WPPN (106.7 FM) is a radio station licensed to

Des Plaines, Illinois Des Plaines () is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 60,675. The city is a suburb of Chicago and is located just north of O'Hare International Airport. It is situat ...

, that targets the

Chicago metropolitan area The Chicago metropolitan area, also referred to as Chicagoland, is the largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the Midwest, containing the City of Chicago along with its surrounding suburbs and satellite cities. ...

. WPPN broadcasts a Spanish AC format. WPPN is owned by

TelevisaUnivision TelevisaUnivision (formerly known as Univision Communications) is a Mexican-American media company headquartered in Miami and Mexico City that owns American Spanish language broadcast network Univision and free-to-air channels in Mexico such as ...

through its

Uforia Audio Network Uforia Audio Network () is the radio broadcasting and music events division of TelevisaUnivision (United States), TelevisaUnivision USA. Formerly known as Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation and Univision Radio, it is the eighth-largest radio br ...

subsidiary. The station's studios are located at 625 North Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, and its transmitter is located in Arlington Heights. Due to WPPN's 50,000-watt signal and north suburban location, it can be heard through much of the Rockford area and southeastern Wisconsin. It also broadcasts in the

HD Radio HD Radio (HDR) is a trademark for in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcast technology. HD radio generally simulcast, simulcasts an existing analog radio station in digital format with less noise and with additional text information. HD R ...

(hybrid) format.

History

Request Radio

The station began broadcasting December 3, 1971, holding the call sign WYEN.
Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000
',

Broadcasting & Cable ''Broadcasting & Cable'' (''B&C'', or ''Broadcasting+Cable'') was a telecommunications industry monthly trade magazine and, later, news website published by Future US. Founded in 1931 as ''Broadcasting'', subsequent mergers, acquisitions and ...

, 2000. p. D-137. Retrieved January 14, 2019. The station was owned by Walt-West Enterprises. WYEN aired an all-request format branded "Request Radio", playing music requested by listeners. Hall, Claude.
WYEN Goes All Request
, ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

''. September 23, 1972. p. 16. Retrieved January 14, 2019.Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands
, ''

Chicago Tribune Magazine The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN radio and WGN tele ...

'', March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved January 14, 2019. Contemporary and middle of the road music was played on the station.
Broadcasting Yearbook 1975
',

Broadcasting Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

, 1975. p. C-56. Retrieved January 14, 2019. "Request Radio" continued airing on the station through the mid–1980s.
Chicago Radio Guide
'. Vol. 1, No. 1. May 1985. Retrieved January 14, 2019. In 1986, the station was sold to Flint Metro Mass Media for $8 million.

Z Rock

On September 1, the station's call sign was changed to WZRC, and the station adopted a

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...

/ heavy metal format, becoming the first affiliate of the syndicated

Z Rock Z Rock was a nationally syndicated radio network based in Dallas, Texas, that, from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, played heavy metal and hard rock music. The format was one of several 24-hour satellite-delivered music formats offered ...

network.

The Wave

On October 16, 1987, the station's call sign was changed to WTWV, and the station adopted a new-age/

smooth jazz Smooth jazz is commercially oriented crossover jazz music. Although often described as a "genre", it is a debatable and highly controversial subject in jazz music circles. As a radio format, however, smooth jazz radio became the successor to e ...

soft rock Soft rock (also known as light rock or mellow rock) is a form of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in the United States and the United Kingdom which smoothed over the edges of singer-songwriter and pop rock, relying on simple, mel ...

format as "The Wave".Freeman, Kim.
Vox Jox
, ''

''. October 24, 1987. p. 15. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1989
',

, 1989. p. C-56. Retrieved January 14, 2019. Zorn, Eric.
Dawn of a New Age has Metal Maniacs Banging Heads
, ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

''. November 25, 1987. Retrieved January 14, 2019. The station was an affiliate of the

Satellite Music Network Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered Radio network, network to provide complete live 24-hour-a-day music programming to radio stations, local stations, under several different formats. History Affiliate stations, mostly i ...

