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Apparently 106.7 actually signed on in 1957. (December 15, 1957, to be prescise — not exactly easily confused with 1956 logically, but…)
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During the early 2000s, WMJX was one of the few AC stations not to broadcast wall-to-wall [[Christmas music]] during the weeks leading up to Christmas. In 2005, WMJX joined the bandwagon and broadcast an all-Christmas format from the day after Thanksgiving through December 25. It has not done so in subsequent years, although sister station WROR-FM has broadcast an all-Christmas format during the holidays since 2007.
During the early 2000s, WMJX was one of the few AC stations not to broadcast wall-to-wall [[Christmas music]] during the weeks leading up to Christmas. In 2005, WMJX joined the bandwagon and broadcast an all-Christmas format from the day after Thanksgiving through December 25. It has not done so in subsequent years, although sister station WROR-FM has broadcast an all-Christmas format during the holidays since 2007.

WMJX frequently edits the songs they play to make them fit the "soft rock" format. Some examples include REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You" (which has no guitar solo when played on WMJX), Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" (the guitar solo has been removed), and Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" (entire lines of the song's verses have been cut, for reasons unspecified).


== Cool, Hot or Green ==
== Cool, Hot or Green ==

Revision as of 19:29, 9 May 2011

WMJX
WMJX logo
Broadcast areaGreater Boston
Frequency106.7 MHz (HD Radio)
106.7 HD-2 for smooth jazz
BrandingMagic 106.7
Programming
FormatAdult contemporary
Ownership
Owner
WBOS, WKLB-FM, WROR-FM, WTKK
History
First air date
December 15, 1957
Former call signs
WBZ-FM (1957-1981)
Call sign meaning
MJ = Magic
Technical information
Facility ID25052
ClassB
ERP21,500 watts
HAAT235 meters
Transmitter coordinates
42°20′50.0″N 71°4′59.0″W / 42.347222°N 71.083056°W / 42.347222; -71.083056
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitemagic1067.com

WMJX (106.7 FM; "Magic 106.7") is a radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. It has an Adult Contemporary format. The station's transmitter is located atop the Prudential Tower in Downtown Boston. The station is one of Boston's most successful radio stations.

History

The 106.7 frequency in Boston was first used on December 15, 1957[1] as WBZ-FM, the FM complement to WBZ, under the ownership of Westinghouse Broadcasting. The station's earliest format was a classical music format, and later evolved into a combination simulcast of the AM station during the morning, with the classical music at other times.

On December 31, 1971, WBZ-FM became a rock music station as "Rockin' Stereo 106.7", programming mostly top 40 with some album cuts. Although automated, it featured voice-tracked announcing from Clark Smidt (who also programmed the station) and Ken Shelton. For a time in the mid-1970s, WBZ-FM was Boston's second most popular top 40 station, trailing only WRKO. In 1975, both Smidt and Shelton left to join WCOZ, which was changing formats from beautiful-music to album-oriented rock. By 1979, WBZ-FM had drifted into an automated album-oriented rock format itself, which remained in place through 1981.

During the years as a rock station, WBZ-FM also simulcast the hourly newscasts from WBZ, the commercial spots on which were the only commercials heard on the FM side.

In 1981, WBZ-FM was sold to Greater Media, becoming that company's first Boston station. Under the new ownership, the station signed off for a couple of weeks at the very end of 1981. During this silent period, Greater Media installed a new transmitter and raised the height of the antenna on the WBZ-TV tower. A few years later, the transmission equipment was relocated to the Prudential Tower, improving the station's signal in Downtown Boston.

The new 106.7 signed on at 6 p.m. on January 6, 1982 as WMJX, "Magic 106", using the adult contemporary format pioneered by Greater Media at WMGK in Philadelphia, and also heard on WMGQ in New Brunswick, New Jersey and WMJC in Detroit. The station's first song was "Magic" by Olivia Newton-John. By the mid-1980s, the station's name evolved to "Magic 106.7".

WMJX faced several competitors, including WROR (98.5 FM, now the current WBZ-FM), WVBF (105.7 FM, now the current WROR-FM), WSSH (99.5 FM, now WCRB), and, to some extent, easy listening station WJIB (96.9 FM, now WTKK) upon debuting; however, during the 1990s, all four stations changed formats. (WROR-FM and WTKK are now also owned by Greater Media; the company at one time also operated the 99.5 frequency as WKLB-FM.)

Two of the personalities on Magic 106.7, Nancy Quill and David Allan Boucher, have been on the station since its inception. Boucher hosts the very popular nighttime show Bedtime Magic, and has also been heard on several other stations around the country, including sister stations WMGC-FM in Detroit and WMGQ.

WMJX has had only three program directors during its entire run. Jack Casey was the original program director from 1981 to 1986, followed by Phil Redo. Don Kelley has served as program director since October 1989.

During the early 2000s, WMJX was one of the few AC stations not to broadcast wall-to-wall Christmas music during the weeks leading up to Christmas. In 2005, WMJX joined the bandwagon and broadcast an all-Christmas format from the day after Thanksgiving through December 25. It has not done so in subsequent years, although sister station WROR-FM has broadcast an all-Christmas format during the holidays since 2007.

WMJX frequently edits the songs they play to make them fit the "soft rock" format. Some examples include REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You" (which has no guitar solo when played on WMJX), Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" (the guitar solo has been removed), and Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" (entire lines of the song's verses have been cut, for reasons unspecified).

Cool, Hot or Green

In 2008 WMJX ran a contest titled Cool, Hot or Green. The prize was advertised as a new car, a choice of a “cool” Mercedes-Benz C-series sedan, a “hot” Audi TT convertible or a “green” Toyota Prius. A complaint was filed when it was learned that the prize was a two year lease on one of the three cars, and would only be awarded if the winner qualified for the lease. In response the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a $4,000 fine to Greater Media, the station's owners.[2][3]

HD radio

WMJX broadcasts on 106.7 HD2 as a smooth jazz station, a spinoff of the popular Sunday Morning Jazz program.

Awards

In 1998 WMJX received a "Radio Active" Grammy Award for programming excellence. In 2007 the station was nominated for the top 25 markets adult contemporary station of the year award by Radio & Records magazine. Other nominees included KOST in Los Angeles, WALK-FM in Patchogue, New York, WLTW in New York City, WBEB in Philadelphia, and KEZK-FM in St. Louis. [4] In 2010 the station received the Marconi award from the National Association of Broadcasters in the AC Station category.[5]

References

  1. ^ "WBZ-FM Makes Bow on 106.7 Mc" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. December 23, 1957. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  2. ^ http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/messenger/index.php/2009/04/10/fcc-fines-magic-1067-over-contest/
  3. ^ http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2009/db0408/DA-09-779A1.txt
  4. ^ "2007 Industry Achievement Awards". Radio and Records. September 28, 2008. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)[dead link]
  5. ^ "2010 Marconi Awards". FMQB.
  • Arbitron Radio Ratings
  • NARAS Radio Active Award
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