 | |
| Broadcast area | Indianapolis metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 107.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 107.9 The Mix |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WFMS,WJJK,WXNT,WNDX,WZPL | |
| History | |
First air date | October 15, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-10-15) |
Former call signs | WTPI (1984–2005) |
Call sign meaning | Station was known as "The Track" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 47143 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 22,000 watts |
| HAAT | 232 meters (761 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°53′42″N86°12′04″W / 39.895°N 86.201°W /39.895; -86.201 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | www |
WNTR (107.9FM) is acommercial radio station inIndianapolis, Indiana. WNTR is owned byCumulus Media and it airs anadult contemporaryradio format. Its studios and offices are on North Shadeland Avenue, offInterstate 465.
WNTR has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 22,000 watts as aClass B station. Thetransmitter is on Township Line Road at West 79th Street on the northwest side of Indianapolis.[2]
Indiana Broadcasting Company was granted aconstruction permit to build a new radio station on 107.9 FM in Indianapolis on July 21, 1960.[3] The stationsigned on the air on October 22, 1961; 63 years ago (October 22, 1961). The originalcall sign was WISH-FM, a sister station toWISH (1310 AM) andWISH-TV (channel 8). WISH-FM largelysimulcast the programming on WISH 1310.
In November 1963, owner Corinthian Broadcasting opted to focus on its television stations and sold the WISH-AM-FM to theStar Stations group, headed by Don Burden. Under Burden, WISH-AM-FM became WIFE-AM-FM. Lucky 13 WIFE was aTop 40 dynasty into the 1970s, while the FM station aired anautomatedbeautiful music format. However, Burden ran afoul of theFederal Communications Commission for a number of serious violations, some of them concerning the Indianapolis operation, and the FCC ruled to deny license renewals to all Star Stations in 1975. The AM station was transferred to a competing applicant, while the FM station switched to a short-lived try atcountry music as "CB-108". With all its appeals to stay on the air exhausted, WIFE-FM wentdark on September 2, 1976.
Even before WIFE-FM hadsigned off, applicants formed to make bids on the vacant 107.9 MHz frequency.[4] The FCC received nine applications by the November 1976 cut-off date.[5] In 1978, the FCC designated five bids forcomparative hearing, from Peoples Broadcasting Corporation; Radio Circle City, headed by former WIFE-AM-FM general manager Robert Kiley;[4] Mediacom; Radio Corporation of Indiana, consisting of several local investors;[6] and Indianapolis Communications Corporation.[7]
The FCC did not rule in favor of any of the applications until May 1982, more than five years after WIFE-FM signed off. The FCC selected Peoples Broadcasting.[8] However, the winning applicant had developed a flaw in the intervening years, as Peoples head Joseph Cantor died in September 1981.[8] FCC rules which froze the qualifications of competing applicants at a certain point in time meant that the two ruling administrative law judges had to consider Peoples as if Cantor was still alive.[9] The losing bidders appealed, but the FCC review board upheld the decision.[10] and the full commission[11]
On October 15, 1984,[12] Peoples Broadcasting went on the air by using the newcallsign WTPI, which is short for "we're at the top for Indianapolis", relating to their location at the top of the Indianapolis FM dial. The first program director at WTPI was Mark Edwards, and the station's new studios overlookedMonument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. Longtime morning personality Steve Cooper (a.k.a. Jim Carr) was with the station for its entire lifetime. Cooper also did stints atWNDE (1260) and WIFE (1310). Overnights were handled by Mike O'Brien (a.k.a. Dave Heck, now an engineer at Emmis Radio) for nearly 20 years. The station was known for asmooth jazz show, "Night Breeze," in the 1990s. Over the years, WTPI was the radio home of Jennifer Carr, Paul Poteet, Oleta Martin, Pat Moore, Jerry Curtis, Gia Berns, and Kelli Jack, to name a few.
WTPI was sold twice in the 1980s. In 1986, original owner Peoples sold the station for $8.5 million to the Somerset Group, a local firm.[13] Three years later, the Pinnacle Group—renamed MyStar Communications in 1990[14]—acquired WTPI for $12 million.[15] The radio station eventually moved from Monument Circle to the 3100 block of NorthMeridian Street, and finally to its current site at 9245 North Meridian. Long-time WTPI program director was Gary Havens.
On October 3, 2005,Entercom dropped WTPI'sadult contemporary format, and flipped the station toadult hits, branded as "107.9 The Track." With the flip, WTPI's callsign was changed to WNTR. Programmed similar to thenationally syndicated "Jack FM" format, WNTR used the slogan "We Play Everything."[16] A popular live syndicated show featuring Tom Kent occupied the evening shift on WNTR. The station also broadcast classicAmerican Top 40 withCasey Kasem from the 1980s, on Saturday at 6:00 a.m. and also on Sunday at 8:00 a.m.
On November 13, 2009, WNTR switched toChristmas music for the holidays. On December 28, 2009, at 12:28 p.m., WNTR was rebranded as "My 107.9", retaining the adult hits format. The first song on "My" was "Don't Stop Believin'" byJourney.
On May 22, 2013, at 5 p.m., after playingKesha's "Blow", and a goodbye message, followed bySimple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)", WNTR beganstunting with several micro-formats. They includedMainstream Rock asRock 107.9, allGarth Brooks hits asGarth 107.9, Christmas music asYule 107.9, all boy bands asHeartthrob 107.9, all Midwestern-born artists as107.9 Heartland Radio, and the sounds of nature asEarth 107.9.
The following day at 5 p.m., aHot AC format was introduced under the name "107.9 The Mix." Dave Smiley fromsister stationWZPL[17] launched the station withFall Out Boy's "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)".[18]
On February 13, 2019, Cumulus Media and Entercom announced an agreement in which WNTR, WXNT, and WZPL would be swapped to Cumulus in exchange for WNSH (nowWXBK) in New York City andWHLL andWMAS-FM inSpringfield, Massachusetts. Under the terms of the deal, Cumulus began operating WNTR under alocal marketing agreement (LMA) on March 1, 2019.[19] The swap was completed on May 9, 2019.[20]
On April 10, 2020, WNTR dropped its Hot AC format and began stunting with Christmas music again. The stunting was framed as a form of escapism in response to the global uncertainly brought on by theCOVID-19 Pandemic.[21] On May 14, 2020, WNTR ended its month of Christmas music and shifted back to mainstream adult contemporary, still branded as "107.9 The Mix".[22]
WNTR is licensed to broadcast in theHD Radio format.[23]