WMAX-FM
| Broadcast area | [1] |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.1 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Radio X 96.1 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Modern Rock |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Clear Channel Communications |
| WBCT, WBFX, WOOD, WOOD-FM, WSNX-FM, WTKG | |
| History | |
Former call signs | WVTI (2/21/97-11/16/05) WAKX (11/21/94-2/21/97) WKEZ (5/8/92-11/21/94) WYXX (9/14/83-5/8/92) WHTC-FM (?-9/14/83) |
Call sign meaning | Max FM (previous format) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 27471 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 150 meters |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www.radiox961.com |
WMAX-FM are the call letters of a radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, transmitting on a frequency of 96.1 MHz.
From March 19, 2007 to January 31, 2008, this station was programming a Hot AC/Modern AC hybrid format, featuring mainly alternative cuts mixed in with a few well-known 80's songs and some current top 40 music. On February 1 at 3 PM, the station began stunting with a ticking clock sound, with an expected format announcement to be made on February 4, 2008 at 10:01 AM. The new format was announced at that time, and it is known as Radio X 96.1.
History
The frequency originally belonged to WHTC-FM. When WHTC dropped the FM format in 1983 to focus solely on AM, 96.1 became known as WYXX. During this time, it was an automated Top 40 station that focused primarily on playing Billboard magazine's Top 100 hits. The all-hit format was later softened to adult contemporary.
When WOOD-FM dropped its easy listening format in 1992, WYXX adopted the format along with the call letters WKEZ. A few years later, a "Young Country" format was adopted with the call letters WAKX.
The station was later purchased by Clear Channel Communications and the station became WVTI, known as "I-96" (taking its name from the highway Interstate 96 passing through Grand Rapids). WVTI was for a time "Continuous Hit Music, I-96," a CHR with a very tight playlist. Clear Channel took control of rival station WSNX in the late summer of 1999; much of the "I-96" air lineup moved over to WSNX, which shifted from CHR/Rhythmic to CHR/Pop as a result, and "I-96" itself shifted from CHR to Hot AC, which it would remain for the next six years.
On October 18, 2005, the station flipped to a Jack FM clone called "MAX-FM". It gained the call sign of WMAX from another Clear Channel operation in Chattanooga, Tennessee on November 16, 2005. On March 19, 2007, the station retooled itself into a modern rock-leaning Hot AC presentation, known as "The NEW MAX-FM", which lasted until January 31, 2008.
On February 1, 2008 at 3 PM, the station dropped its modern rock / Hot AC hybrid format and began stunting with the sounds of a ticking clock interspersed with liners that were played every two or three minutes. Some of these liners were in Spanish and made reference to WNWZ AM 1410 and cold, snow-covered cornfields in Hudsonville, MI, while others mentioned "02/04/08 at 10:01 AM." In addition, songs which served as clues to what the new format would be were played. The songs included Coldplay's "Clocks"; Elvis Presley's "Burning Love"; David Allan Coe's "You Never Even Called Me By My Name", and Hall & Oates' "Private Eyes", among dozens of others. During the stunt, the station's website showed a 12-second viral video clip in the same vein as Cloverfield and SaveUs_222 with a message that pointed to February 4, 2008 at 10:01 AM. At that time, the ticking clock stopped, and the new format, Radio X 96.1, was born featuring a gold-based alternative rock format, very similar to other Clear Channel operations in Philadelphia and Hartford, CT. The first song played on Radio X 96.1 was Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Legally, 96.1 is WMAX-FM, as the WMAX calls are used at a Catholic Christian radio station (not co-owned) at 1440 AM in Bay City, Michigan.
References
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID WMAX ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database