History of Wisconsin AM stations
This list is just a beginning. I know I have a lot of work to do on it, but I thought I would
put it up for people to look at and help with any corrections. If you see something that is a-miss, PLEASE
email me at [email protected].
Station in RED are still
on the air.
9XM Madison ??? Predecessor to WHA
KGIE Milwaukee 1500 Listed as a temporary license. Wisconsin Radio Trade Association, "temp 10/2/28 to 10/7/28"
KFIZ Fond du Lac 1100 Licensed July 6, 1923. Started in May 1922, station operated with 100 watts in its earlier days and was owned by Daily Commonwealth & Oscar A. Huelsman. Reporter Printing Co. was licensee in the mid-thirties. KFIZ Broadcasting Co., acquired station in May 1946 and operated it with 250 watts on 1450 kc. It is now running at 1kW
KFIZ Fond du Lac 1120 Moved here in 1928
KFIZ Fond du Lac 1420 Moved here in 1930. 1934 lists KFIZ as running 100 watts and shared time. Presumably with WHFC, WKBI and WEHS all of Cicero, IL.. Studio and transmitter were at 18 West First Street.
KFIZ Fond du Lac 1450 Moved to this frequency on or about 1942. Present dial location of station.
KXTP Superior 970 x-WAAX Presently “Radio Disney”
WAAK Milwaukee 833 Milwaukee’s first radio station, licensed to Gimbel Brothers, licensed April 13, 1922. 100watts to a 40’ antenna. Lasted about a year. The first official broadcast was 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, 1922.
WAAK Milwaukee 1070 Moved from 833 during 1923
WAAX Superior 970
WABN La Crosse 1280 Licensed June 1923. Owned by Waldo C. Grover.
WABN La Crosse 1230 Moved here in 1925 500 watts.
WAGO Oshkosh 690 Now WVCY-AM
WAIZ Appleton 1320 Calls stood for Appleton Irving Zuelke.
WAPL Appleton 1570 Now WRJQ
WAQE Rice Lake 1090 x-WMYM “Classic Country 10-90”
WARP Milwaukee 1340 Now WJYI. Ran a very free form rock format for a while. Sounded like a college station.
WATK Antigo 900 Started in 1947 with 250 watts daytime only by Antigo Broadcasting. Classic C&W “AM 900”
WATW Ashland 1400 Started in 1940 with 250 watts by Upper Michigan-Wisconsin Broadcasting…. The same company that owned WJMS Ironwood, MI. Transmitter located at South Ellis Street. Nostalgia “Memories 1400”
WAUK Waukesha 1510 Used to be country. Now “Sports Radio 15-10” ESPN Radio. Broadcasts in stereo. x-WAUX
WAUX Waukesha 1510 Started in 1946 by Waukesha Broadcasting with 250 watts daytime only. Transmitter was on Orchard Lane and studios were at 319 West Main Street. Presently WAUK
WAUX Lake Geneva 1550 Used to be affiliated with WAUK 1510 and know as the Sports Radio Double Play
WAWA West Allis 1590 Deleted Used to be R&B from 4 towers near the UPS station in Elm Grove. Tower bases are still there.
WAYY Chippewa Falls 1150 Now WEAQ
WBAY Green Bay 1360 Started in 1925 and owned by WHBY, Inc. Ran 5000 watts. Studio was in the Bellin Building. Now WGEE
WBCS Milwaukee 1340 Simulcast 102.9 WBCS when it was country. Presently WJYI. Ex-WEMP, WRIT, WLZR, WARP, WMKE.
WBEL Beloit 1380 Started in 1948 with 1000 watts daytime only. Studios were at 335 East Grand Avenue, and the transmitter was at 900 East Elmwood Avenue. Moved City of License to South Beloit, IL to upgrade signal.
WBEV Beaver Dam 1430 Adult Contemporary Frequency was originally in Milwaukee as WEXT.
WBIZ Eau Claire 1400 Started in 1947 with 250 watts. Studio and transmitter were at 609 Cameron. Owners were WBIZ, Inc. Sport/Talk
WBJX Racine 1460 x-WRAC, WRKR, WHBT, WWEG, WEGS. Spanish
WBKV West Bend 1470 Started in 1950 with 500 watts daytime only. Owners in 1950 were West Bend Broadcasting, Inc. Classic C&W
WBOO Baraboo 740 Became WRPQ
WCAY Milwaukee 833 May 15, 1922 Owned by the Kesselman O'Driscoll Co.
WCAY Milwaukee 1150
WCAY Milwaukee 1130 Owned by Milwaukee Civic Broadcasting. 250 watts. This eventually became WTMJ.
WCCN Neillsville 1370 Studios are in the Wisconsin Worlds Fair building from 1966. Nostalgia
WCJL Marinette 1300 deleted
WCKK Oshkosh 690 Known as Cake Radio when it was NOS. Now WVCY-AM.
