 | |
| Broadcast area | Detroit metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1440kHz |
| Branding | Gospel 1440 WMKM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban Gospel |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | November 1956; 69 years ago (1956-11) (as WCHB) |
Former call signs | WCHB (1956-2/22/90) WMKM (2/22/90-11/30/05) WRJD (11/30/05-12/8/05) WMKM (12/8/05-4/5/06) WDRJ (4/5/06-10/6/14) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 24966 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 1,000watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°15′22″N83°21′48″W / 42.25611°N 83.36333°W /42.25611; -83.36333 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | Gospel1440.com |
WMKM (1440kHz) is acommercialAMradio stationlicensed toInkster, Michigan, and serving theDetroit metropolitan area. Owned by Timothy Gallagher, through licensee Great Lakes Radio—Detroit, LLC, the station airs anUrban Gospelradio format branded asGospel 1440 AM. Theradio studios and offices are on East Grand Boulevard in Detroit.
WMKM broadcasts with 1,000watts of power using two differentdirectional signal patterns for day and night. Its six-tower array is located near Ecorse and Merriman Roads inRomulus, Michigan.[2]
From 1956 to 1990, the1440 spot on the AM dial was the home ofWCHB. It was the Detroit area's first radio station to be built from the ground up by, and programmed one hundred per cent to,African-Americans. WCHB played asoul music format through the 1960s and 70s. In the late 1970s, the station called itself "Detroit's originaldisco music station".[3]
In February 1990, WCHB abandoned 1440 for the 1200 kHz frequency licensed toTaylor, Michigan, a more powerful signal. (That station today isWMUZ.) At that point, the station on 1440 AM took thecall signWMKM and began broadcastingbrokered urban gospel and Christian programming aimed at theAfrican-American community. Eventually the station added a few hours of brokeredSpanish programming during the afternoon hours. The station's owner, Davidson Media Group, specialized in Gospel/Inspirational and Latino formats. In November 2005, the station's call letters temporarily changed toWRJD to match the new "Rejoice" slogan (RejoiceDetroit). The call sign switched back toWMKM, the following month, and then toWDRJ in April 2006.
In the summer of 2007, Davidson Media sold WDRJ to Communicom Corporation of America (CCA). CCA also ownedWLNONew Orleans, andKXXT/KXEG inPhoenix, Arizona. WDRJ's gospel and Christian talk and teaching format did not change.
On October 6, 2014, the call letters returned toWMKM. At the same time, the station was sold by Communicom to Great Lakes Radio—Detroit, LLC.
42°15′22″N83°21′48″W / 42.25611°N 83.36333°W /42.25611; -83.36333
