Jump to content

WMMS

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by MexicanMichigan (talk | contribs) at 07:56, 17 January 2011 (mushroom logo referenced in lead). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

WMMS
File:WMMS logo (low res).png
Broadcast areaGreater Cleveland[2]
Northeast Ohio[2]
Frequency100.7 MHz[1]
(HD Radio)
Branding100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard[3]
Programming
FormatAnalog: Hot talk/Active rock[4][5][6]
HD1: Hot talk/Active rock (analog simulcast)[7]
HD2: Alternative rock[7]
AffiliationsCleveland Browns[8]
United Stations Radio Networks[9]
Westwood One[10]
Ownership
Owner
WAKS, WGAR-FM, WMJI, WMVX, WTAM[11]
History
First air date
September 28, 1968
(as WMMS)[12]
Former call signs
1948-1968: WHK-FM[12]
1946-1947: W8XUB[12]
Former frequencies
1946-1947: 107.1 (MHz)[12]
Call sign meaning
W-"MetroMedia Stereo"[13]
"Where Music Means Something"[14]
"We're your Modern Music Station"[15]
W-"your Music Marathon Station"[16]
"Weed Makes Me Smile"[14]
W-"Magic MushroomS"[17]
Technical information
Facility ID73273[1]
ClassB[18]
ERP34,000 watts[18]
HAAT183 meters[18]
Transmitter coordinates
41°21′30.00″N 81°40′3.00″W / 41.3583333°N 81.6675000°W / 41.3583333; -81.6675000
Links
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteWMMS.com

WMMS (100.7 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, widely recognized as one of the most influential — and at times, controversial[19][20][21][22] — rock stations in the history of FM broadcasting.[23][24][25][26] Created in April 1974 as "an ironic twist on Cleveland's down-and-out reputation as a decaying Rust Belt city,"[27] the station's longtime promotional mascot has been The Buzzard (the station "de-emphasized" the iconic scavenger to some extent in the fall of 2007, but revived the creation in the form of a new logo the following spring to coincide with both the station's 40th anniversary and the arrival of popular morning personality Rover).[28][29] The WMMS call letters once referred to a former owner: "MetroMedia Stereo."[13] Later the station was billed as the place "Where Music Means Something,"[14] followed by "We're your Modern Music Station"[15] and "your Music Marathon Station."[16] Although never used on the air, listeners have alternately known the callsign as an acronym for "Weed Makes Me Smile"[14] and "Magic MushroomS,"[17] the latter referencing a somewhat controversial logo used before the Buzzard.[17]

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, WMMS had a stable of personalities that remained fundamentally unchanged,[23][26] attained a dominant market share in the local ratings[24][26][30][31] and posted market record-high figures "never duplicated by any other station."[26][30] WMMS played a key role in breaking several major acts in the U.S., including David Bowie,[23] Roxy Music,[23] Bruce Springsteen,[23] Rush,[32] Fleetwood Mac,[33] Meat Loaf,[34] the Pretenders,[35] the New York Dolls,[35] Southside Johnny,[36] Lou Reed,[37] Mott the Hoople,[37] Boston[37] and Cheap Trick.[37] Considered "a true radio legend," WMMS DJ Kid Leo was chosen for Rolling Stone's "Heavy Hundred: The High and Mighty of the Music Industry" (1980) and named "The Best Disc Jockey in the Country" in a special 1987 issue of Playboy.[35][38] Noted filmmakers, including Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) and Paul Schrader (Light of Day), have called on both The Buzzard and its personnel while preparing for various rock-themed productions.[39][40] WMMS was also a major driving force behind the successful campaign to bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Cleveland.[23][41]

The station is not without controversy. Although Rolling Stone named WMMS "Best Radio Station" (Large Market) nine times in a row (1979–1987) as part of the magazine's annual Readers' Poll,[23] the station later admitted to stuffing the ballot box — and that the process had gone on "for years" — following a February 1988 front-page story in The Plain Dealer exposing manipulation.[42] Seven years later, members of both the station's staff and management pled guilty to disrupting a national broadcast of The Howard Stern Show that originated via the local Stern affiliate, cross-town rival WNCX; a federal offense, the act nearly cost WMMS its broadcasting license.[21]

Clear Channel Communications has owned WMMS since 1999.[11] The station, which currently broadcasts a combination of hot talk and active rock,[4][5][6] serves as both the flagship station for Rover's Morning Glory and the FM flagship for the Cleveland Browns (shared with AM sister station WTAM).[6][8] In addition, following a 17 month absence from the medium, radio personality Alan Cox took over the WMMS afternoon-drive in December 2009 as host of The Alan Cox Show.[43] WMMS broadcasts from two separate studios; one of the two 1-800-SAFE-AUTO Studios — named for sponsor Safe Auto[44] — functions as the primary WMMS broadcast studio (the other is used by sister station WAKS), and Studio RMG serves as the home of Rover's Morning Glory. Both WMMS studios are located at the Clear Channel complex in the Cleveland suburb of Independence,[45] while the station's transmitter resides in nearby Seven Hills.[18][46]

Early years

In August 1946, radio station WHK — owned at that time by Forest City Publishing, itself then the parent company of The Plain Dealer — received one of the earliest experimental FM licenses under the callsign W8XUB at 107.1 Megahertz (MHz).[12] Upon receipt of a commercial license, the new FM station adopted the callsign WHK-FM at 100.7 MHz. Both WHK and WHK-FM were sold in 1958 to Metropolitan Broadcasting,[12] itself renamed MetroMedia two years later. Like most early FM stations, WHK-FM mostly simulcasted the Top 40 programming of its AM sister station.

In 1968, in an effort to make the medium more commercially viable, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandated that FM stations could no longer duplicate the programming of their AM sister stations.[12] Seeing a small but significant groundswell of support for the medium in the market, WHK-FM adopted a new progressive rock format. WHK-FM became one of a handful of commercial stations in the country to try that format, many of which were owned by MetroMedia.[12] To firmly establish a separate identity, and to reflect the station's ownership,[47] the callsign of WHK-FM was changed to WMMS ("MetroMedia Stereo") on September 28, 1968.[12]

Progressive rock years

MetroMedia found major success with progressive rock at KMET (94.7 FM) of Los Angeles, KSAN (107.7 FM) of San Francisco, WMMR (93.3 FM) of Philadelphia and WNEW (102.7 FM) of New York, but low ratings and revenue in Cleveland led the company to drop the format at WMMS by May 1969.[48] The station first turned to adult contemporary, then Top 40, big band and finally the Drake-Chenault automated Hit Parade '69.[48]

Pre-Buzzard WMMS logo

WMMS reverted to progressive rock less than a year later. The station briefly battled with WNCR of Nationwide Communications, itself filling the void created by the brief absence of WMMS on the rock scene. Key WNCR personnel — including former WMMS personalities The Perlich Project (Martin Perlich) and Billy Bass — were soon hired by WMMS, taking most of their audience with them.[49][50]

File:WMMS Presents David Bowie.jpg
Advertised here in this clipping from a Cleveland Press magazine, Bowie's return on November 25, 1972 sold out immediately.[51]

In November 1972, WMMS was sold to Malrite Communications, a Michigan-based firm that relocated to Cleveland upon purchase. Under Malrite ownership, WMMS would become an album-oriented rock (AOR) powerhouse, much in the same vein as its former MetroMedia progressive rock siblings.

Album-oriented rock years

Under the leadership of Station Manager Billy Bass and Program Director Denny Sanders (who came to WMMS from Boston in 1971), WMMS helped break many new rock artists nationally, most notably David Bowie. Based on considerably high record sales in the Cleveland market, Bowie — in his Ziggy Stardust persona alongside the Spiders from Mars — kicked off his first U.S. tour in the "The Rock Capital" (a term coined by Bass himself).[52] The WMMS-sponsored concert was a "phenomenal success,"[49][51] prompting WMMS to sponsor a second show that year — rarely done at that time for an artist's first tour — this time at the city's largest venue: Cleveland Public Hall.[51]

In July 1973, John Gorman joined WMMS as music director and was promoted to program director and operations manager two months later where he remained for 13 years. During this time, with Denny Sanders as his creative services director and Rhonda Kiefer as programming assistant, WMMS broke all Cleveland ratings and revenue records. WMMS was the first radio station to employ full-time promotion and marketing directors: Dan Garfinkel and his successor, Jim Marchyshyn.

File:1975 Buzzard Poster (lower res).jpg
Roughly one year after its debut, the Buzzard was arguably the most recognizable logo in Greater Cleveland. A study conducted by MBA students at Case Western Reserve University found that the new WMMS logo beat out both Chief Wahoo of the Cleveland Indians and even Coca-Cola. Poster by David Helton.[53]

Origin of the Buzzard

Contrary to what many believe, the choice of the new WMMS mascot had nothing to do with Buzzard Day, the annual "folksy event" held in Hinckley Township, Ohio.[54] Rather, WMMS adopted a buzzard as its mascot because of the then tenuous economic state of Cleveland — the first major American city to enter into default since the Great Depression[55] — and the winged-creature's classification as a scavenger. In other words, the carrion-eating bird represented "death and dying" — a darkly comic reflection of the city's actual decline. The Buzzard was the co-creation of Gorman, Sanders and artist David Helton:[27]

We joked about the Buzzard becoming Cleveland's Mickey Mouse... a 'Buzzard Land' amusement park filled with sex, drugs and rock and roll...

From the onset, Helton's streamlined artwork resulted in an aggressive, yet family-friendly symbol for the station, one that continues to endure more than 40 years later. The Buzzard became synonymous with WMMS, Cleveland radio and the city itself, spawning a series of T-shirts so numerous that they are now impossible to catalog, many with slogans like "Where Music Means Something" and "Ruler of the Airwaves."