WCLB Sheboygan 950 x- WCNZ, WKTS Club 9-50 Nostalgia
WCLO Camp Lake 1320 Licensed August 4, 1925. Calls stood for Camp Lake Oaks. Owned by C. E. Whitmore. Ran 50 watts.
WCLO Kenosha 1200 Change of Owners, City of License and frequency in 1930. Owners now WCLO Radio Corporation. 1934 lists WCLO as 100 watts unlimited schedule.
WCLO Janesville 1230 1942 lists WCLO with a change of City of License and Frequency. Owners were Southern Wisconsin Radio, Inc.. Studio was at 200 East Milwaukee Street and the transmitter is still at 1436 South Oakhill Avenue. Present day location of WCLO.
WCOW Sparta 1290 Now WKLJ
WCQL Sussex 1370 Changed calls to WKSH.
WCWC Ripon 1600 Now WRPN
WCNZ Sheboygan 950 Now WCLB
WCSW Shell Lake 940 “AM 9-40” Nostalgia
WCUB Manitowoc 980 x-WWOC
WCUB Two Rivers 980 x-WWOC, WCUB Manitowoc “Cub Radio” Country
WDBP Superior 1150 Licensed May 1924. Run by Superior State Normal School. 50 watts.
WDEY Hudson 740 Now WMIN
WDGY Hudson 630 Heritage calls taken from 1130 in Minneapolis. Presently Spanish “Radio Rey”
WDLB Marshfield 1450 Started in 1946 by Dairyland’s Broadcasting service, Inc. Ran 250 watts from a transmitter at 1710 North Central Avenue. Present format is Oldies.
WDLS Wisconsin Dells 900 Now WIBU
WDSM Superior 1230 Started in 1939 with 250 watts. Stuidios were in the Spalding Hotel in Duluth with the transmitter on Conners Point. Owned by Ridon, Inc.. Eventually moved to 710.
WDUZ Green Bay 1400 Started in 1947 by Green Bay Broadcasting, Inc. Studio was in the Nicolet Building, transmitter Sports “14 the Fan”
WDVM Eau Claire 1050 x-WRFW, WEIO, WISM, WOKL Religion
WEAQ Chippewa Falls 1150 x-WAYY Nostalgia
WEAU Eau Claire 790 Started in 1937 with 5000 watts. Studios were at 203 ½ South Barstow. Owned by Central Broadcasting Company. Used the slogan “The Heart of the Corn Belt”.
WEBC Superior 1240 Licensed June 27, 1924 Owned by Walter C. Bridges. 10 watts. Upgraded to 100 watts in 1925. Upgraded to 250 watts in 1927. In 1928 new owners were Head of the Lakes Broadcasting Co..
WEBC Superior 1290 Moved here in 1930. Used the slogan “Head of the Great Water Way”. 1934 lists WEBC as running 2500 watts day and 1000 watts night.
WEBW Beloit 1120 Licensed October 9, 1924 ran 500 watts. Calls changed to WISJ eventually. Run by Beloit College.
WEBW Beloit 1160 Moved here in 1928.
WEGS Racine 1460 Calls did not last long, flipped to WWEG as WEGS sounded pretty close to then country WBCS. Now WBJX
WEIO Eau Claire 1050 Now WDVM
WELF Tomahawk 810 Now WJJQ
WEKZ Monroe 1260 Country and some Swiss programming. Studios are in a Swiss chalet.
WEMP Milwaukee 1340 Started in 1935 by the Milwaukee Broadcasting Company. Calls stood for the EMPire building, which was where the studios were located early in the stations life. Studio address moved to 5407 West Martin (Martin was listed. Either the name of the street change or this is a typo. Street name is McKinley).
WEMP Milwaukee 1250 Used to battle it out with WOKY for top-40 listeners in the 70’s. The Milwaukee Braves were broadcast on WEMP. In 1963 seven towers were taken down and 5 new taller towers were put up. Changed over to Oldies (Sheeesh I miss them!!). Now is religion. Used to have a web site saying the RugRats were evil (go figure!)
WERL Eagle River 950 Nostalgia
WERU Sun Prairie 1190 Now WNWC
WEVR River Falls 1550 Adult Contemporary
WEXT Milwaukee 1430 Started in 1947. Eventually became WOKY 920. Frequency moved to WBEV Beaver Dam. Transmitter location was 2501 South 43rd Street. Studios were downtown. Last day was September 4th, 1950 when WOKY came on air on 920.
WFAC Superior 833 Owned by the Superior Radio Co.
WFAW Fort Atkinson 940 Talk, Adult Contemporary
WFAX Superior ?? Licensed June 8, 1922
WFBZ Minoqua 1570 Now WLKD
WFCL Clintonville 1380 Nostalgia. Used to be country.
WFHR Wisconsin Rapids 1340 Established in 1940. 1950 listed at 250 watts with a transmitter at 1500 Bonow Avenue. Owner was William F. Huffman Radio, Inc.. Eventually moved to the present location of 1320.
