WCME

WCME signed on December 16, 1955, under the ownership of Westminster Broadcasting Corporation.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1958|date=1958|page=A-294|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1958/Sectin%20A%20Radio%20By%20State%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201958-9.pdf|accessdate=May 16, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1981|date=1981|page=C-103|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1981/Ca%20Facilities%20of%20Radio%201981%20A-M.pdf|accessdate=February 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008192957/http://davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1981/Ca%20Facilities%20of%20Radio%201981%20A-M.pdf|archive-date=October 8, 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook-Marketbook 1956|date=1956|page=153|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1956/101-200%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201956.pdf|accessdate=February 18, 2010}} Central Maine Broadcasting System acquired the station in 1964,{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1965|year=1965|page=B-68|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1965/B1%201965%20YB%20All-11.pdf|accessdate=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313195147/http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1965/B1%201965%20YB%20All-11.pdf|archive-date=March 13, 2011|url-status=dead}} and launched a sister station on 98.9 FM on April 11, 1965. The WCME stations were sold to WCME Inc. in 1969,{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1971|date=1971|page=B-93|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1971/B%201%20Radio%20YB%201971.pdf|accessdate=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008150424/http://davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1971/B%201%20Radio%20YB%201971.pdf|archive-date=October 8, 2010|url-status=dead}} and to Condit Broadcasting in 1972.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1973|year=1973|page=B-89|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1973/B%201%20YB%201973.pdf|accessdate=May 16, 2010}}

By 1973, WCME and WCME-FM simulcast a contemporary format;{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1974|date=1974|page=B-93|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1974/B%201%201974%20YB.pdf|accessdate=February 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008152748/http://davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1974/B%201%201974%20YB.pdf|archive-date=October 8, 2010|url-status=dead}} later that year, the call letters were changed to WKXA.{{cite news|title=For the Record|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/73-OCR/BC-1973-12-03-Page-0063.pdf|accessdate=August 17, 2011|newspaper=Broadcasting|date=December 3, 1973}} The following year, the WKXA stations were sold to Amcom Corporation and implemented a mix of talk and MOR.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1975|date=1975|page=C-83|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1975/C%201%201975%20Radio.pdf|accessdate=May 16, 2010}} In 1977, the simulcast was dissolved, and WKXA flipped to top 40;{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1978|date=1978|page=C-96|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Broadcasting%201978%20Yearbook/C%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201978%20Full-5.pdf|accessdate=February 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309112315/http://www.davidgleason.com/Broadcasting%201978%20Yearbook/C%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201978%20Full-5.pdf|archive-date=March 9, 2012|url-status=dead}} a year later, the station reverted to simulcasting with WKXA-FM, by then a country station.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1979|date=1979|page=C-97|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1979/C-1%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201979-12.pdf|accessdate=February 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409141125/http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1979/C-1%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201979-12.pdf|archive-date=April 9, 2011|url-status=dead}} Independent programming again resumed in 1980, this time with a news/talk format; this continued after Windward Communications bought the station in 1982,{{cite book|title=Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983|date=1983|page=B-107|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1983/B%20Radio%20Ala-Mt%201983%20YB%20No%20Cover-4.pdf|accessdate=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009032950/http://davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1983/B%20Radio%20Ala-Mt%201983%20YB%20No%20Cover-4.pdf|archive-date=October 9, 2010|url-status=dead}} but by 1984 WKXA had adopted an adult contemporary format (separate from that on the newly renamed{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=56569&Callsign=WCLZ|title=Call Sign History (WCLZ)|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=February 19, 2010}} WCLZ),{{cite book|title=Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1985|year=1985|page=B-120|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1985/B%20Radio%20AL%20to%20MT%20BC%20YB%201985%20All.pdf|accessdate=September 3, 2010}} which gave way by 1987 to a return of the country format.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1988|year=1988|page=B-126|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1988/B%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201988-5.pdf|accessdate=May 16, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Hawthorne Communications acquired the station in 1988, and changed its call letters to WCLZ{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=56570&Callsign=WCME|title=Call Sign History (WCME)|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=February 19, 2010}} to reflect the resumption of the simulcast with WCLZ-FM;{{cite book|title=Broadcasting/Cable Yearbook 1989|year=1989|page=B-133|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1989/B-1%20Radio%20Ala%20to%20Mont%201989-5.pdf|accessdate=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410012914/http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1989/B-1%20Radio%20Ala%20to%20Mont%201989-5.pdf|archive-date=April 10, 2011|url-status=dead}} in 1990, the station again dropped the simulcast, affiliating with the Business Radio Network.{{cite book|title=The Broadcasting Yearbook 1991|year=1991|page=B-146|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1991/B-Radio-AL-MT-1991-B&W.pdf|accessdate=August 17, 2011}} This format continued as the stations were sold to The Eastern Radio Company in 1990{{cite web|title=Application Search Details (1)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=133777|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=May 16, 2010}} and to Riverside Broadcasting in 1992.{{cite web|title=Application Search Details (2)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=172328|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=May 16, 2010}} The station subsequently returned to simulcasting WCLZ-FM, by then an adult album alternative station,{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-011105.html|title=Doing the Albany Shuffle|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=November 5, 2001|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=August 28, 2008|quote=The station has been edging its way back to the AAA format it used to run in its first stint as WCLZ through much of the nineties...}} but separate programming was restored to the AM station again in 1995, this time with home shopping.{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/essays/maine-hist|title=Maine Radio History, 1971–1996|last=Fybush|first=Scott|publisher=Archives @ BostonRadio.org|accessdate=August 28, 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.broadcasting/msg/772eaae213e05cd8|title=Re: New England Radio Watcher: Up the Coast to Maine|last=Fischer|first=Richard|date=July 19, 1995|work=rec.radio.broadcasting|publisher=Google Groups|accessdate=August 28, 2008}}

