WPJX

WPJX (1500 AM) is a radio station, licensed to Zion, Illinois, that airs a heavy metal format.[1][2][3] The station is owned by Polnet Communications, who also owns WKTA Evanston, WNVR Vernon Hills, and WEEF Highland Park-Deerfield. The station transmits with a directional 250 watts of power from 3 towers located on the corner of Delany Road and 21st Street near Wadsworth, Illinois. The station's daytime signal serves northern Lake County, Illinois and Kenosha County, Wisconsin. WPJX was licensed to operate during daytime hours only until May 2009 when it began broadcasting 24 hours a day with a power of 250 watts daytime and 2 watts nighttime.

WPJX
Broadcast areaLake County, Illinois
Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Frequency1500 kHz
BrandingRebel Radio
Programming
FormatHeavy Metal[1][2][3]
Ownership
OwnerPolnet Communications, Ltd.
WKTA, WEEF, WNVR
History
First air date
September 19, 1967 (as WZBN)
Former call signs
WZBN (1967-1977)
WKZN (1977-1983)
WNIZ (1983-1984)
WRJR (1984-1987)
WKGA (1987-1996)
WTAU (1996-1998)
WDDZ (1998-2001)
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID49293
ClassD
Power250 watts day
2 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
42°27′19″N 87°54′3″W
Translator(s)92.5 W223CN (Zion)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websiterebelradio.com

History

The station first began broadcasting on September 19, 1967, and originally held the callsign WZBN.[5] The station was originally owned by the Zion-Benton Broadcasting Company.[5]

The station was once co-owned with WKZN 96.9 (later WNIZ and now WWDV) and had studios in downtown Zion during this period.

In 1977, the station's call sign was changed to WKZN.[6] As WKZN, it aired an MOR-Adult Contemporary format and held the callsign, simulcasting the programming of WKZN-FM 96.9.[7][8]

In 1983, the station's callsign was changed to WNIZ, and the station began airing a classical music format, simulcasting the programming of its sister stations WNIZ 96.9 and WNIB 97.1.[9][10] In 1984, Lake County Broadcasting Co. purchased the station from Northern Illinois Broadcasting Co. for $200,000.[11] On December 1, 1984, the station's callsign was changed to WRJR.[12]

On December 1, 1987, the station's callsign was changed to WKGA.[12] As WKGA, the station aired a Spanish music format and was branded "Radio Borinquen".[13][5]

On November 7, 1994, WKGA adopted a Classic Country format.[14][15][5] In early 1996, the station was sold to Lotus Communications Corporation for $210,000,[16] and it adopted a Regional Mexican format, simulcasting the programming of sister station 1300 WTAQ.[17] On June 24, 1996, the station's callsign was changed to WTAU.[12]

In 1998, the station was sold to ABC Radio,[18] and on July 16, 1998, the station became an affiliate of Radio Disney along with its sister station WTAQ.[19][20] On December 3, 1998, the station's callsign was changed to WDDZ.[12] The station continued to simulcast Radio Disney with its sister station WRDZ until it was taken off the air on January 14, 2000.[21][18]

A short-lived LMA to the owners of WBJX in Racine, Wisconsin (now WJTI) brought the station back on the air in January 2001, simulcasting WBJX and airing a Regional Mexican format.[22][23][24][18] On May 16, 2001, the station's callsign was changed to WPJX.[12] The station again signed off the air in October 2001.[18] It returned to the air permanently in spring 2002 first with its previous format, a simulcast of Radio Disney station WRDZ La Grange.

In 2002, Multicultural Broadcasting of Chicago, Inc. purchased the station from ABC, Inc. for $70,000.[25][26][18] Under Multicultural's ownership it aired an oldies format.[27]

In 2006, Polnet bought the station from Multicultural Broadcasting for $230,000.[28][29][30] When Polnet bought the station, it switched to a Spanish-language reggaeton format.[31][32] In February 2009, the Heavy Metal[33][1] format "Rebel Radio" began airing full-time on the station.[34] "Rebel Radio" was replaced by a syndicated Spanish format in mid-February 2011.[33][2]

On October 1, 2018, at Noon, the heavy metal format of “Rebel Radio” returned to WPJX, after an eight-year hiatus.[35][1][36] During the first day back, Rebel Radio aired only the "Big 4" thrash metal bands: Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer.

