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WJR (760 kHz) is a commercial AM broadcasting radio station in Detroit, Michigan, owned by Cumulus Media, with a news/talk format. Most of WJR's broadcast studios, along with its newsroom and offices, are in the Fisher Building in Detroit's New Center area. A tower atop the Fisher Building relays WJR's audio to the transmitter site, and at one time WJR-FM (currently WDVD) also used this tower.
WJR is a Class A clear channel station, operating with 50,000 watts, the maximum power for AM stations in the United States, around the clock. WJR's 1934 transmitter building — which has been called "one of the best Art Deco transmitter buildings ever" — and transmitter tower are located near (and visible from) the intersection of Sibley and Grange Roads in Riverview, Michigan.
Due to WJR's low transmitting frequency and high power, omnidirectional signal, plus the region's mostly flat land and good ground conductivity, "Map of Effective Ground Conductivity in the United States for AM Broadcast Stations" (FCC.gov) the station has unusually large daytime coverage, equivalent to that of a full-power FM station. Its daytime signal provides at least secondary coverage to most of the southern Lower Peninsula, as well as almost half of Ohio (with Cleveland and Toledo getting city-grade coverage) and slivers of Indiana and Pennsylvania. At night it can be heard throughout much of eastern North America with a good radio.
WJR programming is streamed via the web, and is simulcast on WDVD's 96.3 FM HD2 subchannel. WJR is also licensed to broadcast a digital hybrid (HD) signal.
WJR is Michigan's primary entry point station for the Emergency Alert System.
Weekends feature specialty shows on money, health, gardening, education, travel, religion, golf and home repair, some of which are paid brokered programming. Repeats of some weekday shows are also heard, as well as Sunday Night with Bill Cunningham. Late nights and weekends, most hours begin with an update from Fox News Radio. The WJR news department provides newscasts on weekdays.
WJR is the flagship station of Michigan State Spartans football and men's basketball. In the mid-1980s, it had been the flagship for the Michigan Panthers USFL pro football team.
WCX made its debut, broadcasting from the Free Press Building, on the same day it was licensed. The inaugural broadcast included an address by Michigan governor Alex J. Groesbeck."America Given Concert by Free Press", Detroit Free Press, May 5, 1922, page 1. 1922 saw a rapid expansion in the number of broadcasting stations, most sharing the single entertainment wavelength of 360 meters, which required progressively more complicated time sharing schedules among stations in the same region. The Detroit News, which operated station WWJ, bristled at having to suffer the "handicap" of being required to give up some airtime to WCX, which had, in the words of the News, decided to "break in"."WWJ (An Explanation)", Detroit News, May 4, 1922, page 1.
In late September 1922 a second entertainment wavelength, 400 meters (750 kHz), was made available for "Class B" stations, which had higher powers and better quality equipment and programming. Both WCX and WWJ qualified to use this new wavelength on a timesharing basis, and WCX ended use of the 485 meter "market and weather" wavelength. "Alterations and corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, May 1, 1923, page 8. In early 1923, the United States further expanded the broadcast station frequencies into a band running from 550 to 1350 kHz. The Class B frequency of 580 kHz was designated for use by qualified stations in the "Detroit/Dearborn" area, "Radio Conference Recommendations: New Wave Lengths", Radio Age, May 1923, page 11. Beginning with these assignments radio stations ended the practice of broadcasting their market reports and weather forecasts on the separate 485 meter wavelength. and both WCX and WWJ were assigned to this frequency. "Alterations and corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, June 1, 1923, pages 11-12.
On December 8, 1924, WCX opened studios atop the new Book-Cadillac Hotel in downtown Detroit, with transmitter facilities on the roof. Hometown poet Edgar A. Guest and the Jean Goldkette orchestra participated in the program. In January 1925, WWJ's reassignment to 850 kHz "Alterations and corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, February 2, 1925, page 10. left WCX as the sole station remaining on 580 kHz.
In mid-1927, the joint stations moved to 680 kHz. "Broadcasting Stations by Wave Lengths" (effective June 15, 1927), Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1927, page 10. On November 11, 1928, the Federal Radio Commission implemented a major AM band reorganization, under the provisions of its General Order 40. This reallocation divided stations into three classes, which became known as "Clear", "Regional" and "Local". WJR-WCX was assigned as the sole North American occupant of the clear channel frequency of 750 kHz. "Revised list of broadcasting stations, by frequencies, effective 3 a. m., November 11, 1928, eastern standard time", Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission for the Year Ended June 30, 1928, Together With Supplemental Report for the Period From July 1, 1928, to September 30, 1928, page 202.