In 1998, Riverside Broadcasting sold the WCLZ stations to Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting, with Riverside owner Mike Waggoner citing the company's local ownership.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-980319.html|title=More Layoffs in N.H.|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=March 19, 1998|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=August 28, 2008}} Co-owner J. J. Jeffrey, a native of Brunswick, had started his career at WCME.{{cite news|last=Grinnell|first=Stephanie|title=WCME could return to Brunswick airwaves|url=http://www.theforecaster.net/content/m-brunswcme-112610|accessdate=December 9, 2010|newspaper=The Forecaster|date=November 23, 2010}} That December, the station changed its call letters to WJJB,{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-981226.html|title=Albany Jams|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=December 26, 1998|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=August 28, 2008}} and after a brief return to the WCLZ-FM simulcast,{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-990101.html|title=Standards Die, Standards Live|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=January 1, 1999|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=August 28, 2008}} the station became a simulcast of sports station WJAE in 1999.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-990206.html|title=WKOX, WLLH Sold|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=February 6, 1999|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=August 28, 2008}} Fuller-Jeffrey sold their FM stations to Citadel Broadcasting several months later,{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-990430.html|title=Fuller-Jeffrey Sells Out|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=June 30, 1999|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=August 28, 2008}} but J. J. Jeffrey retained WJAE and WJJB as the first stations in his Atlantic Coast Radio group.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-990604.html|title=The End of CBL Is Near|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=June 4, 1999|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=August 28, 2008}}

WJJB changed its call letters to WWBK on March 18, 2008; a month later, the station was sold to Bob Bittner for $27,000.{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2008/080428/nerw.html|title=Philly Loses "Big Ron"|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=April 28, 2008|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=August 28, 2008}} Three months later, on July 19, 2008, WWBK was forced off the air, as the owner of the station's transmission facility, Saga Communications (which acquired the site after buying WCLZ from Citadel in 2007), indicated that it no longer wanted WWBK on the site.{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1259583&Service=AM&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Notification of Suspension of Operations / Request for Silent STA|last=Bittner|first=Robert M.|date=July 28, 2008|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=August 28, 2008}} The station announced its intention to move its transmitter to a location at or near the transmitter of sister station WJTO. Bittner had planned to implement a music format, separate from WJTO's adult standards and oldies programming.

Bob Bittner sold WWBK to James Bleikamp in March 2009,{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2009/090316/nerw.html|title="Now," NY's K-Rock is History|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=March 16, 2009|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=May 24, 2009}} with the sale being finalized on May 18;{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1313244&Service=AM&Form_id=905&Facility_id=56570|title=Consummation Notice|last=Bittner|first=Robert M.|date=May 18, 2009|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=May 24, 2009}} the next day, the station changed its call letters back to WCME, which had recently been given up by WTQX.{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2009/090518/nerw.html|title=End Of The Line at WAMO|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=May 18, 2009|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=May 24, 2009}} On May 23, 2009, WCME resumed broadcasting{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1315652&Service=AM&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Notification of Suspension of Operations / Request for Silent STA |last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=June 1, 2009|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=June 20, 2009}} under special temporary authority from the WJTO site; this was necessary because the station could only operate at 176 watts during daytime hours from the site to protect WGHM in Nashua, New Hampshire — below the minimum daytime power for licensed AM stations of 250 watts.{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1299232&Service=AM&Form_id=911&Facility_id=56570|title=Engineering STA|last=Bittner|first=Robert M.|date=March 12, 2009|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=June 20, 2009}} After the WJTO site was deemed to not be optimal for regular operation, WCME signed off once again on May 25.