WFHR Wisconsin Rapids 1320 Talk
WFOX Milwaukee 860 Started in 1946 by the Wisconsin Broadcasting System. Studio and transmitter were listed as 739 North Broadway. Also used to have a tower located at 205 East Wisconsin Ave on a bank building. Now WNOV.
WGAG Milwaukee 833 Licensed June 2, 1922 Shown as temporary station for the Wisconsin Radio Show. Listed Spearman Lewis, Mgr Director, and the location as the Plankington Hotel.
WGAY Madison 833 Licensed June 28, 1922 Owned by the North Western Radio Co.
WGBQ Menomonee 1280 Licensed January 1925. Sequential call sign. Ran 100 watts.
WGBR Marshfield 1310 Licensed February 1925. Sequential call. Ran 50 watts. Owned by George S. Ives. Listed in 1926 as 10 watts.
WGEE Green Bay x-WBAY, WTAQ Used to be country. New Talk now.
WGEZ Beloit 1490 Started in 1948 with a whopping 100 watts. Studios were at the Hotel Hilton. Presently Oldies.
WGLB Port Washington 1560 Calls stood for “Great Lakes Broadcasting” who were the original owners. Now WGLB Elm Grove
WGLB Elm Grove 1560 Upgrade daytime only signal to unlimited with move to Elm Grove area. Black Gospel
WGLR Lancaster 1280 Country //WGLR-FM x-Oldies
WGNW Sussex 1370 Calls stood for “Good NeWs Radio”. Changed to WKSH
WGSC Kaukauna 1050 Now WJOK
WGWB Milwaukee 1370 Licensed October 1926. Ran 500 watts and was owned by Radiocast Corporation of Wisconsin.
WGWB Milwaukee 110 Moved here in 1928 with new owners listed as the Evening Wisconsin Co.
WGZS Waupun 1170 Was religion “Jesus or “GeeZuS” Now WMRH
WHA Madison 833 Licensed October 1924. Was actually authorized to use two frequencies 833, and 619. 833 being the “Entertainment” frequency and 619 was the “Weather and Market News” frequency. Under the supervision of the late Professor Earle M. Terry, the U. of Wisconsin started 9XM in 1917. The station was operating on 485 meters with 500 watts in 1921. WHA supplanted 9XM on Jan. 13, 1922, and subsequent frequency and power changes have brought the station to the present 5 kw on 970 kc. The outlet has operated from the same location under the same licensee since its inception.
Earle Melvin Terry helped found 9XM Madison, Wis., now WHA,
still calling itself 'the nation's oldest broadcast station.' Earle Terry, a
professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin, inspired C. J. Jansky Jr.,
a student, to design and construct three-element power vacuum tubes to be used
in an already established experimental radio-telegraph station (started in 1914
with 2000 watts of power on 475 meters), in operation in Wisconsin's old
Science Hall and licensed under the call letters 9XM. The station achieved its
first transmissions of voice and music in 1917 under the direction of Professor
Terry and with the devoted efforts of such university students as Mr. Jansky,
Malcolm Hanson and Grover Greenslade. On Jan. 3, 1919, daily radio-telephone
broadcasts of weather reports were started. C. M. Jansky Jr., the son of a
professor of electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin, went on to
become an international authority on radio engineering and still is associated
with Jansky and Bailey Inc., Washington, consulting engineers. Malcolm Hanson,
another of Professor Terry's precocious students, was later chief radio
operator on Admiral Richard E. Byrd's first expedition of Antarctica. Professor
Terry died May 1, 1929, less than four months beyond his 50th birthday.
WHA Madison 560 Moved here in 1925 with 750 watts.
WHA Madison 940 Moved here in 1927 with 750 watts. Moved back here in 1920.
WHA Madison 900 Moved here in 1928.
WHA Madison 940 Moved here around 1934. 1000 watts daytime only.
WHA Madison 970 Moved here on or before 1942.
WHAD Milwaukee 833 Licensed 30, 1922 Call was sequential, no meaning behind it. Run by Marquette University. Under early Federal Radio Commission, power was increased to 250 watts and time was shared with WISN, Newspaper station. In 1930 WISN increased power to 1 kW and continued to share time with WHAD until 1934, when WISN purchased the WHAD plant and facilities.
WHAD Milwaukee 1070 Appears to have shared time with WAAK on this frequency. Ran 100 watts. Upgraded to 500 watts in 1926.
WHAD Milwaukee 1090 Moved here in 1925 with 500 watts.
WHAD Milwaukee 1110 Moved here in 1928. Looks like it shared time with WGWB.
WHAD Milwaukee 1120 Moved here n 1930 with WISN. 1934 lists WHAD as 250 watts with Shared Time with WISN.
WHBB Stevens Point 1250 Licensed January 1925. Sequential call sign. Ran 50 watts.