Also, the station was first known as The Home of the Buzzard, rather than simply The Buzzard.

Airstaff

A major contributor to the ratings success was an airstaff that remained fundamentally unchanged for many years: personalities like Kid Leo, Jeff & Flash, Matt the Cat, Dia Stein, Denny Sanders, Murray Saul, Betty "Crash" Korvan, Ruby Cheeks, BLF Bash (Bill Freeman), TR (Tom Renzy) and Len "Boom" Goldberg were invaluable to the station's popularity.

Start Finish Personality Tenure
  6 am 10 am Jeff & Flash (Jeff Kinzbach, Ed Ferenc) 1977–1994
10 am   2 pm Matt the Cat (Matt Lapczynski) 1974-88; 90-92[56]
  2 pm   6 pm Kid Leo (Lawrence Travagliante) 1974–1988
  6 pm 10 pm Denny Sanders 1971–1986
10 pm   2 am Steve Lushbaugh 1973–1976
10 pm   2 am Betty Korvan 1976–1983
10 pm   2 am TR (Tom Renzy) 1983–1988
  2 am   6 am BLF Bash (Bill Freeman) 1976–1998[57]

Of all the personalities that worked at WMMS, Len "Boom" Goldberg was there the longest. He joined the station in early 1972 before its sale to Malrite, and stayed in different capacities until 2004. He was best known as the voice for the station's top of the hour IDs, music segues and sweepers, and commercials for WMMS, and was also a member of The Buzzard Morning Zoo in the mid 80s. He died on December 27, 2006.

Breaking new acts

Others acts broken by WMMS included Rush[32] and Roxy Music. Of special note was the early support of Bruce Springsteen by Kid Leo and others, from even before Born to Run came out. For the station's tenth anniversary in 1978, WMMS hosted and broadcast a live Springsteen concert at the Agora Theatre and Ballroom independent of his concert tour. Heavily bootlegged, the concert further cemented the relationship between the two in fans' minds, and well into the 2000s Cleveland remains one of Springsteen's strongest bases. Right up until his departure in 1988, Kid Leo played Born to Run as his signature sign-off song every Friday night: "Born to Run was the essence of everything I loved about Rock 'n' Roll."[58]

Coffee Break Concert series

At the time, WMMS was also broadcasting a remarkable amount of live concert broadcasts, many of which originated in Cleveland and were produced by the station itself. The Coffee Break Concert was a weekly music-interview show broadcast live from the station's studio (and later with an audience at The Agora Ballroom). Warren Zevon, John Mellencamp, Lou Reed, Peter Frampton, and a host of others performed on the program, recordings of which are widely available as bootlegs. The WMMS Coffee Break Concerts were booked by Denny Sanders and hosted by Len "Boom Boom" Goldberg and later, Matt the Cat. The concert series continued on well into the 90s, albeit much less frequently.[59][60]

File:WMMS 1979 World Series of Rock.jpg
Known for its arena rock spectacle, the World Series of Rock was also notorious for rowdiness, excessive drinking and rampant drug use.[61]

World Series of Rock

Main article: World Series of Rock

The World Series of Rock was a recurring, day-long and usually multi-act summer rock concert held outdoors at Cleveland Municipal Stadium from 1974 through 1980.[62] Belkin Productions staged these events, attracting popular hard rock bands and as many as 88,000 fans. WMMS sponsored the concerts. Attendance was by general admission.[63]

Concertgoers occasionally fell—or jumped—off the steep stadium upper deck onto the concrete seating area far below, causing serious injury. The Cleveland Free Clinic staffed aid stations in the stadium with physicians, nurses and other volunteers, and through 1977, made its treatment statistics public. From 1978 on, Belkin Productions conditioned its funding of the Free Clinic on the nondisclosure of the number of Clinic staff on duty at the concerts, the nature of conditions treated and the number of patients treated.[64]

Shifting format

WMMS was directly influenced by then (and current) sister station Z100 (WHTZ/100.3 FM) in New York, New York, which rose to the top of the ratings books immediately after installing a contemporary hit radio (CHR) format. Among the more significant moves taken by WMMS was the formatting of the Morning Zoo concept created by Z100's Scott Shannon onto the show Jeff & Flash (Jeff Kinzbach and Ed Ferenc) were already hosting. Kinzbach and Ferenc had already been a morning team—with sidekicks—since 1976, seven years prior to adopting the Morning Zoo label, so the basic structure was already in place.

The music structure also was modified at this time as artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince soon found airplay on WMMS. The change was done for many reasons: as a nod to the sudden influence Z100's format had on the Malrite group; Gorman and Sanders intention to stay with the current music trends as the album-oriented rock (AOR) format was, even then, in a state of decline; and as a means to attract a female audience. By 1984, WMMS was classified as either a CHR/AOR hybrid or as a CHR outlet, though the station also started to devote weekend programming to the classic rock format.

Rock Hall campaign

In the mid-1980s, WMMS was an important contributor in organizing a campaign (along with former Cleveland ad agency president Edward Spizel and author-deejay Norm N. Nite) which brought the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Cleveland. John Gorman, Denny Sanders and Kid Leo organized the original campaign with Tunc Erim, assistant to Atlantic Records president Ahmet Ertegun.

The WNCX split

John Gorman and Denny Sanders left the station in fall of 1986, leading 14 staff members with them to start rival station WNCX. Gorman credits his decision to leave to changes in management, and the station's overall shift to a more "corporate" mentality.

Rolling Stone Readers' Poll

Rolling Stone named WMMS "Radio Station of the Year" nine straight years (1979–1987) as part of its annual Readers' Poll, but a February 1988 front-page story in The Plain Dealer revealed station employees had been stuffing the annual survey's ballot box, and that the process had gone on "for years." The station claimed it was simply "a marketing strategy" and "much in line with what many stations did."[65] Negative reaction was swift and widespread;[19][22] some called the scheme a mere "lack of judgement,"[19] while a reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal compared the station's response to that of discredited former Vice-President Spiro Agnew.[20]

Changing times

By the late 80s, most of the original staff members had departed: John Gorman and Denny Sanders left in 1986 to launch upstart station WNCX, and Columbia Records hired Kid Leo in 1988.[66] Four different program directors, including Rich Piombino and Michael Luczak, came and went with varying levels of success. DJ additions included station engineer Ric Bennett as Rocco the Rock Dog,[56] Scooter (WMMS Music Director Brad Hanson), Lisa Dillon[56] and 'MMS mid-day veteran Matt the Cat,[56] returning in 1990 after two years. Ratings steadily increased during the time of the First Gulf War, but The Howard Stern Show was soon picked up by a then struggling WNCX. Stern's ratings exploded and this — along with a growing urgency from management not to compete with or mention Stern on the air — led to a sudden and steep ratings decline for The Buzzard Morning Zoo. Matt the Cat was permanently let go in December 1992 due to "budget problems."[56] Unable to service its growing debt, Malrite chose to leave radio and sold off all its remaining properties in 1993:[31] WMMS went to Shamrock Broadcasting, the Roy Disney broadcasting firm.[67] Management ordered a change to the Buzzard by giving it a flat-top and mullet. The station continued to decline, culminating in 1994 with the depature of Jeff & Flash. It was during this time that WMMS was sold to OmniAmerica, a broadcasting company run by former Malrite executives Carl Hirsch and Dean Thacker.

The Buzzard: The Next Generation

File:Non-Stop Buzzard Rock.jpg
Note the weekend contest promotion offering a Stone Temple Pilots CD — one of the many new bands featured under the modern rock (alternative) format. Poster by Brian Chalmers.[39]

Under OmniAmerica ownership, WMMS veteran John Gorman returned as Vice-President and Director of Operations.[68] Gorman redesigned The Buzzard as a modern rock (alternative) station,[69] playing new acts like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, The Offspring, Green Day, Alice in Chains, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn, Bush, The Smashing Pumpkins, Soul Asylum, the Beastie Boys, Stone Temple Pilots and Nine Inch Nails.[69][70] To emphasize this change, WMMS was re-billed and aggressively promoted as The Buzzard: The Next Generation,[70] a direct reference to the success of Star Trek: The Next Generation and its revival of the aging Star Trek franchise.[71] Gorman also brought back the original Buzzard design, now drawn by David Helton's successor Brian Chalmers.[39] WMMS even managed to lure popular morning personalities Brian and Joe (Brian Fowler and Joe Cronauer) away from rival WENZ, then a modern rock station known as 107.9 The END.[72] While the change in programming alienated many longtime listeners — many of whom switched to WNCX and their full-time classic rock format — WMMS boosted its ratings for the first time in years by drawing in a new young audience.[68][70] Billboard and Airplay Monitor magazines together named WMMS Rock Station of the Year in 1995,[73] and Modern Rock Station of the Year (Medium Market) in 1996.[74] John Gorman was named Program Director of the Year in 1995.[73]

Despite quantifiable success,[70] the station was sold yet again in 1996, this time to Nationwide Communications.[75] The sale came almost immediately following passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as radio companies nationwide rushed "at a fever pitch" to acquire new properties.[75] John Gorman — who has since openly expressed his frustration with the industry's current state[76][77][78] — first departed for CBS Radio in Detroit,[79][80] but soon left traditional radio altogether.[77]

The Cleveland Funeral

Among the most notorious broadcasts of The Howard Stern Show occurred on June 10, 1994.[81] Stern had arrived on the Cleveland airwaves less than two years earlier, and in that time took his syndicated program on rival WNCX from an Arbitron ranking of thirteen to number one.[82] As promised,[83] Stern held a party for his fans on the streets of Cleveland — a "Funeral" for his local rivals, much like similar events held in New York,[83] Los Angeles[83] and Philadelphia[83] — and broadcast it nationwide.[81]

