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WERV-FM

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Coordinates: 41°46′08″N 88°16′01″W / 41.769°N 88.267°W / 41.769; -88.267
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WERV-FM
Broadcast areaWest Suburban Chicago
Frequency95.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding95.9 The River
Programming
FormatClassic hits
Ownership
Owner
WCCQ, WIIL, WJOL, WKRS, WSSR, WXLC, WZSR
History
First air date
February 12, 1961[1]
Former call signs
WKKD-FM (1961-1981)[2]
WKKD (6/17/1981-9/22/1981)[3]
WKKD-FM (1981-2001)[3]
Call sign meaning
W E RiVer
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID73171
ClassA
ERP2,850 watts
HAAT103 meters (338 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Website959theriver.com

WERV-FM, also known as 95.9 The River, is a classic hits radio station, playing familiar rock and pop songs that span from the early 1970s through the mid 1990s. The Aurora/Naperville, Illinois station serves the suburban Chicago market and is owned by Alpha Media, through licensee Alpha Media Licensee LLC.[5]

History

Early years

This station was the radio dream of WLS Radio announcer, emcee, and engineer Russ Salter, who put this station (then WKKD-FM); along with WKKD AM 1580 on the air.[6] WKKD 1580 debuted on September 21, 1960 and WKKD-FM on February 12, 1961.[6][1] The station's call sign stood for Kane, Kendall and DuPage, which were the primary counties in its coverage area.[7][8] Both stations' studios, transmitters and towers were at 1880 Plain Avenue in Aurora.[2][9][8]

The station was part of a simulcast with WKKD AM 1580.[10] Bill Blough hosted a country music program in the station's first years.[11][12][13] Chicago weathercaster Tom Skilling began his career at WKKD, c. 1966, while he attended High School in Aurora.[14]

The Golden Sounds

By 1968, the simulcast had ended.[15] WKKD-FM was branded "The Golden Sounds".[16][17] The station aired a Beautiful music format in the 1970s and into the early 1980s.[18][19][20]

Adult contemporary era

In late 1983, AM 1580's call sign was changed back to WKKD, and the two stations became part of a partial simulcast.[21][22] The station aired an adult contemporary format, branded as "classic hits", playing music from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.[22][23] Throughout the 1980s, WKKD was originally used on a local access channel in Naperville throughout its AC days on Jones Intercable until the Summer of 1988.

In the late 1980s, the station aired a soft AC format, as "Lite Mix",[24] with the branding changing to "K-Lite" in 1989.[25][26] The station continued to air this format into the early 1990s.[27][28][29]

In 1992, WKKD-FM became the flagship radio station for Kane County Cougars baseball.[29]

Oldies era

Station's logo as "Pure Gold 96"

In 1993, the station adopted an oldies format, and was branded "Pure Gold 96".[30][31][32] WKKD-FM was again part of a simulcast with WKKD AM 1580.[30][31] In 1998 the station changed its branding to "Kool 95.9," while continuing to air an oldies format.[33][34]

In 2000, the Salter family sold WKKD AM & FM, as well as WRWC in Rockford, Illinois to RadioWorks for $6.5 million, plus $1.5 million in consulting and non-compete agreements.[35][36]

The River

In 2001 WKKD-FM & AM were sold to NextMedia Group for $3.4 million.[34][37] On January 25, 2001 the station became "95.9 The River", airing a classic hits format with the slogan "Rock 'N Roll Favorites for the 'Burbs".[38][39][40] The station's call sign was changed to WERV-FM shortly thereafter.[3]

On July 15, 2006, the station debuted an HD-2 station branded "The Rapids!", airing a hard rock gold format.[41]

NextMedia sold WERV-FM and their 32 other radio stations to Digity, LLC at a price of $84,975,200; the transaction was consummated on February 10, 2014.[42]

Effective February 25, 2016, Digity and its 124 radio stations were acquired by Alpha Media for $264 million.[43][44]

