WIND (AM)

WIND carries the Salem Radio Network line up of hosts, including Dennis Prager, Hugh Hewitt, Mike Gallagher, Sebastian Gorka, Jay Sekulow and Charlie Kirk."[https://560theanswer.com/programguidedaily?dayOfWeek=Tuesday&timeFilter=0 Program Guide: Tuesday], WIND. Retrieved March 31, 2019. From Premiere Networks, WIND also carries The Sean Hannity Show. WIND airs two local shows on weekdays, Chicago's Morning Answer with Amy Jacobson and Dan Proft, and Shaun Thompson in afternoons. Most hours begin with an update from Townhall News.

Much of the weekend is devoted to specialty talk shows on money, health and real estate, some of which is paid brokered programming."[https://560theanswer.com/programguidedaily?dayOfWeek=Saturday&timeFilter=0 Program Guide: Saturday], WIND. Retrieved March 31, 2019."[https://560theanswer.com/programguidedaily?dayOfWeek=Saturday&timeFilter=0 Program Guide: Sunday], WIND. Retrieved March 31, 2019. WIND is the flagship station for Carl Amari and Lisa Wolf's nationally syndicated nostalgia & showbiz program "Hollywood 360" which airs Saturday evenings.Gire, Dann. "[https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120911/entlife/709119955/ S. Barrington man builds career on radio's Golden Age]", Daily Herald. September 11, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2019. "Beyond The Beltway" with Bruce DuMont was also heard on Sunday evenings until January 19, 2025. Northern Illinois Huskies football games air in the fall.

The station began broadcasting on August 16, 1927, holding the call sign WJKS, and was originally licensed to Gary, Indiana.[https://books.google.com/books?id=lb4nAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA66 Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission to the Congress of the United States for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1927]. Federal Radio Commission. United States Government Printing Office. 1927. Retrieved March 23, 2019. It initially operated at 1290 kHz, and shared time with WSBC. Its studio and transmitter were located in the Gay Mill Ballroom, in Gary's Miller Beach neighborhood. The station was owned by the ballroom's owners, Thomas Johnson and Frances Kennedy.

In 1928, its frequency was changed to 1360 kHz, where it shared time with WGES. Ralph Atlass purchased a 50% stake in the station in 1931."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1979/BC-1979-06-25.pdf Deaths]", Broadcasting. June 25, 1979. p. 95. Retrieved March 23, 2019. In 1932, WJKS's studios were moved to the Gary State Bank Building.

The station moved to its present 560 kHz frequency in 1933, after Chicago stations WIBO and WPCC, which had been operating at 560 kHz, were shut down."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1933/1933-06-15-BC.pdf WIBO and WPCC Off Air But New Hearing Looming]", Broadcasting. June 15, 1933. p. 14. Retrieved March 23, 2019. The station began full-time operations, and ran 1,000 watts. Its call sign was changed to WIND the same year. In 1934, the station's daytime power was increased to 2,500 watts and in 1935 its daytime power was increased to 5,000 watts. Its nighttime power was increased to 5,000 watts in 1941.

From the 1930s until 1985, WIND played "The Whiffenpoof Song" every night at 2 a.m.

In the fall of 1937, the station was one of several Chicago radio stations to donate airtime to Chicago Public Schools for a pioneering program in which the school district provided elementary school students with distance education amid a polio outbreak-related school closure.{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Valerie |last2=Hines |first2=Michael |title=Perspective {{!}} In Chicago, schools closed during a 1937 polio epidemic and kids learned from home — over the radio |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/03/chicago-schools-closed-during-1937-polio-epidemic-kids-learned-home-over-radio/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=16 August 2021}}

In 1944, WIND's studios were moved to Chicago's Carbide & Carbon Building, and in 1947 its studios were moved to the South tower of the Wrigley Building.

