WJZN

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WJZN

| above = Currently silent

| logo =

| city = Augusta, Maine

| country = US

| area = Kennebec County, Maine

| branding =

| frequency = {{frequency|1400|kHz}}

| translator = {{Radio Relay|95.9|W240DH|Augusta}}

| airdate = {{start date and age|1932|2|23}}{{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999|year=1999|page=D-197|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1999/D-Radio-AL-NE-BC-YB-1999..pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016}}

| last_airdate =

| format =

| power = 1,000 watts

| class = C

| facility_id = 52604

| licensing_authority = FCC

| coordinates = {{coord|44|17|31.5|N|69|46|23.76|W|region:US-ME_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| callsign_meaning = warehoused from the now-WKIM in Munford, Tennessee

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WRDO (1932–1987)|WMME (1987–1995)|WEZW (1995–1996)|WLTI (1996)|WEZW (1996–2004)}}

| affiliations =

| owner = Townsquare Media

| licensee = Townsquare License, LLC

| sister_stations = {{hlist|WEBB|WMME-FM}}

| webcast =

| website =

}}

WJZN (1400 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve Augusta, Maine, United States. The station, established in 1932 as WRDO, is owned by Townsquare Media; it broadcast an alternative rock format simulcast from WCYY in Portland prior to going silent in May 2023. WJZN's programming is also heard on W240DH (95.9 FM) in Augusta.

History

WJZN went on the air February 23, 1932, as WRDO, owned by the Rines family's Congress Square Hotel Company, who also owned WCSH in Portland and WFEA in Manchester, New Hampshire.{{cite news|title=Personal Notes|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1932/1932-03-15-BC.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Broadcasting|date=March 15, 1932|page=17}}{{cite news|title=120 Stations Owned by 42 Interests, Commission's Report to Senate Reveals|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1932/1932-04-01-BC.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Broadcasting|date=April 1, 1932|page=14}}

The Rines family sold WRDO to Ocean Coast Properties, owner of WPOR AM-FM in Portland, for $100,000 in 1974.{{cite news|title=For the Record|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1974/1974-07-08-BC.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Broadcasting|date=July 8, 1974|page=44}} H&R Corporation bought the station for $225,000 in 1977.{{cite news|title=Changing Hands|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-09-19.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Broadcasting|date=September 19, 1977|page=121}} By 1978, WRDO had a middle of the road format and was affiliated with the NBC Radio Network.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1979|year=1979|page=C-97|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1979/C-1%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201979-12.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016}} H&R sold WRDO to Sterling Broadcasting Corporation for $260,000 in 1980.{{cite news|title=Changing Hands|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/1980-04-14-BC.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Broadcasting|date=April 14, 1980|page=151}} Sterling changed the station's format to country music in 1981;{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Cablecasting Yearbook 1982|year=1982|page=C-104|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1982/C%20Radio%20AL%20to%20MT%20BC%20YB%201982%20All-4.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016}} the format was simulcast with FM sister station WSCL (92.1 FM).{{cite book|title=Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983|year=1983|page=B-107|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1983/B-Radio-Ala-Mt-1983-YB.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016}} Augusta-Waterville Broadcasters, controlled by the owners of WGHQ and WBPM in Kingston, New York, bought WRDO and WSCL for $425,000 in 1983.{{cite news|title=For the Record|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-04-11.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Broadcasting|date=April 11, 1983|page=166}} By this point, the stations were simulcasting an adult contemporary format; WSCL had also moved to 92.3,{{cite book|title=Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1984|year=1984|page=B-114|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1984/B-Radio-AL-MT-BC-YB-1984.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016}} and that December changed its call letters to WRDO-FM.{{cite web|title=Call Sign History (WMME-FM)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=52605&Callsign=WMME-FM|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=August 28, 2016}}