WHBL Sheboygan 1470 Licensed March 5, 1925. Calls and station came from Logansport, IN and showed up in Wisconsin in 1929. Owners were Press Publishing Co. & C. L. Carrell.
WHBL Sheboygan 1410 Moved here in 1930. 1934 lists WHBL as running 500 watts and shared time with WROK Rockford, IL..
WHBL Sheboygan 1330 1942 lists WHBL changed frequency here with 1000 watts day and 250 watts night. Studios were listed as being in the Press Building. Present dial location of station. Talk Sports.
WHBT Racine 1460 Now WBJX
WHBY West De Pere 1200 Licensed March 28, 1925. Owned by St Norbert’s College. Ran 50 watts. Moved to Appleton.
WHBY Green Bay 1200 City of License changed to Green Bay in 1931. 1934 lists WHBY as 100 watts unlimited time. And the owner as WHBY, Inc..
WHBY Appleton 1230 Listed in 1942, but started in 1924 in Green Bay. Ran 250 watts from 600 South Lawe Street.
WHBY Kimberly 1150 WHBY bought out WYNE Appleton, which as a daytimer running 1kW. WHBY upgraded the facility to 5kW U4, and change the city of license. Transmitter is south of Neenah along Hiway 41. Runs 4 towers in line day and 5 towers in line at night.
WHFA Poynette 1240 x-WIBU. Long time well know Polka station. CBS News even did a news clip on them. Religion now.
WHIT Madison 1550 x-WWQM, WMAD Now WTUX
WHSM Hayward 910 Nostalgia
WHRY Hurley 1450 Oldies
WIAA Waupaca ??? Licensed July 1922 Sequential call sign.
WIAJ Neenah 1340 July 1922 Sequential call sign. Owned by Fox River Valley Radio Supply Co. (Quinn Brothers of Quinn TV and Appliance)
WIAO Milwaukee 833 Licensed July 22, 1922 Became WSOE and then WISN. The station began operating with 100 watts on 360 meters. WSOE was adopted in 1924, to identify the licensee, Milwaukee School of Engineering. In 1924 the Wisconsin News, Hearst Corp. newspaper in Milwaukee, began part time programming for the station, and a year later took over all programming duties. The outlet increased its power to 500 watts on 1110 kc in 1927. It was acquired by the Wisconsin News in 1928, and call letters were changed to WISN. The licensee has changed its name to the Milwaukee Sentinel, but letters WISN remain. Under early Federal Radio Commission, power was increased to 250 watts and time was shared with WHAD, the Marquette U. station. In 1930 the station increased power to 1 kw and continued to share time with WHAD until 1934, when it purchased the WHAD plant and facilities. The outlet was placed on its present 1150 kc with 5 kw in 1941. Moved to 1220 with 100 watts.
WIBA
Madison 1270 Licensed March 24, 1925
Owned by Capital Times
Studio.
Ran 100 watts. In 1927, added the Strand Theater Corporation as co-owner.
WIBA Madison 1250 Moved here in 1928. Used the slogan “Four Lakes City”.
WIBA Madison 1280 Moved here in 1931. 1934 lists WIBA as running 1000 watts day and 500 watts night, with a new owner of the Badger Broadcasting Co..
WIBA Madison 1310 1942 lists WIBA changed frequency to here running 5000 watts. Owners were Badger Broadcasting Company. Studio located at 3800 Regent Street, with the transmitter in Fitchburg (present day location).
WIBF Wheatland 1300 Licensed April 1925. Ran 50 watts. I don’t even know where Wheatland IS!!
WIBU Poynette 1350 July 8, 1925 Owned by The Electric Farm. Ran 20 watts. The calls stood for Wind Is Being Used, as they were using a windmill for generating power! This frequency in now used by nearby Portage station WPDR.
WIBU Poynette 1380 In 1927 changed to this frequency and new owners: Wisconsin State Journal. Ran 20 watts.
WIBU Poynette 1320 In 1930 changed frequency and owners. Owner was William C. Forrest.
WIBU Poynette 1210 Moved here about 1934 and was running 100 watts with an unlimited schedule.
WIBU Poynette 1230 Listed in 1942 with this change of frequency.
WIBU Poynette 1240 Now WHFA
WIBU Wisconsin Dells 900 x-WNNO, WDLS, WWGA 990 Thankfully the owners of this station kept the nostalgic calls! Music of Your Life.
WIGM Medford 1450 Started in 1941 by George F. Meyer. Power was 250 watts. “News Talk Radio”
WILT Tomahawk 810 Now WJJQ
WISC Madison 1480 Started in 1948 with 1000 watts. Owned by Radio Wisconsin, Inc. Studios were at the Commercial State Bank Building and the transmitter located on Seyene Road. Now WTDA.
WISJ Beloit 560 ex- WEBW Calls were listed in 1920. Owners were the Wisconsin State Journal.
