WMAS-FM

WMAS-FM signed on the air in 1947 as the FM counterpart of WMAS (1450 AM). Both stations were owned by WMAS, Inc. and mostly simulcast their programming.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1951/Radio%20AL%20MT%20BC%20YB%201951%20B&W-9.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1951 page 169]

WMAS-FM was one of the first FM stations in Western Massachusetts. The studios were in the Hotel Stonehaven and the stations' city of license was Springfield.

The simulcast ended in the late 1960s. WMAS-FM became a "freeform" radio station, playing a progressive rock format. The programs were hosted by youthful disc jockeys (DJs) who could choose whatever they wanted to play. The progressive format was initiated by Hamilton K. Agnew, with an air name of "The Doktor". Brian Kreizenbeck joined the staff several months later. When Roy Cohn bought the station, Ham Agnew quit. He and Roy did not get along from the start. Advertising revenue came from the hippie boutiques, head shops, concert venues, and music stores that catered to the counter-cultural youth of the day.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

This freeform radio format ended in September 1969 after complaints were made about expletives in a Wild Man Fischer song. A protest movement, in part organized by the DJs, failed to save the format. From 1971 to 1973, the station programmed a tamer album rock sound, using the call sign WHVY.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} Another reason for the impending failure was that Tony Gazzana wanted to change the format to milque-toast "Top Forty" format in addition to the stations call sign WHVY. Ham Agnew was also the licensed Chief Engineer of the station in addition to being the architect of the "Progressive-Free Form" format, and resigned shortly after a meeting with Roy Cohn and Tony Gazzana.

In the mid 1970s, the WMAS-FM call letters returned. Both the AM and FM stations were mostly simulcast once again, with a full service, middle of the road music format. In 1978, WMAS-FM hopped on the bandwagon of the disco music sound, although it was short-lived.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

In 1979, WMAS-FM began airing a soft adult contemporary format, a forerunner of what the station is today.

File:WMAS-FM logo.pngIn June 2004, WMAS-AM-FM were sold to Citadel Broadcasting for $22 million;[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2006/Radio-AL-MT-%20BC-YB-2006.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbrook 2006 page D-254] In January 2011, WMAS-FM agreed to change its city of license from Springfield to Enfield, Connecticut, to facilitate the relocation of WPKX (97.9) from Enfield to Windsor Locks; the deal, which allowed Citadel to use a generator owned by WPKX owner Clear Channel Communications in Albuquerque, New Mexico, did not require any changes to WMAS-FM's physical and studio facilities.{{cite news |last1=Fybush |first1=Scott |title=CC Shuffles Mass., Connecticut Signals |url=https://www.fybush.com/NERW/2011/110110/nerw.html |access-date=June 30, 2020 |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |date=January 10, 2011}} 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=September 16, 2011|newspaper=Atlanta Business Journal|date=September 16, 2011}}

The station won the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association Award for "Station of the Year" in 2012 and 2014. The Kellogg Krew Morning Show won the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association "Air Talent of the Year" award in 2013.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

On February 13, 2019, Cumulus and Entercom announced an agreement in which WMAS-FM and WHLL, as well as WNSH in New York City, would be swapped to Entercom in exchange for Entercom's Indianapolis stations. Under the terms of the deal, Entercom began operating WMAS-FM under a local marketing agreement on March 1, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/174511/cumulus-sells-six-to-emf-swaps-with-entercom-in-new-york-indianapolis/|title=Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis|date=2019-02-13|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-13}} The station's web presence moved to Radio.com a month later, along with its streaming. The swap was completed on May 9, 2019.{{cite news |title=Cumulus, Entercom Close Six-Station Swap. |url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/cumulus-entercom-close-six-station-swap/article_15ba7c62-75c3-11e9-b6ac-6b5d9421f738.html |access-date=May 16, 2019 |work=Inside Radio |language=en}} Both Entercom and Radio.com changed their names to Audacy in 2021.

• {{Official website|https://www.audacy.com/947wmas}}{{FM station data|36543|WMAS-FM}}

{{Springfield MA Radio}}

{{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Connecticut}}

{{Audacy}}

MAS-FM

Category:Mainstream adult contemporary radio stations in the United States

Category:Audacy, Inc. radio stations

Category:Radio stations established in 1947

Category:1947 establishments in Massachusetts

Category:Enfield, Connecticut