WMJO (97.3 FM, "Joe FM") is a
radio station
Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...
licensed to
Essexville, Michigan and broadcasting at 97.3
MHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...
with an
effective radiated power
Effective radiated power (ERP), synonymous with equivalent radiated power, is an IEEE standardized definition of directional radio frequency (RF) power, such as that emitted by a radio transmitter. It is the total power in watts that would ha ...
of 3,000 watts. Known on the air as ''Joe-FM'', WMJO has a
variety hits format targeted to
Saginaw,
Bay City, and
Midland. The station is one of four locally owned
MacDonald Broadcasting radio stations.
It first began broadcasting in 1991 under the WIXC call sign (now used by a
sports radio station in
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in and the county seat of Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 48,789, up from 43,761 at the 2010 census. Titusville is located along the ...
).
The station switched from
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
when it was purchased by MacDonald in 1998. Since MacDonald owned then competitor
WKCQ, the station's format was flipped to
classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...
and was known as ''Eagle 97.3'' with the call sign WEEG. In 2004, the station became ''Joe-FM'', a variety hits format modeled after
Jack FM
Jack FM is a radio network brand that is licensed by Sparknet Communications, with the exception of the European Union where it is licensed by Oxis Media. It plays an adult hits radio format, format, in most cases not using disc jockey, DJs.
F ...
, and changed its call signs once again to WMJO. The station originally had the same playlist and shared personalities with sister station
WHZZ
WHZZ (101.7 FM, "Mike FM") is a radio station licensed to Lansing, Michigan with a variety hits format.
History
The station has gone through many different formats over the years. After beginning as a simulcast of WILS 1320 AM as WILS-FM in 1 ...
101.7 FM ''Mike FM'' in
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, Michigan, Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County, Michigan, Eaton County and nort ...
. WMJO eventually evolved into a more gold-based
Classic Hits format and is considered a hybrid Adult and Classic Hits station rather than a true variety hits station like WHZZ. However both stations continue to use the same imaging.
WMJO 97.3 was the exclusive radio broadcaster of the
OHL's Saginaw Spirit ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
team. Spirit games are now broadcast on
WSGW (100.5).
References
Sources
Michiguide.com - WMJO History
External links
*
MJO-FM
Adult hits radio stations in the United States
Radio stations established in 1991
{{Michigan-radio-station-stub