During the now infamous broadcast,[84] WMMS engineer William Alford snipped a broadcast wire used for the Stern show's satellite feed.[21][85] Stern continued on with the program over a phone line as engineers worked to quickly patch together the severed broadcast wire.[84] Alford was subsequently caught, arrested and later sentenced to ten days in jail and a $1,000 fine.[84][86] Station management initially claimed that Alford acted alone,[85] however WMMS Promotions Director Heidi Klosterman — working under the name Heidi Kramer — later pled guilty to a felony charge of attempted disruption of a public service and a misdemeanor of receiving stolen property; Greg Smith, a former Klosterman colleague, pled guilty to a misdemeanor of breaking and entering.[87]

BuzzardFest series

During this time, WMMS held a series of sold-out rock festivals that featured many of the new up-and-coming artists receiving station airplay. Buzzard-Palooza was the first of these: held in July 1994 at the Nautica Stage, the all-day concert included sets from Collective Soul, Junkhouse and Fury in the Slaughterhouse,[88] but was cut short after turning into a "rock-and-bottle-throwing melee." Cleveland Police wearing riot gear were called in just as punk rock group Green Day, the event's headliner, took the stage.[89] WMMS scheduled a second Green Day performance just two months later — this time at Blossom Music Center — and at a near record-low cost of $5 per ticket, the station gave fans a "second chance" to see the band live.[90]

The Ramones headlined BuzzardFest '95 the following spring (May 1995) at Blossom;[91] other acts included Our Lady Peace, The Rugburns and Face to Face.[91] BuzzardFest II was held the very next fall (September 1995) — again at Blossom — and featured performances from the Goo Goo Dolls, Alanis Morissette, Jewel, as well as the Dance Hall Crashers, Eleven, Green Apple Quick Step, Prick and Sons of Elvis.[92][93]

The last of these multi-act shows — simply titled BuzzardFest — was held in May 1996 at Blossom Music Center and featured performances from 311 and No Doubt, along with Candlebox, The Nixons, Goldfinger, Gods Child, Dash Rip Rock and the Holy Barbarians.[94]

Recent years

WMMS owner Nationwide Communications was bought out by Jacor Communications in 1997.[95] Following Jacor's takeover, WMMS ran a "Death of the Buzzard" month-long stunt in October 1998.[96] Geared as a format change to Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) as KISS 100.7,[97][98] the decision was reversed last-minute by management,[24] though the "KISS" brand and format did later end up on WMMS sister station WAKS.[11]

Less than a year later, Jacor was absorbed by media giant Clear Channel: the May 1999 sale continued the buying frenzy brought on by controversial and far-reaching federal deregulation. Following Clear Channel's acquisition of the station, a new airstaff was assembled: Slats (Tim Slats) was hired for the afternoon-drive, and Music Director Mark Pennington replaced BLF Bash (Bill Freeman) during overnights. Seth the Barbarian (Seth Williams) took the overnight shift when Pennington moved to evenings in 2001.[99] Bo Matthews, then the new WMMS Program Director, hired Maxwell (Ben Bornstein) in April 2004 for a more "personality-driven" afternoon show: The Maxwell Show gradually evolved from airing mostly music to all talk, and by 2009 had become the number one afternoon program in several key demographics,[100] one of the few highlights of a decade marked by declining listenership.[101] Loveline — Westwood One's nationally syndicated call-in show hosted by Dr. Drew — aired weeknights from August 2008 through June 2010.[102]

WMMS veteran John Gorman has remained a vocal critic of Clear Channel; recently, Gorman commented on the company's former Cleveland executive, Kevin Metheny (the man dubbed "Pig Virus" by Howard Stern during their time at WNBC):[103]

During his tenure in Cleveland, Metheny was Clear Channel's 'ax man,' says Gorman, trimming on-air talent and production staff and pushing other consolidation measures at the company's six local stations – WMMS/100.7, WGAR/99.5, WMJI/105.7, WMVX/106.5, WTAM/1100 and WAKS/96.5.
'He had a volatile time here,' says Gorman. 'People in radio say he was not an easy guy, that dealing with him was like a daily root canal. His big focus here was trying to build WTAM into the city's top radio station. He is the one who really put Mike Trivisonno front and center and turned Triv into whatever he is today. He definitely turned WTAM into something. But I'm not sure it is something to be proud of.'

Morning troubles

From the 1994 exit of Jeff & Flash — themselves enjoying a run of nearly twenty years — until the arrival of Rover in 2008, WMMS was beset by a roster of thirteen different morning shows in as many years. Brian and Joe (Brian Fowler and Joe Cronauer) were moved to afternoons in February 1997[104] after a change in ownership brought the addition of shock jock Liz Wilde.[105] Her firing less than a year later[105] sparked a successful lawsuit against both the station and then owner Nationwide Communications. Danny Czekalinski and Darla Jaye were teamed up in October 1997[106] with Liz Wilde holdover Cory Lingus[107] until August 1998.[108] Matt Harris served in the interim until WMMS hired Dick Dale from Jacksonville, Florida.[96]

In 2000, the station turned to Wolf and Mulrooney from sister station WPYX in Albany, New York.[109][110] The show was simulcast from Albany, marking the first time that a morning show on WMMS did not originate in Cleveland. The team later relocated to Cleveland, lasting only months until their acrimonious high-profile breakup forced the station to look elsewhere. Other shows like The Rick and Tom Megalis Show and Sean, Cristi and Hunter came and went in quick succession. The Bob and Tom Show aired from 2006 through early 2008, the only time since adopting a rock format that WMMS carried a syndicated program in that time slot with no connection to the station.[111]

In September 2007, WMMS management chose to "de-emphasize" both the Buzzard and WMMS call letters, referring to the station as simply 100.7, save for the FCC mandated legal ID at the top of every hour.[28] Regarding the change, WMMS Program Director Bo Matthews said, "… nobody's killing anything... Chief Wahoo is not on every piece of Indians promotional material... Ronald McDonald is not in every McDonald's commercial... We're not losing the letters. All we're doing is shifting an image."[28] By April 2008, the station had reverted to its traditional branding, once again frequently making use of both the noted mascot (in name) and famed call letters[29][112] — though the station had also opted to replace the classic Buzzard design (David Helton's original is still occasionally used for promotional purposes).[113] The change continued the reduced emphasis on the station's earlier years while also acknowledging The Buzzard's storied past. The new WMMS logo — created by Cleveland area web/graphic designer Scott Schumacher[114] — displays orange wings on the sides of a weathered black shield in the shape of a U.S. Route sign, with white print reading "100.7 WMMS."[3]

The Maxwell Show (WMMS)

For information on the show's current run, see WNCX section: The Maxwell Show

Ohio native Maxwell (Ben Bornstein) was hired on for the WMMS afternoon drive in April 2004 following the departure of Slats (Tim Slats) for rival station WXTM: 92.3 Xtreme Radio (now known as WKRK: Radio 92.3).[100][115] An experienced on air personality, Maxwell had already worked for a number of rock stations before joining WMMS: WEBN (102.7 FM) of Cincinnati, Ohio; WDVE (102.5 FM) and 105.9 The X (WXDX/105.9 FM) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 98 Rock (WXTB/97.9 FM) of Tampa, Florida; and 98 Rock (WIYY/97.9 FM) of Baltimore, Maryland.[115][116] Joining Maxwell were: WMMS Music Director Dan Stansbury, representing the younger male audience;[100] Krackerman (Dana Smith), who, until his firing in 2007, provided the show's black perspective; Chunk (Tiffany Peck), a young female phone screener whose role grew significantly following Krackerman's exit; Captain Showbiz (WMMS Program Director Bo Matthews); Chuck Galeti of WOIO Channel 19, the local CBS affiliate, who phoned in daily sports updates until 2008 when a heated on air confrontation with Maxwell drove him to quit; Andre Knott of WMMS sister station WTAM, serving as Galeti's replacement for the duration of the show's run; and local comedian Ryan Dalton, a frequent guest.[117]

The Maxwell Show began as a kind-of rock/talk hybrid, but gradually became all talk. The show usually began with conversations regarding the day to day lives of the cast, and later moved on to more topical stories in the news and pop culture. Maxwell would occasionally interview guests over the phone and, to a lesser extent, in the studio.[118] Humor was always a major component of the show, but the cast occasionally delved into rather serious issues, recounting some of the darker episodes from each of their personal histories. As children, both Maxwell and Stansbury were victims of sexual abuse, and Maxwell struggled with an addiction to heroin before entering rehab in 2007.

Often referred to by co-host Stansbury as "the never ending powder keg of anger," Maxwell was known for having a number of feuds with other radio personalities over the years: Rover of Rover's Morning Glory until his (Rover's) move from rival 92.3 K-Rock to WMMS in mid-March 2008 (Maxwell maintained he was "in the Rover business" during their mutual time at the station, though there were indications otherwise, such as Maxwell repeatedly voicing hopes that an F5 tornado would rip through RoverFest 2009);[100] Opie and Anthony and comedian Jim Norton over their show's alleged copying of bits and other comedy routines (Opie and Anthony originally aired tape delayed on 92.3 K-Rock opposite Maxwell, revealing the origin of Maxwell's catch phrase "Good Morning," itself mocking the irony of O & A's morning show airing in the afternoon);[119] and perhaps most notably, fellow Clear Channel host Mike Trivisonno, airing directly opposite The Maxwell Show on WTAM.

