WMGN (98.1 FM) is a commercial radio station in Madison, Wisconsin, known as "Magic 98". It is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting and broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format. Notable programming includes a "Five at Five" feature on weekday evenings with five songs in the same theme, and the syndicated call-in and request show Delilah. Weekend programming includes "Saturday at the 70s", "Sunday at The 80s", and the "Magic Sunday Morning" program.
 | |
| Broadcast area | Madison metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.1 MHz |
| Branding | Magic 98 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WHIT, WJJO, WJQM, WLMV, WOZN, WRIS-FM WWQM-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | September 1948 (as WISC-FM) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | Magic Ninety-Eight |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 41900 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 36,000 watts |
| HAAT | 176 meters (577 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WMGN has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 36,000 watts. The transmitter is off County Highway MM, near U.S. Route 14 in Fitchburg.[2] The studios and offices are on Rayovac Drive in Madison.
History
editThe station signed on the air in September 1948[3] as WISC-FM. It was mostly simulcast with sister station WISC 1480 AM (now WLMV). WISC-AM-FM were owned by Radio Wisconsin, Inc., with offices in the Commercial State Bank Building. WISC-FM was the second commercial FM station in Madison, going on the air a year after 101.5 WIBA-FM.
WISC-AM-FM slightly changed their call signs to WISM-AM-FM in 1959.[4] They were network affiliates of the Mutual Broadcasting System. By the late 1960s, WISM-FM had a separate easy listening format, that was largely automated.
By the 1980s, the easy listening format was attracting mostly older listeners. To gain a younger audience, WISM-FM flipped to soft rock as "Movin' Easy 98 FM".[5] On December 1, 1983, the station changed its call letters to WMGN with the moniker "Magic 98".[6] The format switched to soft adult contemporary music. Over time, the tempo picked up and WMGN became a Mainstream AC station.
Christmas Music
editWMGN is one of the few AC stations in the U.S. that do not switch to all-Christmas music for most of November and December. The all-holiday music format in Madison is heard on iHeartMedia’s 92.1 WXXM, Audacy’s 105.1 WMHX and non-commercial Christian Contemporary station 102.5 WNWC-FM, owned by the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. WMGN only switches to all-Christmas music a few days before December 25, calling it "The 98 Hours of Christmas", tying in its dial position.
References
edit- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WMGN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WMGN
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1951 page 327, Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ "FCC history cards" (PDF). Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ "Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame: Bill Vancil". Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ "Magic 98 History". Retrieved February 26, 2021.
External links
edit- WMGN official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 41900 (WMGN) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WMGN in Nielsen Audio's FM station database