WMRC

Infobox Radio station
name = WMRC


city = Milford, Massachusetts
area = Worcester, Massachusetts
branding = "First Class Radio"
slogan =
airdate = 1956
frequency = 1490 kHz
format = Adult Contemporary
power = 1,000 watts (unlimited)
class = C
facility_id = 21584
coordinates = coord|42|08|12|N|71|30|50|W
callsign_meaning = Milford Radio Corporation (former owners)
former_callsigns =
owner = First Class Radio Corp.
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website = http://www.wmrcradio.com/
affiliations = ABC Radio

WMRC (1490 AM, "First Class Radio") is a radio station licensed to serve Milford, Massachusetts, USA. The station is owned by the First Class Radio Corporation. It airs a full-service Adult Contemporary music format.cite web |title=Station Information Profile |work=Arbitron |url=http://www.arbitron.com/] In addition to its usual music programming, WMRC broadcasts local high school and American Legion sports play-by-play. [cite news |work=The Boston Globe |title=The drive is back to do play-by-play |date=2006-07-06 |first=Mike |last=Reiss] WMRC is an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox radio network. [cite news |work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette |title=Ryder calls shots for arena action |date=2007-03-01 |quote=WMRC (1490 AM) in Milford has signed with Entercom Radio to remain a Red Sox radio affiliate through 2009.]

The station was assigned the WMRC call letters by the Federal Communications Commission.cite web |title=Call Sign History |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=21584&Callsign=WMRC]

Notable on-air personalities include news director Ed Thompson who joined the station in 1974. [cite news |work=The Boston Globe |title=Morning News, With Static |date=2004-04-11 |quote=Ed Thompson may be the most powerful man in Milford. [...] Throughout his three decades on the Milford airwaves for WMRC-AM, criticism has often trailed the 55-year-old newscaster with the striking long, gray hair.] In 1993 the Milford Highlanders Brothers and Belles organization honored Thompson at their 10th annual Outstanding Citizens Ball for his service to the community. [cite news |work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette |title=Milford to honor citizens |date=1993-04-09 |quote=One award will go to Ed Thompson of Hopkinton, the news director of WMRC radio in Milford for serving the community for 26 years.]

Awards and honors

WMRC is the only radio station to win the "Station of the Year" award from the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association on three separate occasions, [cite web |work=WMRC |title=Station Profile brochure |url=http://www.wmrcradio.com/pdf/station.pdf |format=PDF] including a split win with WBOQ in 1993 [cite news |work=The Boston Globe |title=Local stations get their rewards |date=1993-10-15 |first=Susan |last=Bickelhaupt |quote=Classical radio station WBOQ-FM once again shared top honors as Station of the Year, this time with WMRC-AM in Milford.] and a solo award in 1995. [cite news |work=The Boston Globe |title=Spinning the dial |date=1995-10-26 |first=Susan |last=Bickelhaupt |quote=Milford's WMRC-AM (1490), an adult music station, was named Station of the Year.]

In 2003, Thomas M. McAuliffe II was elected chairman of the board of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association. [cite news |work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette |title=People: New chairman |date=2003-02-11] At the time of his election, he was also vice president and general manager of WMRC.

In 2008, WMRC received the Cary Simpson Award for Community Service from the International Broadcasters Idea Bank for the station's dedication to public service. [cite web |work=Massachusetts Broadcasters Association |title=No such thing as local radio? |date=2008-06-13 |first=Deanna |last=Elliott |url=http://blog.massbroadcasters.org/?p=4] The station was cited for "overall excellence in all facets of operation including growth of audience, client base, and service to the community."cite news |work=Blackstone Valley Daily |title=WMRC 1490AM Wins International Public Service Award |url=http://www.blackstonedaily.com/awards1.htm |accessdate=2008-06-25]

Ownership

In March 1983, WMRC was acquired by Loren F. Ghiglione from the Milford Radio Corporation. In August 1983, Ghiglione transferred the licensed to the Milford Media Corporation. [cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access |title=Public Notice Comment |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/comment.pl?Application_id=60252&File_number=BAL-19830812FS |date=1983-08-12] In July 1984, Milford Media Corporation transferred the license to Nanlo Inc. [cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access |title=Public Notice Comment |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/comment.pl?Application_id=70871&File_number=BAL-19840706EL |date=1984-07-06] Nanlo Inc. was owned by Worcester County Newspapers, a media holding corporation for which Loren F. Ghiglione served as president. [cite news |work=The Boston Globe |title=Mass. man buys Conn. newspapers |date=1985-01-30 |accessdate=2008-06-24 |quote=Loren F. Ghiglione is president of Worcester County Newspapers, a company that owns, in addition to The News, 11 weeklies, two tourist publications, a commercial printing operation and WMRC, a radio station in Milford, Mass.]

In May 1990, Thomas M. McAuliffe, president of First Class Radio Corp., reached an agreement to purchased WMRC from Nanlo Inc.cite news |work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette |title=McAuliffe is new owner of WMRC-AM |date=1990-05-09 |quote=WMRC, the town's only radio station, has been purchased by a veteran Marlboro radio station manager from Worcester County Newspapers. Thomas M. McAuliffe, 55, of Hudson, finalized arrangements this week, and will begin working at the station while the Federal Communications Commission reviews the sale.] The sale was approved by the FCC in August 1990 and the deal was consummated in September 1990. [cite news |work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette |title=WMRC in Milford is sold |date=1990-09-12 |accessdate=2008-06-25] The sale price was not disclosed.

In December 2006, Thomas M. McAuliffe II acquired the station from his father. [cite web |date=2006-12-28 |title=Application Search Details BTC-2060918AAW |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1148598 |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access]

References

External links

* [http://www.wmrcradio.com/ WMRC official website]
*AMQ|WMRC
*AML|WMRC
*AMARB|WMRC