WISM Eau Claire 1050 Now WDVM
WISM Madison 1480 Now WTDY
WISN Milwaukee 1110 First listing of WISN is in 1928, where it shared time with WHAD. WISN eventually bought out WHAD.
WISN Milwaukee 1120 Moved here in 1930. 1934 lists WISN as 250 watts with Shared Time with WHAD. Also lists the new owner as the American Radio News Corporation.
WISN Milwaukee 1150 Moved here on or before 1942. Assumed to be 250 watts. Transmitter was in the Town of Greenfield. Eventually upgraded to 5000 watts with a transmitter at 5001 South 60th street..
WISN Milwaukee 1130
WISS Berlin 1090 Country //WAUH-FM
WISZ Madison 1480 Now WTDY
WIXK New Richmond 1590 “Real Country”
WIZM La Crosse 1410 X- Nostalgia calls WKBH. News Talk.
WJBD Ashland 1290 Licensed April 1925 Ran 100 watts.
WJBR Omro 1320 Licensed January 1926. Owned by Gensch & Stearns. Ran 50 watts. Upgraded to 100 watts in 1927.
WJMC Rice Lake 1240 Started in 1938 with 250 watts by WJMC, Inc.. Studios and transmitter located at 1615 North Main Street. Adult Contemporary
WJOK Kaukauna 1050 ex WKAU, WQWM, WGSC. Started out as a Top-40 Station in the 70’s. Chnged to country, religion then sports and is now religion again. Calls stand for Jesus Our King.
WJPG Green Bay 810 Started in 1947 with 1000 watts daytime only. Owned by the Green Bay Newspaper Company. Transmitter was in Bellevue.
WJPG Green Bay 1440 Now WNFL
WJUB Plymouth 1420 x-WPLY Religion
WJYI Milwaukee 1340. This used to be the proud WRIT and WEMP. So many famous names came through here such as “Robert L” (Bob Collins), “Vic Brandon”
WKTS Sheboygan 950 Now WCLB
WKAF Milwaukee 1150 Calls stood for Wood, Kesselman, and Ford. Ran 500 watts.
WKAU Kaukauna 1050 Calls for KAUkauna. Now WJOK
WKAW Beloit 1240 Licensed August 1922 Sequential call sign. Owned by Turner Cycle Co.
WKBH La Crosse 1360 Licensed August 19, 1926. Owned by Callaway Music Co. Ran 500 watts. Became WIZM.
WKBH La Crosse 1300 Moved here in 1928.
WKBH La Crosse 1380 Moved here in 1930. 1934 lists WKBH as running 1000 watts with an unlimited schedule. New owners listed as WKBH, Inc..
WKBH La Crosse 1410 Moved to this frequency about 1942 and was running 5000 watts. Studio was located at 409 Main Street, with the transmitter on Gillette Street. Now WIZM.
WKBH Holmen 1570 Nostalgia calls moved to this frequency. Talk/Sports
WKDR Kenosha 930 Licensed August 1926. Perhaps calls stood for Kenosha Edward A. Dato, owner. Ran 15 watts.
WKLJ Sparta 1290 X-WKLJ (original call), WCOW CNN News/Talk
WKOW Madison 1070 Started in 1948 with the present day 10,000 watts day and 5,000 night. Studios were at 215 West Washington Avenue. The transmitter is still in McFarland. Now WTSO.
WKSH Sussex 1370 Moved to 1640 1370 deleted.
WKSH Sussex 1640 Calls moved here in 1999.
WKTS Sheboygan 950 Now WCLB
WKTY La Crosse 580 Started in 1948 with 1000 watts. Owned by the La Crosse Broadcasting Corp.. Studio was located at 112 North 4th Street, and the transmitter was located on Stoddard Road, 4 miles south of La Crosse. Present day format is Sports.
WLBL Stevens Point 1080 Licensed May 1924. Also see WPAH. Calls stand for Land of Beautiful Lakes. Ran 500 watts.
WLBL Stevens Point 940 Moved here in 1927 with 1000 watts.
WLBL Stevens Point 900 Moved with WHA here in 1928. Upgraded to 2500 watts (daytime only) around 1934. Transmitter location listed near Ellis.
WLBL Stevens Point 930 First listed on the frequency in 1942.
WLBL Auburndale 930 “Wisconsin Public Radio”
WLCX La Crosse 1490 Started in 1947 with 250 watts. Owned by Bermac Radio, Inc.. Studio was located in the State Bank Building with the transmitter on Lang Drive. Now WLFN.
WLDL La Crosse 1490 Now WLFN
WLDY Ladysmith 1340 Started in 1948 with 250 watts. Owned by (and still is!!!) the Flambeau Broadcasting Company. Studio and transmitter were located on Westlake Avenue. Presently running Nostalgia Music of Your Life.