On April 3, 2009, The Maxwell Show went on the air claiming (falsely) that Metallica — in Cleveland for the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony the very next day — was playing a free show in the WMMS parking lot that evening.[100] Citing legal concerns, management immediately directed Maxwell to tell listeners that it was only a prank, and later placed him on probation for 90 days.[100] Discontent grew during contract renewal negotiations, and in November of that year the show was cancelled.[100]

On October 27, 2010, it was announced that The Maxwell Show would become the new morning show on WMMS rival WNCX (98.5 FM) beginning the following Monday, November 1.[120] Early metrics were "through the roof": visitors to the WNCX website increased tenfold, and online streaming tripled.[121] However, the overall Arbitron PPM rating for WNCX has fallen every month since the show's return; moreover, WMMS took the lead over WNCX beginning November 2010 after a period of WNCX leading.[122]

Current lineup

File:WMMS Rover billboard (lower res).jpg
Billboard promoting Rover's move to WMMS, a parody of the Nike "Witness" ad campaign for LeBron James — now formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers.[29][123]

At this point, WMMS has not regained the number one total listener audience which it held, more or less continuously, from 1975 to 1991. Additionally, the station now carries nine hours of all-talk programming every weekday (moreover, during drive-time): mornings with Rover's Morning Glory,[6] and afternoons with The Alan Cox Show.[43][124] The station's problems are further compounded by lesser emphasis on local personalities (in particular, voice-tracking nights and weekends); ever shrinking and homogenized playlists; over-commercialization; greater censorship; and increasingly limited creative control.[125] Much of this can be traced back to the fact that WMMS was one of "hundreds" of radio stations "swallowed up" by Clear Channel Communications — the often criticized media conglomerate based out-of-state in San Antonio, Texas[103][125] — following passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.[126] As a consequence of that legislation, WMMS is now one of six radio stations in the Cleveland radio market owned by a single company; one of more than 70 in the state of Ohio; and one of more than 1,200 nationally.[11]

Regardless, WMMS remains one of the most important rock stations in the history of FM radio. Radio & Records (R&R) twice named WMMS "Rock Station of the Year: Markets 1-25" (2005, 2006) as part of the Rock Industry Achievement Awards (the R&R publication, in print since the early 70s, has subsequently been absorbed by Billboard magazine).[127][128] Most recently, readers of Cleveland Scene chose both morning DJ Rover (2009)[129] and afternoon DJ Alan Cox (2010)[130] as the best radio personalities in Cleveland; WMMS itself was named best radio station, also in 2010.[131]

Rover's Morning Glory

Main article: Rover's Morning Glory

Hot talk — Live.[3]
Broadcasting weekday mornings from 6am to 11am, Rover's Morning Glory is the current morning show on WMMS, itself the show's flagship station. Rover (Shane French) began in Cleveland in 2003 at WMMS rival WXTM 92.3 Xtreme Radio (now WKRK Radio 92.3), but in what was considered "a big blow" to that station and "a coup" for The Buzzard by WMMS veteran John Gorman, Rover moved his syndicated program over in April 2008. The show is also carried on The Zone (WZNE/94.1 FM) of Rochester, New York. Show segments include The Shizzy, The Thursday Hook-Up and Know the Show. Tech Tuesday allows listeners to call-in for answers from technology expert Lance Ulanoff of PC Magazine.[6]

RoverFest — a beer-drinking festival and concert that celebrated all-things-Rover — was held June 20, 2008. West 6th Street in the Warehouse District of Downtown Cleveland was closed, a large stage was built and food and beer vendors were present. A competition for girls to be in Rover's annual Miss Morning Glory Calendar was conducted as well. Approximately 10,000 people made their way through the festival, surpassing expectations. RoverFest 2009 was held July 24, 2009 at Voinovich Park near Downtown Cleveland. The event again featured a search for girls to be in the 2010 Miss Morning Glory Calendar, along with comedian Jim Florentine, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels from Run–D.M.C. and the band Saliva. A television special was taped to air on MavTV in October 2009. The event sold out with over 10,000 people attending. RoverFest 2010 was held Saturday, August 14, 2010, again at Voinovich Park. Comedian Jim Florentine and the Miss Morning Glory Calendar Search returned; new acts included Miami hip-hop group 2 Live Crew, tribute band Mini Kiss and Cleveland alternative metal band Mushroomhead.[132]

Rover has also continued the annual Miss Morning Glory Calendar series he began in 2003. The morning show conducts a search for local, non-professional girls to be in the calendar and offers cash and other prizes to the girl who is crowned Miss Morning Glory, who gets to be featured on the calendar's cover. A large party is held for the release of the calendar – usually in November or December – which typically has all 12 girls in the calendar and everyone from the show on hand to autograph copies of the calendar.

Maria

Active rock — Live.[3]
Airs from 11am to 3pm Monday through Friday and from 9am to 3pm on Satruday. Maria (Maria Calo)[133] broadcasts from the WMMS studios, making her the station's only local DJ to air music instead of talk during weekdays: Big Rig (Ron Michaels) works out of 98 Rock of Tampa, Florida, and Shroom transmits his nightly broadcasts from WEBN of Cincinnati, Ohio; Josh Kolodny, Miles (Miles Hlivko), Keith (Keith Hotchkiss) and Corey Rotic (Corey Hawkins) are only heard on weekends.

Maria's featured segments: Big Hair Wednesday and Under the Covers.[3] Under the Covers recently debuted on February 22, 2010. The feature "salutes the best covers" by allowing listeners to send in cover song suggestions for airplay (Marilyn Manson's "Sweet Dreams" is one example).[134]

The Alan Cox Show

Hot talk — Live.[3]
Airs from 3pm to 7pm, Monday through Friday. Radio personality Alan Cox took over the WMMS afternoon-drive as host of The Alan Cox Show on December 16, 2009. Cox replaced former afternoon host Maxwell (Ben Bornstein) — on air as host of The Maxwell Show since 2004 — after contract renewal negotiations fell through between Bornstein and the station.[135] The new afternoon talk show airs weekdays from 3-7PM.[43][124] Before arriving at WMMS, Cox was host of The Morning Fix at Q101 (WKQX/101.1 FM) in Chicago, Illinois[136][137] and The Alan Cox Radio Show at 105.9 The X (WXDX/105.9 FM) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[136][138][139][140] Alan Cox is known for his caustic wit, political comments and controversial comedy routines.[138]

Comedian Chad Zumock — formerly of the sketch comedy troupe Last Call Cleveland — officially joined the show on January 5, 2010.[141][142][143] Erika Lauren (Erika Wasilewski),[143] a cast member from the MTV reality series The Real World: Washington D.C.,[144] joined on January 29, 2010.[145][146]

The show recently debuted the song (and music video) "Parma State of Mind," both as a parody of the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys hit "Empire State of Mind," and as a way of continuing the Northeast Ohio tradition of ribbing the Cleveland suburb — somewhat of a nod to past local horror hosts Ghoulardi and Big Chuck and Lil' John.[147][148][149] As of March 13, 2010, the video — which debuted on February 19 — has had more than 200,000 views on YouTube.[150] Parma mayor Dean Piero has criticized the show's parody: "Whatever. It's pretty sick. Half of [the video] isn't even filmed in Parma. The people who put it together aren't even smart enough to know where our city boundaries are..." Chad Zumock responded, "Yeah, and we really thought that Best Buy still sells 8-tracks."[151][152] Alan did later extend an invitation to Mayor Piero to appear on the show — an offer the local official accepted — to stress the viral hit's playful intent.[153]

The Rock Report (Corey Rotic)

Hot talk.[154]
Brief segment devoted to news in the world of rock that plays during commercial breaks. The feature updates daily, and is hosted by WMMS personality Corey Rotic (Corey Hawkins).[155][156]

Big Rig (voice-tracked)

Active rock — Voice-tracked.[3]
Airs 7pm to midnight, Monday through Friday, and 3pm to 7pm on Sunday. Big Rig (Ron Michaels) actually works out of a different Clear Channel station — 98 Rock (WXTB/97.9 FM) of Tampa, Florida. His nightly WMMS broadcasts are transmitted to Cleveland via Prophet, a type of voice-tracking technology.[157]

Shroom (voice-tracked)

Active rock — Voice-tracked.[3]
Airs weeknight overnights from midnight to 6am. Shroom (Jason Schumm)[158] actually works out of a different Clear Channel station — WEBN (102.7 FM) of Cincinnati, Ohio. His nightly WMMS broadcasts are transmitted to Cleveland via Prophet, a type of voice-tracking technology.[159]

Weekends (voice-tracked)

Airing Saturday nights at 11PM and hosted by Malcolm (Malcolm Ryker) and DJ Mike Czech, Scratch'N'Sniff is a unique blend of rock/hip-hop remixes and mash-ups. The show began in 2003 on 91X (XETRA/91.1 FM) of San Diego, California, but quickly grew into the nationally syndicated program now distributed by Westwood One.[10][160][161] The House of Hair, a nationally syndicated Metal show hosted by Dee Snider, runs Sunday nights from 8-10PM.[9]

Sports coverage

WMMS has served as the FM flagship station for the Cleveland Browns since 2001, sharing coverage with AM sister station WTAM.[8] WMMS previously shared Browns coverage in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s with former AM sister station WHK.

