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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Youngstown metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 98.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Mix 98.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Subchannels | HD2: Indie Radio (alternative rock) |
| Affiliations |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | August 26, 1947; 78 years ago (1947-08-26) (as WKBN-FM)[1] |
Former call signs | WKBN-FM (1947–1999) |
Call sign meaning | "Mix Youngstown" |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 73514 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 5,900 watts |
| HAAT | 418 meters (1,371 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast |
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| Website | mix989 |
WMXY (98.9FM "Mix 98.9") is acommercial radio station inYoungstown, Ohio. It broadcasts a mainstreamadult contemporaryradio format and switches to all-Christmas music for much of November and December. WMXY is owned byiHeartMedia, Inc. It is the Youngstownnetwork affiliate for theDelilahsyndicated music and call-in show in the evening, and carries theEllen K Weekend Show Saturdays andCasey Kasem's classicAmerican Top 40 on Sundays.
WMXY has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 5,900 watts. Thetransmitter is off South Avenue inBoardman, Ohio.[3] WMXY broadcasts in theHD Radio hybrid format. The HD-2digital subchannel carries analternative rock format branded as "Indie Radio."
The station firstsigned on the air on August 26, 1947. It began as WKBN-FM, asister station toWKBN (AM 570), and six years later, would be joined byWKBN-TV. The two radio stations are co-owned to this day, although the TV station was spun off to a different owner in 1997. In the station's earliest years, WKBN-FM and WKBN would mostlysimulcast. The two stations wereaffiliated with theCBS Radio Network, carrying CBS's schedule of dramas, comedies, news, sports and other network programming.
Eventually, as network programming moved from radio to television, WKBN-AM-FM switched to amiddle of the road format of popular music, news, sports and talk in the 1950s. By the mid-1960s, theFederal Communications Commission began requiring FM stations to carry different programming from their AM stations for most of the day.
WKBN-FM became abeautiful music outlet. It was mostlyautomated, airing quarter hour sweeps of mostly instrumentalcover versions of popular adult hits, as well asBroadway andHollywood show tunes. It later began calling itself "Stereo 99" after installingFM stereo equipment. The format proved quite successful, playing in many Youngstown area stores and offices. Like manyeasy listening stations nationwide, it was at its peak of profitability from the late 1960s through the mid-1980s.
By the mid-1980s, the audience for easy listening was aging while advertisers usually seek young to middle aged customers. WKBN-FM switched from its easy listening format tosoft adult contemporary on March 20, 1989. Most of the dayparts remained automated, however, and the "Stereo 99" moniker remained.
By the end of the 20th century, the station needed to further brighten up its image and sound more youthful. WKBN-FM changed itscall sign to WMXY and adopted the slogan "Mix 98.9", with ahot adult contemporary format. In early 2012, WMXY adjusted its music mix back to mainstream AC, using Clear Channel'sPremium Choice AC music logs and continuing to carryDelilah at night.
41°03′25″N80°38′42″W / 41.057°N 80.645°W /41.057; -80.645