2021 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob July 26 1987 Gentlemen start your calculators Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp C1 C6 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 15 2021 via Newspapers com Sowd David July 7 1990 Lite Rock wins ratings war The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved August 20 2021 via NewsBank Sowd David June 28 1990 Little difference for now on WKNR The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved August 20 2021 via NewsBank Dyer Bob January 27 1991 WKNR poised to make major sports talk impact Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p D2 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 15 2021 via Newspapers com Sowd David March 15 1991 Home bands get station boost The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved August 20 2021 via NewsBank a b Johnson Kevin C September 29 1995 Now that s country CMA names WGAR radio station of the year Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp E1 E2 Archived from the original on September 7 2021 Retrieved September 6 2021 via Newspapers com Sowd David TV is WNCX s ratings boost The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Ohnhaus Taz June 10 1992 Disc jockey determined to succeed The Odessa American Odessa Texas pp 1B 3B Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 25 2022 via Newspapers com O Malley Michael Gillispie Mark November 27 1991 Woman slain on way to job Suspect held in abduction of disc jockey s wife downtown The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 1A Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Dirck Joe November 28 1991 They should call those lots park and runs The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 1B Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Coghlan Keely December 2 1994 KCDQ owner gets 1 million for wife s death The Odessa American Odessa Texas Associated Press pp 1B 2B Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 25 2022 via Newspapers com a b c Washington Julie E August 19 2010 WGAR lets Mantel s contract lapse The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p B1 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Santiago Roberto May 25 1992 WGAR radio team going far by taking it easy The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p E3 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Santiago Roberto January 26 1995 Wright is dancing again Hotshot 80s rock deejay returns to top with country The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 12E Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank a b c Brown Roger November 23 1998 WGAR trio has no need to rehearse The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p E Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Brown Roger April 23 1996 Nationwide to own Cleveland radio Insurer to be largest owner of stations with WGAR WMMS WMJI The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 1A Retrieved September 2 2022 via NewsBank Brown Roger April 26 1996 WHK sold to West Coast firm The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio pp 6E Archived from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved January 1 2007 via NewsBank Adams David October 31 1997 Fate of WKNR still hangs in balance Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p D10 Archived from the original on August 16 2021 Retrieved August 16 2021 via Newspapers com Souhrada Paul August 11 1998 Cleveland s WKNR traded for Pittsburgh station Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C7 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 14 2021 via Newspapers com Brown Roger February 15 1999 WENZ s new owner will likely bring an end to The End The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 1E Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Brown Roger March 8 1999 WGAR tries to keep station Country Fresh The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 1E Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Brown Roger December 6 1998 These may be local radio s good old days The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 1I Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved September 23 2021 via NewsBank Bodipo Memba Alejandro October 9 1998 Clear Channel Wins Bidding Contest Agrees to Buy Jacor Communications Wall Street Journal ISSN 0099 9660 Archived from the original on February 15 2017 Retrieved August 1 2019 Crump Sarah March 7 2000 Fired Blassingame offers career tips The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5B Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Feran Tom June 29 2000 Albany morning team may replace Dale at WMMS The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 6E Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Krouse Peter August 4 2000 Clear Channel considers big move 200 downtown jobs would shift to Independence The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 1C Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank O Connor Clint September 22 2002 At the controls Clear Channel programmer rules radio in Cleveland The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p J1 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank a b O Connor Clint November 3 2001 Webster Wright 6 others lose jobs The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p E1 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank O Connor Clint October 3 2002 Dobeck gets the boot at WGAR The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p F4 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank O Connor Clint February 9 2004 WGAR welcomes a new member to morning team The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p D7 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Washington Julie E April 14 2007 Alden marks 20 years as a friend to WDOK listeners The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p E5 