WLFN La Crosse 1490 x-WLCX, WLXR, WLDL Nostalgia
WLIN Merrill 550 Started in 1948 by Alvin O’Konski. Ran 1000 watts. This eventually was moved to Wausau and became WSAU.
WLIP Kenosha 1050 Started in 1947. Founded by William LIPman. 250 watts non-directional.
WLKD Waupun 1170 Now WMRH
WLKD Minoqua 1570 x-WFBZ, WMQA Nostalgia
WLKE Waupun 1170 Now WMRH
WLKE Oshkosh 690 Took calls from 1170 when 1170 went to WLKD. Now WVCY-AM. Known as “The Lake”.
WLUM- AM West Allis 1590 See WAWA
WLXR La Crosse 1490 Now WLFN
WLZR Milwaukee 1340 Simulcast 102.9 WLZR for a couple of years. Presently WJYI.
WLZZ Greenfield 1290 One of the many calls of 1290. Presently WMCS.
WMAD Madison 1550 Now WTUX
WMAM Marinette 570 Started in 1939 by M & M Broadcasting, Inc..
WMAW Milwaukee 1250 Started in 1947 with 5000 watts by Midwest Broadcasting Company. Studios were at 723 North Third Street. Transmitter at the current location on Grange in Hales Corners. The original calls for the 1250 station. Became WEMP.
WMBE Chilton 1530 x-Country Now Sports
WMCS Greenfield 1290 x-WMIL, WZUU, WLZZ, WMVP This signal has seen it all. Is presently a very well run R&B station that broadcasts in stereo.
WMEQ Menomonee 880 “News Talk 8-80”
WMIL Greenfield 1290 Now WMCS
WMIN Hudson 740 x-WDEY, WMIN, WRPX Presently Sports
WMIR Lake Geneva 1550 x-WAUX Now WZRK
WMKE Milwaukee 1340 Now WJYI
WMQA Minoqua 1570 Now WLKD
WMRH Waupun 1170 x- WLKE, WLKD, WGZS Nostalgia. Spanish on weekends.
WMVP Greenfield 1290 Presently WMCS. They had these calls until AM 1000 in Chicago turned to all sports, and bought the call sign from them.
WMYM Rice Lake 1090 Now WAQE
WNAM Neenah 1280 Started in 1947 with 1000 watts by Neenah-Menasha Broadcasting. Studios were in the Neenah National Manufacturers Bank building. x-Top 40. Now Nostalgia. Broadcasts in Stereo
WNBI Park Falls 980 Nostalgia
WNBV Baraboo 1500 Listed as a temporary license. Young Men's Christian Association, "operate one night 5/28/27".
WNFL Green Bay 1440 x- WJPG Calls for Home of the NFL Champs, Green Bay Packers. Sports
WNNO Wisconsin Dells 900 Now WIBU
WNOV Milwaukee 860 Calls stand for Wisconsin’s Negroes Only Voice, and was related to Chicago’s WVON (Voice of the Negro). X-WFOX. Transmitter used to be on top of 205 East Wisconsin Avenue. The base structure is still there. A building (100 East Wisconsin) went up next to the tower, hampering its signal. There were lawsuits of discrimination etc. WNOV moved their transmitter just off of Fond du Lac Avenue. Their signal does very well for a 250 (daytime) Station!.
WNWC Sun Prairie 1190 x-WERU Religion Owned by Northwestern College. CP for signal upgrade including night time operation.
WOAR Kenosha 833 Licensed November 1922. Reissued November 1923. Owned by Henry P. Lundskow.
WOBT Rhinelander 1240 Started in 1947 with 250 watts by Oneida Broadcasting. Presently Sports Radio 12-40
WOCO Oconto 1260 Country
WOGO Hallie 680 Sports
WOKL Eau Claire 1050 Now WDVM
WOKY Milwaukee 920 SOOO Much history here. Stay tuned, I will get to it! Started out as WEXT 1430. On September 5, 1950 the WOKY calls came about with a change of frequency (920) and location to 75th and Edgerton with 1kw and three towers. Known as “Mighty 92”.
WOMT Manitowoc 1350 Licensed November 18, 1926. Calls stood for the Mikadow Theatre which is where the station was located. Ran 50 watts.
WOMT Manitowoc 1210 Moved here in 1934 and was running 100 watts with an unlimited schedule.
WOMT Manitowoc 1240 1942 list this change of frequency. Present dial location of WOMT.
WOSH Oshkosh 1490 Started in 1941 with 250 watts by Oshkosh Broadcasting. Transmitter remains at 1235 Bowen. x-WOSH (original calls), WYTL Was top-40 with WOSH calls. Country under WYTL. News Talk now.
