WPLM-FM
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WPLM-FM
| logo = WPLM991.png
| city = Plymouth, Massachusetts
| country = US
| area = South of Boston
| branding = Easy 99.1
| frequency = 99.1 MHz
| repeater =
| airdate = June 25, 1961
| languages = English
| format = Soft adult contemporary
| erp = 50,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|131|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = B
| facility_id = 52838
| licensing_authority = FCC
| coordinates = {{coord|41|58|2.3|N|70|42|2.1|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=WPLM-FM|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = Plymouth{{cite web|url=http://nelson.oldradio.com/origins.call-list.html |title=Call Letter Origins |work=Radio History on the Web }}
| former_callsigns =
| affiliations =
| owner = Plymouth Rock Broadcasting Company
| licensee =
| sister_stations = WPLM
| webcast = [http://player.listenlive.co/54741 Listen Live]
| website = [http://www.easy991.com easy991.com]
}}
WPLM-FM (99.1 FM, "Easy 99.1") is a soft adult contemporary music station licensed to Plymouth, Massachusetts. It is owned by Plymouth Rock Broadcasting Co.. Its transmitter is located in Plymouth. With a 50,000 watt signal, WPLM-FM can be received in Boston, Cape Cod, the South Coast region, Providence, Rhode Island, and the South Shore.
History
WPLM-FM signed on June 25, 1961.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1981|year=1981|page=C-112|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1981/Ca%20Facilities%20of%20Radio%201981%20A-M.pdf|access-date=February 12, 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=2010-10-08|url-status=dead}} In the station's first decades on the air, it had a big band format.{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.broadcasting/msg/99e8e6a40953ae7d|title=New England Radio Watcher: WPLM goes smooth|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=June 29, 1995|work=rec.radio.broadcasting|publisher=Google Groups|access-date=February 9, 2010}} This was abandoned in February 1994 in favor of an adult contemporary format, branded "Variety 99.1".{{cite news |title=Format Changes & Updates |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1994-02.pdf#page=21 |access-date=October 4, 2022 |work=The M Street Journal |date=February 16, 1994 |page=1}} However, the station saw little success with this format, due to there being several other stations with a similar format within WPLM-FM's coverage area, and as a result it switched to smooth jazz on June 25, 1995.{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.broadcasting/msg/bbfd1bb7641cb11c|title=Boston Radio Watch 06-27-95|last=Shneyder|first=Mark|date=June 28, 1995|work=rec.radio.broadcasting|publisher=Google Groups|access-date=February 9, 2010}} Initially, programming was largely provided by SW Networks' Smooth FM service,{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-960521.html|title=New England RadioWatch|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=May 21, 1996|access-date=February 9, 2010}} with WPLM-FM itself branding as "Smooth FM 99.1". After Smooth FM closed on December 31, 1996,{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-961209.html|title=New England RadioWatch|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=December 9, 1996|access-date=February 11, 2010}} the station switched to a similar service from Jones Radio Networks{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-961226.html|title=WNBX Is Sold, WSNG Is Back, and More Elmo-Mania|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=December 26, 1996|work=New England RadioWatch|access-date=February 11, 2010}} and reimaged as "Jazzy 99.1".{{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|access-date=February 12, 2010}} Two years later, the smooth jazz format was discontinued in favor of "Easy 99.1", which initially featured a blend of adult standards and soft adult contemporary.{{cite news |title=Format Changes & Updates |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1999-01.pdf#page=2 |access-date=October 4, 2022 |work=The M Street Journal |date=January 6, 1999 |page=2}}
From WPLM-FM's inception, its programming has been simulcast, in whole or in part, with WPLM (1390 AM), which signed on six years earlier;{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1961-62|year=1961|page=B-82|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Broadcasting%201961.62%20Yearbook%20Page%20Range%20Guide_files/201-300%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201961-1962-4.pdf|access-date=February 12, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} from 1997 to 2015, the AM station broke away on weekdays to carry business news and talk programming from WADN/WBNW (1120).
In April 2020, the station temporarily suspended its live streaming due to financial problems stemming from the pandemic. The stream was restored later in the year.
WPLM-FM has also taken over WXKS-FM's decades-old tradition of playing Rose Royce's 1977 single "Wishing On A Star" every Saturday at 12 noon.
Notable past and present personnel include Sean Casey, Tom Stewart, Audrey Constant, Scott Reiniche, Hutch, Kevin Cronin, Billy Teed, Chris Rogers, Ken Coleman, Ron Della Chiesa, Bill O'Connell, and Barry Scott of The Lost 45s.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{FM station data|52838|WPLM}}
{{Boston Radio}}
{{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Massachusetts}}
Category:Soft adult contemporary radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1961
Category:Plymouth, Massachusetts