WMXD

Infobox Radio station
name = WMXD


city = Detroit, Michigan
area = [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WMXD&service=FM&status=L&hours=U]
branding = Mix 92.3
slogan = Classic Soul & Today's R&B
airdate = November 5, 1962
frequency = 92.3 MHz HD Radio
92.3 HD-2 WMXD-2
Gospel
format = Urban Adult Contemporary
power = 45,000 watts
haat = 145 meters
class = B
coordinates = coord|42|19|55|N|83|02|42|W|type:landmark
callsign_meaning = The Mix, Detroit
former_callsigns = WVAE (12/28/87-12/1/89)
WNTM (5/15/86-12/28/87)
WCXI-FM (?-5/15/86)
WTWR (?-?)
WCAR (?-?)
WLIN (11/5/62-?)
owner = Clear Channel
sister_stations = WDFN, WDTW, WDTW-FM, WJLB, WKQI, WNIC
webcast = [http://www.mix923fm.com/cc-common/streaming_new/ Listen Live]
website = [http://www.mix923fm.com/ www.mix923fm.com]
affiliations =

WMXD is a Clear Channel-owned Urban AC FM radio station in Detroit, Michigan, United States, that broadcasts on the frequency of 92.3 MHz. WMXD, which bills itself as "Classic Soul and Today's R&B," is consistently a very highly rated station in Detroit's Arbitron ratings reports, frequently showing up at number one or close to it. The station operates with 45,000 watts of power from an antenna located on the Cadillac Tower building in downtown Detroit. WMXD is licensed for HD Radio operations and plays urban gospel music on its secondary channel.

History

WLIN/WCAR-FM Years

The 92.3 frequency originally bore the call sign WLIN and was based out of suburban Lincoln Park when it began on November 5, 1962. For the first quarter-century or so of its existence, 92.3 was basically a non-factor in the market ratings-wise. In the mid-1970s, the station was WCAR-FM with an Adult Contemporary format.

Tower 92/WCXI-FM

By the end of the 1970s, WCAR-FM had adopted a hybrid Adult Top 40/Oldies format as WTWR, "Tower 92," with an air staff that included CKLW veteran Tom Shannon. Detroit progressive-rock radio legend Russ Gibb, formerly of WKNR-FM (now WNIC), hosted a late-night show on Tower 92 featuring punk and early alternative rock. In 1979, WTWR was purchased by Fritz Broadcasting. WTWR became WCXI-FM in 1982, programming a country music format separate from sister station WCXI-AM 1130 (now WDFN) in an effort to compete with the successful WWWW-FM "W4 Country" 106.7.

92 Music/92-3 The Wave

In 1986, WCXI-FM became WNTM "92 Music," a satellite-fed adult contemporary format. Since Detroit already had four AC stations, "92 Music" went virtually unnoticed, perhaps due to its lack of live and local air talent, and ratings sank even lower. 92.3's next format was New Age (a precursor of today's Smooth Jazz format, mixing contemporary jazz with new-age instrumentals and soft soul vocals) in December 1987 as WVAE, "92-3 The Wave," modeled after Los Angeles' successful KTWV. Much of the programming on WVAE was satellite-fed, and the station also featured comedy bits at the top of each hour to introduce the new hour. "The Wave" was never a true ratings success but did have a loyal audience, though it was in competition with beautiful music WJOI and longtime jazz station WJZZ, which began to play more contemporary jazz, new age and fusion material around that time.

Mix 92.3

The WMXD calls, "Mix" moniker and current Urban AC format were adopted in late 1989. Mix 92.3 became the frequency's first real ratings success, and the format has survived several ownership changes since then. In 1994, the station was sold from Fritz Broadcasting to Booth American, which merged with Broadcast Alchemy shortly afterward to become Secret Communications. WMXD and longtime Detroit urban contemporary powerhouse WJLB were now - and still are - sister stations. Just a few months later, Secret sold the stations to Chancellor Media, which later merged with Evergreen Media to become AMFM, which was swallowed up by Clear Channel in 1999.

The Steve Harvey Morning Show

Until late June 2005, Mix 92.3 was Detroit's outlet for the popular syndicated Tom Joyner morning show. In June 2005, Radio One relaunched its "Kiss FM" gold-based Urban AC format on the 105.9 frequency (now WDMK), moving 105.9's hip-hop format to 102.7 (now WHTD) and grabbing Joyner for mornings on 105.9. WMXD subsequently brought in a parade of celebrities such as soul singer Kenny Lattimore to host the morning show until a permanent replacement could be found. The station finally signed on as an affiliate of the "Steve Harvey Morning Show," syndicated by Clear Channel's Premiere Radio Networks out of WBLS in New York City (although WBLS itself is Black-owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation), and the station's morning and overall ratings have remained strong. Soon enough, WMXD also became the afternoon home to the "Love, Lust and Lies" Show with Michael Baisden, as well as the home of "The Sweat Hotel" with Keith Sweat. Although the addition of "Love, Lust and Lies" and "The Sweat Hotel" makes Frankie Darcell's midday show the only local daypart on WMXD during weekdays, the station's ratings have not suffered.

Airstaff

The current lineup (as of October 2008) is as follows

* Morning Show: The Steve Harvey Morning Show - Steve Harvey, Shirley Strawberry,
Nephew Tommy, Carla Ferrell & Ramona Prator (News)
* Mid-Days: The Mid-Day Mix - Frankie Darcell
* Afternoon Drive: Love, Lust and Lies - Michael Baisden
* Nighttime: The Sweat Hotel - Keith Sweat
* Overnights: The All Night Mix - Keil Lamont
* Fri Nights: Back Jam Live - Donafay
* Sat Nights: Saturday Night Live - Gerald McBride
* Weekend's/Fill-ins: Chris Boyd, Foody, Gerald McBride & Tracey McCaskill

Current Station Rating

Mix 92.3 Currently Ranks at #2 in the Detroit market according to the Summer 2008 Phase II ratings release.

According to a preliminary Arbitron report released September 16, 2008

Sources

* [http://www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-m/wmxd.html Michiguide.com - WMXD History]

External links

*fmq|WMXD
*fml|WMXD