WZUM

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WZUM-AM
WZUM logo
City of license Carnegie, Pennsylvania
Broadcast area Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Branding "Relevant Radio"
Frequency 1590 kHz
First air date 1960
Format Christian radio
Power 1000 Watts daytime
Class D
Former callsigns WPLW, WZUM
Affiliations Relevant Radio
Owner Starboard Broadcasting
Website wzum.relevantradio.com

WZUM (1590 AM) is a radio station in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Relevant Radio Christian network.

[edit] History

WZUM began in the 1960s as an R&B and top 40 station, owned by popular Pittsburgh polka bandleader Jimmy Pol. During the 1970s, WZUM was a freeform AOR outlet from 10:00 am until sunset, (broadcasting polkas in the morning from sunrise). "Powerful" Paul Perry, son of Pittsburgh TV personality Nick Perry, was one of the Free Form disc jockeys; along with Kit Baron, "Laid Back" Larry Allen and Mark Wallace. WZUM switched to religious programming under the WPLW callsign in 1974 after its purchase by Robert Hickling. In 1998, following Hickling's death, it was sold to Pittsburgh area broadcaster Mike Horvath and returned to WZUM, changing to smooth jazz, but went dark after just one year with the format. The station later returned after a major transmitter and studio overhaul with time-brokered programming, then oldies, with Catholic programming added in 2002. Upon purchase of the station, Starboard converted it to 100% Catholic programming.

Recently, WZUM applied for an upgrade to its signal, which will give the station minimal night power.

[edit] External links