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WJLB (97.9 FM broadcasting) is a commercial radio station in Detroit, Michigan. Owned by iHeartMedia, it broadcasts an urban contemporary format. Its studios are on Halsted Road in Farmington Hills. In morning drive time, WJLB carries the syndicated Breakfast Club from co-owned WWPR-FM New York City.
WJLB has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 50,000 watts, the maximum for most Detroit stations. The station's transmitter is in Highland Park near the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Midland Street. It uses a tower at in height above average terrain (HAAT). WJLB broadcasts using HD Radio technology.
Effective November 1, 1943, the FCC modified its policy for FM call signs. "Standard Broadcast Station Call Letters for All Outlets Starting Nov. 1, FCC Rule", The Billboard, September 4, 1943, page 7. The station’s callsign became WLOU. On September 12, 1945, WLOU was assigned to 96.5 MHz. In June 1948, the station moved to 97.9 MHz, with the station's call sign changing WJLB-FM from 1947 to 1952 and from 1957 to 1958. From 1952 to 1957, it was WBRI. In 1958, the callsign was changed to WMZK, which was a play on the word music. The station aired a format of automated beautiful music. In later years, WMZK alternated between beautiful music and foreign-language programming for various ethnic groups. In 1979, the station carried the pro softball games of the Detroit Caesars. Detroit Free Press, July 7, 1979, p. 2C
Throughout the 1980s, WJLB, which was known as "Stereo 98," aired a Top 40 and Urban hybrid, also called "CHUrban", a forerunner to the current Rhythmic Contemporary format. The station used the slogan "WJLB FM 98, Detroit's Strongest Songs!" in 1986. The rollout featured a commercial of people working out to the song "Problèmes d'Amour" by Alexander Robotnick.
The station later evolved to mainstream urban contemporary as "FM 98 WJLB" by 1988. WJLB performed well in the Detroit Arbitron ratings, despite picking up competition from several rivals, including WDVD 96.3 FM, which mixed dance music with Top 40. In 1992, WHYT flipped to "WDVD" and aired a rhythmic contemporary format. Another competitor arrived in 1996 at the 105.9 frequency, the former Jazz-formatted WJZZ. It became WCHB-FM "The Beat", and later WDTJ "105.9 Jamz" (now urban AC-formatted WDMK "105.9 Kiss-FM").
FM 98 WJLB was known for its specialty Friday mix shows, with songs dating back to the 1980s, hosted by the DJ known as the "Electrifying Mojo." WJLB also featured a Saturday Night Hip-Hop Show "The Rap Blast." On weekends, WJLB also had "Sunday Night Segue", hosted by Johnny "Smooth" Edwards which featured classic "Quiet Storm" tracks. The station also had a truly successful popular morning show "Mason And Company" which ran on WJLB from 1986 to 2001.
With iHeart owning both WJLB and Urban AC WMXD 92.3, WJLB is focusing on a younger audience. WJLB's playlist includes more modern Hip Hop and newer titles. It has less Old-school hip hop, R&B, and House music which is found on WMXD. In October 2017, after 31 years as "FM 98", the station rebranded as "97.9 WJLB", featuring a logo template used by many of iHeart's "Real"-branded urban stations.
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