WERK
{{short description|Radio station in Muncie, Indiana}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WERK
| logo = File:WERK 104.9FM logo.png
| city = Muncie, Indiana
| branding = 104.9 WERK-FM
| frequency = 104.9 MHz
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1986|1|16}} (as WOKZ){{r|bcyb87}}
| format = Classic hits
| erp = 6,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|100|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = A
| facility_id = 1723
| licensing_authority = FCC
| coordinates = {{coord|40|9|19.00|N| 85|25|48.00|W|region:US-IN_type:landmark}}
| callsign_meaning =
| affiliations =
| owner = Woof Boom Radio Muncie License LLC
| licensee =
| sister_stations = WMXQ, WLBC-FM, WBKQ, WHBU, WMUN, WLQQ
| webcast = [https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?stationCallSign=WERK Listen Live]
| website = [http://www.WERKFM.net WERKFM.net]
}}
WERK (104.9 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Muncie, Indiana, serving the Muncie and Marion area. It broadcasts a classic hits radio format and is owned by Woof Boom Radio Muncie License LLC.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WURK |title=WURK Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }}
History
{{for|WERK at 990 AM from 1965 to 1999|WNAP (990 AM)}}
The station signed on as WOKZ "KZ 105" on January 16, 1986.{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1987/1987-BC-YB.pdf|accessdate=June 11, 2020|date=1987|work=Broadcasting Yearbook|page=B-100 (184)|title=WOKZ(FM)}} It aired an adult contemporary and oldies format. The station's creation was delayed by a series of interference concerns that led to three stations changing frequencies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53255085/|title='Someday' Is Thursday|first=Rodney|last=Richie|work=Muncie Evening Press|date=January 12, 1986|page=D1|accessdate=June 11, 2020}} (See also the [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53255076/ correction] issued by the newspaper two days later) To make way for WOKZ, WWHC at Hartford City and WXUS of Lafayette moved to 93.5, while WZWZ in Kokomo was relocated to 92.7, all at the new station's expense.{{r|someday}} The original owner, James Beatty's L&B Broadcasting of Indianapolis, bought out competing applicants Hoosier's Favorite Station and Ben-Del Broadcasting to obtain the construction permit.
In 1991, Beatty sold WOKZ and WERK (990 AM) to American Hometown Radio.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1991/RR-1991-07-19.pdf|date=July 19, 1991|work=Radio & Records|page=6|accessdate=June 11, 2020|title=Transactions}} The new owners changed WOKZ's call letters to WERK-FM. At first, it stunted as "Louie 105" with a loop of "Louie Louie".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53255703/|date=November 19, 1991|title=All 'Louie,' All the Time|work=The Muncie Star|first=Rodney|last=Richey|accessdate=June 11, 2020|page=9}} The station relaunched as "Oldies 105" on November 20.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53255814/|work=Muncie Star|date=November 20, 1991|title=WOKZ Becomes WERK-FM|page=29|first=Rodney|last=Richey|accessdate=June 11, 2020}}
American Hometown sold the pair of stations in 1997 to Dream Weaver Broadcasting.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1997/RR-1997-06-20.pdf|accessdate=June 11, 2020|date=June 20, 1997|title=Transactions|page=6|work=Radio & Records}} Dream Weaver divested the AM station two years later by donating the license.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1999/RR-1999-02-19.pdf|accessdate=June 11, 2020|date=February 19, 1999|work=Radio & Records|page=8|title=Transactions}}
In 2013, Woof Boom Radio acquired WERK from Backyard Broadcasting along with the rest of its Muncie cluster for $4.45 million.{{cite news|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/81980/woof-boom-radio-acquires-backyards-muncie-stations/|accessdate=June 11, 2020|first=Lance|last=Venta|work=RadioInsight|date=June 9, 2013|title= Woof Boom Radio Acquires Backyard’s Muncie Stations}} On December 26, 2014, after its annual stint of airing Christmas music, WERK relaunched as "The New Sound". The format features pop, rock, and disco tunes from 1975 to 2012, with an emphasis on the 1980s.{{cite news|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/91024/something-new-coming-to-werk-after-christmas/|work=RadioInsight|date=December 26, 2014|title= WERK Pushing Its New Sound|first=Lance|last=Venta|accessdate=June 11, 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{FM station data|1723|WERK}}
{{Muncie-Marion Radio}}
{{Classic Hits Radio Stations in Indiana}}
Category:Radio stations established in 1986