audience in many of Detroit's western suburbs. several alterations. A couple of former DJs have WTOD (Toledo), a one-time top rocker in that returned, a new jingle package was incorporated city, is doing very well with country music, and and the sound was tightened up considerably. W/4 covers a healthy chunk of Southeastern Michigan mixes current hits with the oldies. At Leamington, with 5000 watts on 1560. Ont., Cheer Radio (CHYR days, mit nights) socks out the hits around the clock. WTAC covers many More Rock listeners from Flint, 60 miles to the northwest. At 600 kHz, this 1000 -watt station covers 14 coun- Chicken rock for the Tom Jones -yes, Rolling ties! WOHO, the top rocker in Toledo, draws lis- Stones -no crowd is very popular, and WXYZ leads teners in Monroe and even in some areas of down - the way. With personalities like zany Dick Purtan river Detroit (southern suburbia). WTTO (also in the morning and smooth Tom Shannon in the Toledo) doesn't serve the Detroit metro area dur- afternoon, WXYZ blends a hard -to -top combination ing the day because of a null northward. At night, of music and news. WCAR is on Top 40's doorstep, however, the pattern is reversed. but never offends with anything too heavy or out of context. (The callis pronounced "W -car," Rich in Money, Short on Radio referring to Detroit's most famous product.) Underground radio, featuring progressive rock, The strangest market in Southeastern Michigan is well represented in this area. WABX (FM) is the is Ann Arbor, 40 miles west of Detroit. A fast leader: It originated the format in Detroit, and growing community, soon to be wired for cable still holds the top position. The personalities, like TV, Ann Arbor has a highly educated university - Dave Dixon and Larry Miller, have a loyal follow- influenced population of over 100,000, with an ing. The music is heavy, the approach subtle, and average per -household income of $14,500. But sales are up. WKNR-FM (Dearborn) is similar, that's not all. Ann Arbor also has a radio prob- and with 50 kW, draws a large regional audience. lem. There are three local stations, yet cia.w walks WXYZ-FM offers the ABC "Love" format, with away with nearly 85% of the under -25 market! Brother John taped from New York on a 50/50 Ann Arbor's population is 51% under 25, includ- basis with local live programming. Wayne State ing U. of M. students. U's WDET-FM experimented with progressive rock WAAM is the only fulltime AM station in Ann but discontinued it late in May. Arbor, and stresses local news and sports. The There's an unbelievable amount of religion on format is MOR and, primarily because of a very the local dial, both AM and FM. WBFG, which efficient news department, the station ranks above creatively stands for We Broadcast for God, is its two local competitors. a 24 -hour source of gospel music and inspirational WPAG will probably never shed its image of a readings. WMUZ-FM, with a solid 115 kW offers farm station, but isn't really worried. Farm direc- a similar service to the community. WYNZ is an tor Howard Heeth has, for 25 years, enioyed high AM station in Ypsilanti which provides religious billings with his "Farm and Home Hour" program. programming for the non -FM audience in the The format is light chicken rock until sunset. Then, western suburbs. on FM only, progressive rock, blues, and folk are Close behind WJR, the top MOR outlet, is offered. WWJ, acclaimed by non-KoKA fans as the world's WNRZ (FM),licensed to Ann Arbor, and sister first radio station. WCAR-FM isa surprisingly WRNS in Saline, eight miles southwest, are crea- popular MOR station, and CFCO (Chatham, Ont.) tively known as "The Winners." WNRS/WNRZ with 10 kW, puts a solid 0.5 mV of MOR over the program Hot -100 rock, with the flavoring of pro- gressive rock, 24 hours a day. With personalities entire area. like Tommy Vance, Jim Curtiss, and Mike College Radio O'Brien, "Winners" draw a lot of young listeners, but overcoming claw's 50 -kW signal is a tall or- Education is all over the FM dial. The Uni- der. versity of Michigan's WUOM, Wayne State's WDET, Port Huron, 45 miles north of Detroit. has two Eastern Michigan University's WEMU, and even stations: wins and WPHM. Both have MOR for- Michigan State's WKAR, cover most of the South- mats and local news emphasis. Therefore neither eastern Michigan area. Southfield High School of- significantly penetrates the Detroit area. fers MOR music and athletic events coverage on If you are seeking a unique radio market-an WSHJ, which is actually operated by students. The area which often causes local PDs to ask: "What only classical music station not affiliated with a do we try next?"-here it is, with over 100 dif- school or university is Detroit's WQRS-FM. This ferent AM and FM stations. 50 -kW stereo station offers a schedule of approxi- Imagine yourself the GM of a station men- mately 95% classical and 5% folk music. tioned above. You're sitting in your comfortable CKLW is No. 1, but not the only choice on the office, monitoring the oldies -but -goodies on dial for Hot -100 rock. WKNR (KeeNeR 13) is still WWWW-FM. Suddenly you realize it's through you quite popular. Recently the station has undergone and your colleagues, that the Southeastern Mich- igan radio listener can get, at the turn of his dial, Ed. Note: Material in this article was compiled up to May 10, 1970. Opinions expressed herein are those of Arthur R. whatever he wants-as long as he wants whatever Vuolo, Jr., and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint he can get. Think about that, as W/4 music con- of BM/E magazine. tinues. BM/E

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