On December 16, 1928, the station moved from the newspaper's offices to its current location in the Fisher Building in uptown Detroit, and began identifying as "WJR Detroit, from the Golden Tower of the Fisher Building". In 1929, the license was transferred to "WJR, Goodwill Station, Inc.", and on April 22, 1929, "WCX" was formally dropped from the dual call sign, with the station becoming just WJR. "Alterations and corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1929, page 13. In 1931, WJR raised its power to 10,000 watts. The station switched network affiliation from NBC Blue to CBS on September 29, 1935, and at the same time station officials formally dedicated WJR's new 50,000-watt transmitter. On March 29, 1941, the station moved from 750 to 760 kHz, in accordance with the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement frequency reallocations. "List of Radio Broadcast Stations, Alphabetically by Call Letters as of March 29, 1941", page 74 (Federal Communications Commission)
Although station owner George A. Richards purchased the Detroit Lions professional football team in 1934, WJR did not begin to broadcast their games until the 1938 season. "General Mills, Chrysler Sponsoring Pro Football', Broadcasting, August 1, 1938, page 73.
WJR signed on an FM broadcasting outlet in 1948, on 96.3 MHz. This station was known as WJR-FM until 1982, when it became WHYT. The station is now WDVD.
The station's advertising campaigns and jingles included "W-J-R ... Radio 76 ... Cares About Detroit" "W-J-R ... Radio 76 ... Cares About Detroit" (recordings of assorted WJR jingles) and "This is America's finest - AM stereo 76". J. P. McCarthy regularly stated, in a nonchalant way, "This is the world's greatest radio station, WJR Detroit", with a manner that made it seem like the most obvious of facts.
WJR broadcast in C-QUAM AM stereo, from 1982 to 2006, and was received in stereo at great distances at night. WJR's Detroit Tigers home games were broadcast in stereo, as were the Thanksgiving Day Parades.
For much of its history, WJR served as a powerhouse in Michigan sports radio. However, in 2001, the station lost its longtime flagship rights to the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, both of which moved to CBS-owned WXYT and WXYT-FM. Then, in 2005, the station dropped its status as the flagship station for Michigan Wolverines football and basketball in favor of a flagship rights deal with the Michigan State Spartans. WJR had served as flagship for Michigan State prior to 1976.
WJR broadcast an HD Radio signal for about a two-year period (2006–2008) (also on WDRQ's HD2 digital subchannel), eventually eliminating night time HD radio use, then dropping it completely on both WJR and WDRQ-HD2, returning to only its analog signal.
On November 20, 2015, WJR announced it would take over as flagship station of the Detroit Lions in 2016, with the team moving over from WXYT-FM. The live sporting events meant that regular programming might be pre-empted. (During parts of the season when Michigan football and Tiger baseball were both on, Tiger baseball took precedence, and if a Michigan football game was either just beginning or really good when Tiger baseball came on, an announcement would come on as the football game faded out, stating the need to switch due to contractual obligations. Otherwise, the announcement would just simply state the station is leaving the Michigan game for the Tigers. Either way, listeners were directed to CKLW in nearby Windsor, Ontario, for the conclusion of the game).
On December 18, 2020, the Detroit Lions announced that Audacy signed a deal for WXYT-FM to become the flagship station for the 2021 NFL season after a five-year partnership.
For many years, WJR aired Rush Limbaugh in early afternoons. Following Limbaugh's death in 2021, Dan Bongino took over the noon to 3 pm time slot on WJR and many other Cumulus stations. Bongino's show is distributed by Westwood One, which is the national syndication arm of Cumulus Media. Following disputes with Westwood One and Cumulus over a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Bongino announced plans to end his Cumulus radio show at the end of his contract 18 months in the future. Cumulus began phasing his show out of its stations' lineups, including WJR in June 2023. At that time, WJR announced a new lineup of local personalities weekdays from 5 am to 8 pm. Morning show host Paul W. Smith would move to early afternoons in place of Bongino, with Guy Gordon who previously hosted afternoons moving to morning drive. New shows hosted by Chris Renwick and Sean Baligian were also added to the schedule.
Father Coughlin made his radio debut on October 17, 1926, speaking over WJR via a microphone installed by the station at the altar at the Shrine of the Little Flower.Mugglebee (1933) page 164. His commentaries initially addressed perceived social ills, opposing prohibition, divorce and birth control as damaging to American society. During the Great Depression he moved heavily into political issues. On October 5, 1930, he began a weekly broadcast carried over the CBS network that originated at that network's Detroit affiliate, WXYZ.Mugglebee (1933) pages 202-203. But a year later CBS dropped him for being too divisive, by implementing a ban on commercially sponsored religious programs. With the assistance of WJR station manager Leo Fitzpatrick, Father Coughlin responded by forming his own network, with WJR as the key station."Radio Saga Links WJR, Coughlin", Detroit Times, September 29, 1935, Part 6, pages 2-3. "The Golden Hour" broadcasts began on October 4, 1931, initially on about 20 stations. By October 16 of the next year this expanded to 26 stations, said at the time to be "the largest independent network ever arranged", "Rev. Coughlin Program Over 26 Station Net", Broadcasting, October 15, 1932, page 10. and by early 1938 the network had grown to 58 stations. "Net of 58 Stations for Fr. Coughlin", Broadcasting, January 15, 1938, page 34.