WTAM serves as the sole flagship station for both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians, but WMMS does function as its backup station, carrying select games of each team during scheduling conflicts:[162][163]

  • If during a Cavaliers/Indians scheduling conflict the Cavaliers are not in a playoff game, WMMS carries the Cavaliers.
  • If during a Cavaliers/Indians scheduling conflict the Cavaliers are in a playoff game, WMMS carries the Indians.
Cleveland Browns
100.7 WMMS
(shared with 1100 WTAM)
Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Indians
1100 WTAM
100.7 WMMS if Cavaliers/Indians conflict
and Cavaliers ARE NOT in a playoff game 		1100 WTAM
100.7 WMMS if Cavaliers/Indians conflict
and Cavaliers ARE in a playoff game

References

  • Adams, Deanna R. (2002). Rock and Roll and the Cleveland Connection. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87338-691-3.
  • Feran, Tom (1997). Ghoulardi: Inside Cleveland TV’s Wildest Ride. Cleveland, Ohio: Gray & Co. ISBN 978-1-88622-818-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Gorman, John (2007). The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio — A Memoir. Cleveland, Ohio: Gray & Co. ISBN 978-1-88622-847-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Norton, Jim (2008). I Hate Your Guts. New York, New York: Simon Spotlight Entertainment. ISBN 978-1-41658-785-9.
  • Olszewski, Mike (2003). Radio Daze: Stories from the Front in Cleveland's FM Air Wars. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87338-773-6.
  • Talevski, Nick (2008). Hang On Sloopy: The History of Rock & Roll in Ohio. Green, Ohio: Guardian Express Media. ISBN 978-0-98005-610-5.
  • Toman, James A. (1997). Cleveland Stadium: The Last Chapter. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Landmarks Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-93676-010-0.
  • Wolff, Carlo (2006). Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories: True and Tall Tales of the Glory Days, Told by Musicians, DJs, Promoters, and Fans Who Made the Scene in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Cleveland, Ohio: Gray & Co. ISBN 978-1-88622-899-3.


