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WGCI-FM

WGCI-FM (107.5 MHz) is an urban contemporary radio station that is licensed to Chicago, Illinois, serving the Chicago metropolitan area and Northwest Indiana. It is owned and operated by iHeartMedia (formerly known as Clear Channel Communications until September 2014).

WGCI-FM
Broadcast area
Frequency107.5 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding107.5 WGCI
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatUrban contemporary radio
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
December 4, 1958
(65 years ago) (1958-12-04)[1]
Former call signs
  • WFMQ (1958–65)[2]
  • WNUS-FM (1965–75)[2]
  • WGCI (1975–83)[3]
Call sign meaning
formerly owned by Globetrotter Communications, Inc.[4]
Technical information[5]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID51165
ClassB
ERP3,700 watts
HAAT472 meters (1,549 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°52′44″N 87°38′10″W / 41.879°N 87.636°W / 41.879; -87.636
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via iHeartRadio)
Websitewgci.iheart.com

WGCI broadcasts with 3,700 watts (3.7 kilowatts) at 107.5 megahertz (MHz) from atop the Willis Tower in Downtown Chicago, and has studios located in the Illinois Center complex on Michigan Avenue. Like many Clear Channel-owned urban radio stations, it uses the slogan "Chicago's #1 For Hip Hop and R&B".

In 2005, WGCI began broadcasting in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity.[6]

History

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WFMQ

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WFMQ's logo

The station began broadcasting on December 4, 1958, and held the call sign WFMQ.[1] The station was owned by Lester Vihon and broadcast from One North LaSalle with an ERP of 11,000 watts.[2][1][7] It initially operated from 4 p.m. to midnight.[8] WFMQ aired beautiful music, light classical, and classical music, along with show tunes, opera, and jazz programs.[7][9][10][11][12] In 1960, the station's ERP was increased to 36,000 watts.[2]

WNUS-FM

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In 1965, the station sold to Gordon McLendon for $400,000 and its call sign was changed to WNUS-FM.[2][13][14] The station adopted an all-news format, simulcasting AM 1390 WNUS.[13][15][16][17] WNUS was the first all-news station in the United States.[17][18]

In 1968, the station returned to airing a beautiful music format.[19]

In 1973, the station's transmitter was moved to the Civic Opera Building.[2]

WGCI

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Previous logo used until September 2014

In February 1975, Globetrotter Communications Inc. purchased 107.5 FM and its sister station 1390 AM for $3,550,000.[20] WVON's programming moved to 1390, ending the simulcast.[21] The station's call sign was changed to WGCI later that year, and it would air a disco-oriented format.[2][22][23][24][25] The station was branded "Studio 107".[24][25]

In 1977, Globetrotter Communications was purchased by Combined Communications Corporation.[26] The following year, Combined Communications merged with Gannett Co.[27]

WGCI shifted away from disco in 1980, in favor of a more broad urban contemporary format.[28][29][30]

In 1983, WVON flipped its callsign to WGCI to match its FM partner, and 107.5's call sign was changed to WGCI-FM.[3]

In the mid-1980s, Tom Joyner, was simultaneously working for both a morning show at K-104 KKDA-FM in Dallas, Texas and an afternoon show at WGCI.[31] Instead of choosing between the two, Joyner chose to take both jobs, and for years he commuted daily by plane between the two cities, earning the nicknames "The Fly Jock" and "The Hardest Working Man in Radio".[31][32] Doug Banks was morning drive host on WGCI from 1986 until 1993, when he was replaced by Tom Joyner's syndicated morning show.[33][34] In 1997, comedian George Wallace co-hosted WGCI's morning show with Jeanne Sparrow.[35][36]

In 1997, Gannett sold both WGCI-FM and WGCI 1390 to Chancellor Media.[37] Chancellor merged with Capstar and restructured as AMFM, Inc. in 1999, and in 2000, merged with Clear Channel Communications.[38][39]

In 2001, the station's transmitter was moved to the Sears Tower.[40][41][42]

In 2006 WGCI won a Marconi Award for Best Radio Station for Hip-Hop and R&B.[43]

The Crazy Howard McGee Show was replaced by the Steve Harvey Morning Show on August 1, 2007.[44] Harvey had previously hosted mornings on WGCI from 1996 to 1997.[44][45] In March 2009, Harvey moved to WVAZ, replacing Tom Joyner.[46] On April 1, "The Morning Riot" debuted starring Tony Sculfield, Leon Rogers and Nina Chantele.[47] Nina also did middays at Clear Channel sister station WKSC-FM.[48] In January 2015, WGCI began airing a new morning show hosted by Leon Rogers, Kyle Santillian and Kendra G.[49]

WGCI-FM formerly simulcast on XM Satellite Radio channel 241.[50] Station owner Clear Channel sold off its ownership stake in Sirius XM Radio during the second quarter of fiscal year 2013.[51] As a result of the sale, nine of Clear Channel's eleven XM stations, including the simulcast of WGCI FM, ceased broadcast over XM Satellite Radio on October 18, 2013.[51][50]