Personalities heard on The River include Scott Mackay and Danielle Tufano, Nick Jakusz, Mitch Michaels, and Samantha James.[45][46]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1984, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1984. p. B-75. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  2. ^ a b History Cards for WERV-FM, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WERV-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ FM Query Results: WERV-FM, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Salter Communications: Russell G. Salter". Salter Communications. Archived from the original on October 10, 1997. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  7. ^ "What those letters on the dial mean", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 106-107.
  9. ^ History Cards for WKKD, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  10. ^ 1961-62 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1961-1962. p. B-51. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  11. ^ Sachs, Bill. "Folk Talent & Tunes", Billboard. May 16, 1960. p. 47. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  12. ^ Sachs, Bill. "Folk Talent & Tunes", Billboard. July 10, 1961. p. 8. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  13. ^ Sinclair, Charles. "Vox Jox", Billboard. December 1, 1962. p. 40. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  14. ^ "Tom Skilling" Chicago Tribune. November 9, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  15. ^ 1968 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1968. p. B-50. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  16. ^ "Salter Broadcasting Company Proudly Present... The Golden Sounds on WKKD-FM", The Southwest Graphic. January 28, 1970. p. 5. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  17. ^ Draves, William A. "The Beacon", Fond du Lac Reporter. May 26, 1973. p. 1. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  18. ^ "Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 35. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  19. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977, Broadcasting, 1977. p. C-59. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  20. ^ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1983. p. B-69. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  21. ^ Bornstein, Rollye. "Vox Jox", Billboard. December 10, 1983. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  22. ^ a b Chicago Radio Guide, Vol. 1, Issue 1. May 1985. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  23. ^ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1985, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1985. p. B-78. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  24. ^ Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  25. ^ Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1989. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  26. ^ "WKKD FM 95.9", Radio Chicago. Fall 1989. p. 35. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  27. ^ Wilhelmson, Brenda. "Radio In Du Page", Chicago Tribune. February 25, 1990. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  28. ^ "WKKD FM 95.9", Radio Chicago, Spring 1991. p. 53. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  29. ^ a b Kening, Dan. "The Home Team", Chicago Tribune. April 07, 1992. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  30. ^ a b Todorovich, Lisa. "Lettermen Bring Valentine Spirit To Norris", Chicago Tribune. February 12, 1993. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  31. ^ a b "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 10, No. 32. August 11, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  32. ^ "WKKD Pure Gold 96 ON-LINE". WKKD-FM. Archived from the original on December 28, 1996. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  33. ^ "Welcome to the new KOOL 95.9 web site!". WKKD-FM. Archived from the original on May 22, 1998. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  34. ^ a b "Elsewhere", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 01. January 4, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  35. ^ Application Search Details fcc.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  36. ^ Kirk, Jim. "Rockford Firm Adds To Its Reach", Chicago Tribune. July 28, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  37. ^ Application Search Details fcc.gov. Accessed January 3, 2014
  38. ^ "Chicago Media Headlines - January". DJHeadlines.com. January 24–26, 2001. Archived from the original on October 31, 2005. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  39. ^ Devine, Cathy (2002-2003). The M-Street Radio Directory, 11th Edition. p. 183. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  40. ^ "95-9 The River". 959theriver.fm. Archived from the original on January 3, 2002. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  41. ^ "WERV To Debut HD-2 Station "The Rapids" At Listener Party", All Access Music Group. July 11, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  42. ^ "NextMedia Radio Stations Now Owned And Operated By Digity", Chicagoland Radio and Media. February 10, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  43. ^ "Alpha Media Closes Purchase of Digity Radio Stations!", Alpha Media. February 25, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  44. ^ "With Digity, Alpha Is Now Fourth-Largest Radio Co.", InsideRadio. February 26, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  45. ^ "Show Schedule", 95.9 The River. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  46. ^ "Major Change/Switch At WERV-FM & WRXQ-FM", Chicagoland Radio and Media. September 8, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2018.

External links

41°46′08″N 88°16′01″W / 41.769°N 88.267°W / 41.769; -88.267

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