WMJH

WMJH (810 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish language regional Mexican music format, licensed to Rockford, Michigan and serving the Grand Rapids, Michigan market. Owned by Birach Broadcasting, WMJH broadcasts with 3,600 watts of power during the day, which, along with its lower dial position, allows it to be heard as far north as Kalkaska, Michigan, as far east as Redford, Michigan, as far south as Three Rivers, Michigan but must sign off at night to protect WGY in Schenectady, New York.

History

AM 810 began operations in 1965 as WJPW and featured a MOR/adult contemporary music format for many years. In 1991 the station was sold and the calls were changed to WBYY. During this time the stations studios were moved from Rockford to 29th Street in Grand Rapids. AM Stereo was also added during this time. In 1996 the stations calls were changed again and from 1996 to 2004, WMJH was known as "Magic 810," airing a satellite-fed Adult Standards format from Westwood One. "Magic 810," which also broadcast in AM stereo for a time, had a loyal audience and respectable ratings for an AM daytimer, but was chiefly popular with listeners aged 55 and older, which led Birach to switch the station's format to brokered Spanish programming, under the name "La Poderosa" (Spanish for "the powerful one"). On November 7, 2008, the "La Poderosa" programming and format moved to WMFN AM 640, after that station's prior leasee, Tyrone Bynum, vacated the station, which, at that point, WMJH retooled its format to lean more towards Spanish-language Adult Contemporary.

In April 2012, Birach sold WMJH along with Owosso, Michigan station WOAP to Cano's Broadcasting. The deal was approved by the FCC later in the year.^[1]

In July 2013, the station changed its format to oldies, branded as "Super Hits 810" (effectively swapping with WOAP). The station has since shifted towards a classic hits format focusing primarily on hits from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, competing with WFGR. There are plans to relocate a translator, currently licensed for operation near Hastings MI to a tower near downtown Grand Rapids, to provide FM coverage for WMJH on 93.3 to allow for better reception and 24/7 operation.

On October 13, 2014, WMJH discontinued the Classic Hits format in favor of a return to full-time Spanish language regional Mexican music programming.^[2]

References

Sources

• Michiguide.com - WMJH History

External links

• Query the FCC's AM station database for WMJH
• Radio-Locator Information on WMJH
• Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for WMJH

Coordinates: 43°07′03″N 85°34′06″W / 43.11750°N 85.56833°W / 43.11750; -85.56833