References

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  1. ^ a b c 1964 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1964. p. B-47. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g History Cards for WGCI-FM, fcc.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Call letters", Broadcasting. October 17, 1983. p. 82. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  4. ^ Peters, S.J. "Call letters take on intended meanings to project images", The Life. January 7, 1987. p. 1.
  5. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WGCI-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  6. ^ HD Radio Guide for Chicago
  7. ^ a b O'Connor, Richard. (2009). A Brief History of Beautiful Music Radio, Percy Faith Pages. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  8. ^ "WFMQ Now Operating on a Weekday Basis", Chicago Tribune. December 7, 1958.
  9. ^ "FM Station Key", U.S. Radio. Vol. 4, No. 7. July 1960. p. 47. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  10. ^ "FM Station Key", U.S. Radio. September 1961. p. 65. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  11. ^ Barry, Edward. "FM Listeners' Choice", Chicago Tribune. December 12, 1959. p. 23.
  12. ^ Barry, Edward. "FM Listeners' Choice", Chicago Tribune. February 3, 1962. p. C7.
  13. ^ a b "Demand is Heavy For FM Outlets", Billboard. December 5, 1964. p. 28. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  14. ^ "Dallas Firm Buys WFMQ, FM Station", Chicago Tribune. November 6, 1964. p. B6.
  15. ^ "Stations By Format", Billboard. October 16, 1965. p. 62. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  16. ^ "Stations By Format", Billboard. November 19, 1966. p. 38. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  17. ^ a b "WINS to Go News Round the Clock", Billboard. March 27, 1965. p. 62. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  18. ^ "WYNR Goes to All-News", Billboard. August 29, 1964. pp. 3, 18. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  19. ^ "In and out", Broadcasting. February 26, 1968. p. 5. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  20. ^ "CCI heads toward top among groups", Broadcasting. March 10, 1975. p. 20. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  21. ^ "A sudden shift of ownerships in Chicago radio", Broadcasting. February 10, 1975. p. 73. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  22. ^ Duston, Anne. "Midwest Becomes Hotbed Of Disco Activity", Billboard. November 1, 1975. p. D-28. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  23. ^ "Chi WGCI Music Switch", Billboard. June 26, 1976. p. 27. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  25. ^ a b "All things black and beautiful", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  26. ^ "Soul Sauce", Billboard. May 14, 1977. p. 42. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  27. ^ Jones, William H. "Gannett Plans to Buy Combined Communications", The Washington Post. May 9, 1978. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  28. ^ Penchansky, Alan. "Chicago WGCI-FM Climbing After Killing Disco Format", Billboard. April 19, 1980. p. 29. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  29. ^ Baker, Cary. "WXOL Chicago Plays the Blues", Billboard. May 16, 1981. p. 27. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  30. ^ Forrest, Rick. "Radio Weathering Deregulation and Audience Fragmentation", Billboard. May 30, 1981. p. BM-10. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  31. ^ a b "'Hello, Dallas, Hello, Chicago, It's Tom Joyner Here, Live and in Person'", People. January 20, 1986. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  32. ^ Harris-Taylor, Marlene. "'Hardest working man in radio' visits Toledo", The Blade. September 24, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  33. ^ Moyer, Justin Wm. "Doug Banks, Chicago radio legend, dead at 57", The Washington Post. April 12, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  34. ^ Stark, Phyllis; Boehlert, Eric; Borzillo, Carrie. "Vox Jox", Billboard. July 10, 1993. p. 67. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  35. ^ Johnson, Allan. "WGCI-FM Gets New Morning Show Co-Host", Chicago Tribune. June 11, 1997. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  36. ^ Townsend, Audarshia. "WGCI's Morning Man Is Shown the Door", Chicago Tribune. January 1, 1998. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  37. ^ Jones, Tim. "Evergreen Switching Stations", Chicago Tribune. April 11, 1997. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  38. ^ "Chancellor to Become AMFM Inc.", AdAge. May 20, 1999. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  39. ^ "Clear Channel-AMFM Merger Gets Approval", Associated Press. Los Angeles Times. August 30, 2000. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  40. ^ "Federal Communications Commission FM Broadcast Station Construction Permit", fcc.gov. December 1, 1998. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  41. ^ Public Notice Comment – BPH-19980827IC, fcc.gov. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  42. ^ Application Search Details – BLH-20010413AAL, fcc.gov. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  43. ^ "NAB Marconi Radio Award Winners Announced". National Association of Broadcasters. September 22, 2006. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  44. ^ a b Rosenthal, Phil. "WGCI looks to future with Steve Harvey", Chicago Tribune. August 12, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  45. ^ "Newsline...", Billboard. April 5, 1997. p. 77. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  46. ^ Rosenthal, Phil. "Joyner's job, fans jolted one Clear Channel morn", Chicago Tribune. March 27, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  47. ^ Rosenthal, Phil. "'Morning Riot' to be a scream at WGCI", Chicago Tribune. March 26, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  48. ^ "iHeartMedia Annual December Firings Begin; WGCI and WKSC Staffers Gone", Chicagoland Radio and Media. December 1, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  49. ^ Venta, Lance. "WGCI Launches New Morning Show", RadioInsight. January 27, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  50. ^ a b Venta, Lance. "SiriusXM Adjusting Lineup: Z100/KIIS-FM Come to Sirius", RadioInsight. October 15, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  51. ^ a b Venta, Lance. "Clear Channel Sells SiriusXM Stake; Stations to Leave Service", RadioInsight. August 2, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
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