WWBN

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WWBN
WWBN Banana101.5 logo.png
City Tuscola, Michigan
Broadcast area Flint, MI/The Thumb, MI
Branding Banana 101.5
Slogan Flint's Rock Radio
Frequency 101.5 MHz (also on HD Radio)
First air date September, 1994 (at 101.5)
Format Active Rock
Power 1,800 watts
HAAT 149 meters
Class A
Facility ID 20448
Transmitter coordinates 43°12′0″N 83°33′30″W﻿ / ﻿43.20000°N 83.55833°W﻿ / 43.20000; -83.55833
Callsign meaning BaNana
Former callsigns WKMF-FM (12/91-9/94)
WGMZ-FM (7/87-12/91)
Owner Townsquare Media
(Townsquare Media of Flint, Inc.)
Sister stations WCRZ, WFNT, WLCO, WQUS, WRCL
Webcast Listen Live
Website banana1015.com

WWBN (101.5 FM, "Banana 101.5"), is a radio station broadcasting rock music to Flint and The Thumb areas of Michigan. Syndicated shows on Banana include the morning comedy program The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show, and music programs Loudwire Nights with Toni Gonzalez and Hard Drive with Lou Brutus. It is also the home of the weekly coach's show of the Ontario Hockey League's Flint Firebirds.[1]

The station is owned by Townsquare Media and is a member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.[2] WWBN is most often referred to as The Banana by the public audience. Under the right conditions it can be heard in parts of St. Clair and Sanilac counties.

History[edit]

The station began operations in 1987 as WGMZ-FM with an Easy Listening music format, reviving the call sign and format formerly used on 107.9 FM (now WCRZ) from 1961 to 1984 and also in the 1980s on 1570 AM (now WWCK). In 1991, WGMZ-FM became country WKMF-FM, simulcasting AM 1470 (now WFNT). The "Banana" name, album-oriented rock format and the WWBN calls debuted in 1994. Subsequently, WWBN moved from 101.7 to 101.5 in a frequency swap with WPRJ, a contemporary Christian music station in Coleman, Michigan, and both stations were also able to increase their power.

WWBN's owner, Regent Broadcasting (now Townsquare Media), took control of active rock station WRXF 103.1 FM "Radio X" in Lapeer, Michigan in December 2001.[citation needed] After a short three-month period of simulcasting the Banana on 103.1, WRXF debuted a new classic hits format as "U.S. 103.1" WQUS in February 2002, and the Banana evolved from mainstream AOR into its current active rock sound. Current program director and air personality Tony LaBrie is a veteran of WRXF's "Radio X" days and is the recipient of the RadioContraband Rock Radio Award for Small Market Radio Program Director of the Year in both 2011 and 2012. The Banana was voted "Small Market Radio Station of the Year" for the RadioContraband Rock Radio Award in 2011.

Sources[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Flint Firebirds Radio & TV Broadcast Coverage
  2. ^ "2006 MAB Membership Directory". www.michmab.com.

External links[edit]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWBN
en.wikipedia.org
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