WNIC
 | |
| City of license | Dearborn, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Metro Detroit |
| Branding | 100.3 WNIC |
| Slogan | More Variety From The 80's, 90's & Today |
| Frequency | 100.3 MHz (also on HD Radio)100.3 HD-2: Sunny Radio(Soft AC) |
| First air date | 1950 (as WKMH) |
| Format | Modern Adult Contemporary |
| ERP | 32,000 watts |
| HAAT | 183 meters |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 6594 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 42°23′22″N 83°08′53″W / 42.38944°N 83.14806°W |
| Callsign meaning | Nice music (from Beautiful Music format) |
| Former callsigns |
WNIC-FM (1972-7/6/87) WKNR-FM (10/13/63-1972) WKMH (1950-10/13/63) |
| Owner | Clear Channel Communications |
| Sister stations | WDFN, WDTW, WDTW-FM, WJLB, WKQI, WMXD |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wnic.com |
WNIC is an American radio station based in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting at 100.3 MHz FM. The station airs a modern adult contemporary as 100.3 WNIC. WNIC's transmitter is located near Schoolcraft and Livernois Avenue in the City of Detroit on the near west side. WNIC broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 32,000 watts from an antenna 600 feet in height. It can be heard as far as Webberville, Michigan to the west, London, Ontario to the east, and Elmore, Ohio to the south.
WNIC's studios and offices are located in Farmington Hills, MI.
History
WKMH-FM
WNIC went on the air around 1950 as WKMH-FM, sister to WKMH/1310. Both stations were, and still are, licensed to Dearborn, Michigan.
WKNR-FM and top 40 format
On Halloween 1963, WKMH became WKNR, and legendary Top 40 radio station "Keener 13" was born, beginning a three-and-a-half-year reign at the top of Detroit's radio ratings until it was toppled by Windsor, Ontario's CKLW in 1967. WKMH-FM similarly became WKNR-FM, and chiefly simulcast Keener AM (with automated Top 40 programming during non-simulcast times) until 1969, when, inspired by the success of groundbreaking progressive rock station 99.5 WABX, the station adopted its own progressive rock sound. "Uncle" Russ Gibb was the WKNR-FM personality who helped to spread the rumor that Paul McCartney was dead. According to Gibb, a college student in Ann Arbor called him on the air one Sunday afternoon and explained the theory to him. The rumor took off from there and generated lots of publicity for Gibb and WKNR-FM. It was air personality Chris Randall who phoned WABC New York personality Roby Yonge, who put the rumor on the air in New York and was responsible for it spreading nationwide.
"Stereo Island" easy listening to WNIC adult contemporary
Fresh 100
On December 27, 2010, the station rebranded as "Fresh 100.3, Detroit's Fresh New Sound". With the change, the station dropped all 1970s music and a lot of 1980s music from the playlist, focusing on upbeat music from the 1990s through today, but retained some 1980s songs. The station made the switch at 4:00 PM (EST) after running its annual Christmas music and an on-air music test for two hours. The surprise flip caught listeners off guard, but according to Clear Channel/Detroit OM Todd Thomas, he noted that the target audience will remain the same, adding that "This is the music that radio listeners in Detroit told us they wanted to hear. With their help, we’ve created a unique sound on 100.3 for 2011 and beyond."[1] WNIC also began airing the American Top 40 show (the adult top 40 version) on Sundays.
On December 26, 2011, WNIC slightly adjusted their moniker to "Fresh 100, Variety From Today & Back In The Day." The station also adjusted their on-air lineup adding Billy The Kidd for nights.
On August 13, 2013, WNIC's longtime competitor, WMGC-FM, flipped to sports talk after 12 years as an adult contemporary station, making WDVD their main competition.
Return of 100.3 WNIC
On November 7, 2013 at 8:15am, after playing "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds and announcing their annual flip to all Christmas music for the holiday season, WNIC dropped the "Fresh" branding after almost three years in favor of returning to the station's heritage brand as "100.3 WNIC." This is more than likely is a result from WMGC-FM flipping to sports talk in August.
On December 26, 2013, the station reverted back to a modern adult contemporary format. The airstaff lineup remained unchanged as well.
HD Radio
WNIC is licensed for HD Radio operations and currently features a soft AC/oldies format on its HD2 channel, which is a feed of Clear Channel's "Sunny Radio" programming on iHeartRadio.
The HD-2 channel began as 100.3 WNIC, Detroit's Nicest Rock and featured a mix of classic pop and AC hits from the 1960s through the 2000s no longer played on the primary station, with featured artists including Gloria Estefan, Lionel Richie, The Carpenters, Barbra Streisand, and Barry Manilow. In years past, while WNIC played Christmas music for much of November and December, WNIC's regular adult contemporary format usually moved to the HD2 channel. After Christmas is over, WNIC's HD2 channel played Christmas music until January 1.
On November 7, 2013, WNIC-HD2 dropped the "100.3 WNIC, Detroit's Nicest Rock" brand and began featuring iHeartRadio's "Sunny Radio" feed.
Christmas Music
Since 2002, WNIC has been known for playing nonstop Christmas music each year from the beginning of November through Christmas (billing itself as "Detroit's Christmas Station" during this period). In 2009, WNIC started playing holiday music on November 6, a later start that of the previous year, which was on November 2.[2] They were well known for being one of the earliest radio stations in the entire United States to start featuring holiday music, with a majority of other stations not starting until around Thanksgiving. WNIC went all-Christmas again in 2011 despite then being a hot AC station. WNIC went all-Christmas on November 9, 2012 at 7:45 AM. WNIC went all-Christmas on November 7, 2013 at 8:15 AM as well as dropping the "Fresh 100" branding.
Airstaff
The current lineup (as of July 2013) is as follows
- Morning Show (5 a.m.-10 a.m.): Jay Towers In The Morning - Jay Towers, Doni Flynn, Chelsea Kivell & Kam Carman
- Mid-Days (10 a.m.-3 p.m.): Theresa Lucas
- Afternoon Drive (3 p.m.-8 p.m) Dave Kent
- Nighttime (8 p.m.-12 a.m.): On With Mario Lopez
- Overnight (12 a.m.-5 a.m.): Bruce Scott
- Weekend/Fill-in: Lori Bradley
- Program Director: Tony Travatto
- Assistant PD/Music Director: Theresa Lucas
References
- ↑ "WNIC/Detroit Gets 'Fresh'" from All Access (December 28, 2010)
- ↑ Kristen Jordan Shamus (2009-11-15). "We may be rushing things, but we need a little Christmas now". Detroit Free Press.
External links
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WNIC
- Radio-Locator information on WNIC
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WNIC
- 100.3 WNIC Website
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