WSNX-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = WSNX-FM


city = Muskegon, Michigan
area = Grand Rapids-Muskegon
branding = 104.5 WSNX
slogan = "Continuous Hit Music"
airdate = 1971
frequency = 104.5 MHz HD Radio
format = Top 40 (CHR)
power = 32,000 watts
erp =
class = B
callsign_meaning = Sunny 104.5 FM (former branding)
former_callsigns = WSNX (2/20/86-5/1/86)
WQWQ-FM (1971-1986)
owner = Clear Channel Communications
sister_stations = WBCT, WBFX, WMAX-FM, WOOD, WOOD-FM, WSNX-FM, WTKG
webcast =
website = [http://www.wsnx.com/ http://www.wsnx.com/]
affiliations =

WSNX-FM is a radio station located in Clear Channel Communications' Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters. The current (2007) format is Top 40 (CHR), with a hip-hop flavored lean. The 104.5 dial position is licensed to Muskegon, in Western Michigan with the station serving the Grand Rapids, MI area.

History

What is now 104.5 WSNX began life as Beautiful Music station WQWQ (the "Q" stood for "Quality") in 1971. Goodrich Radio Marketing purchased the frequency in 1984 and quickly changed the Beautiful Music format to Top 40 and used the moniker "Sunny-FM" on-air. (The WQWQ calls and easy-listening format moved to 101.7 FM and continued there until the station became WMRR.) Goodrich Radio located the studios at 875 E. Summit in Norton Shores, just outside Muskegon. The antenna was upgraded to get a city-grade signal into Grand Rapids.

WSNX moved to Grand Rapids (at 2610 28th Street) in 1996, where it was occupying the same offices of sister station (107.3) WODJ Oldies format and (1140) WKWM Urban AC.It was around this time that new program director, John Thomas along with music director Keith Curry gave the CHR formatted station an apparent hip-hop or urban feel musically. The musical adjustment appeared to work, as WSNX climbed to #2 in the Arbitron ratings during Thomas' watch in 1998. The next book after PD (program director) Thomas left the station hit number one in the 12+ demographic according to Arbitron

WSNX moved again to downtown Grand Rapids after it was purchased by Clear Channel Radio in 1999. By that time, the "Sunny FM" name had already been dropped in favor of IDing with the calls and the slogan "Grand Rapids' Hottest Music," which changed to "Continuous Hit Music" after Clear Channel's takeover.

Some of the air talent that have spent some time behind the WSNX microphone include: Jo Jo Girard, Teri London, Jim Richards, Keith Curry, John Thomas, Fast Eddie, Mark McGill, "Slave Boy" Kasey, Britta Rodewal, Fernando Ventura, Jamie Jordan, Mark Jacobs, Jonathon Caine, Broadway Billy Macc (now at sister station [http://www.b93.com Country B93] ), Kruze (currently at WKFR), and Steve and Sabrina (now on WOOD-FM).

As of December 2006 the full time staff consists of Puddin and The Playhouse, Michelle Taylor, Eric O'Brien (EOB), and Holmes and The Freakshow.

WSNX was the first radio station in both the Grand Rapids and Muskegon markets to broadcast in HD Radio, as it does today. Its HD2 subchannel currently carries the Dance Top 40 Club Phusion format.

Sources

* [http://www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-s/wsnx.html Michiguide.com - WSNX-FM History]
* [http://www.myspace.com/puddinpage Puddin and The Playhouse Myspace Page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/theeobshow The EOB Show Myspace Page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/wsnxfreakshow The Freakshow Myspace Page]

External links

* [http://www.wsnx.com/ WSNX official website]
*FM station data|WSNX