  1. ^ a b c "Station Search Details: Callsign WMMS". Media Bureau Electronic Filing and Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Service Area Contour Map (54 dBu): WMMS". FMQ FM Radio Database Query. Federal Communications Commission. 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Cleveland's Rock Station: 100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard". WMMS.com. Clear Channel Communications, Inc. 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Advertise With Us". WMMS.com. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010. 100.7 is a new breed of rock station... mixing hot talk... and rock together.
  5. ^ a b "Spring 2010 Station Information Profile (SIP) on File with Arbitron: WMMS". Station Information Profiles. Arbitron Inc. 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e Bona, Marc (February 21, 2008). "DJ Rover leaving WKRK for WMMS". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Station Guide: Cleveland, OH". HDRadio.com. HD Radio. 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  8. ^ a b c "Media Center: On the Air". ClevelandBrowns.com. Cleveland Browns. 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "House of Hair Stations List by State". HouseofHairOnline.com. Bernadette Productions, LLC. 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Station Affiliates". Scratch'N'Sniff official website. snsmix.com. 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Station Search: Cleveland". ClearChannel.com Radio. Clear Channel Communications. 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Cleveland Broadcast Radio Archives WMMS timeline". Cleveland Broadcast Radio Archives. Mike Olszewski & SofTrends, Inc. 2002. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  13. ^ a b "Station Guide: Call Letters". Cleveland Broadcast Radio Archives. Mike Olszewski & SofTrends, Inc. 2002. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  14. ^ a b c d Gorman, p. 10.
  15. ^ a b Gorman, John (March 16, 2009). "St. Patrick's Day, Buzzard-style, 1983". John Gorman: The Buzzard. WordPress.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010. ... programming assistant Rhonda Kiefer suggested using our call letters as an acronym for 'We're your Modern Music Station' on some IDs, which we did.
  16. ^ a b Gorman, John (April 8, 2008). "The second WMMS Music Marathon Station TV spot". John Gorman: The Buzzard. WordPress.com. Retrieved December 23, 2009. We adopted the slogan – Your 'Music Marathon Station,' a subtle acronym for M-M-S...
  17. ^ a b c Gorman, John (May 6, 2008). "The Evolution of the Buzzard". John Gorman: The Buzzard. WordPress.com. Retrieved January 22, 2010. In this sketch by David the Buzzard is wearing a T-shirt with the original WMMS mushroom logo. It was our intent to circumspectly phase out the mushroom logo while establishing the Buzzard as our mascot.
    • Wolff, p. 20. "First, it was magic mushrooms. But as 'MMS gained power, it took wing as the Buzzard."
    • Adams, p. 120 "The popular, controversial mushroom logo was on its way out. ... it more than faintly seemed to advocate the use of drugs."
  18. ^ a b c d "FM Query Results: WMMS". FMQ FM Radio Database Query. Federal Communications Commission. 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  19. ^ a b c Olszewski, p. 315. "Gronek told The Plain Dealer that if WMMS didn't buy up the magazines, 'Some other city would. We just do it bigger and better.' Runner up stations in WNEW-FM in New York and WMMR-FM in Philadelphia quickly disagreed, both saying they would never stoop to that level of competition. Critics lined up quickly. Gorman contradicted management at his former station, telling the paper, 'Winning [the poll] was everything... an incredibly hot sales positioning statement... an extra sales point to tack onto the ratings. It can help close a deal.' General managers at WMJI-FM and WGAR-FM agreed... WZAK-FM’s general manager Lee Zapis called it a 'lack of judgement.' WLTF-FM said it was 'not good business practice. WONE-FM’s programming head Fred Anthony stated, 'It would be unfair to say we all do it.' The negative reaction did not stop there. The Associated Press picked up the story, and stations in Pittsburgh, Baton Rouge, and other cities ran it. Back in Cleveland, it was the talk of radio and television."
  20. ^ a b Dyer, Bob (March 6, 1988). "Rationalization of 'MMS worthy of Spiro Agnew". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. D1.
  21. ^ a b c Santiago, Roberto (October 6, 1994). "Stability at WMMS Hangs by a Wire". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 12E - Arts & Living.
  22. ^ a b Gorman, p. 278. "The Wall Street Journal picked up the story, under the headline, 'Repeat After Me: I Like WMMS, I Like WMMS.' "
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "Rock Hall to celebrate WMMS, one of the nation's most influential radio stations". Rock Hall official website. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. August 25, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  24. ^ a b c Brown, Roger (October 31, 1998). "Buzzard to Keep Circling Airwaves". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1B - Metro. During its peak period - generally regarded as the early 1970s to the early '80s - WMMS was a civic treasure and a national giant. ... Back then, WMMS largely owned the No.1 spot in the Cleveland radio ratings... WMMS' uncanny skill in spotting upcoming trends in rock music - and giving them airplay - made it one of the most influential radio stations in the country.
  25. ^ Goldstein, Patrick (June 1, 1986). "Cleveland Is on a (Rock 'N') Roll". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. p. 64 - Calendar. ... WMMS landed a phenomenal 13.9 ratings share, making it easily the top-rated station in the market, scoring nearly twice as high as the station's closest competitor. And that was actually a ratings drop for the station, which had won a 14.5 rating last fall and has been the city's rock radio leader for nearly a decade. By comparison, KIIS-FM, L.A.'s top-rated station, had a 7.4 rating in the most recent survey...
    • Pareles, Jon (June 18, 1986). "Oldies on Rise in Album-Rock Radio". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. p. C26. Cleveland's top radio station, WMMS-FM, a major force in album-rock radio...
    • Bednarski, P.J. (March 23, 1986). "Rock Is No Joke in Cleveland". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. p. 4. WMMS-FM, the city's top rock radio station... fanatical devotion by its listeners...
    • Neus, Elizabeth (February 27, 1985). "A Station's Name Built Enduringly on Rock". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Brian Tierney. p. C3 - Features: Entertainment. Letters and calls roll in from Texas, Colorado, Great Britain and Algeria - all from former Cleveland residents wanting WMMS-FM bumper stickers and T- shirts, saying how much they miss the rock station... Even industry officials say WMMS, Cleveland's number one station in the 18-to-34 age group for more than 10 years, is a model for other rock stations...
    • Ridgeway, Karen (October 28, 1987). "The Playlist/Pop LPs". USA Today. Gannett Company. p. 4D - Life. Each week, USA Today asks disc jockeys from top stations across the USA: What's your pick for the current hottest album? PHOTO: Mike Robert, 'Kid Leo' Travagliante, Tom Joyner...
    • Benson, John (October 25, 2003). "Cleveland Rocks!". Billboard.biz Archive. Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2010. ... the '70s heyday of the once highly prominent and influential local radio station WMMS (The Buzzard).
    • Tucker, Ken (April 21, 2006). "Renda Fills Florida Opening With Radio Vet". Billboard.biz Archive. Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2010. ... Tiburski was VP/GM and co-founder of the former Malrite Broadcasting's legendary WMMS (the Buzzard) in the '70s and early '80s.
    • "Cleveland Rock Station WMMS Calling It Quits: Former Radio Giant to Change Call Letters, Format". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. October 2, 1998. p. A1 - Entertainment. WMMS-FM, once one of the most influential radio stations in America and home to some of the most powerful disc jockeys in the country...
    • Willey, Jack (September 16, 1990). "Radio Man Takings His Energies North". The Columbus Dispatch. Dispatch Printing Company. p. 1D - News. ... Munch leaves Sept. 28 to join Cleveland rock giant WMMS as its promotions director.
    • "DJs Sign Off". The Cincinnati Post. The E.W. Scripps Company. April 16, 1994. p. 12A - News: Metro edition. Cleveland's Ed 'Flash' Ferenc and Jeff Kinzbach, whose manic morning show helped push WMMS-FM to national prominence...
  26. ^ a b c d "WMMS". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. May 13, 1998. Retrieved February 22, 2010. ... a cohesive staff developed a rock-centered radio station that came to dominate the Cleveland radio market and gain a national reputation as a forum for new Rock 'n' Roll acts. ... In the 1980s it... was one of the highest-rated radio stations in the country.
  27. ^ a b Norman, Michael (November 24, 2007). "Chapter 7 - Hatching the Buzzard". Cleveland.com: Plain Dealer Extra. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  28. ^ a b c Heaton, Michael (September 14, 2007). "Bye Bye Buzzard: WMMS 100.7 Clips the Wings of Its Famous, Big-Beaked, Rockin' Mascot". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved September 14, 2007. WMMS FM/100.7, which has used a cartoon buzzard as its logo since 1974, has 'de-emphasized' the icon...
  29. ^ a b c Vickers, Jim (June 2008). " 'Glory' Days". ClevelandMagazine.com. Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved October 17, 2010. In September the Buzzard icon that had been WMMS's primary marketing image since 1974 got the ax. The decision left the station with no recognizable marketing identity. Instead, it pushed its ambiguous 100.7 frequency in its branding efforts. But the late-March announcement that "Rover's Morning Glory" was moving to WMMS April 1 rang like a shot of redemption. Clear Channel posted billboards featuring Rover that spoofed Nike's huge LeBron banner near The Q. A new station logo also appeared — a road sign emblazoned with 100.7 WMMS that sports wispy orange wings.
  30. ^ a b Pantsios, Anastasia (January 28, 2004). "The Glory Daze of Cleveland Radio". The Cleveland Free Times. 11 (40). Matt Fabyan. ...the station's ratings were soaring, peaking with the fall 1986 book, in which it garnered its largest rating ever, a 15.7 share of the market, never duplicated by any other station.
  31. ^ a b Fabrikant, Geraldine (March 6, 1989). "The Media Business; Malrite's Buyout Price Disturbs Wall Street Analysts". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved March 20, 2010. Some of its radio stations, including WHTZ-FM in New York and WMMS-FM in Cleveland, are among the leaders in their markets.
  32. ^ a b Wagner, Vit (May 11, 2002). "What a Rush". Toronto Star. Torstar. p. J1 - Arts. Donna Halper... music director for Cleveland's WMMS in 1974... was the first radio programmer in the U.S. to air Rush's eponymous debut album. ... she is credited with having been instrumental in landing the band its first U.S. record deal.
  33. ^ Gorman (photo captions) "WMMS was strongly identified with Fleetwood Mac's national breakout."
  34. ^ Adams, p. 233. " '... it was very difficult convincing others in the business. But once [John] Gorman and Kid Leo [of WMMS] agreed to play it, things started to happen.' ... a sold-out show at Cleveland's Agora that same month, which 'brought the house down' and resulted in another sold-out performance weeks later at Cleveland's 3,000-seat Music Hall (broadcast live on WMMS). Meat Loaf... had captured an audience already known for its musical awareness. Within weeks, the debut album... was flying off record store shelves..."
  35. ^ a b c "Underground Garage DJs: Kid Leo". Sirius Satellite Radio official website. Sirius XM. 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010. A true radio legend, Kid Leo got his start in Cleveland in the '70s... He was named one of the 'Heavy Hundred in the Music Industry' by Rolling Stone magazine, and Playboy deemed him 'The Best DJ' in a special 'Best Of' issue. During his initial stint in radio he aided the careers of many including Bruce Springsteen, the Pretenders and the New York Dolls.
  36. ^ Gorman, p. 95. "Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Southside Johnny... were strongly identified with WMMS."
  37. ^ a b c d Talevski, p. 80. "... WMMS settled into its classic on-air lineup... the potent afternoon jock, Kid Leo... broke acts such as Lou Reed, Mott the Hoople, Meat Loaf, Boston, Cheap Trick and Southside Johnny, and championed rockers such as David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen."
  38. ^ Adams, p. 332. "... in 1980 he was named in Rolling Stone's 'Heavy Hundred: The High and Mighty of the Music Industry.' ... WMMS's Kid Leo was the radio jock you wanted to reach if you had any hope of securing a gig at the equally prestigious and important Agora."
