WDEK
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| WDEK 92.5 | |
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| Broadcast area | DeKalb, Illinois |
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| Branding | NINE FM |
| Slogan | "We Play Anything!" |
| Frequency | 92.5 WDEK FM (MHz) |
| Format | Daytime: Variety hits Nighttime: Dance Hits |
| ERP | 20,000 Watts |
| Class | B |
| Callsign meaning | DeKalb, Illinois |
| Owner | Newsweb Corporation |
| Website | NINE FM website |
WDEK 92.5 FM is a radio station located in DeKalb, Illinois, west of Chicago. They program a variety hits format during the day and Dance Hits at night. WDEK is apart of a trimulcast with WKIE and WRZA as "Nine FM". WDEK is owned by Newsweb Corporation.
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[edit] History
WDEK was locally owned and operated in DeKalb, Illinois with AM station WLBK since its inception in the 1960s. The station's signal could be heard from Rockford, Illinois all the way to the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. The station was originally WLBK-FM and broadcast beautiful/easy listening music. Gradually in the 1970s, the station added a progressive program known as "Headquarters" at night beginning at 7:00 p.m.
In January 1977, WLBK-FM became WDEK-FM. Simultaneous with this change, WDEK dropped beautiful music for an automated Top 40 format until 7:00 p.m. while continuing its "Headquarters" progressive rock format in the evenings, similar to Chicago's WXRT. Later WDEK flipped to Top 40 full-time ("All Hit WDEK") in the fall of 1984 and became very popular. WDEK competed with Rockford's WZOK.
In 1999 the station's local owners sold WDEK to Big City Radio, which turned the station into part of a trimulcast known as "92.7 Kiss FM", along with 92.7 WKIE in Arlington Heights and 92.7 WKIF in Kankakee. Original plans called for this 20,000 watt station to decrease in power and change frequency to 92.7 to match the other two. The FCC denied this request and the moniker was adjusted to "92 Kiss FM".
On January 12, 2001, Clear Channel flipped it's full-signal WUBT from rhythmic oldies to CHR as WKSC "Kiss 103.5". At that time, they issued a cease and desist order to Big City Radio, insisting they stop using the "Kiss FM" moniker. "92 KISS-FM" continued until January 26, 2001 when the three signals flipped to Dance Hits format "Energy 92-7&5". The airstaff and voiceover talent Sean Caldwell remained intact. While not being the first station to play all dance music, it was the first station to play all Dance Hits.
Energy gained lots of attention via the internet and gained a relatively devoted following in the Chicago area and worldwide via its webcast. Considering their niche format and signal limitations, Energy was competitive in the ratings and in revenues.
In late 2002, Big City Radio, which had overextended itself in obtaining radio stations, declared bankruptcy and began liquidating its properties. WKIE, WKIF and WDEK were sold to Spanish Broadcasting System for $22 million and WXXY/WYXX (which had a Mexican music format) to the Spanish Broadcasting System. On January 5, 2003, Energy became "Onda 92" (Onda translating to "Wave"), broadcasting a Spanish Adult Contemporary format.
Onda 92 was never successful in the ratings (never posting even a 0.1 rating in Arbitron), and SBS decided to reduce leverage, so in June 2004 SBS announced the sale of WKIE, WKIF and WDEK to Newsweb Corporation. At midnight on November 22, 2004, Onda 92 signed off, and WDEK and WKIE tested the EAS twice (once for WKIE and once for WDEK) then began playing movie clips, sound effects, and messages saying "Join us at 9 AM". At 9 AM, WDEK and WKIE began simulcasting with its new Adult Hits] sister station WRZA, aka "Nine FM". WKIF was switched to a full-time simulcast of CNN Headline News.
Sky Daniels (formerly WLUP) was the original program director for Nine FM. Other notable Chicago radio veterans included Johnny Mars (formerly WXRT, WKQX, WZZN), and Mitch Michaels (formerly WDAI, WKQX, WLUP). When Sky Daniels left in 2005, he was replaced by Matt DuBiel. Nine FM's format tightened a bit over time, to attract more casual listeners, eliminating many of the more obscure songs on the station's playlist.
[edit] Dance Factory
On May 19, 2006 Chris Chudzik began leasing air time on Saturday nights for a dance music show called Dance Factory FM, hosted by Kyle Kelly*, from 8:00PM to 5:00AM. Dance Factory FM expanded to Friday nights 9:00PM to 5:00AM starting on August 12, 2006, hosted by Luis2Live. On May 14, 2007 Nine FM and Chudzik expanded Dance Factory to seven nights a week from 9:00PM to 4:30AM. Nine FM still programs their "We Play Anything" format during the daytime hours. The weekend shows carry a DJ mix style format, the weekday shows carry a Dance Hits format.
* - Kyle Kelly is no longer an on air personality for Dance Factory FM.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Nine FM
- Dance Factory
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WDEK
- Radio Locator information on WDEK
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