In 1946, Ralph Atlass sold his stake in WIND to newspaper publisher John S. Knight for $800,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-02-04-BC.pdf Knight Buys 42% WIND Stock From R. L. Atlass for $800,000]", Broadcasting. February 4, 1946. pp. 17, 74. Retrieved March 25, 2019. Atlass remained station manager of WIND.

Eddie Hubbard began hosting a popular music program called the ABC Club in 1945."[https://books.google.com/books?id=9fUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28 Vox Jox]", Billboard. May 6, 1950. p. 28. Retrieved March 24, 2019."[https://books.google.com/books?id=Zx4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA74 Disk Jockey Hooper Ratings]", Billboard. Special Disk Jockey Supplement. October 2, 1948. p. 74. Retrieved March 24, 2019. By the late 1940s, much of the station's schedule was devoted to contemporary music.{{cite news|url=http://www.jjonz.us/RadioLogs/pagesnfiles/logs_files/1940s/1949/49_10oct/[c]49-10-19-(Wed).pdf |title=Radio-TV Programs for Today|work=Chicago Tribune|date=October 19, 1949|access-date=March 24, 2019}}Weber, Clark (2008). Clark Weber's Rock and Roll Radio: The Fun Years 1955-1975. Chicago's Books Press. p. 37. WIND was Chicago's leading hit music station in the 1950s.[http://las-solanas.com/surveys/WIND/WIND_1957-10-12_1.jpg WIND Top 21]. WIND. October 12, 1957. Retrieved March 27, 2019.

Howard Miller was WIND's program director from 1945 to 1949."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1964/Billboard%201964-04-11.pdf Chicago's Top DJ: 18th Year at WIND]", Billboard. April 11, 1964. pp. 12, 82. Retrieved March 24, 2019."[https://books.google.com/books?id=pwgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26 DJ Miller Denies WIND's Charge]", Billboard. May 18, 1968. p. 26. Retrieved March 24, 2019. In 1950, Miller started a longtime run as Chicago's top rated morning DJ.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,841585-1,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105101428/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,841585-1,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2012|title=Howard Power|date=31 January 1969|magazine=Time|access-date=11 May 2010}} Miller would remain Chicago's top rated radio personality until leaving the station in 1968. Other WIND personalities during its music years included Jim Lounsbury,"[https://books.google.com/books?id=9PUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24 Vox Jox]", Billboard. June 3, 1950. p. 24. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Linn Burton,Smith, Wes. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-12-13-8503260364-story.html A Chicago Voice Breaks With WIND Sign-Off]", Chicago Tribune. December 13, 1985. Retrieved March 30, 2019. Jay Trompeter,"[https://books.google.com/books?id=LA0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA72 Chicago DJ's Promote 65th Anniversary]", Billboard. May 16, 1953. p. 72. Retrieved March 30, 2019. Bernie Allen,Kates, Joan Giangrasse. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bernard-hallenberg-obituary-met-20151201-story.html Bernie Allen, former WLS radio host, dies at 86]", Chicago Tribune. December 1, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Lee Rogers,"[https://books.google.com/books?id=SQsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35 Segue]", Billboard. December 14, 1963. p. 35. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Dick Williamson,"[https://books.google.com/books?id=SyAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 Radio Response Rating]", Billboard. October 31, 1964. p. 34. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Perry Marshall,Faggen, Gil. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=eQsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA70 Vox Jox]", Billboard. March 16, 1963. p. 70. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Bruce Lee,"[https://books.google.com/books?id=A0UEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16 Radio Response Rating]", Billboard. March 14, 1964. p. 16. Retrieved March 30, 2019. Kassidy,"[https://books.google.com/books?id=rigEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55 Arnold—Visiting DJ]", Billboard. August 14, 1965. p. 55. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Joel Sebastian,"[https://books.google.com/books?id=wiAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42 Retailing Panel]", Billboard. October 30, 1961. p. 42. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Robert W. Morgan,Shannon, Bob. "[https://www.allaccess.com/all-them-big-dogs/archive/21-robert-w-morgan-part-two Robert W. Morgan - Part Two]", All Access Music Group. August 14, 2007. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Chuck Benson and Kurt Russell,Hall, Claude. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=yAoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20 Vox Jox]", Billboard. July 20, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Ron Britain, Bob Del Giorno,"[https://books.google.com/books?id=6icEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43 From the Music Capitals of the World]", Billboard. May 20, 1972. p. 43. Retrieved March 30, 2019. and Connie Szerszen.[http://las-solanas.com/surveys/WIND/WIND_1974-00-00_1.jpg WIND's Top 56 of 74]. WIND. 1974. Retrieved March 30, 2019.