WPAH Waupaca 833 Licensed December 1922. Became WLBL. With a 500 watt transmitter at Waupaca, WPAH began operation Feb. 5, 1922 on 485 meters. The station was established by the Wisconsin State Dept. of Markets, to broadcast agricultural information to farmers. In 1924, the outlet was moved to Stevens Point and call letters were changed to WLBL. In 1937, the station installed a 5 kw transmitter near Auburndale and began operating on 930 kc. Studios were moved to the Central State Teachers College campus that same year. In 1951 station operation was transferred to the Wisconsin State Radio Council, a statutory body charged with providing statewide educational broadcasting.
WPDR Portage 1350 Country
WPLY Plymouth 1420 Now WJUB
WPRE Prairie du Chien 980 Oldies “Cruisin 9-80”
WPVL Platteville 1590 x-WTOQ, WWSW Oldies
WQTC Two Rivers 1590 Now WTRW
WQWM Kaukauna 1050 Now WJOK
WRAC Racine 1460 Started in 1950 with 500 watts daytime only. Run by Bell City Broadcasting. Studio listed as 423 Main Street. Now WBJX
WRAL St Croix Falls 1210 Licensed March 1923. Sequential call sign. Owned by Northern States Power Co.. 100 watts.
WRCO Richland Center 1450 Started in 1949 with 250 watts by Richland Broadcasting Company. Now known as “1450 Oldies “.
WRDB Reedsburg 1400 Talk
WRDN Durand 1430 Oldies
WRFW Eau Claire 1050 Started in 1948 by the Chippewa Valley Radio and Television Corp. Ran 1000 watts daytime only. Studio and transmitter were at Rudolph Road. Presently WDVM.
WRIG Wausau 1400 Moved to 1390 and changed city of license to Schofield.
WRIG Schofield 1390 x-WRIG Wausau 1400. Nostalgia
WRIT Milwaukee 1340 Top-40 in the 60’s and 70’s Changed to all news in 1972. Now WJYI
WRJC Mauston 1270 Talk.
WRJN Racine 1210 ex-WRRS. Calls first listed in 1928. Calls stand for Racine Journal-News.
WRJN Racine 1370 Moved here in 1930. In 1934 WRJN is listed as running 100 watts unlimited schedule. Owner listed as the Racine Broadcasting Corporation.
WRJN Racine 1400 First listed on this frequency in 1942. Studio listed as 441 Main Street, with the transmitter at Vistory and Kentucky Streets. Present dial location of station.
WRJQ Appleton 1570 x-WAPL, WVMS Change of calls coming soon to WSCO. Polka, nostalgia
WRKR Racine 1460 Rocker in the 70’s. Simulcast with 100.7. Now WBJX.
WRPN Ripon 1600 x-WCWC
WRPX Hudson 740 Now WMIN
WRRD Jackson 540 “The Word” X-WYLO, WZER
WRRS Racine 930 Licensed December 6, 1926 Became WRJN. Calls stood for Racine Radio Station. Ran 50 watts.
WRTR Two Rivers 1590 Now WTRW
WSAM Milton ??? March 20, 1923 Listed as a temporary license. For Milton College (A G Sayre).
WSAU Wausau 1400 Established in 1937 by the Journal Company, the same company that owned WTMJ and The Milwaukee Journal. Listed as 250 watts with a transmitter at Coates Lane. Became WRIG. Calls eventually moved to 550.
WSAU Wausau 550 News/Talk
WSBR Superior 1490 Established around 1948. Eventually became the present KQDS in Duluth, MN
WSOE Milwaukee 1220 Milwaukee School of Engineering. Ex- WIAO. Ran 100 watts. Upgraded to 500 watts in 1926. Became WISN. WSOE was adopted in 1924, to identify the licensee, Milwaukee School of Engineering. In 1924 the Wisconsin News, Hearst Corp. newspaper in Milwaukee, began part time programming for the station, and a year later took over all programming duties. The outlet increased its power to 500 watts on 1110 kc in 1927. It was acquired by the Wisconsin News in 1928, and call letters were changed to WISN. The licensee has changed its name to the Milwaukee Sentinel, but letters WISN remain. Under early Federal Radio Commission, power was increased to 250 watts and time was shared with WHAD, the Marquette U. station. In 1930 the station increased power to 1 kw and continued to share time with WHAD until 1934, when it purchased the WHAD plant and facilities.
WSPO Stevens Point 1010 Now WSPT
WSPT Steven Point 1010 x- WTWT, WXYQ, WSPO Sports
WSWW Platteville 1590 Now WPVL
WTAQ Osseo 1180 Licensed September 4, 1923. Became WGEE (calls are now in Green Bay. So were WTAQ calls at one time.) Owned by S. H. Van Gorden & Son. 100 watts. Upgraded to 500 watts in 1927.
WTAQ Eau Claire 1330 In 1930 Changed City of License, Frequency and Owners. Owners were the Gillette Rubber Co. Used the slogan “The Voice of the Wilderness”. 1934 lists WTAQ as running 1000watts daytime, and at night shared time with KSCJ Sioux City, IA. Transmitter listed as being in the Township of Washington
WTAQ Green Bay 1360 Established in 1940. Moved from Eau Claire. Presently WGEE.