  39. ^ a b c Lewis, Frank (June 23, 2009). "R.I.P. Brian Chalmers, Rock 'N' Roll Artist". Cleveland Scene official website: Scene & Heard Archives. Cleveland Scene. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  40. ^ Freedman, Samuel G. (February 15, 1987). "Film; Paul Schrader Plumbs Grassroots Rock". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  41. ^ Gorman, John (April 15, 2009). "How the Rock Hall was won". John Gorman: The Buzzard. WordPress.com. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  42. ^ Dyer, Bob (February 26, 1988). "WMMS wins poll by voting for self". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. D11.
  43. ^ a b c Washington, Julie (December 16, 2009). "Chicago radio personality Alan Cox takes charge of afternoons on WMMS". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  44. ^ "The Alan Cox Show 6/15/10 Part 3: Audio Dump". WMMS.com: Podcasts. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  45. ^ "Contact Us". WMMS official website. Clear Channel Communications, Inc. 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  46. ^ "WMMS Transmitter". Google Maps. Google. 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
    • "Vicinity" (PDF). SevenHillsOhio.org: City Maps. City of Seven Hills. 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  47. ^ Olszewski, p. 14. "The new call letters stood for 'Metro Media Stereo' to reflect its parent company, as a sister station in Philadelphia changed formats and call letters right around the same time to WMMR-FM, which represented 'Metro Media Radio.' "
  48. ^ a b Olszewski, p. 21. "Although the progressive format was a critical success, it was a financial disappointment. ... On May 27, 1969, WMMS had abandoned most of the 'new groove' music for... adult contemporary..."
    • Olszewski, p. 24. "WMMS was in yet another transition... Its change the previous May... soon became big band programming, but it quickly became evident that it wasn't going to work. ... general manager Ken Gaines chose a syndicated music service developed by 'format doctors' Bill Drake and Gene Chenault... Hit Parade '69..."
  49. ^ a b "Best of All Time: Radio". The Cleveland Free Times. 15 (22). Matt Fabyan. January 3, 2007.
  50. ^ "Martin Perlich: BIO". MartinPerlich.com. Martin Perlich. 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010. In the cultural eruption of the 1960's Perlich became a pioneer in 'experimental radio,' continuing into the 70's with interviews for WMMS in Cleveland and KMET in Los Angeles...
  51. ^ a b c Olszewski, p. 82.
  52. ^ "ROCK 'N' ROLL". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. February 24, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2010. In 1972, WMMS program director, Billy Bass, coined the phrase 'Cleveland -- The Rock 'n' Roll Capital of the World.' 
  53. ^ Gorman, John (April 15, 2009). "35 Years Ago – The Buzzard Is Born!". John Gorman: The Buzzard. WordPress.com. Retrieved January 8, 2010. A little over a year after the Buzzard logo was introduced, a group of Case Western Reserve University MBA students did a study and determined that The Buzzard was the most recognizable logo in Greater Cleveland, beating out both the Cleveland Indians (Chief Wahoo) and Coca-Cola.
  54. ^ Gorman, John (March 12, 2009). "Buzzard Day in Hinckley – 1976". John Gorman: The Buzzard. WordPress.com. Retrieved January 10, 2010. The choice of the Buzzard as the WMMS mascot had nothing to do with Hinckley. In fact, we did not learn of Hinckley's Buzzard Day until a listener from the area tipped us off to it.
  55. ^ "Cleveland: A Bicentennial Timeline". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  56. ^ a b c d e "MTV 'Choose or Lose' Creater Tapped by NBC". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. December 14, 1992. p. 7C - Arts & Living.
  57. ^ Santiago, Roberto (February 4, 1993). "Digging the Graveyard Shift in Radio". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 5E - Arts & Living.
  58. ^ Masur, Louis P. (September 22, 2009). "The Birth of Born to Run". Slate.com. Washington Post. Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  59. ^ Norman, Michael (February 20, 1997). "Coffee Break Concert Gets Shot of Metallica". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 4B - Metro. WMMS launched its 'Coffee Break Concerts' series during the station's heyday in the 1970s. They have been held only sporadically in the 1990s...
  60. ^ Scott, Jane (December 15, 2000). "Pair of Earles Headed to the Odeon in February". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 13 - Friday. The rock station will hold a 'Coffee Break Concert' with Sammy Hagar on Thursday, Jan. 4, at the Odeon.
  61. ^ "Crowd Control Is Questioned". Cleveland Press. Joseph E. Cole. July 30, 1970. p. A1.
    • "Some Fans Got off on Music, Others High on Marijuana". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. September 2, 1974. p. A4.
  62. ^ Toman, p. 66–65.
  63. ^ Gorman, pp. 72–79.
  64. ^ "88,000 Rock Fans Win Modell's Praise". Cleveland Press. Joseph E. Cole. September 2, 1974. p. A1.
    • "Rainy Sunday". Cleveland Press. Joseph E. Cole. June 6, 1977. p. C1.
    • "It's a Gas, Gas, Gas: Roisterous Crowd Greets Rolling Stones". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. July 2, 1978. p. A1.
    • "Fleetwood Mac Show Crowd Praised as Best Behaved". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. August 27, 1978.
    • "Fleetwood Mac Concertgoers Are Rob Victims". Cleveland Press. Joseph E. Cole. August 28, 1978. p. A12.
  65. ^ O'Connor, Clint (August 27, 1995). "Memorable Moments: A Quick Look Back at Cleveland History Shows the Events and People Who Helped Make This City a Happening Place". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1I - Arts & Living. February 1988. WMMS Radio admits to stuffing the ballot box in the annual Rolling Stone Readers' Poll...
    • Sandstrom, Karen (April 15, 1994). "It's Farewell Today to the Zoo: Zany WMMS Team Bowing Out as Station's Ownership Changes". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1A - National. ...employees had been 'stuffing the ballot box' to win the magazine's annual Best Radio Station award... the practice was a marketing strategy, much in line with what many stations did, Ferenc says.
  66. ^ Hyduk, John (December 2007). "The Hit King: Kid Leo". ClevelandMagazine.com: Arts & Entertainment. Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  67. ^ "Shamrock Completes Purchase of Malrite". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. August 4, 1993. p. 2E - Business. Shamrock Broadcasting Inc. said it has completed the purchase of Cleveland's Malrite Communications Group Inc., owner of WMMS-FM... Shamrock Broadcasting is owned by the Roy E. Disney family...
  68. ^ a b Norman, Michael (May 8, 1994). "WMMS' Gorman Tries Ratings Magic Again". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 2J - Arts & Living.
  69. ^ a b "Modern Rock Radio Roars Ahead -- Format's Growth Continues To Surprise". Billboard.biz Archive. Billboard. November 5, 1994. Retrieved June 16, 2010. WMMS Cleveland, which now considers itself a modern rock outlet...
  70. ^ a b c d Santiago, Roberto (November 26, 1994). "Here's How the Buzzard Put WENZ on the Rocks". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 8E - Arts & Living.
  71. ^ Olszewski, pp. 414-415. "Champagne was being poured in the halls, and t-shirts were handed out to the staff with the old Buzzard wearing a Star Trek uniform, under a banner reading 'The Next Generation.' "
  72. ^ Rauzi, Robin (July 9, 1994). "Brian and Joe End Up at WMMS' Zoo". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 4B - Metro.
  73. ^ a b "WPLJ N.Y. Big Winner At Awards". Billboard.biz Archive. Billboard. October 28, 1995. Retrieved June 16, 2010. The only other multiple rock winner was WMMS Cleveland, which won for station and PD of the year (John Gorman).
  74. ^ "Billboard/Airplay Monitor Radio Awards Bestowed". Billboard.biz Archive. Billboard. September 21, 1996. Retrieved June 16, 2010. The medium-market modern rock station winner was WMMS Cleveland.
  75. ^ a b Brown, Roger (April 23, 1996). "Nationwide 'to Own' Cleveland Radio; Insurer to be Largest Owner of Stations with WGAR, WMMS, WMJI". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1A - National. {{cite news}}: Text "... Nationwide Communications... will buy WMMS FM/100.7... The rush among radio companies, here and nationwide, to acquire new properties has been at a fever pitch since Congress' recent approval of a new telecommunications law." ignored (help)
  76. ^ Gorman, John (January 24, 2010). "Radio: What's changed?". John Gorman's Media Blog: Blogger.com. Google. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  77. ^ a b Feran, Tom (March 26, 2000). "Net's New Bird for Local Radio". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1I - Arts & Entertainment.
  78. ^ Gorman, John (December 7, 2008). "Radio: Two losers join forces". John Gorman's Media Blog: Blogger.com. Google. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  79. ^ Feran, Tom (June 21, 1996). "WMJI, WMMS Vice President Resigns Post". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 7B - Scene & Heard.
  80. ^ Strassmeyer, Mary (April 15, 1997). "Alive and Well and Researching". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 5B - Scene & Heard. ... John Gorman, who has worked for just about every radio station in town, in and around mergers and sales, has finally run out. He's pushing on to Detroit to take a programming job with CBS Radio there.
  81. ^ a b Albrecht, Brian E. (June 11, 1994). "Curses! Stern Sabotaged: Reveling Shock Jock Has Broadcast Jammed". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1E - Arts & Living.
  82. ^ Santiago, Roberto (April 22, 1994). "Shock Jock Stern Grabs No. 1 Morning Spot". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 4B - Metro.
  83. ^ a b c d McIntyre, Michael K. (May 27, 1994). "Live Stern to Hold Funeral for 2 Rivals". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1B - Metro.
  84. ^ a b c "The History of Howard Stern Act III: Day 9, Segment 1 of 5: The Cleveland Funeral". Sirius.com: Howard Stern on Sirius. Sirius XM. 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2010. But the funeral would be remembered most for some unexpected technical difficulties when a rival station cut the wires to their broadcast.
  85. ^ a b Ewinger, James; Santiago, Roberto (September 8, 1994). "Ex-Technician Pleads Guilty to Silencing Stern". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 4B - Metro. Alford, 30, of Cleveland, admitted cutting wires to a satellite feed on June 10 as Stern made a live broadcast from a saloon in the Flats. ... WMMS yesterday released a statement saying that Alford acted on his own...{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  86. ^ Ewinger, James (June 29, 1995). "Stern Silencer Gets Jail". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 4B - Metro.
  87. ^ Seper, Chris (June 27, 1995). "Stern Broadcast Saboteurs Plead Guilty". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 2B - Metro.
  88. ^ "Flats Hosts Illuminating River Expo". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. July 22, 1994. p. 9 - Friday.
  89. ^ Stephens, Scott (July 25, 1994). "Thousands Jam Flats for Festival; Melee at Rock Concert Can't Mar River Expo". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1B - Metro.
  90. ^ "Bluesman Returns with Weird Al". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. August 12, 1994. p. 39 - Friday.
  91. ^ a b Yarborough, Chuck (May 22, 1995). "Youth Rules at BuzzardFest '95". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 4E - Arts & Living.
  92. ^ Soeder, John (September 11, 1995). "Radio Station Bash Features Up-and-Coming Performers". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 5B - Scene & Heard.
  93. ^ Bish, Diana (September 25, 1995). "Price Is Right for Melee with Music". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 2E - Next.
  94. ^ Norman, Michael (May 20, 1996). "Sunny Weather Shakes the Blues". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 8D - Arts & Living.
  95. ^ Brown, Roger (November 3, 1997). "Jacor Ownership Taking Radio into New Era". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 6E - Arts & Living. Now that it's bought local stations WMJI FM/105.7, WGAR FM/99.5 and WMMS FM/100.7, Jacor looms as the undisputed Big Daddy of Cleveland radio.
  96. ^ a b Feran, Tom (October 2, 1999). " 'Mike O'Malley' First Show to Go: Sitcom Canceled After Two Weeks". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 5E - Entertainment.
  97. ^ Feran, Tom (October 3, 1998). "WMMS Drops Buzzard, Gets Set to Launch New Format". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1A - National.
  98. ^ Brown, Roger (November 2, 1998). "Stunt Puts Even More Pressure on WMMS". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1E - Entertainment. ... insists it really did plan to drop the Buzzard image, switch... to 'KISS 100.7,' and flip the station's format from mainstream rock to Top 40 tunes.
  99. ^ Schiffman, Mark (November 23, 2001). "Arbitron: Listening Up, Fave Stations The Same". Billboard.biz Archive. Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2010. Cousin Deke moves from evenings to mornings. MD Mark Pennington goes from overnights to nights, and P/T Seth 'the Barbarian' Williams adds overnight duties.