, with programming originating on

KTWV KTWV (94.7 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, and broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles area. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., and airs a rhythmic adult contemporary radio format. KTWV has studios ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

WYLL (1989-2001)

In 1989, the station was sold to

Salem Communications Salem Media Group, Inc. (formerly Salem Communications Corporation) is an American radio broadcaster, internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher based in Irving, Texas, targeting audiences interested in Christian values and wha ...

for $9,250,000, and the station adopted a

Christian contemporary music Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith an ...

format, with its call sign being changed to

WYLL WYLL (1160 AM broadcasting, AM) is a commercial radio, commercial radio station in Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. It originated as WJJD and broadcast some pioneering shows. It is owned by Salem Media Group and airs a Christian talk and teaching ra ...

.Kampert, Patrick.
Bid For Redemption
, ''

''. September 3, 1991. Retrieved January 14, 2019. However, the format was short-lived, as Salem gradually replaced the Christian contemporary music with

Christian talk Christian radio refers to Christian media radio formats that focus on Christian religious broadcasting or various forms of Christian music. Many such formats and programs include contemporary Christian music, gospel music, sermons, radio dramas, ...

programming. By 1991, Christian contemporary music was mostly relegated to weekends. Christian talk and teaching programs heard on WYLL included shows hosted by

Alistair Begg Alistair Begg (born May 22, 1952) is an American pastor of Scottish birth. He is the senior pastor of Cleveland's Parkside Church (located in Bainbridge Township, Geauga County, Ohio), a position he has held since 1983. He is the voice behind ...

Chuck Swindoll Charles Rozell Swindoll (born October 18, 1934) is an evangelical Christian pastor, author, educator, and radio preacher. He founded Insight for Living, headquartered in Frisco, Texas, which airs a radio program of the same name on more than 2 ...

Adrian Rogers Adrian Pierce Rogers (September 12, 1931 – November 15, 2005) was an American Baptist pastor and conservative author. He served three terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (1979–1980 and 1986–1988). Early life and educatio ...

, Chuck Smith, Beverly LaHaye,

Jay Sekulow Jay Alan Sekulow (; born June 10, 1956) is an American lawyer, radio, television talk show host and politically conservative media personality. He has been chief counsel of the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ) since 1991. As a member of P ...

James Dobson James Clayton Dobson Jr. (born April 21, 1936) is an American evangelicalism, evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder of Focus on the Family (FotF), which he led from 1977 until 2010. In the 1980s, he was ranked as one of the m ...

, Hank Hanegraaff,

Janet Parshall Janet Parshall (born 1950) is an American nationally syndicated radio talk show host known for the Christian program ''In the Market with Janet Parshall'', which is broadcast on the Moody Radio network on over 700 stations. She was also the host fo ...

, and Sandy Rios.''The Shepherd's Guide''. Spring 1994-Spring 1995. p. 97-99. As a Christian talk and teaching station, WYLL was branded "Your Station For Life" and later "Chicago's Word". In 2000, Salem acquired

WXRT WXRT (93.1 FM), also known as XRT and 93-XRT is an alternative rock radio station in Chicago, Illinois. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. The station broadcasts from a transmitter atop John Hancock Center and its studios are located at T ...

1160 (formerly known as WJJD) for $29 million. In February 2001, Salem moved the Christian talk programming of WYLL to 1160, along with the WYLL call letters.Format Changes & Updates
, ''The M Street Journal''. Vol. 18, No. 06. February 7, 2001. p. 1. Retrieved January 14, 2019.