From 1945 to 1957, WIND held the exclusive local rights to broadcast Chicago Cubs baseball.Shea, Stuart (2015). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p5QcCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA51 Calling the Game: Baseball Broadcasting from 1920 to the Present]. SABR, Inc. p. 51. Retrieved March 27, 2019. Sportscasters on WIND during this period included Bert Wilson, Milo Hamilton, and Jack Quinlan.Nidetz, Steve. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-08-02-9203090668-story.html Hamilton's Trail to Coopertown]", Chicago Tribune. August 2, 1992. Retrieved March 29, 2019.

In 1956, the station was sold to Westinghouse Broadcasting for $5.3 million, which at the time was a record amount for a radio station."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1956/1956-08-27-BC.pdf $16 Million Station Sales Signed or Brewing in Week]", Broadcasting. August 27, 1956. p. 27. Retrieved March 25, 2019."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1956/1956-12-24-BC.pdf WIND Control Shifts to WBC in Record $5.3 Million Deal]", Broadcasting. December 24, 1956. p. 62. Retrieved March 25, 2019. At the time of the purchase, WIND had no news department, though the station subscribed to wire services.Labor Arbitration Reports. Volume 40. The Bureau of National Affairs, 1963. p. 60. Westinghouse established a news department at the station, and it aired 5 minute newscasts every hour."[https://books.google.com/books?id=SyAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 Stations By Format]", Billboard. October 31, 1964. p. 34. Retrieved March 31, 2019. Earl Finckle was the station's meteorologist for a period.Lazare, Lewis. "[https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-sun-times/20090706/282308201092382 Weather forecaster for Cubs]", Chicago Sun-Times. July 6, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2019.

In the 1960s, WIND shifted to a middle of the road, pop contemporary/pop standards format.Biro, Nick. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1964/Billboard%201964-03-28.pdf Chicago Radio: Kings Remain Assumptive; Heirs Presumptive]", Billboard. March 28, 1964. p. 12. Retrieved March 29, 2019."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1964/Billboard%201964-03-14.pdf Stations By Format]", Billboard. March 14, 1964. p. 16. Retrieved March 29, 2019.Biro, Nick. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=YCkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12 'Eve of Destruction' Has Its Day]", Billboard. August 21, 1965. p. 12. Retrieved March 29, 2019."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard%201965-10-16.pdf Stations By Format]", Billboard. October 16, 1965. p. 62. Retrieved March 31, 2019."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-11-19.pdf Stations By Format]", Billboard. November 19, 1966. p. 38. Retrieved March 31, 2019. In 1967, the station began adding some harder tracks to its playlist."[https://books.google.com/books?id=WygEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 WCFL Is Looking to Be No. 1]", Billboard. September 30, 1967. p. 34. Retrieved March 30, 2019."[https://books.google.com/books?id=5icEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14 From the Music Capitals of the World]", Billboard. May 27, 1967. p. 14. Retrieved March 30, 2019. Phil Nolan became general manager of WIND in 1969.Hall, Claude. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=jSgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58 Vox Jox]", Billboard. August 9, 1969. p. 58. Retrieved March 31, 2019.

