WMCW

WMCW (1600 AM) was a radio station licensed to Harvard, Illinois, United States. The station began broadcasting in 1955 and was originally owned by Esther Blodgett. WMCW was the first station in Illinois owned and operated by a woman. The station's call sign stood for "Milk Capital of the World".

WMCW
Broadcast areaMcHenry County, Illinois
Boone County, Illinois
Walworth County, Wisconsin
Frequency1600 kHz
Programming
FormatDefunct
History
First air date
January 30, 1955[1]
Last air date
May 3, 2008[2]
Call sign meaning
Milk Capital of the World[1][3]
Technical information
Facility ID43241
ClassD
Power500 watts daytime
18 watts night

History

Esther Blodgett ownership

WMCW began broadcasting with midnight tests on January 30, 1955, and was officially dedicated February 22, 1955.[1] The station originally ran 500 watts during daytime hours only.[4] The station's motto was "Top of the State, Top of the Dial".[1] The station aired a high amount of local programming, with owner Esther Blodgett serving as an announcer.[1][5] In 1965, Blodgett was named "AP Correspondent of the Month" for her coverage of a tornado that struck the area during the Palm Sunday outbreak.[1] Blodgett's final broadcast was March 14, 1979.[1]

Obed Borgen ownership

In 1979, Blodgett sold the station to Obed Borgen for $175,000.[4][6][5] Under Borgen's ownership, the station aired a country music format.[1][7][8]

Mitchell Broadcasting ownership

In 1982, the station was sold to Mitchell Broadcasting for $245,000.[9][10] The station would air a full service-MOR format.[11][12] Throughout the 1980s along with WXET (now WZSR), WMCW broadcasts sports games from high schools across McHenry and Boone Counties and the city of Marengo’s Federal Savings show “Making your finances fit” every Monday through Friday at 7:10 AM. In 1996, ownership of the station was transferred Stateline Radio, which was owned by the daughter of the owner of Mitchell Broadcasting.[13] WMCW was a favorite among locals, broadcasting daily local news and a talkshow featuring locals from the area every morning. The Station wrote daily local newspages which were delivered weekdays to local businesses in Harvard, Marengo and Woodstock.  During Harvard's yearly Milk Day celebration the reporters were always on the scene, reporting in great color, all the action. Live reports from county fairs, local events and as many news worthy stories they could cover. On Sunday, the local church services were aired. The station continued airing a full service-soft AC format throughout the 1990s.[14][15][16][17]

WPW Broadcasting ownership
Logo as an adult standards station

In 1999, the station was sold to WPW Broadcasting for $790,000.[17][18][19] The station aired a news-talk format in 2002, featuring syndicated personalities such as Laura Ingraham.[20] The station switched to an adult standards format by early 2003, with the slogan "Your Music, Your Lifestyle, Your Station, Baby Loves Sherk,".[19][21] The station continued to air a large amount of local programming.[19]

Kovas Communications ownership

In 2004, the station was sold to Kovas Communications for $650,000.[22] In 2005, the station switched to Health Radio Network programming, simulcasting 1580 WKKD.[23][24][25] On May 3, 2008, the station was taken silent, and the following year Kovas Communications surrendered WMCW's license, and the licenses of 1580 WKKD and 1600 WCGO to allow sister station 1590 WONX (now WCGO) to increase power to 7 kW.[2][24][26]

References
  1. Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 137-141.
  2. Application Search Details - BLSTA-20080602BOE, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  3. Haupt, Holly. "Top of the state, top of the dial", The Harvard Main Line. May 3, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  4. History Cards for WMCW, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  5. Heise, Kenan. "Esther Blodgett, 85, Founder Of Radio Station", Chicago Tribune. October 01, 1987. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  6. "Ownership Changes", Broadcasting. March 12, 1979. p. 150. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  7. Broadcasting Yearbook 1980, Broadcasting, 1980. p. C-68. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  8. Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1982, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1982. p. C-72. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  9. "Changing Hands", Broadcasting. April 19, 1982. p. 71. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  10. Public Notice Comment - BAL-19820402GX, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  11. Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1983. p. B-74. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  12. Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988/Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  13. "Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable. September 9, 1996. p. 74. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  14. Unmacht, Robert (1990). The M Street Radio Directory. p. 122. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  15. Unmacht, Robert; McCrummen, Pat; Heller, Jill; Apel, Steven (1994). The M Street Radio Directory. 1995 Edition. p. 196. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  16. Unmacht, Robert; McCrummen, Pat (1998). The M Street Radio Directory. Eighth Edition. p. 211. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  17. Madler, Mark R. "Programs to Remain as Radio Station Sold", Chicago Tribune. October 12, 1999. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  18. "Transactions", Radio & Records. November 5, 1999. p. 6. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  19. Kampert, Patrick. "Lose a pet? Tractor to sell?", Chicago Tribune. March 02, 2003. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  20. "Laura Ingraham Affiliate List". LauraIngraham.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2002. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  21. "WMCW 1600 AM Radio - Setting the Standard for the State Line". WMCW. Archived from the original on February 3, 2003. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  22. "Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable. January 11, 2004. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  23. Devine, Cathy (2005). The Radio Book. 2005-2006 Edition. p. 196. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  24. "Media Briefing for Wednesday, May 7, 2008", Thirteen. May 7, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  25. "Suburban Chicago AM Goes Dark", All Access Music Group. May 7, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  26. "WCGO Goes Dark, WONX -- Now WCGO -- Ups Power", All Access Music Group. April 13, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
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