  100. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Frank (November 25, 2009). "Maxwell Out at 'MMS". CleveScene.com - Scene & Heard. Cleveland Scene. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  101. ^ "The Truth about the competition, pt. 3". WNCX.com. CBS Radio, Inc. November 1, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  102. ^ "WMMS Feelin' the Loveline". AllAccess.com. All Access Music Group. August 7, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2010. Clear Channel Rocker WMMS/Cleveland is adding the popular program Loveline. The syndicated show offers medical and relationship advice and is hosted nationally by Dr. Drew Pinsky and CBS Alternative KROQ/Los Angeles
  103. ^ a b Norman, Michael (April 30, 2010). "Kevin Metheny, a.k.a. 'Pig Virus,' riles WGN Radio's Chicago fan base". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  104. ^ Brown, Roger (February 19, 1997). "Getting Back on Track at Rockin' WMMS". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 4E - Arts & Living. So, would you like to fancy a guess at what time slot Fowler and Cronauer have at the newly revamped WMMS? Would you like to guess '3 to 7 p.m.' - which just happens to be, ahem, afternoon-drive?
  105. ^ a b "WMMS Fires Shock-Talk Personality". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. September 9, 1997. p. 5B - Scene & Heard.
  106. ^ Brown, Roger (October 27, 1997). "Danny, Darla Debut Today on WMMS". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 5E - Arts & Living.
  107. ^ Brown, Roger (September 15, 1997). "Listen to the Words, Not Just the Voice". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 5E - Arts & Living. Cory Lingus, Sam the Mailman and D.C. began hosting... following the station's firing of their boss, Liz Wilde.
  108. ^ Brown, Roger (August 17, 1998). "New Owner at WMMS Fires Three Personalities". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 3E - Entertainment.
  109. ^ Feran, Tom (June 29, 2000). "Albany Morning Team May Replace Dale at WMMS". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 6E - EveryWoman. This time, the door would spin out Dick Dale and bring in the team of Bob Wolf and John Mulrooney from WPYX-FM, a rock station in Albany, NY...
  110. ^ Feran, Tom (October 26, 2000). "Buzzard Flapping Wings, Stern Diving in Latest Arbitron". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 11E - Arts & Life. ... new wake-up team of Bob Wolf and John Mulrooney, who lifted the station's morning numbers more than 35 percent from last winter.
  111. ^ "Official: WMMS Morning Team Out, Bob and Tom to Replace". Ohio Media Watch: Blogger.com. Google. June 16, 2006. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  112. ^ "It's Official: Rover to 100.7, Er, WMMS". Ohio Media Watch: Blogger.com. Google. March 17, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  113. ^ "Buzzard Army". Buzzard Army official website via WMMS.com. Clear Channel Communications, Inc. 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  114. ^ Schumacher, Scott (2010). "Portfolio of Scott Schumacher". VeryLoud.com. VeryLoudMedia. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  115. ^ a b "Matthews Builds A Better Buzz". Billboard.biz Archive. Billboard. September 17, 2004. Retrieved May 17, 2010. ... WMMS also lost afternoon jock Slats to modern rival WXTM (Xtreme Radio). Matthews replaced Slats with Maxwell, who hosts another personality-driven afternoon show. 'He has been on stations like... WDVE Pittsburgh and... WEBN Cincinnati, and I was very fortunate to pick him up... He had family in Ohio, and he was really excited about it...' 
  116. ^ "Individual Bio - Maxwell". bordingk.com/maxwellshow.html. The Maxwell Show. 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010. ... has worked at some of the most influential rock stations in the country: WEBN, WDVE, WXTB, WIYY and most recently at WMMS where he hosted an all-talk afternoon program.
  117. ^ Luttermoser, John (June 2, 2009). "Local comics Chad Zumock and Ryan Dalton have a CD release show June 10 at Brothers Lounge: Laugh Track for June 4–10". Cleveland.com - Going Out. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved May 20, 2010. Dalton... a refreshing addition to the cast whenever he sits in on the 'Maxwell Show,' afternoons on WMMS FM/100.7.
  118. ^ "Slipknot Frontman Discusses Mushroomhead 'Feud' ". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. March 11, 2005. Retrieved May 20, 2010. Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor stopped by the 100.7 WMMS FM studios in Cleveland on Wednesday (March 9) and responded to questions from afternoon DJ Maxwell...
  119. ^ Norton, pp. 229–240. See chapter: "He's Fat... He's Phony... He's Maxwell!"
  120. ^ Washington, Julie (October 28, 2010). "Ex-WMMS jock Maxwell to rock mornings at WNCX". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  121. ^ Ferris, D.X. (November 15, 2010). "Maxwell Returns to Airwaves, Shakes Up WNCX Formula". CleveScene.com. Cleveland Scene. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  122. ^ "Arbitron Ratings: #29 Cleveland". Radio-Online.com. Radio Online. 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  123. ^ "LeBron's mural coming down in Cleveland". Associated Press (AP) via KTLA.com. KTLA, Inc. July 10, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  124. ^ a b "Coming Soon Afternoons 3-7pm". WMMS official website. Clear Channel Communications, Inc. 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  125. ^ a b Boehlert, Eric (April 30, 2001). "Radio's big bully". Salon.com. Salon Media Group, Inc. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  126. ^ Talevski, p. 214. "... in the last decade of the 20th century, the music industry would undergo dramatic changes. ... broadcast conglomerates like Clear Channel would swallow up radio stations by the hundreds..."
  127. ^ Boyle, Mike (September 21, 2006). "2006 R&R Rock Industry Award Winners". Billboard.biz Archive. Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
    • Talevski, p. 81. "Reliving some of its past glory in 2005, WMMS was voted Major Market Rock Station of the Year by the music industry magazine, Radio & Records."
  128. ^ Byrne, Gerry (2009). "Dear Radio & Records Reader". Billboard.biz. Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  129. ^ "Best of Cleveland Readers' Choice". CleveScene.com. Cleveland Scene. 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  130. ^ "Readers Poll Winners: People & Places". CleveScene.com. Cleveland Scene. 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  131. ^ "Readers Poll Winners: Arts & Entertainment". CleveScene.com. Cleveland Scene. 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  132. ^ "RoverFest 2010". RoverRadio.com. RoverMedia, Inc. 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  133. ^ Schneider, Kim (May 2005). "'Buzz' Words". ClevelandMagazine.com. Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved April 12, 2010. ... WMMS daytime deejay Maria Calo...
  134. ^ "Under the Covers". WMMS.com: Under the Covers. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  135. ^ Washington, Julie (December 08, 2009). "Chris Maduri out as senior VP of CBS Radio Cleveland". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved December 12, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  136. ^ a b Cox, Alan (2009). "The Alan Cox Amateur Hour: Nutshell". The Alan Cox Amateur Hour: Blogger.com. Google. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  137. ^ McCoy, Adrian (September 2, 2006). "Radio Note: Cox lands in Chicago". Post-Gazette.com. PG Publishing Co., Inc. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  138. ^ a b McCoy, Adrian (May 2, 2002). "Radio host Alan Cox's caustic, hip and raunchy barbs pull in listeners". Post-Gazette.com - May 2007. Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on May 6, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  139. ^ McCoy, Adrian (July 1, 2004). "Alan Cox will move to mornings on WXDX". Post-Gazette.com. PG Publishing Co., Inc. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  140. ^ McCoy, Adrian (June 27, 2006). "Alan Cox let go from WXDX-FM". Post-Gazette.com. PG Publishing Co., Inc. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  141. ^ "Tuesday, January 5, 2010". AlanCoxShow.com: On the Show. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2010. Cleveland comedian Chad Zumock officially joins the show.
  142. ^ "Meet Chad Zumock". AlanCoxShow.com: Meet Chad Zumock. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  143. ^ a b Washington, Julie (January 29, 2010). "'Real World' star Erika Lauren and comedian Chad Zumock join 'The Alan Cox Show' afternoons on radio station WMMS". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  144. ^ "Meet the Cast: Erika". MTV.com - The Real World: Washington, D.C. MTV Networks. 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  145. ^ "Friday, January 29, 2010". AlanCoxShow.com: On the Show. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2010. Introduce Erika Lauren to the show...
  146. ^ "Meet Erika Lauren". AlanCoxShow.com: Meet Erika Lauren. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2010. Erika Lauren is the latest addition to 'The Alan Cox Show'...
  147. ^ "Parma State of Mind". AlanCoxShow.com. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  148. ^ Feran, p. 17. "The show could also bring a new installment of 'Parma Place,' the bizarre soap opera that raised mockery of Cleveland's Poles to a new level..."
  149. ^ "The Big Chuck & Lil' John Ghoulardifest". Ghoulardifest website. Ghoulardifest Turn Blue Productions. 2007–2010. Retrieved March 4, 2010. Hey Group! Ghoulardifest VI in PARMA!!{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  150. ^ "Parma State Of Mind - Official Music Video". YouTube. YouTube, LLC. 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  151. ^ McIntyre, Michael K. (March 1, 2010). "Forbes Has It in for Cleveland. There's Proof!: Michael K. McIntyre's Tipoff". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  152. ^ McIntyre, Michael K.; Heaton, Michael; Disell, Rachel (March 1, 2010). "Happy in Cleveland Depends on Criteria". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. B3 - Metro. Parma, Northeast Ohio's favorite punch line, was the subject of a devastating – and to some, hilarious – parody by the 'Alan Cox Show' on afternoons on WMMS-FM/100.7 last week. A video and song, 'Parma State of Mind,' playing of the Jay-Z/Alica Keys hit 'Empire State of Mind,' isn't exactly a chamber of commerce dream... As of Sunday afternoon, the video had nearly 92,500 views on YouTube...{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  153. ^ "Featured on the Show: Parma Mayor Visits Studio". AlanCoxShow.com. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2010. The Mayor of Parma, Dean Dipiero visits the show to discuss his thoughts about the "Parma State Of Mind" video and the finer points of Ohio's 7th-largest city.
  154. ^ "January 14, 2011 - Slash, Lemmy, Tom Morello". WMMS.com: 100.7 Rock Report. Clear Channel Communications. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  155. ^ "Corey Rotic". WMMS.com: Jocks. Clear Channel Communications. 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  156. ^ "KISS DJs: Corey Hawkins". KISS 106.1 FM. dms Broadcasting Ltd. 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  157. ^ "Big Rig". 98rock.com: Jocks. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  158. ^ Kiesewetter, John (May 1, 2008). "WEBN Down, Eddie & Tracy Up in Ratings". Cincinnati.com Blogs: Television. The Enquirer. Retrieved April 12, 2010. Jason 'Shroom' Schumm was sent to the 7-11 p.m. shift three weeks ago...
  159. ^ "Shroom". WEBN.com. Clear Channel Communications. 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  160. ^ "About". Scratch'N'Sniff official website. snsmix.com. 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  161. ^ "Westwood One: Programs: Music". Westwood One official website. Westwood One, Inc. 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  162. ^ Manoloff, Dennis (May 11, 2009). "On deck: Indians vs. Chicago White Sox". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. C5 - Sports.
  163. ^ Manoloff, Dennis (May 1, 2009). "On deck: Indians at Detroit". The Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. D4 - Sports.

Further reading

  • Adams, Deanna R. (2002). Rock and Roll and the Cleveland Connection. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87338-691-3.
  • Gorman, John (2007). The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio — A Memoir. Cleveland, Ohio: Gray & Co. ISBN 978-1-88622-847-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Keith, Michael C. (1997). Voices in the Purple Haze: Underground Radio and the Sixties. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-27595-266-2.
  • Olszewski, Mike (2003). Radio Daze: Stories from the Front in Cleveland's FM Air Wars. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87338-773-6.
  • Talevski, Nick (2008). Hang On Sloopy: The History of Rock & Roll in Ohio. Green, Ohio: Guardian Express Media. ISBN 978-0-98005-610-5.
  • Wolff, Carlo (2006). Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories: True and Tall Tales of the Glory Days, Told by Musicians, DJs, Promoters, and Fans Who Made the Scene in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Cleveland, Ohio: Gray & Co. ISBN 978-1-88622-899-3.

External links

Template:Rock Radio Stations in Ohio

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WMMS&oldid=408356608"