Coughlin's fervent anti-communism led to the perception that he was in favor of the rise of fascism in Europe, and he was accused of being anti-Jewish. "Coughlin's Anti-Semitism", Detroit United Automobile Worker, November 26, 1938, page 5. Although initially supported by the local church hierarchy, his personal attacks on political figures eventually resulted in official restrictions and rebukes. "Coughlin Reproved by New Archbishop", Lewiston Evening Journal, October 8, 1937, page 8. "Coughlin Gets Official Rebuke", Bend (Oregon) Bulletin, November 22, 1937, page 3. In 1939 the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) adopted a code of conduct that included restrictions on controversial commercial broadcasts, "Text of First Ruling of Code Compliance Committee", Broadcasting, October 15, 1939, page 13. which was seen as primarily directed toward Coughlin, and WJR vice president John F. Pratt argued that "the provision on controversial subjects seems to many of us the first shackle on freedom of speech on the radio". "Code's Restrictions Are Blow to Freedom, Pratt Tells NAB", Broadcasting, October 15, 1939, page 12. The NAB code led to a loss of participating stations, "First Code Action Brings NAB Discord" by Sol Taishoff, Broadcasting, October 15, 1939, page 11. and this, combined with subject matter restrictions imposed by his church superiors, resulted in Coughlin ending his radio broadcasts.
History
WCX
WJR traces its history to May 4, 1922. Effective December 1, 1921, the U.S. government for the first time adopted regulations formally defining "broadcasting stations". The wavelength of 360 meters (833 kHz) was designated for entertainment broadcasts, while 485 meters (619 kHz) was reserved for broadcasting official weather and other government reports. "Miscellaneous: Amendments to Regulations", Radio Service Bulletin, January 3, 1922, page 10. On May 4, 1922, the Detroit Free Press newspaper was issued a license, with the randomly assigned callsign WCX, for operation on both broadcasting wavelengths. "New stations", Radio Service Bulletin, June 1, 1922, page 2. Limited Commercial license, serial #699, issued May 4, 1922 to the Detroit Free Press for operation on 360 and 485 meters for a three month period.
WJR-WCX
On August 20, 1925, the Jewett Radio & Phonograph Company received a license for a new station, WJR. The company also took over WCX, consolidating operations in Pontiac, Michigan, as WJR-WCX on 580 kHz. "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1925, page 3. "Alterations and corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1925, page 7. There were only a small number of dual call sign stations during the 1920s and 1930s, usually resulting from station consolidations. Most remaining examples disappeared after May 15, 1933, when the Federal Radio Commission requested that stations drop call letters no longer in regular use. ( "Double Call Letters Are Being Eliminated", Washington (D.C.) Evening Star, June 25, 1933, Part 4, page 6.)
Goodwill Station ownership
On January 1, 1927, the station was taken over by George A. Richards,"WJR Officials Work Tirelessly For WJZ", Detroit Times, May 8, 1927, Part 2, page 8. a local Oakland-Pontiac automobile dealer. Richards would later also assume control of WHKW in Cleveland and KMPC in Los Angeles. WJR adopted the slogan "The Goodwill Station" and on May 9, 1927, began carrying programs from the recently formed NBC Blue Network.
Capital Cities ownership
Richards died in May 1951, and in 1964, Goodwill Stations was sold to Capital Cities Communications, which later merged with ABC and still later with the Walt Disney Company. Upon the sale, WJR's slogan became "The Great Voice of the Great Lakes". Also in 1964, WJR acquired full rights to Detroit Tigers baseball games, with announcers Ernie Harwell and George Kell, who had begun broadcasting Tiger games in 1960. Previously, WJR had carried only night games with day games on WKMH and WLQV. The station became the flagship of the Tiger Baseball Network.In the late 1960s, WJR also became the flagship station for Detroit Red Wings ice hockey and Detroit Pistons basketball.
Cumulus Media ownership
WJR was sold with other ABC Radio stations to Citadel Broadcasting on June 12, 2007. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.
Father Coughlin broadcasts
Father Charles Coughlin was a local Roman Catholic priest, whose controversial weekly radio sermons largely originated at WJR. At the height of his popularity, Coughlin reported receiving thousands of letters daily. Father Coughlin: the radio priest, of the Shrine of the Little Flower by Ruth Mugglebee, 1933, page 215. He was also extremely polarizing, described by one biographer as "a man of kindness and beautiful understanding",Mugglebee (1933) page 312. while another labeled him "the father of hate radio". Radio Priest: Charles Coughlin, the Father of Hate Radio by Donald I. Warren, 1996.
WJR personalities
Past WJR personalities included J.P. McCarthy, Jimmy Launce, Warren Pierce, Mike Whorf, Murray Gula, Joel Alexander, Jay Roberts, Charles Coughlin and many others. WJR Program Directors during the Capital Cities era included Joe Bacarella, Curt Hahn and AC radio consultant Gary Berkowitz.
See also
External links
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