WZFS (2001-2004)

With the move of WYLL to 1160, 106.7's call sign was temporarily changed to WYLL-FM. On March 2, 2001, the station adopted Christian contemporary format branded "106.7 The Fish", with the slogan "Safe for the Whole Family". The station was launched with "40 days and 40 nights" of commercial free music. Shortly thereafter, the station's call sign was changed to WZFS. "The Fish" branding, a reference to the

ichthys The ichthys or ichthus (), from the Greek (, 1st cent. AD Koinē Greek pronunciation: , "fish") is, in its modern rendition, a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to ...

used in the station's logo, was also used by Salem for Christian contemporary stations in other markets, such as

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, on

WFSH-FM WAIA (104.7 MHz, "Air1") is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Athens, Georgia, and serving Metro Atlanta. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation. It airs EMF's contemporary worship music network Air1. The transm ...

104.7, and

, on 95.9

KFSH-FM KAIA (95.9 MHz) is an FM radio station that is licensed to La Mirada, California, and serves Orange County and southern Los Angeles County. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF). KAIA broadcasts a contemporary worship ...

. In 2004, Salem agreed to trade WZFS and KSFB 100.7 (now

KVVZ KVVZ (100.7 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to San Rafael, California, and serving the San Francisco area. The station is owned by TelevisaUnivision, through licensee Univision Radio Bay Area, Inc. It simulcasts a Spanish Contemp ...

) in the San Francisco area to

Univision Univision () is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television, free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the L ...

in exchange for KOBT 100.7 in the

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

area (now KKHT-FM), KHCK 1480 in

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

(now

KNGO KNGO (1480 AM broadcasting, AM) is a commercial radio, commercial Vietnamese Full-service radio, full service radio station licensed to serve Dallas, Dallas, Texas, and covering the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. It calls itself "Viet Radio" and s ...

), KOSL-FM 94.3 in

Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...

(now KGRB), and 560

WIND Wind is the natural movement of atmosphere of Earth, air or other gases relative to a planetary surface, planet's surface. Winds occur on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heatin ...

in Chicago.

WPPN (2004-present)

On November 1, 2004, at midnight, after playing "Remember Me" by Mark Schultz, WZFS signed off with sounds of water. After a brief period of

dead air Dead air, also known as unmodulated carrier, is an unintended period of silence that interrupts a broadcast during which no audio or video program material is transmitted. Radio and television Dead air occurs in radio broadcasting when no audio ...

, Univision took control and launched a

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

-language

adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

format on the station, branded "Pasion 106.7". The station's call sign was changed to WPPN shortly thereafter. In October 2005, Univision tweaked the music blend of WPPN, but left the name and the personalities of "Pasion" in place, with the station shifting to a Spanish

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 ...

/ adult hits format. On January 28, 2009, sister station WVIV-FM changed its format to Spanish oldies and WPPN adopted a Spanish CHR/

Hurban Hurban is a radio programming format from radio chain giant iHeartMedia and Senior VP Alfredo Alonso. Hurban radio stations target young Hispanics in the United States, primarily consisting of reggaeton, Latin trap, Latin rap, and Latin dance. ...

format as "La Kalle."Univision Radio Chicago Changes Station Formats
, ''Chicagoland Radio and Media''. July 5, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2019. On July 1, 2011, WPPN changed their format back to Spanish adult contemporary, and re-branded as "Pasion 106.7", while the previous "La Kalle" format moved to WVIV-FM 103.1 FM/ WVIX 93.5 FM.Univision rebranding WVIV in Chicago
, ''Radio & Television Business Report''. November 30, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2019. Feder, Robert.
FM news war could break out with Newsradio simulcast
, ''

Time Out Chicago ''Time Out'' is a global magazine published by Time Out Group. ''Time Out'' started as a London-only publication in 1968 and has expanded its editorial recommendations to 333 cities in 59 countries worldwide. In 2012, the London edition became ...

''. June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2019. In March 2014, WPPN rebranded as "Amor 106.7".Venta, Lance.
WPPN Turns its Pasion to Amor
, ''Radio Insight''. Retrieved January 15, 2019.

Translator

References

External links

WPPN Website
* {{coord, 42.137, N, 87.983, W, type:landmark_region:US-IL_source:FCC, display=title PPN Univision Radio Network stations Radio stations established in 1971 1971 establishments in Illinois PPN Des Plaines, Illinois