WZOM
 | |
| City | Defiance, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Branding | 105.7 The Bull |
| Slogan | Better Country |
| Frequency | 105.7 MHz |
| First air date | 1989 |
| Format | Country music |
| ERP | 6,000 watts |
| HAAT | 100.0 meters (328.1 ft) |
| Class | A |
| Facility ID | 40711 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 41°13′23″N 84°22′36″W / 41.22306°N 84.37667°WCoordinates: 41°13′23″N 84°22′36″W / 41.22306°N 84.37667°W |
| Affiliations | Premiere Radio Networks |
| Owner |
iHeartMedia, Inc. (CC Licenses, LLC) |
| Webcast | listen live |
| Website | 1057thebull.com |
WZOM (105.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Defiance, Ohio, USA, the station is currently owned by iHeartMedia, Inc..[1] [2] In February 2002, the station changed from an Oldies format to the current country music format.
History
WZOM signed on the air on Friday August 25, 1989. Its first official programming was a high school football game between Defiance High School and Napoleon High School. The game featured the return of local sports announcer Marv Sebring. Sebring was known for a colorful call of local sports and he had an amazing memory for local sports history.
For the next two days the station ran a tape loop of three oldies, three country and three random songs asking residents to vote for their favorite format. The oldies format was a fan favorite with a three to one margin over other choices. At 6AM on Monday August 28, 1989 the Zoomer kicked off with a "Classic Rock 40" oldies format. The original staff members were Rich Gates, Bob James, Andie Germann as the morning team, Rich Vargo afternoons, Larry Miller in the evenings. The remainder of the day was basically music from a syndicated music source but the station was so well programmed that community members would want to visit the on-air personalities that were from Dallas Texas. The transitions were seamless.
WZOM was unique to the market as it brought a big city attitude to small town radio, listeners were put on the air, many contests and give aways. Where the other stations were background WZOM dared you to listen. They brought back a jingle package from CKLW which was the station for the 25- to 54-year-olds when they were teens so the ZOOMER had a familiar feel. Many live on location broadcasts were done always with station mascot ZOOMER the Hip Cat there.
The first owner of the station was James Phillips a local insurance man and small town, part-time polka announcer . The corporate name was The Great Wireless Talking Machine, inc. Phillips had hopes of bringing polka music to the air in Defiance. His consultant Chris Cage (WBNS,WBYR) recommended hiring Robert Krouse as General Manager. Krouse decided on the oldies format from the start since no local station was programming the format at that time. The station was highly popular within a few weeks on the air.
Some of the programming included the Birthday Police, Top Five at Five, Motown Mondays, Sensuous Weather with Stacy Stephens, The Original Breakfast with the Beatles. Many character voices were a part of the morning show keeping the station fresh, topical and fun.
Krouse left the station in July 1991 at that time Phillips added talk to part of the programming and within a year sold the station In a distress sale to Richard McBroom owner of WNDH and WONW. Later the station was sold to Clear Channel
References
- ↑ "WZOM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ↑ "WZOM Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
External links
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WZOM
- Radio-Locator information on WZOM
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WZOM