Translator

WPJX is also heard at 92.5 MHz, through an FM translator.

Broadcast translator for WPJX
Call signFrequencyCity of licenseFIDERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
W223CN 92.5 FMZion, Illinois1424646594 m (308 ft)DLMS

References
  1. "Rebel Radio Returns To Chicago Suburbs", Radio Insight. October 5, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  2. "Rebel Radio Rides Again", Chicagoland Radio and Media, February 27, 2011. Accessed August 8, 2015
  3. "Heavy Metal, Underground Music Station, Rebel Radio, Rocks Hard, Rocks Heavy, for 21 Years!", Lincolnshire Review. September 2, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  4. "Facility Technical Data for WPJX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History, Crossroads Communications. pp. 348-350.
  6. History Cards for WPJX, fcc.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  7. "Illinois Media", Midwest Newsclip, Inc., (1982). p. 169
  8. "Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 37. Accessed August 8, 2015
  9. Call Letters - Grants, Broadcasting, August 8, 1983. p. 80. Accessed August 8, 2015
  10. "Illinois Media '84/'85", Midwest Newsclip, (1984). p. 143
  11. For the Record - Ownership Changes, Broadcasting, August 13, 1984. pp. 74-75 Accessed August 8, 2015
  12. Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Accessed August 7, 2015
  13. "Chicagoland Radio Waves: Your Complete Guide to Local Radio", Media Ties, Summer 1988. Accessed August 7, 2015
  14. Feder, Robert. "Oprah's Ex-Publicist Keeps Mum for Now", Chicago Sun-Times. November 3, 1994. p. 49.
  15. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 11, No. 45. November 9, 1994. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  16. Feder, Robert. "Three Radio Groups Control Lion's Share", Chicago Sun-Times. February 6, 1996. p. 29.
  17. "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13, No. 5. February 1, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  18. Feder, Robert. "ABC Radio selling Zion station for second time", Chicago Sun-Times. June 18, 2002. p. 55.
  19. "Getting Kids To Listen", Chicago Tribune, August 21, 1998. Accessed August 7, 2015
  20. Feder, Robert. "Love ya, love the show, but hate the hypocrisy", Chicago Sun-Times. July 8, 1998. p. 55.
  21. Application Search Details – BLSTA-20001012ACB, fcc.gov. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  22. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 05. January 31. 2001. p. 2. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  23. "Elsewhere", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 05. January 31. 2001. p. 6. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  24. Feder, Robert. "Ramblin' Ray Stevens out in US-99 shakeup", Chicago Sun-Times. January 30, 2001. p. 43.
  25. Consent to Assignment, fcc.gov, July 24, 2002. Accessed August 7, 2015
  26. Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, fcc.gov, May 9, 2002. Accessed August 7, 2015
  27. The M Street Radio Directory. Thirteenth Edition. 2004-2005. p. 208. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  28. Consent to Assignment, fcc.gov, March 21, 2006. Accessed August 7, 2015
  29. Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, fcc.gov, November 10, 2005. Accessed August 7, 2015
  30. Feder, Robert. "Brandmeier's contract already paying dividends", Chicago Sun-Times. January 18, 2006. p. 75.
  31. Feder, Robert. "Reggaeton newcomer on Spanish radio lineup", Chicago Sun-Times. May 25, 2006. p. 59.
  32. Feder, Robert. "New Spanish station gets seasoned manager", Chicago Sun-Times. June 8, 2006. p. 61.
  33. Rebel Radio - About Us
  34. "Media: October 2009", Illinois Entertainer. September 30, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  35. "News Bites: '101.9 PINK,' WBEZ, 'Rebel Radio,' WIP-FM", InsideRadio. October 4, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  36. Feder, Robert. "Robservations: Chuck Schaden returns for 'Those Were the Days' milestone", RobertFeder.com. October 4, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
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