WSAG (104.1 FM) 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 ...
licensed to
Linwood, Michigan
Linwood is a small unincorporated community in the northern portion of Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is on the boundary between Fraser Township on the north and Kawkawlin Township on the south. It is situated with M-1 ...
and broadcasting at 104.1
mHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...
, providing a
rimshot
A rimshot is a percussion technique used to produce an accented snare drum backbeat. The sound is produced by simultaneously hitting the rim and head of a drum with a drum stick.
The sound and various techniques
The sound of rimshots can be ...
service to the
Saginaw
Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...
,
Bay City, and
Midland markets. The station is simulcasted with AM sister station
WSAM
WSAM (1400 AM) is a radio station licensed to Saginaw, Michigan and broadcasting at 1400 kHz with 1,000 watts of power. The station is simulcasted with FM sister station WSAG-FM at 104.1 MHz and are collectively known as The Bay, in reference ...
at 1400
kHz in
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...
, and are collectively known as The Bay, in reference to their close proximity to the
Saginaw Bay.
History
The current format began in April 2005. Previously, WSAM had programmed
adult standards under the name "Sam 1400 AM", and WSAG (originally licensed to
Pinconning, Michigan
Pinconning is a city in Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,307 at the 2010 Census. It is included in the Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City metropolitan area. The city is locally noted for its former production of chees ...
before the city of license changed to Linwood, an unincorporated community north of Bay City) had broadcast an automated, commercial-free mix of 1950s-1970s
oldies
Oldies is a term for musical genres such as pop music, rock and roll, doo-wop, surf music (broadly characterized as classic rock and pop rock) from the second half of the 20th century, specifically from around the mid-1950s to the 1980s, as ...
since opening in November 2002. During the 1960s and 1970s, WSAM was a popular
top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "cont ...
music station; during the 1980s, it played oldies. Serendipitously, during WSAM's period as an oldies station, the long-held call letters lent themselves to the tagline "Play it Again, Sam". WSAM's original FM station at 98.1 MHz is now
WKCQ and has programmed a highly rated
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
format since 1968. MacDonald Broadcasting has owned WSAM-AM and WSAM-FM/WKCQ continuously since 1962, with sister stations WSAG and
WMJO
WMJO (97.3 FM, "Joe FM") is a radio station licensed to Essexville, Michigan and broadcasting at 97.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts. Known on the air as ''Joe-FM'', WMJO has a variety hits format targeted to Saginaw, Bay ...
added later.
Programming
WSAM and WSAG are simulcast around the clock, except for some popular weekend
polka shows on WSAM which are a holdover from the now-defunct adult standards format. Like most other adult contemporary music stations, The Bay switches to a format of continuous
Christmas music during the months of November and December, competing with crosstown classic hits
WHNN for the holiday music audience.
"The Bay" is the current home in the
Tri-Cities of
Delilah Rene
Delilah Rene (born February 15, 1960, in North Bend, Oregon) is an American radio personality, author, and songwriter, best known as the host of a nationally syndicated nightly U.S. radio song request and dedication program, with an estimated 8 ...
's syndicated love-songs show, which was formerly heard on crosstown
WGER
WGER (106.3 FM, "106.3 The Core") is a radio station licensed to Saginaw, Michigan, broadcasting a classic alternative format. The station broadcasts from a transmitter southeast of I-675 Exit 6 (Tittabawassee Road) in Carrollton Township in Sag ...
until its replacement by
John Tesh
John Frank Tesh (born July 9, 1952) is an American pianist and composer of pop music, as well as a radio host and television presenter. He hosts the ''Intelligence for Your Life'' radio show. In addition, since 2014, he has hosted ''Intelligen ...
.
Technical
WSAG-FM's reception is strongest in the
Bay City area but is very difficult to receive near the Flint and Lapeer area, as
WOMC-FM
WOMC (104.3 FM, "104.3 WOMC") is a commercial radio station in Detroit, Michigan. It airs a classic hits radio format and is owned by Audacy, Inc. The transmitter and studios are both located on American Drive off 11 Mile Road in Southfield, M ...
tends to phase out the signal that far south, as well as
WRSR
WRSR (103.9 FM, "The Fox") is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. Licensed to Owosso, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1965 under the WOAP-FM call sign. Its transmitter is located east of Owosso, while its studios are loca ...
103.9; however, its signal can be received as far north as West Branch and Tawas City. WSAG's signal is also scratchy in parts of Saginaw itself, perhaps due to the proximity of
WILZ on 104.5 FM. WSAM-AM is more easily received in Flint and Lapeer on car radios, but farther south it too runs into reception problems due to co-channel
WDTK
WDTK (1400 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Detroit, Michigan, and known as "The Patriot." It broadcasts a conservative talk radio format and is owned by Salem Communications. The studios and offices are on Radio Plaza in Fer ...
in Detroit.
Sources
Michiguide.com - WSAG History
External links
The Bay website
{{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Michigan
SAG
Radio stations established in 2002
Soft adult contemporary radio stations in the United States
2002 establishments in Michigan