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank a b Washington Julie E May 16 2009 Broadcast blues Clear Channel does some clear cutting of on air radio talent The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p E1 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Sisario Ben September 16 2014 Clear Channel Renames Itself iHeartMedia in Nod to Digital The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on June 9 2020 Retrieved January 21 2020 a b Washington Julie E October 9 2010 WGAR names morning team The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p E5 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank Yarborough Chuck June 3 2012 Big box radio Watering down our local sounds The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p E1 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 24 2022 via NewsBank a b Heaton Michael August 16 2015 Ex rock jock rides country to No 1 WGAR s Brian Fowler proves humor transcends all formats The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p D12 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 25 2022 via NewsBank Yarborough Chuck September 18 2015 Big country is a big gig and it s only getting bigger The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p T12 Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 25 2022 via NewsBank a b c Yarborough Chuck September 24 2011 WGAR s Chuck Collier leaves behind a legacy of love warmth and a passion for country artists and music cleveland com Cleveland Ohio The Plain Dealer Archived from the original on August 19 2021 Retrieved August 19 2021 Moore Tom September 22 2011 WGAR and WMJI s Chuck Collier has passed away WTAM 1100 Archived from the original on September 24 2011 Retrieved August 19 2021 Chuck Collier 99 5 WGAR April 15 2012 Archived from the original on April 15 2012 Retrieved August 25 2022 Country Music DJ Hall announces inductees www countrystandardtime com Archived from the original on August 19 2021 Retrieved August 19 2021 Welcome to Chuck Collier Blvd YouTube WGAR Cleveland March 9 2012 Archived from the original on January 9 2019 Retrieved August 25 2022 Chuck Collier Boulevard Sign Installation 99 5 WGAR March 9 2012 Archived from the original on September 6 2015 Retrieved August 25 2022 Venta Lance October 8 2018 Brian Fowler Exits WGAR Mornings RadioInsight Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 25 2022 Venta Lance October 18 2018 Steve Wazz Joins LeeAnn Sommers For WGAR Mornings RadioInsight Archived from the original on August 25 2022 Retrieved August 25 2022 a b Venta Lance May 22 2020 LeeAnn Summers sic amp Carletta Blake Swap Shifts At WGAR RadioInsight Archived from the original on June 2 2020 Retrieved August 25 2022 Venta Lance March 22 2021 iHeartMedia Cleveland To Move To New Facility As Company Begins Cloud Based Tech Rollout RadioInsight Archived from the original on March 22 2021 Retrieved August 25 2022 Bullard Stan July 21 2022 Downtown TV station group may move to the suburbs Crain s Cleveland Business Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on July 29 2022 Retrieved August 25 2022 99 5 WGAR Live On Air Schedule CMT Cody Alan LeeAnn and Wazz amp more 99 5 WGAR Archived from the original on August 22 2022 Retrieved January 2 2020 CMT After MidNite All Access and Radio Live with Cody Alan Radio Stations Aftermidnite com Archived from the original on March 18 2016 Retrieved August 18 2014 Bibliography editGorman John Feran Tom 2007 The Buzzard Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio Cleveland Gray amp Co ISBN 9781886228474 Olszewski Mike 2003 Radio Daze Stories from the Front in Cleveland s FM Air Wars Kent Ohio Kent State University Press ISBN 9780873387736 Archived from the original on December 9 2016 Retrieved August 4 2022 via Google Books Olszewski Mike Berg Richard Wolff Carlo 2011 WIXY 1260 Pixies Six Packs and Supermen PDF Kent Ohio Black Squirrel Books p 88 ISBN 978 1 60635 099 7 Archived PDF from the original on September 26 2021 Retrieved August 4 2022 In re Applications of G A Richards transferor and Harry J Klinger Lawrence P Fisher and John H Hannah transferees for consent to the transfer of control of KMPC the Station of the Stars Inc Los Angeles Calif Docket No 9402 WJR the Goodwill Station Inc Detroit Michigan Docket No 9403 and WGAR Broadcasting Company Cleveland Ohio Docket No 9404 For renewal of license of Radio Stations KMPC the Station of the Stars Inc Docket No 9468 File No BR 18 WJR the Goodwill Station Inc Docket No 9469 File No BR 331 and WGAR Broadcasting Company Docket No 9405 File No BR 283 Exhibits of the WGAR Broadcasting Company PDF Vol 1 Washington D C Fulton Walter amp Halley 1948 Archived PDF from the original on September 29 2021 Retrieved August 25 2021 via World Radio History In re Applications of G A Richards transferor and Harry J Klinger Lawrence P Fisher and John H Hannah transferees for consent to the transfer of control of KMPC the Station of the Stars Inc Los Angeles Calif Docket No 9402 WJR the Goodwill Station Inc Detroit Michigan Docket No 9403 and WGAR Broadcasting Company Cleveland Ohio Docket No 9404 For renewal of license of Radio Stations KMPC the Station of the Stars Inc Docket No 9468 File No BR 18 WJR the Goodwill Station Inc Docket No 9469 File No BR 331 and WGAR Broadcasting Company Docket No 9405 File No BR 283 Exhibits of the WGAR Broadcasting Company PDF Vol 2 Washington D C Fulton Walter amp Halley 1948 Archived PDF from the original on August 25 2021 Retrieved August 25 2021 via World Radio History External links editOfficial website WGAR in the FCC FM station database WGAR in Nielsen Audio s FM station database nbsp Media related to WGAR FM at Wikimedia Commons W266CJ in the FCC FM station database W266CJ at FCCdata org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title WGAR FM amp oldid 1195877843, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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