WMTE-FM (101.5
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 ...
) 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 ...
located in
Manistee, Michigan
Manistee ( ') is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located in southwestern Manistee County, it is part of the northwestern Lower Peninsula. Manistee is the county seat of Manistee County, and its population was 6,259 at the 2020 census. ...
, United States, and owned by 45 North Media, Inc. WMTE-FM airs an
adult hits format and positions itself as Uniquely Northern Michigan.
History
The station was signed on in June 1994 by the original owner, Bay View Broadcasting. The original call letters were WXYQ and the station adopted an oldies format. Those call letters were previously used by an AM country station in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. WXYQ was sold to Crystal Clear Communications for $200,000.00 in January, 1997. When new stations arrived in 1999, the new FCC rules allowed WXYQ to be consolidated into the Lake Michigan Broadcasting Group. When the FCC transfer was approved for $380,000.00 in 2000, Lake Michigan Broadcasting changed the call letters. The new call signs became WMTE-FM to reflect the co-ownership of its existing AM station WMTE.
WMTE-FM adjusted its format from
oldies
Oldies is a term for musical genres such as pop music, rock and roll, doo-wop, surf music from the second half of the 20th century, specifically from around the mid-1950s to the 1980s, as well as for a radio format playing this music.
Since 2 ...
to
classic hits and took on the name "Kool 101-5," replacing "Oldies 101.5."
In July 2012, WMTE-FM dropped classic hits and returned to its previous oldies format, this time using
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is a broadcasting company of the United States and is the second largest owner and operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States ahead of Audacy and behind iHeartMedia
iHeartMedia, Inc., or CC Media Holdi ...
's
True Oldies Channel format. On July 23, 2013, Lake Michigan Broadcasting filed to sell the station to Del Reynolds, for $1,000. The sale was consummated on December 19, 2013. On December 19, 2013, WMTE-FM went silent. On Sept. 23, 2015, AllAccess.com reported that Reynolds sold WMTE-FM to Mitten Media LLC for $1,000. The sale was consummated on January 21, 2016.
On February 1, 2016, WMTE-FM returned to the air with a soft AC format, branded as "Coast FM 101.5". The format moved from
WMLQ 97.7 FM, which at that time became a simulcast of 98.7
WLDN. During the month of September 2017, the station switched to a simulcast of an
album adult alternative from
WWMN in Traverse City. On April 2, 2018, WMTE-FM dropped it simulcast with WWMN, continuing with the "Mitten" adult album alternative format.
WWMN Traverse City Flips to News/Talk
Radioinsight - April 2, 2018
On November 1, 2018, Mitten Media accepted an asset purchase agreement with 45 North Media Inc, who assumed daily operation of the station. On November 12, 2018, the station flipped format to the moniker "Eagle 101.5"; repositioning itself as an Adults Hits format. The final purchase was granted and consummated on February 10, 2020.
The station features a complement of on-air personalities, including longtime area personality Scotty Mac hosting mornings (6-10 am); Bryan in midday (10 am-3 pm) and Mike Reling hosting afternoons (3-8 pm). Eagle 101.5 also features a locally produced outdoors programs to include Big Boys Radio, on Saturday morning, and Michigan Rocks!, hosted by Mark Sandstedt Saturday evenings. Other specialty programs include New Wave Nation, Retro Mix, Time Warp, along with the regionally produced Acoustic Cafe, hosted by Rob Reinhart.
45 North Media Inc owns another Northern Michigan station, WMJZ-FM, in nearby Gaylord.
References
Michiguide.com - WMTE-FM History
External links
*
{{coord, 44.211, N, 86.298, W, type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC, display=title
MTE-FM
Radio stations established in 1995
1995 establishments in Michigan
Classic hits radio stations in the United States