In 1971, WIND evolved into an oldies-heavy adult contemporary format, playing hits from 1955 to present day.Paige, Earl. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=5AgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 At WIND, It's Music, Talk of Today]", Billboard. March 6, 1971. pp. 34, 36. Retrieved March 30, 2019.Paige, Earl. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=Jw8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10 Moomey's 'Absolute Hits' Formula]", Billboard. January 1, 1972. p. 10. Retrieved March 30, 2019. In addition to the music played on the station, WIND aired Contact, a nighttime talk show hosted by Dave Baum. Larry "The Legend" Johnson hosted overnights. Ed Schwartz served as a substitute host for Johnson, before replacing him as overnight host in 1973.Dahl, Bill. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/Chicago_Magazine/Chicago-1991-Spring.pdf Eddie Schwartz]", Radio Chicago. Spring 1991. p. 32-33. Retrieved March 30, 2019. Schwartz had previously held several behind-the-scenes positions at WIND. Schwartz continued as overnight host on WIND until 1981, when he moved to 720 WGN.

In 1973, WIND won the George Foster Peabody Award for their series "From 18th Street: Destination Peking".{{Cite web |url=http://www.peabody.uga.edu/winners/winners_1970s.php |title=Winners – 1970s |publisher=Peabody Awards |access-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031172248/http://www.peabody.uga.edu/winners/winners_1970s.php#1973 |archive-date=October 31, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

In September 1978, WIND switched to a news/talk format.Herbeck, Ray, Jr. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=hSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT35 WIND Going Talk, So Other Chicago Stations Eye Audience]", Billboard. July 29, 1978. Retrieved March 31, 2019. Local personalities included Clark Weber, Eddie Schwartz, Dave Baum, Steve King, and Jimmy Piersall."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Chicago-Trib-1979-Mar-About-Chi-Radio.pdf Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands]", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 34. Retrieved March 31, 2019."[https://books.google.com/books?id=SSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT56 Photo News]", Billboard. February 19, 1983. p. 57. Retrieved March 31, 2019.Bornstein, Rollye. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=JCQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA13 Photo News]", Billboard. November 17, 1984. p. 15. Retrieved March 31, 2019.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/Chicago_Magazine/Chicago-Radio-Guide-May-1985.pdf Chicago Radio Guide]. Vol. 1, No. 1. May 1985. Retrieved March 31, 2019.Myslenski, Skip. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-03-17-8501150408-story.html Piersall at Bat Again, Swinging at His Old Foes]", Chicago Tribune. March 17, 1985. Retrieved March 31, 2019. Syndicated personalities heard on WIND included British-American talk show host Michael Jackson and Dr. Toni Grant. The Larry King Show was heard overnight.McCormick, Moria. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=ACQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT17 Larry King Gets Contemporary Boost]", Billboard. January 25, 1986. p. 18. Retrieved March 31, 2019.

In 1985, Westinghouse announced that they would sell WIND to Tichenor Radio for $6.85 million.Terry, Clifford. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-11-13-8503180344-story.html As WIND Shifts Gears, Baum Ponders His Route]", Chicago Tribune. November 13, 1985. Retrieved March 31, 2019. On December 12, 1985, at 1:03 p.m., on the same day of the closing of the sale to Tichenor, WIND officially signed off the air by playing "The Whiffenpoof Song" and "The Star-Spangled Banner". Soon thereafter, WIND signed back on the air, with a Spanish language format."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-12-23.pdf Riding Gain on Radio]", Broadcasting & Cable. December 23, 1985. p. 68. Retrieved March 31, 2019. The station aired Mexican mariachi and ranchera music and was branded "La Tremenda".Montana, Constanza. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-07-17-8902170914-story.html Staying in Tune With Hispanics]", Chicago Tribune. July 17, 1989. Retrieved March 31, 2019.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/City-Magazines-Misc/Chicagoland-Radio-Waves-Two-Issues.pdf Chicagoland Radio Waves], MediaTies. Summer 1988/Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved March 31, 2019.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/1995/AL-MT-M-Street-6-1995.pdf The M Street Radio Directory]. 1995 Edition. p. 190. Retrieved March 31, 2019. By the late 1990s, the station was airing a Spanish talk/romantica format."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1999-01.pdf Format Changes & Updates]", The M Street Journal. Vol. 16 No. 3. January 20, 1999. p. 2. Retrieved March 31, 2019.Unmacht, Robert (2000). [https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/2000/AL-MT-M-Street-9-2000.pdf The M Street Radio Directory]. Ninth Edition. p. 223. Retrieved March 31, 2019. In 1997, Tichenor Media merged with Heftel Broadcasting to form the Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, which merged with Univision Communications in 2004."[https://www.nydailynews.com/latino/hispanic-radio-industry-pioneer-dies-article-1.420935 Hispanic radio industry pioneer dies]", Associated Press. New York Daily News. January 5, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2019. In October 2003, the station's talk programming moved to AM 1200 WRTO, and it began airing a Spanish adult contemporary format.Feder, Robert. "Univision Radio stations to shift talk, add music", Chicago Sun-Times. October 16, 2003. p. 61.

