980 Brought Big Changes
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EAST JORDAN Gharlevoix Gounty Thursday, November 20, 1980 Vol. 15, No. 4 25 cents 4* TRgdio ] 980 brought big changes with the station in a positive way. position in the market. "It is much easier to combine the BY KATHY JOHNSON KHQ has been patterned after other "We've created a high comfort factor demographic appeal of the format with highly successful stations like KVIL through our non-musical elements," the demographics of the audience you "WCLX, FM Nine Four Country," Dallas, WMJC Detroit, and KFRC San says Harper, "so that anytime, what- are interested in reaching," Harrington "Rhythm of the Northwest, 106 KHQ," Francisco. ever the mood of the listener, he or she said when asked about the buying of "News and Information, Hie Music Station President and General can find 'their best friend' at KHQ." radio time for advertisers. He also said Station,"....these and more are the Manager is Tim Moore, who was Moore echoes that by saying, "We're that he hoped the stations would get identifying phrases of northern Mich- originally with KHQ's sister station, very proud to have the facilities we together in getting a "believable radio igan's radio stations. WVOY, several years ago. Following a have, but far more proud of our survey" taken in this market.- With a local variety of six stations- stint at VOY, Moore moved to Dallas people." Moore thinks the people, the So, for the listeners, there is a wider two in Charlevoix, one in Boyne City, where he was named executive vice- sound and the promotions, have created variety of music and entertainment and three in Petoskey—there is a wide president and general manager of TM the ambiance of a great station. formats and for the businesses there is a spread of music and entertainment Companies. Another part of the sound of KHQ has better reach of audience for advertis- forms. For those not satisfied by the While in Dallas, Moore became to be the song written about north- ing commercials. "Halloween radio" is local offerings, there are stations in friends with Bob Harper who was western Michigan. While in Dallas, gone from northern Michigan and has Gaylord, Traverse City, and Kalkaska director of contemporary services for Moore arranged for songwriter Jim Kirk been replaced by "more programing that also reach this market. TM Programming. When Moore made to write a full length song about the offerings than before." The sounds of the airwaves now are the move to northern Michigan earlier area. With lyrics adapted by Moore, the vastly different from the days prior to this year Harper joined him and became song was recorded at TM in Dallas. The 1947 when there wasn't a single local WCLX station manager for WKHQ. music showcases the KHQ theme: station on the air. The change started While employed by TM, Harper did "Rhythm of the Northwest." The only 100 percent country and gradually with WMBN being the only the programing for a number of Harper is not the only one to maintain western music station in the area is local station from their sign-on in 1947 contemporary stations. In a somewhat his,interest in Dallas. Moore is affiliated WCLX, in Boyne City. "We serve the until 1965 when they were joined by unique situation, Harper is still on a with First Communications Broadcast commuriity and all of northern Michigan WJML. retainer to TM as director of Services, a Jim Long and Charlie Pride with country music," says Bill Rich, Gradually other stations began to programing for contemporary services, company located in Dallas and he is also station manager of WCLX, which broadcast in the market. But as recently and as such, he does the programing for vice-president and director of marketing opened about three years ago. WCLX is as a year ago the wide selection was not 140 stations, including WKHQ, across for Noble Broadcast Consultants in San owned by William Gipperich (Bill Rich) here. "In the last nine months, we've, the United States. Diego. for all purposes, added four new under the corporate name of Charle- WKHQ is located at 106 on the FM voix Broadcasting Company. With an estimated audience of over stations," says Mike Harrington, ten million, Harper said he programs dial with its office in Charlevoix. WCLX has four disc jockeys, president of the Harrington Group, an music for the largest single audience in New Broadcasting Company, which including Rich, and "we play real advertising and marketing agency in America. owns both WKHQ and WVOY, is owned records," says Rich. "I think the Petoskey and a former owner of WJML. Harper and Moore are both quick to by Tim Moore. Tim Ives and Elmo listener can tell the difference between Tom Clemens of WCLX is just one ot the voices of the only 100 percent country and Harrington refers to the format let you know that this programing Franklin. All are local people. records and the taped music that some western station In northwestern Michigan. changes of WVOY-AM and WMBN-FM format has for seven years been the other stations play." and the addition in the market of voix. Most of the station's format is listening to a radio station, indicating most winning format in the country. Of The station is located in an old ice WKHQ-FM in Charlevoix and filled with local disc jockeys playing what station and for how long they the 140 stations involved, all have WAABN & house on State Street and the massive- WPZ-AM in Petoskey. The changes and country music, with a few programs listen. Certain demographic questions become either the number one or wooden doors and huge metal handles additions of these stations have from Michigan State, the University of are asked, as well, to determine such number two station in their market for WWPZ add to the charm of this smaii station. changed the overall music sound of Michigan, and the syndicated Ralph things as age, place of residence and the 18 to 49-year-old age group. WMBN,was the first station in this northern Michigan. WCLX typifies the thousands of small Emory show from Nashville. income level. With this highly successful sound and part of northwestern Michigan, Signing stations throughout the United States Harrington went on to say that he WCLX is located at 94 on the FM dial. Asked about the changing market. the added promotions of "wine and on in 1947, and located in Petoskey, that are feeling the encroachment the sees the changes in the market being for Scollin said, "There are more stations cheese parties," the "staff meeting" WMBN was the only station for nearly newer, slicker, more polished stations the better. "The changes are very now that we have to contend with. It program which is heard on Sundays, 20 years. Originally WMBN was on the from the larger cities. positive. There are far greater choices WJML keeps us on our toes and hopefully adds and the extremely popular "Moore in AM dial and later added the FM "The Music Station." WJML has in radio formats and they are, for the Rich indicated that he saw himself in the kind of programing we can all be the Morning" show, KHQ has made simulcast. been the number one station in the area most part, being done quite well." competition with stations as far away as proud of." definite inroads on the number one On May 26 of this year, the station Harrington said. Traverse City and as near as Charle- for several years. Recently WJML has Scollin indicated he is pleased with was sold to MacDonald Broadcasting, a felt the pinch of more and better the response to their programing Michigan based company that owns competition in the marketplace and changes. "We are getting favorable several other stations in the state, according to the new station manager, responses. People find us more listen- Vice-president of and general manager Jim Scollin. "We are in a state of able," he said. Scollins also indicated is Trish MacDonald. change, We are redefining our posH that WJML is busy upgrading their On July 1, WMBN-AM was changed tion—softening our sound." news. to WWPZ-AM and the new sound of Scollin conies from a Metro Media WJML is simulcast on AM and FM, "News and Information" began. station in Detroit. WOMC, and joined which means that whether you listen on "We're contemporary music with a fair this Petoskey station some three months AM or FM you will be hearing the same amount of oldies in our format," says ago, Also joining the station recently is broadcast. The FM frequency for MacDonald. She stressed they also Chris Hubbarth. the music director. WJML is 98.9 or AM is 1110. place a heavy emphasis on sports, Hubbarth is also from Detroit and WJML is owned by Petoskey Broad- including football, basketball and base- was in record promotion for CBS casting Company. Two of the principals ball. Records. Hubbarth and Scollin are both of the company are R. Bunker Rogoski, MacDonald says, in regard to the involved in the softening of the sound at president and Tim Achterhoff, vice- change in the AM format, "There was a WJML. president. Both men are from void in the market and we feel that "We are'shifting our position from Muskegon. we've filled it." She indicated that the the 18-year-olds to 24," said Scollin. station had always been dedicated to "The last rating in the area was in the the community and this news and spring of 1978 and was done by WKHQ information programing continues that Arbitron.