WZUU and WQXC have been sold!

[Michigan Media]

WZUU and WQXC are off the air this afternoon. Is this related to the pending acquisition? According to the FCC website, the Assignment of Authorization is still pending. The online streams for WZUU and WQXC are also offline.

[MWmetalhead]

Hopefully they are back on by tonight. WZUU is the Kalamazoo market affiliate for U-M football. Imagine the horror if Michigan fans need to listen to the Sparty broadcast on WKZO instead!

(In all seriousness, though, I've long respected George Blaha's work as a broadcaster.)

[Michigan Media]

Crisis averted. Both stations are back on the air.

[SpartanAM]

Imagine the horror if Michigan fans need to listen to the Sparty broadcast on WKZO instead!

(In all seriousness, though, I've long respected George Blaha's work as a broadcaster.)

Spartan Sports Network programming has not been on WKZO for an number of years now. I'm unsure why - the next nearest affiliate is 101.3 in Grand Rapids. I wonder if U of M will move to 590 when this deal settles.

[MWmetalhead]

I'll be darned; you're right.

Very surprised that they have no affiliate in either Kalamazoo or Battle Creek anymore.

WMMQ, WBFX and Hastings' WBCH-FM can be heard with varying degrees of success in the Battle Creek area, of course.

In Kalamazoo, 101.3 is very fuzzy. 103.7 from Hartford might be a little easier to receive.

Very surprising that neither 590, 930 or 1360 have any interest in carrying MSU athletics. The ratings, the economic terms, or both must've been lousy.

I see the Pistons and even the Red Wings have zero affiliates in that region, too. (Pistons can be heard in parts of the Kalamazoo area on 96.1 FM, whose tower is near Hudsonville.)

I guess crappy syndicated talk radio fare works better for the geriatric friendly AM stations in the area.

[SpartanAM]

Very surprising that neither 590, 930 or 1360 have any interest in carrying MSU athletics. The ratings, the economic terms, or both must've been lousy.

Given that Townsquare has the Lansing affiliation, I would think WKMI or WBCK would be likely affiliates but that does not seem to be the case. Another area of the state severely lacking an MSU affiliate in the northern lower/eastern UP. There's nothing between Gaylord and the Soo these days.

[ftballfan]

Very surprising that neither 590, 930 or 1360 have any interest in carrying MSU athletics. The ratings, the economic terms, or both must've been lousy.

Given that Townsquare has the Lansing affiliation, I would think WKMI or WBCK would be likely affiliates but that does not seem to be the case. Another area of the state severely lacking an MSU affiliate in the northern lower/eastern UP. There's nothing between Gaylord and the Soo these days.

Who carries Sparty in Gaylord? I know 92.9 WJZQ is the Spartan Radio Network affiliate for a large portion of northern Michigan. Speaking of affiliate holes, U of M doesn't have a local affiliate in Traverse City AFAIK, with the closest being 93.7 in Cadillac.

[MWmetalhead]

WJZQ and Hillman - Alpena's WKJZ can each be heard in Gaylord fine. It is places such as Mackinaw City and the Soo where radio coverage is an issue for Sparty. (U-M has no affiliate in the Soo, either.)

I'd contend northern lower Michigan radio coverage is a bigger issue for the Wolverines, since the only affiliate station receivable in Traverse City has a flimsy signal there (WKAD). They have good coverage elsewhere in the northern mitten thanks to WHAK-FM Rogers City, WMLQ Manistee and WQON-FM Grayling.

[ftballfan]

WJZQ and Hillman - Alpena's WKJZ can each be heard in Gaylord fine. It is places such as Mackinaw City and the Soo where radio coverage is an issue for Sparty. (U-M has no affiliate in the Soo, either.)

I'd contend northern lower Michigan radio coverage is a bigger issue for the Wolverines, since the only affiliate station receivable in Traverse City has a flimsy signal there (WKAD). They have good coverage elsewhere in the northern mitten thanks to WHAK-FM Rogers City, WMLQ Manistee and WQON-FM Grayling.

100.3 should have a similar signal strength to 93.7 in TC

[Michigan Media]

For anyone monitoring this transaction, the assignment of authorization was granted by the FCC yesterday:
https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/datae ... b&goBack=N

The asset purchase agreement stipulates a closing within 10 business days of the FCC consent.

[MWmetalhead]

Thanks for the info. Will be interesting to see what 2025 holds in store for these stations.

[KalamazooClown]

As of 7PM last night WQXC is simulcasting with WFAT AM930 and 102.7, using "CoolFM" and "Michigan's Oldies" in their branding.

[Michigan Media]

It sounds like Midwest Communications is now operating WZUU and WQXC. Here are some of my observations:

WZUU has some new imaging and a new voiceover guy (I am not a fan). The imaging sounds like it was thrown together at the last minute. They are no longer using the "Hometown Music Authority" slogan. The playlist has shifted in a more mainstream direction. The old playlist was very focused on the 1970s and 1980s. The current playlist includes a lot of tracks from the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. I heard "The Light" by Disturbed in the 12:00 PM hour . I can't recall ever hearing Disturbed on a Kalamazoo radio station. Like other Midwest stations in Kalamazoo, WZUU is now airing weather updates from WOOD-TV.

WQXC has new imaging and branding. They are branding themselves as "Michigan’s Oldies - Cool FM." The station is simulcasting on Midwest's WFAT (930) and W274AQ (102.7) in Battle Creek. It sounds like they are using WFAT's playlist. The playlist sounds very "corporate" compared to the old WQXC playlist. The playlist is available online: https://wfat.tunegenie.com. Like WZUU, WQXC is now airing weather updates from WOOD-TV.

[MWmetalhead]

I believe WQXC had been known as "Cool 101," so not a big change for 100.9. Makes complete sense to simulcast 100.9 & 102.7/930 as opposed to having separate brands with separate playlists. The 100.9 and 102.7 signals book-end pretty nicely.

Will be interesting to see if any changes are made to 96.5. Might a simulcast with 98.5 be in the cards?

I am going to have to give WZUU a listen. I'm glad their very stale sound has been given a facelift.

At some point, the Kalamazoo and BC markets should be merged into one. The same companies own nearly all the signals in both cities, and multiple brands sell advertising in both communities.