City Flint, Michigan Branding CK-105.5 | Broadcast area Flint, Michigan First air date September 1964 | |
Slogan Flint's New #1 for All The Hits Frequency 105.5 MHz (also on HD Radio) | ||
WWCK-FM (105.5 FM, "CK105.5") is a radio station in Flint, Michigan, broadcasting an adult-oriented Top 40 (CHR) format. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and has programmed its current format since 1989. Its studios are located south of the Flint city limits and its transmitter is east of downtown Flint.
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Early history: WMRP
105.5 FM originally went on the air in 1964 as WMRP-FM. The WMRP calls stood for Methodist Radio Parish. WMRP-FM aired a Beautiful Music format while WMRP-AM 1570 played MOR; the conservative owners of the stations prohibited any advertising for tobacco or alcohol products.
Flint's Best Rock
In 1971, the United Methodist Church withdrew support for WMRP-AM/FM, and the stations were sold that year to John W. Nogaj, who changed the FM's call letters to WWCK on November 1971 as a tribute to Windsor, Ontario's powerhouse CKLW and installed a dayparted daytime Top 40/nighttime AOR format. AM 1570, meanwhile, went country and later oldies as WCZN.
Nogaj sold WCZN-AM and WWCK-FM in 1975 to Reams Broadcasting, who changed WWCK's format on October 1975 to full-time AOR. As "Flint's Best Rock," WWCK was a market leader in Flint for many years, and was named the top-rated rock station in the United States in 1985. WWCK-FM was also the home of Filmmaker Michael Moore's "Radio Free Flint" from 1980 through 1985 and "Buffalo Dick's Radio Ranch" with Jeff Lamb, voted "Best Local Programming/All Markets" by Billboard Magazine in 1982.
CK105.5 flips to CHR
In December 1988, Reams Broadcasting sold AM 1570 and FM 105.5 to Majac of Michigan. Majac abruptly changed CK105's format from AOR to CHR on New Year's Day of 1989, with WWCK-AM 1570 serving as a shadowcast of the FM. This marked the first time Flint had a Top 40 or CHR station of its own since WTAC-AM 600 changed from Top 40 to country music in 1981. Fans of the AOR format were unhappy with the change, but CK105.5's new format took off in the ratings and posted several number one showings (12+) in the Flint Arbitron reports through the 1990s.
CK105.5 today
In recent years, WWCK's ratings have dropped somewhat due to competition from crosstown Rhythmic CHR outlet WRCL and due to playlist tweaks to make the station more of an Adult CHR which alienated younger listeners. Some listeners also feel the overall quality of the station has declined since Cumulus Media took over ownership. Nevertheless, CK105.5 is typically still a top ten ratings performer in Flint.
Former Morning Shows Included: Leeroy & The pepper, The Breakfast Boys with a few different variations. Mr.Bob Morning Show, Scott, Gin & Clay, Andrew Z in the Morning, Jerry & Stephanie, and Finally Mike & Stephanie.
WWCK was once housed at its transmitter location on Lapeer Rd. During the 90's WWCK allowed requests at the studio window. It was also common for wedding parties to stop by the studio for shout outs and such.
Memorable personalities included: Jim "The Bod" Larsin (Jim Koza), Bob O'Dell, Ian Richards, Terry "Motormouth" Young, Beau Richards, Catfish Cooper, Phlash Phelps, Fletch, Heidi with the hooters and Howard "The Duck". Over nights boasted "J.D.". He and his friend "Turk" took over "Saturday Night Party Patrol" duties. Fans would write in to the station and JD would piuck the coolest sounding parties and pull up in the CK 105 Van with about 50 Little Ceasers Pizzas, 50 Subway Sandwiches, Pepsi Products, and other goodies (I E tee-shirts, cassetts, compact disks, posters, and movie tickets. They went to a camp in Fenton that had campers with disabilities and allowed them to share their lives on the air. It was the most heartfelt 30 minutes in CK's radio history. The Nite Time Party with Just Bob (aka Jeremy Fenech, currently on Cars 108, WCRZ-FM) also gained ratings success from 2004-2008.
The current CK105.5 air staff includes Mike McDonald and Stephanie (mornings), Shawn Powers (afternoon drive). Weekend hosts include DC, Chachi and Nikki B.
Current syndicated shows include: Zach Sang and the Gang (Weekday Evenings) and Open House Party (weekend evenings).
The Pete Mata Show-One of the longest running shows in Flint since 1959, serving the Latin Community of Genesee County -- every Sunday morning from 6am to 8am.
Former Program Directors included: Leroy St. Micheals, Scott Shannon, John Shomby, Scott Free, Brian Figula, Jeff Andrews. Scott "Shannon" (real name Scott Seipel - no relation to Scott Shannon of WRBQ-FM, WHTZ, WPLJ, and WCBS-FM fame), formerly of WIOG, was also part of the highly rated "Scott & Gin Morning Show" and the "Scott and Gin Morning Show with Clay" and Shawn Powers. Currently the Program Director is Jerry Noble.