Augusta-Waterville Broadcasters sold WRDO and WRDO-FM to Marcom for $400,000 in 1986.{{cite news|title=Changing Hands|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-11-03.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Broadcasting|date=November 3, 1986|page=86}} The call letters changed to WMME on March 1, 1987,{{cite web|title=Call Sign History (WJZN)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=52604&Callsign=WJZN|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=August 28, 2016}} as the station began simulcasting a contemporary hit radio format with what had become WMME-FM.{{cite web|last1=Fybush|first1=Scott|title=Maine Radio History, 1971–1996|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/essays/maine-hist|website=The Archives at BostonRadio.org|access-date=August 28, 2016}} Target Communications sold WMME and WMME-FM to Tri-Group for $1.4 million in 1988.{{cite news|title=Changing Hands|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1988/BC-1988-04-11.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Broadcasting|date=April 11, 1988|page=104}} Pilot Communications bought the stations for $950,000 in 1993.{{cite news|title=Changing Hands|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1993/BC-1993-01-11.pdf|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Broadcasting|date=January 11, 1993|pages=64–5}} The call letters were changed to WEZW on August 17, 1995, though the station continued to simulcast WMME-FM; it then changed to WLTI on August 30, 1996, before returning to WEZW on September 25.

Pilot's radio stations were acquired by Citadel Broadcasting in 1999 as part of its purchase of parent company Broadcasting Partners Holdings.{{cite news|last1=Seavey|first1=Deborah Turcotte|title=8 Maine radio stations bought|url=http://archive.bangordailynews.com/1999/11/09/8-maine-radio-stations-bought/|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Bangor Daily News|date=November 9, 1999}} In January 2003, Citadel ended WEZW's simulcast of WMME-FM and switched the station to an adult standards format, simulcast with sister station WTVL (1490 AM) in Waterville under the "Kool" branding.{{cite news|last1=Fybush|first1=Scott|title=KB Komes Back|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-030127.html|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=North East RadioWatch|date=January 27, 2003}} The call letters were changed to WJZN on October 14, 2004.

Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.{{cite news|title=Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/09/16/cumulus-now-owns-citadel-broadcasting.html|access-date=August 28, 2016|newspaper=Atlanta Business Journal|date=September 16, 2011}} Townsquare Media acquired Cumulus' Augusta-Waterville stations in 2012.{{cite news|title=Cumulus sells radio stations in Bangor, Augusta, Presque Isle|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2012/04/30/business/cumulus-sells-radio-stations-in-bangor-augusta-presque-isle/|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=Bangor Daily News|agency=Associated Press|date=April 30, 2012}} On July 14, 2016, WJZN split from its simulcast with WTVL and launched a classic rock format, branded as "Capital 95.9"; this followed the launch of FM translator W240DH (95.9 FM).[https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/107244/capital-95-9-launches-in-augusta-me/ Capital 95.9 Launches in Augusta, ME] Radioinsight - July 14, 2016

On October 22, 2021, WJZN dropped the classic rock format and began stunting towards a new format to launch on Monday October 25. That day, the station began simulcasting a relaunched version of the alternative rock format from Portland sister station WCYY.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Townsquare Media Launches WCYY Trimulcast Across Northern New England |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/214388/wpkq-in-stunt-mode/ |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=RadioInsight |date=October 25, 2021}} WCYY's expansion, which also included WPKQ in North Conway, New Hampshire, coincided with the syndication launch of Toucher and Rich from WBZ-FM in Boston, with the WCYY stations, along with Bangor sister station WEZQ, serving as the program's first affiliates. On May 8, 2023, Townsquare Media filed an STA to take the station silent;{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=FCC Report 5/14: $15,000 Fine Upheld For LPFM Airing Commercials |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/252051/fcc-report-5-14-15000-fine-upheld-for-lpfm-airing-commercials/ |access-date=September 26, 2023 |work=RadioInsight |date=May 14, 2023}} it returned to the air on April 29, 2024,{{cite web |last1=Stabbert |first1=Martin |title=Resumption of Operations of an AM Station Application |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/amDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076fa28ef16a70018f2f7d7b550de2&id=25076fa28ef16a70018f2f7d7b550de2&goBack=N |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=May 6, 2024 |date=May 3, 2024}} but again ceased operations February 12, 2025,{{cite web |last1=Stabbert |first1=Martin |title=Request for Silent Authority of an AM Station Application |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/amDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff394e07de40195211009e1328b&id=25076ff394e07de40195211009e1328b&goBack=N |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=March 7, 2025 |date=March 7, 2025}} as part of a series of closures of under-performing Townsquare Media stations.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Twenty Cumulus & Townsquare Media Stations Cease Operations With More To Come |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/296690/twenty-cumulus-townsquare-media-stations-cease-operations-with-more-to-come/ |access-date=March 14, 2025 |work=RadioInsight |date=March 14, 2025}}