WABJ (1490 AM, "NewsTalk 1490") is a radio station broadcasting a

news News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different Media (communication), media: word of mouth, printing, Mail, postal systems, broadcasting, Telecommunications, electronic communication, or through the tes ...

talk radio Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often featur ...

format. Licensed to

Adrian, Michigan Adrian is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Lenawee County. The population was 20,645 at the 2020 census. Adrian lies in Michigan's 7th congressional district. History Adrian was founded on June 18, 1826 by Addison Co ...

, it first began broadcasting in 1946. WABJ is noted as a "springboard station" for some of the most well-known names in broadcasting. It has launched the careers of such notables as

Phil Donahue Phillip John Donahue (born December 21, 1935) is an American media personality, writer, film producer and the creator and host of ''The Phil Donahue Show''. The television program, later known simply as ''Donahue'', was the first talk show forma ...

, Jerry Keil, Rich Hoffer, Gary Fullhart, Mickey Morgret, Aimee Faycosh, Pyke, Andy Stuart, Fred LeFebvre and Joe Elardo. WABJ has functioned as a full-service station for Adrian and

Lenawee County Lenawee County ( ') is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 99,423. The county seat is Adrian. The county was created in 1822, from territory partitioned from Monroe County. Its g ...

since it signed on. Music (

adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...

MOR Mor or MOR may refer to: Names and titles * Mór (given name), a list of people named Mór or Mor * Mor (surname), a list of people named Mor or Mór * Mor (honorific), or Mar, in Syriac Radio and television * Middle of the road (music) genre * ...

in nature) was phased out in the early 1990s in favor of the station's current talk format.

History

In January 1948, the

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...

approved the sale of WABJ by Adrian Broadcasting Company to James Gerity Jr. On July 21, 2021, it was announced the station's broadcast signal would be suspended effective August 1, 2021, largely due to insufficient financial sustainability.

References

Sources

Michiguide.com - WABJ History

External links

ABJ Radio stations established in 1946 Adrian, Michigan 1946 establishments in Michigan {{Michigan-radio-station-stub