WMYX-FM

Infobox Radio Station


name = WMYX
airdate =
frequency = 99.1 (MHz)
area = Milwaukee, Wisconsin
format = Hot AC Variety
all-Christmas (November-December)
owner = Entercom
erp = 50,000 Watts
branding = "99.1 WMYX" or "The Mix"
slogan = "The Mix Means Variety"
class = B
webcast = [http://wmc1.liquidcompass.cc/WMYX Listen Live]
website = http://www.991wmyx.com
callsign_meaning = MYX for "MIX"|

WMYX-FM (99.1 FM) is a Hot AC-formatted radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Identifying themselves on the air as "The Mix", WMYX-FM was the first station in the U.S. to use the "Mix" moniker. [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=555538]

WMYX has been airing roughly the same format since late 1981. The station is owned by Entercom, along with sister stations WXSS-FM and WSSP. "The Mix" airs Christmas music from November until Christmas every year, and has been doing it since 2003. In 2007, WMYX began Christmas music programming on November 1, a move that made them the highest rated music station in Milwaukee for the time period. [http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/graphic.asp?graphic=http://www.jsonline.com/graphics/bym/img/jan08/cuprcol_011108_big.gif]

History

WMYX-FM began as WEMP-FM in the 1960s, but simply re-broadcast WEMP-AM until 1971, when it flipped to its own format: WNUW Stereo FM. It was a soft Top 40, an album-oriented rock format known as "X-Rock 99", then easy listening. On October 31, 1978, the station flipped to Disco 99 and played nonstop disco music. The station lasted as disco for less than 10 months. Afterward, it became known merely as WNUW again before finally changing to "The Mix" with the WMYX call letters in 1981.

During the 1990s, WMYX's playlist featured a mixture of Hot AC, Soft AC and dance/pop. During the 1996 and 1997 NFL seasons when the Green Bay Packers ended up going to the Super Bowl, the station gained notoriety when Dan & Jane (the morning show hosts at the time) recorded parody songs with Packer and football themes. The most known was "Packarena" (parody of Los Del Rio's "Macarena") was played heavily on the station during the 1996 season. For the 1997 season, Dan & Jane recorded a parody of "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls under the name "Packer Wannabe." Cassette tapes were sold of the songs at various southeast Wisconsin locations with proceeds went to the Child Abuse Prevention Fund.

When sister station WAMG switched to Top-40 and became WXSS in June of 1998, WMYX slowly began evolving into a more full blown Hot AC with a more focused playlist.

In September 2004, longtime morning co-host Dan Weber was replaced with WXSS morning hosts Michael Knight and Rahny Taylor in an airstaff shakeup. Jane Matenaer remained on board with Knight and Taylor. At the same time, longtime afternoon host Mark Richards was replaced by crosstown WKTI evening host Kidd O'Shea. Taylor returned to WXSS-FM soon after. Knight was let go due to differences with management, and Kidd O'Shea was promoted from Afternoon Drive to Mornings.

The "Jane & Kidd In The Morning Show" won the 2006 AIR Award for favorite Milwaukee morning radio show. [http://blogs.jsonline.com/cuprisin/archive/2006/02/17/All-the-AIR-Award-winners.aspx] In January 2006, afternoons were taken over by former WXSS afternoon host Van McNeil. In January 2008, midday duties were assumed by program director Mike Nelson.

Notable local programming includes a "No-Repeat 9-to-5 Workday" each weekday. Since Monday, June 27, 2006, syndicated programming on WMYX has included Premiere Radio Networks' "Delilah" radio program.

Local competition

WMYX's main competitor in Milwaukee is WKTI, a Adult Top 40 leaning Hot AC station.

HD2 subchannel

WMYX's HD2 subchannel carries a Blues music format called "The Delta."

External links

* [http://www.991wmyx.com/ 99.1 WMYX official website]
* [http://www.onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/milwradio.html Milwaukee radio: a retrospective]
* [http://wmyx.radiotown.com/jkghpodcast/jkghpodcast.xml Jane & Kidd In The Morning Podcast]
* [http://www.packarena.com Packarena Website]
* [http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/graphic.asp?graphic=http://www.jsonline.com/graphics/bym/img/jan08/cuprcol_011108_big.gifFall 2007 Arbitron Ratings]
*FMQ|WMYX
*FML|WMYX