WSMN

WSMN first signed on March 9, 1958.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1981|year=1981|page=C-147|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1981/Cb%20Facilities%20of%20Radio%201981%20N-Z.pdf|access-date=February 17, 2010}} The first voice heard was that of Manchester, New Hampshire, native Frank G. Teas who spent the next 44 years with the station until he retired in December 2002. The original owner was the Merrimack Valley Broadcasting System.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1958|year=1958|page=A-320|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1958/Sectin%20A%20Radio%20By%20State%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201958-9.pdf|access-date=February 17, 2010}} It sold the station only one year later, to 1590 Broadcasting Corporation.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1959|year=1959|page=B-186|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1959/B-2%20Radio%201959%20YB.pdf|access-date=February 17, 2010}}

For most of its early years, WSMN had a middle-of-the-road format, mixed in with talk.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1971|year=1971|page=B-130|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1971/B%202%20Radio%20YB%201971.pdf|access-date=February 17, 2010}} This format remained in place through the decade. The organization also published an advertiser-supported, free tabloid called the 1590 Broadcaster.{{Cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn79003205/|title=About 1590 broadcaster|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=November 18, 2018}}

During the mid-1990s, WSMN attempted a country music format. But country on AM radio became less viable after Boston country station WKLB-FM moved from 96.9 FM (now WBQT) to 99.5 FM (now WCRB). WSMN switched to adult standards in December 1997.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-971218.html|title=North East RadioWatch|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=December 18, 1997|access-date=February 17, 2010}} This was short lived; in March 1998, the station changed to news/talk, though some timeslots were temporarily filled with adult contemporary music for a time.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-980319.html|title=More Layoffs in N.H.|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=March 19, 1998|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=February 17, 2010}}

Initially locally oriented, in June WSMN began adding nationally-produced programming, including Talk America shows and business news from Bloomberg Radio.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-980604.html|title=Tornado Topples WIVT|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=June 4, 1998|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=February 17, 2010}} Two years later, Tom O'Brien signed a local marketing agreement (LMA) to take over the station's operations.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-001204.html|title=North East RadioWatch: December 4, 2000|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=December 4, 2000|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=February 17, 2010}}

WSMN was forced off the air February 1, 2005, after losing the lease to its transmitter and studio site on West Hollis Street (Route 111).{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2005/050207/nerw.html|title=Qantum Buys the Cape; Cherry Creek Buys the East End; WSMN Goes Dark|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=February 7, 2005|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|access-date=February 17, 2010}} The license was sold to Absolute Broadcasting, owner of WSNH (900; now WGHM) that July.{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2005/050704/nerw.html|title=Pop Goes "Cool Pop" in Harrisburg|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=July 4, 2005|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|access-date=February 17, 2010}}

WSMN returned to the air in October from the WSNH tower, running a low-power special temporary authority signal.{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2005/051024/nerw.html|title=A WILD Shift For Radio One/Boston|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=October 24, 2005|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=February 19, 2010}} It initially simulcast WSNH's ESPN Radio programming. The station began shifting back to a news/talk format in early 2006.{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2006/060109/nerw.html|title=New Troubles for Maynard's WAVM|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=January 9, 2006|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=February 19, 2010}} It began featuring programing from Talk Radio Network and Westwood One.

Absolute Broadcasting sold WSMN to Bartis and Russell Broadcasting LLC{{Cite web

|url=http://www.unionleader.com/business/Gate-City-radio-personalities-team-up-to-buy-WSMN-03282017

|title=Gate City radio personalities team up to buy WSMN

|author=Kimberly Houghton

|publisher=Manchester Union-Leader

|date=2017-03-27}} for $200,000.{{Cite web

|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/160386/wsmn-nashua-nh-sold

|title=WSMN/Nashua, NH Sold

|publisher=AllAccess.com

|date=2016-12-05

|access-date=2018-03-28}} The sale took effect on March 16, 2017. The proprietors are George Russell and Bob Bartis, who had both hosted shows on WSMN. They promised "more local programming and a refocus on the community."

WSMN formerly held a construction permit from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to build a new three-tower array west of the old location. Instead of using the same directional pattern full-time, there would be different directional patterns for day and night. In July 2020, the station put an FM translator on the air at 95.3 MHz.

{{RadioTranslators

| call1 = W237FA

| freq1 = 95.3

| watts1 = 250

| class1 = D

| fid1 = 202373

| city1 = Nashua, New Hampshire

| coord1 = {{coord|42|44|4.4|N|71|23|35.8|W|region:US-NH_type:landmark|name=W237FA}}

}}

WSMN airs Nashua This Morning with George Russell during morning drive time, with a mix of talk shows and brokered programming at other times. Bob Bartis continues to host shows on several topics. In timeslots where a talk show is not scheduled, the station airs blocks of music.{{Cite web

|url=http://www.wsmn.live/program-line-up.html

|title=Program Schedule

|publisher=WSMN

|access-date=2018-03-30}} WSMN is an affiliate of USA Radio News.

Other programing includes:

• "Asking for a Friend"
• "Barticus Live"
• "The Dana Loesch Show"
• "Latinos En Vivo"
• "Public Health Hour"
• "The Rayla Campbell Show Live"
• "Spouting Off with Host Karen Kataline"
• "Turning Pages with Elaine Holden" {{cite web | url=https://wsmn.live/program-lineup | title=WSMN1590am WSMN95.3fm Watch! Listen! Stream! }}

• Al Rock (general manager)
• Ed Lecius Sr. (news director)
• Frank Teas Sr. (program director)
• Weldon Haire{{cite news|title=Around the Town|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e6krAAAAIBAJ&pg=5093,953963&dq|access-date=December 30, 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=March 13, 1958}}
• Maury Parent
• Jeff Radzik
• Eric Nuernberg (Eric O’ Neil)
• Nick Diamond
• Jim Liversidge
• Robert "Woody" Woodland
• Robert "Bob" Bevill
• Chuck O'Neil
• Gerry Wood
• Kevin Farwell
• John Halbert
• Dee Dee Leigh
• Griff Vautier
• Russ Cooper
• Dale Lonroth
• Hal Hillard
• Tony Broseau
• Leo Zani
• Steve Shaw
• Herb Andrews
• Ernie Anastos
• Dianna Ploss

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.wsmn.live/}}

{{AM station data|102|WSMN}}

{{clear}}

{{Manchester, New Hampshire radio}}

{{News/Talk Radio Stations in New Hampshire}}

SMN

Category:Radio stations established in 1958

Category:Nashua, New Hampshire

Category:Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States

Category:1958 establishments in New Hampshire