WCME again resumed broadcasting on April 21, 2010,{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1365513&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Resumption of Operations|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=April 27, 2010|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=May 16, 2010}} operating under special temporary authority from a temporary transmitter at Fort Andross as the station seeks a new permanent transmitter (with the station planning to reach full power in fall 2010).{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1361010&Service=AM&Form_id=911&Facility_id=56570|title=Engineering STA|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=March 23, 2010|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=May 16, 2010}} However, it again left the air on May 7 after the transmitter was found to be interfering with fire alarm, telephone, and computer systems in the building.{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1368134&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Notification of Suspension of Operations|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=May 10, 2010|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=May 16, 2010}} The station was unable to resolve the interference,{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1371334&Service=AM&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Notification of Suspension of Operations / Request for Silent STA|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=May 26, 2010|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=September 3, 2010}} and continued to search for a permanent transmitter location;{{cite news|last=Bleikamp|first=Jim|title=WCME president shares vision for relaunch of radio station|url=http://www.timesrecord.com/articles/2011/07/15/opinion/commentaries/doc4e206f1fd568d463881335.txt|accessdate=August 18, 2011|newspaper=The Times Record|date=July 15, 2011}} in the meantime, to preserve the broadcast license, WCME again temporarily broadcast from the WJTO site{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1421979&Service=AM&Form_id=911&Facility_id=56570|title=Engineering STA|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=March 28, 2011|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=August 18, 2011}} on April 16, 2011,{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1424220&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Resumption of Operations|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=April 18, 2011|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=August 18, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1425102&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Notification of Suspension of Operations|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=April 26, 2011|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=August 18, 2011}} and from April 25–26, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1425324&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Resumption of Operations|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=April 27, 2011|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=August 18, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1425926&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Notification of Suspension of Operations|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=May 3, 2011|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=August 18, 2011}} The station finally received approval from the Brunswick Town Council to build a tower on Old Portland Road in West Brunswick in October 2011.{{cite news|last=Guerin|first=Emily|title=Landlords to Brunswick council: No new fire inspections|url=http://www.theforecaster.net/content/m-brunswick-council-102111|accessdate=January 25, 2012|newspaper=The Forecaster|date=October 19, 2011|quote=Additionally, the owners of FirstWave Media received the go-ahead from the council to build a 199-foot AM radio tower on Old Portland Road. The tower would broadcast WMCE {{sic}} 900 AM…}} After operating from the WJTO site once more{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1495068&Service=AM&Form_id=911&Facility_id=56570|title=Engineering STA|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=April 5, 2012|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=November 1, 2012}} from April 14–15, 2012,{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1496294&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Resumption of Operations|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=April 15, 2012|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=November 1, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1497431&Service=AM&Form_id=910&Facility_id=56570|title=Notification of Suspension of Operations|last=Bleikamp|first=James B.|date=April 25, 2012|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=November 1, 2012}} WCME signed on from the new tower on October 17, 2012, programming an adult contemporary format focusing on the 1970s to 1990s while it hired its staff; the station also played Christmas music during the holiday season.

{{RadioTranslators

| callsign = WCME

| width =

| call1 = W258DI

| freq1 = 99.5

| fid1 = 200836

| watts1 = 250

| class1 = D

| city1 = Brunswick, Maine

| coord1 = {{coord|43|54|41.9|N|70|1|27.9|W|region:US-ME_type:landmark|name=W258DI}}

| notes1 =

}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{official website|https://radiomidcoastwcme.com/}}

{{AM station data|56570|WCME}}

• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|200836|W258DI}}
• {{FXL|W258DI}}

{{Portland ME Radio}}

{{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Maine}}

CME

Category:Radio stations established in 1955

Category:Mainstream adult contemporary radio stations in the United States

Category:1955 establishments in Maine

Category:Organizations based in Brunswick, Maine