WTCH Shawano 960 Started in 1948 with 1000 watts daytime only by the Shawano County Leader Publication Company. Studios were listed as 107 East Green Bay Street. Country
WTDA Madison 1480 Soon to be silenced since this station received an X-Band allotment of 1670 (WTDY) x- WISC, WISZ, WISM, WTDY
WTDA Madison 1670 Changed to WTDY
WTDY Madison 1480 Changed to WTDA when 1670 came on air.
WTDY Madison 1670 See WTDY 1480.
WTKM Hartford 1540 Polka/Country
WTMB Tomah 1460 Nostalgia
WTMJ Milwaukee 1020 First on the air in 1927, though seems to have originated from WCAY. Owned by the Milwaukee Journal. Ran 500 watts.
WTMJ Brookfield 1020 1928 the city of license was Brookfield. WHAD no longer on frequency.
WTMJ Brookfield 620 Studios listed as Milwaukee. This frequency first listed in 1930.
WTMJ Milwaukee 620 In 1934 WTMJ is listed with powers of 2500 day and 1000 night. WTMJ was the reason for the first directional transmitting array. In 1932 WFLA in Florida was interfering with WTMJ so the FCC require WFLA to install a directional antenna system to push their signal away from WTMJ. Upgraded to 5kW day and night. And in 1998 upgraded to a new transmitter site with 50kW days using 4 towers and 10kW nights using six towers. Present location is south and west of Racine.
WTOQ Platteville 1590 Now WPVL
WTRW Two Rivers 1590 x-WRTR WQTC “Oldies 15-90”
WTSO Madison 1070 Used to be country, then nostalgia, now ESPN 10-7-0 x-WKOW
WTTN Watertown 1580 Started in 1950 with 250 watts daytime only by Watertown Broadcasting. Studios were at 104 West Main Street. Presently Country.
WTUX Madison 1550 x-WHIT, WWQM, WMAD Nostalgia
WTWT Stevens Point 1010 Started in 1948 with 250 watts daytime only by Stevens Point Broadcasting. Studios were at 414 Main Street and the transmitter was 2 blocks north of Stevens Pint City limits. Now WSPT.
WVCY-AM Oshkosh 690 ex- WAGO, WCKK, WLKE
WVMS Appleton 1570 Now WRJQ
WVRQ Viroqua 1360 Oldies “Vintage VRQ”
WWEG Racine 1460 Now WBJX
WWGA Wisconsin Dells 990 Moved to 900 and Changed calls to WNNO.
WWIS Black River Falls 1260 Country
WWOC Manitowoc 980 Now WCUB
WWQM Madison 1550 x-WMAD Now WTUX
WXCE Amery 1260 Sports
WXCO Wausau 1230 Sports ESPN 12-30
WXMT Merrill 730 Now WJMT
WXOL Oshkosh 690 Calls stood for eXcellentOLdies. Now WVCY-AM
WXYQ Stevens Point 1010 Now WSPT
WYLO Jackson 540 “Way Low” Now WRRD
WYNE Appleton 1150 Signed on in 6-30-1970 as WYNE 1150. Later known as “Y-1-15. Was a rocker in the 70’s with 1KW daytime and two towers in the town of Menasha. The towers are still there. Went country for a while as well. WHBY bought the signal, and upgraded it to 5kW unlimited with 5 towers located right along HiWay 41 south of Neenah.
WYTL Oshkosh 1490 Was country. “WITTLE” Now WOSH.
WZER Jackson 540 Now WRRD
WZRK Lake Geneva 1550 x-WMIR, WAUX Not on air yet.
WZUU Milwaukee 1290 Simulcast 95.7 when the stations were co-owned. Jonathan Green of WTMJ fame work here, as well as Larry “The Legend” Johnson.. Known as the “Zoo”. Now WMCS.
Pre-1920
stations.
CM Milwaukee 900 Meters A commercial station listed in 1912. Assumed to be a spark gap transmitter running 7500 watts.
MB Wisconsin ??? Listed in 1906. Owned by Slaby-Arco, and also ran Slaby-Arco equipment. Appears to be the ship “Wisconsin”.
MK Milwaukee Variable A commercial station assumed running spark gap with 5000 watts. Listed in 1912.
MW Manitowoc Variable A commercial station assumed running spark gap at 2000 watts.
PA Waupaca Variable A commercial station assumed running spark gap at 2000 watts. Listed in 1912.
SC Scandinavia ??? A commercial station assumed running spark gap at 1000 watts. Listed in 1912.
XMH Milwaukee 1400 meters Listed 1910. Assumed spark gap station.
The Broadcast Archive
United States Early Radio History.
Department of the Navy
DX-MidAMerica.com
Al Hajny
John Rieger
FCC
Surfing the Aether – www.northwinds.net/bchris