WZLO

WZLO (103.1 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting an adult album alternative format. Licensed to Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, the station serves the Bangor area. It is also broadcast on 98.3 in Bangor using an FM translator. The studios and offices are in Bangor, while the transmitter is off Route 15 in Charleston, Maine.[1]

WZLO
CityDover-Foxcroft, Maine
Broadcast areaBangor, Maine
Frequency103.1 MHz
Branding103.1 WZLO
SloganMaine's Adult Alternative
Programming
FormatAdult album alternative
Ownership
OwnerThe Zone Corporation
Sister stationsWKIT-FM, WZON
History
First air dateNovember 1980 (as WDME-FM)
Former call signsWDME-FM (1980–2009)
WZON-FM (2009–2012)
Call sign meaningW Z LOft
Technical information
Facility ID12882
ClassA
ERP1,500 watts
HAAT204 meters (669 ft)
Transmitter coordinates45°05′37.8″N 69°04′57.8″W
Translator(s)98.3 MHz (W252CT - Bangor)
Links
Websitewww.wzlofm.com

The station is owned by The Zone Corporation, the broadcast company owned by authors Tabitha and Stephen King.[2] The Kings also own 100.3 WKIT-FM and AM 620 WZON.

History

The station signed on in November 1980 as WDME-FM, simulcasting the middle-of-the-road format of its sister station 1340 AM WDME, which had begun on August 13, 1967.[3][4] The call sign stood for the home city of Dover, MainE.

The AM station was closed down, and its license allowed to expire in 1991, for economic reasons.[5] WDME-FM continued as a stand-alone FM station, airing an eclectic adult contemporary sound.

Under its previous ownership, WDME-FM referred to itself on-air as, "The only radio station in the world broadcasting from a railroad passenger car." WDME's studios were located in a converted Amtrak coach formerly situated beside Routes 6 and 15 to the north and west of Dover-Foxcroft. The station was known for its folksy portrayal of rural culture in the north woods of Maine. It featured locally-known personalities such as John Simcoe and Paul Knaut.

WDME was purchased by The Zone Corporation in 2001. Gradually, the station changed to an adult album alternative format. It later switched to a simulcast of AM 620 WZON, a sports radio station, in 2009. The WZON-FM call letters was adopted on August 27.[6]

WZON-FM switched to a progressive talk format on January 4, 2010.[7] The station also carried Boston Red Sox baseball, along with AM 620. Shortly after WZON AM began simulcasting WZON-FM on November 1, 2010, Sox games were moved exclusively to the AM station (which previously shared the broadcasts with WDME/WZON-FM). WZON-FM began stunting with Christmas music in November 2012, with the previous format moving exclusively to WZON AM. The call letters were changed to WZLO on November 23,[6] and the station returned to an adult album alternative format, branded as "103.1 WZLO," on December 26, 2012.

References
  1. Radio-Locator.com/WZLO
  2. "WZLO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1981 (PDF). 1981. p. C-104. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  4. Fybush, Scott. "Maine Radio History, 1971–1996". Archives @ BostonRadio.org. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  5. Neff, Andrew (November 12, 1993). "Hirsch sells Dover-Foxcroft radio station". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  6. "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  7. Hayward, Meghan (December 31, 2009). "WZON 103.1 New Format". WABI TV5. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
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