WJMC (AM)
| |
| Broadcast area | Rice Lake-Spooner |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1240 kHz |
| Branding | 1240 WJMC |
| Programming | |
| Format | MOR/News/Talk |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks Milwaukee Brewers Radio Network Milwaukee Bucks Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | TKC, Inc. |
| WJMC-FM, WAQE (AM), WAQE-FM, WKFX | |
| History | |
First air date | 1938 |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 67196 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000 watts unlimited |
Transmitter coordinates | 45°30′31.00″N 91°46′26.00″W / 45.5086111°N 91.7738889°W |
| Translator | 96.5 W243ED (Rice Lake) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wjmcradio.com |
WJMC (1240 kHz) is an AM radio station broadcasting a full-service format of middle of the road music, news, and talk.[2] Licensed to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, United States, the station serves the Rice Lake-Spooner area. The station is currently owned by TKC, Inc. and features programming from Premiere Networks.[3] The station serves as a primary regional affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Wisconsin Badgers radio networks.[4]
History
WJMC is the heritage radio station of the Rice Lake area, having first signed on the air in 1938.[5] The station was established by the McGenty brothers, Walter and James, whose initials are reflected in the call sign (W. J. Mc.).[6] In its early decades, WJMC functioned as a "full-service" outlet, providing a mix of live ethnic music, church services, and community-focused "barn dance" programs.[7]
The station’s ownership history began with the McGenty brothers before it was acquired by the Janesville Gazette printing company, which operated the station as part of its media holdings for several decades. In 1989, Tom Koser purchased WJMC from the Bliss family (the owners of the Janesville Gazette), making it the foundation of the Koser Radio Group.[8] Under the leadership of Koser's company, TKC, Inc., the station remained a family-run operation for over 30 years, during which it expanded its local presence by acquiring competitors like WAQE.[9] In June 2023, a significant transition occurred when Armada Media reached an agreement to acquire the entire Rice Lake station cluster from TKC, Inc. for approximately $4.95 million, bringing the station under the management of AMC Partners Rice Lake LLC.[10]
To supplement its AM signal, the station broadcasts on an FM translator, W243ED, at 96.5 MHz, which allows listeners to receive its full-service programming on the FM dial.[11]
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WJMC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Summer 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009.
- ^ "WJMC Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ "Brewers Radio Network Affiliates". MLB.com. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ "History of Rice Lake". Rice Lake Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ "Local Radio Spotlight: Koser Radio Group". Radio World. December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ "Preface: Traditional Music in Wisconsin" (PDF). University of Wisconsin–Madison. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ "Local Radio Spotlight: Koser Radio Group". Radio World. December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ "Armada Buys Radio Group in Northwestern Wisconsin". NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting. June 26, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ "Armada Adds With Rice Lake Radio Properties". Radio & Television Business Report. June 29, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ "WJMC Facility Data". REC Networks. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
External links
- FCC History Cards for WJMC
- Facility details for Facility ID 67196 (WJMC) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WJMC in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 200356 (W243ED) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W243ED at FCCdata.org