By day, WNTD is powered at 1,000 wattsnon-directional. The daytime transmitter is on S. Western Avenue near 15th Street in Chicago.[5] At night, while increasing its power to 5,000 watts, it also switches to a separate transmitter using a directional antenna with a six-tower array. That tower site is off East 142nd Street near South Manistee Avenue in Burnham, Illinois.
The station originally broadcast at 620 and later 830 kHz.[8][9] By 1923, the station's frequency had been changed to 1050 kHz.[10][11] By 1925 the station was broadcasting at 1080 kHz, running 200 watts.[12][13] By 1927, the station's power had been increased to 500 watts, and the station's frequency was changed to 770 kHz.[1] In 1928, the station's frequency was changed to 920 kHz.[1] The station operated during daytime hours only.[1]
The station's programming was initially devoted to trade news, but in 1929, its programming was broadened.[7] The station would air a variety of music programs, along with news, live market reports, and a variety of other programs.[14][15]
The station's transmitter and studios were destroyed in the 1934 Stock Yards fire.[7][1] The station broadcast live coverage of the fire until smoke and heat forced them to leave the building.[7] The station's studios were moved to the Palmer House following the fire.[7][1]
In 1955, the station began airing "Juke Box Matinee", hosted by Hal Fredericks, in association with the Recorded Music Service Association and the Chicago Juke Box Operators' Association.[17][18] The show featured a monthly "Hunch Tune", which would be promoted on the show and featured as the No. 1 selection in juke boxes.[18][19] The first "Hunch Tune" was "Rollin' Stone" by Eddie Fontaine.[19]
In 1967, the station was sold to a corporation formed by Ralph Atlass, for $900,000.[23][1] The station's call sign was changed to WGRT ("W-Great!") and it adopted a soul music format.[24] Daddy-O Daylie continued as a DJ on WGRT, hosting a morning jazz program.[25][26] Daylie's jazz program was initially two hours long, but was reduced to an hour and a half, and eventually a half hour in 1971.[25][26] In 1971, the station's transmitter was moved to the Midland Warehouses on Western Avenue in Chicago.[1]
On May 29, 1973, the station was purchased by Johnson Publishing Company for $1,800,000.[27][28] On November 1, 1973, the station's call sign was changed to WJPC.[28] The station aired an urban contemporary format.[29] Disc jockeys included Tom Joyner and LaDonna Tittle.[30] Daddy-O Daylie hosted a Sunday jazz program.[31][30] In 1980, the station began nighttime operations, running 5,000 watts using a directional array.[1][30] In the late 1980s and early 90s the station simulcast the soft urban contemporary format of its sister station 106.3 WLNRinLansing, Illinois, and was branded "Soft Touch".[32][33][34] At noon on July 15, 1992, the station began airing an all-rap format.[35][36]
In 1994, Johnson Publishing sold the station, along with 106.3 WJPC-FM, to Broadcasting Partners for $8 million.[27][37] In June 1994, the station became "106 Jamz", airing an urban contemporary format as a simulcast of WJPC-FM.[38][39] The station's call sign was changed to WEJM later that year, with its FM simulcast partner taking the call sign WEJM-FM.[2][40] In spring of 1997, the station was sold to Douglas Broadcasting for $7.5 million.[27][41][42] In June 1997, its FM sister station left the simulcast, adopting an urban gospel format as 106.3 WYBA.[43]
On August 28, 1997, WEJM's format was changed to sports, as a One-on-One Sports affiliate.[44][45] Around this time, the station was purchased by One-on-One for $10 million.[27][46] In November 1997, the station's call sign was changed to WIDB.[2] One-On-One was headquartered in suburban Northbrook.[44] The One-on-One Sports affiliation moved to WJKL on March 1, 1999, though the One-on-One Sports format continued to simulcast on WIDB until May 1999.[47][48]
WNTD was the original affiliate of Air America Radio in Chicago.[57] Program hosts included Al Franken, Randi Rhodes, Janeane Garofalo, Rachel Maddow, Lizz Winstead and Chuck D.[57] The network launched on March 31, 2004.[57] However, these programs ended after two weeks, on April 14, due to a payment dispute between Multicultural Radio Broadcasting, then owner of WNTD, and Air America Radio.[58] On April 15, a judge ruled that Air America had fully paid for airtime on WNTD and ordered Multicultural to broadcast Air America on the station.[59] However, Air America would only continue on the station through the end of the month.[60] WNTD would return to airing a Spanish language format.[61][62][63]
In 2007, the station was sold to Sovereign City Radio for $15 million.[64][65] In October 2007, Relevant Radio began to air from 6a.m. to 6p.m. weekdays, while brokered Spanish language programming aired the remainder of the time.[65]
From August 2009, until August 14, 2010, WNTD carried "Avenue 950", programmed by Sovereign City Radio Services, which featured an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, standards, and adult contemporary from 6p.m. to 5a.m.[66][67] Relevant Radio continued to air during the remainder of the station's schedule.[67] On August 15, 2010, the station began airing Relevant Radio full time.[67]
In 2014, the station was sold to Starboard Media Foundation, Inc. for $14.4 million.[68] The transaction was consummated on May 2, 2014.[69]
^ abcdDuncan, James H. "Major Station Transactions:1970 to 2003", An American Radio Trilogy 1975 to 2004. Volume 1: The Markets. Duncan's American Radio. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
