WVIB (100.1
FM, "V100") is a
radio station
Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radi ...
broadcasting an
urban adult contemporary
Urban adult contemporary, often abbreviated as urban AC or UAC, (also known as adult R&B,) is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have hip hop music ...
format fed via satellite from
Westwood One
Westwood One is an American radio network owned by Cumulus Media. The company syndicates talk, music, and sports programming.
The company takes its name from an earlier network also named Westwood One, a company founded in 1978. The compan ...
(known as "
The Touch" or "Today's R&B and Old School"). The station is licensed to
Holton, Michigan
Holton Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,532.
Communities
*Brunswick is a small unincorporated community in section 13 of the township at on M-12 ...
and serves the
Muskegon
Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expans ...
market. It can be heard as far south as
Allendale, Michigan
Allendale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 17,579 at the 2010 census. It is located within Allendale Charter Township, occupying approximately the northern two-thirds of th ...
, as far east as
Lakeview, Michigan, and as far north as
Ludington, Michigan
Ludington ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Mason County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,076.
Ludington is a harbor town located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River ...
. However, its range is limited by
WBCH to the southeast and
WSJP-FM
WSJP-FM (100.1 FM broadcasting, FM) is a radio station licensed to Port Washington, Wisconsin, and licensed to Relevant Radio, Inc. It airs Catholic-based religious programming in a simulcast with WSJP (AM), WSJP (1640 AM). It is the only full-pow ...
to the west.
History
The station began in 1971 as WSHN-FM in
Fremont, Michigan
Fremont is a city in Newaygo County, Michigan, United States. The population was 4,516 at the time of the 2020 census.
History
The first inhabitants of the Fremont area were Native Americans. A group of settlers led by Daniel Weaver first s ...
, which for many years featured a
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...
format (as "Fun Country 100 FM") oriented toward Fremont and Newaygo County. The WSHN calls stand for Stuart and Helene Noordyk, the station's original owners.
In January 2002, the Noordyks were granted a construction permit to change WSHN-FM's city of license from Fremont to Holton and move into the Muskegon market (
WSHN-AM 1550 remained in Fremont and remains owned by Noordyk to this day). The following month, "Fun Country 100" became "The New Sunny FM" with a
Hot AC
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, quiet sto ...
format. The station chose the name "The New Sunny FM" to evoke memories of
WSNX
WSNX-FM (104.5 MHz "104-5 SNX") is a Top 40 (CHR) radio station located in iHeartMedia, Inc. Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters. The station has a Top 40 (CHR) format. The station is licensed to Muskegon, in Western Michigan with the stat ...
's days as "Sunny FM" during the 1980s and 1990s. The intention was to provide a "grown-up" version of "Sunny FM", without hip hop and rap music and with classic 1980s and 1990s hits mixed in. However, the revamped "Sunny FM" was a ratings failure.
In February 2004, Tony "Boomer" Burke, former on-air talent for Grand Rapids active rock station
WKLQ and South Bend's CHR/Top 40 station U-93
WNDV, was hired as Program Director and Weekday Afternoon Host for "Sunny-FM". "Boomer"'s duties also included heading up the other Noordyk stations (WEFG, WLCS, WSHN-AM). In an attempt to push the station into direct competition with WSNX, WSHN's music format quickly evolved from Hot AC to
CHR/Top 40
Contemporary hit radio (also known as CHR, contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format that is common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by ...
, aiming directly at teens and young adults just in time for summer.
By June 2004, "100.1 The New Sunny-FM" had a fresh new sound. "Boomer" had added rap and hip hop music in a limited capacity compared to WSNX. Intense song rotation was given to current and recent hits as well as music from the early 2000s. Selected Top 40 hits from the 1990s remained, but very limited. 1980s songs were dropped altogether other than during special programming and syndicated programming. All this was an effort to try to bring in the 12–24 and 18–34 male-female demographic. A tweaked moniker and logo, a new voice-over by Jeff Straub complete with brand new fast-paced imaging and jingles, as well as new air talent, helped kick off WSHN's Top 40 effort in June 2004. This coincided with the week-long Muskegon Summer Celebration. Taking advantage of the timing, the station sponsored
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta. It is composed of guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger, and drummer Daniel Adair. It wen ...
, who performed in concert during the week-long festival. In June, changes in staff also were made, including revamping the morning show. "Boomer" replaced owner Don Noordyk on the morning team. Noordyk stepped back to focus exclusively on managerial duties. Brandon James was hired to replace "Boomer" as Weekday Afternoon Host to help continue the Top 40 approach and improve listener interaction. Along with several new contests and show features, Brandon's show was request and caller driven. A new Friday evening show titled ''Mix at Six'' also debuted, featuring a full hour of Modern Dance and club music.
In August 2004, these efforts too were proven not to be long-lived at Sunny-FM. Creative differences between talent and management over the direction of music decisions led to the departure of Tony "Boomer" Burke and Brandon James, who both resigned on the same day in late August. WSHN pretty much reverted to its adult-driven Hot AC format until November.
After
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country. Only iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media ...
took over the station in November 2004, 100.1 FM was switched to the current adult-urban format, which has proven popular among the African American community in Muskegon. Citadel merged with
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is an American broadcasting company and is the third largest owner and operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States behind Audacy and iHeartMedia. As of June 2019, Cumulus lists ownership of 428 stations in 8 ...
on September 16, 2011.
WVIB is the only commercial radio station in the Muskegon area programmed for the black community. It competes with non-commercial LPFM stations
WUVS-LP
WUVS-LP (103.7 FM, "103.7 The Beat") is a low power radio station licensed to Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, ...
and
WUGM-LP
WUGM-LP (106.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Rhythmic Oldies format, along with specialized Electronic dance music-based programming on the weekends. Licensed to Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county ...
.
References
Michiguide.com - WVIB History
External links
*
{{coord, 43.314, N, 86.155, W, type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC, display=title
VIB
Urban adult contemporary radio stations in the United States
Muskegon County, Michigan
Cumulus Media radio stations
Radio stations established in 1971
1971 establishments in Michigan