In 2004, Univision Radio announced a multi-station swap with Salem Communications."[https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20041004006285/en/Univision-Radio-Salem-Communications-Exchange-Radio-Assets Univision Radio and Salem Communications to Exchange Radio Assets]", Business Wire. October 4, 2004. Retrieved March 31, 2019."[https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2004/10/04/daily21.html Univision Radio and Salem Communications to exchange assets]", Dallas Business Journal. October 5, 2004. Retrieved March 31, 2019. This resulted in Salem acquiring WIND, while Univision Radio received 106.7 WZFS (now WPPN).

On November 1, 2004, WIND once again became an English-language talk station.{{cite news|last=Feder|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Feder|url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/feder/cst-fin-feder26.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041028020935/http://www.suntimes.com/output/feder/cst-fin-feder26.html|title=WIND changes direction as news/talk alternative|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=October 26, 2004|access-date=March 31, 2019|archive-date=October 28, 2004|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}"[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-11-05.pdf WIND changes direction as news/talk alternative]", Radio & Records. November 5, 2004. Retrieved March 31, 2019. Its original line-up included Bill Bennett, Laura Ingraham, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, Michael Savage, Hugh Hewitt, and Mike Gallagher.

In July 2005, WIND entered into an agreement with the University of Illinois to carry Fighting Illini football and men's basketball games, as well as the coaches shows, through the Illini Sports Radio Network."[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/3236-fighting-illini-basketball-a-football-broadcasts-returning-to-wscr-am Fighting Illini Basketball & Football Broadcasts Returning To WSCR-AM]", Chicagoland Radio and Media. April 17, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2019. Those broadcasts continued through the 2013 football season, with the Illini moving back to their longtime Chicago affiliate, WSCR. WIND was formerly the alternate station of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Northwestern Wildcats in the case of scheduling conflicts at their flagship, WGN.Ecker, Danny. "[https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140811/BLOGS04/140819981/niu-football-jumps-down-the-radio-dial-to-wind-am NIU football jumps down the radio dial to WIND-AM]", Crain's Chicago Business. August 11, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2019.

On January 21, 2013, WIND rebranded as AM 560 The Answer, to follow suit with other Salem Communications-owned stations.{{cite web|url=http://www.yourmidwestmedia.net/mainsite/formatchanges.html|title=Format Changes|publisher=Your Midwest Media|date=21 January 2013|access-date=26 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317011411/http://www.yourmidwestmedia.net/mainsite/formatchanges.html|archive-date=17 March 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

In 2014, WIND became the Chicago radio home for Northern Illinois Huskies football.

• [http://www.560wind.com WIND] official radio station website

{{AM station data|67068|WIND}}

{{Chicago Radio}}

{{News/Talk Radio Stations in Illinois}}

{{Salem Communications}}

IND

Category:Westinghouse Broadcasting

Category:Conservative talk radio

Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States

Category:Radio stations established in 1927

Category:Salem Media Group radio stations

Category:1927 establishments in Indiana