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{{Infobox radio station|
{{Infobox radio station
name = WMMO |
| name = WMMO
| logo = WMMO_Orlando_2015.jpg
image = |
city = [[Orlando, Florida]]|
| logo_size = 220px
area = [[Greater Orlando]] |
| city = [[Orlando, Florida]]
| area = [[Greater Orlando]]
branding = 98-9 WMMO|
| branding = ''98.9 WMMO''
slogan = ''Soft Rock and Roll of Yesterday and Today''|
⚫
| frequency = 98.9 MHz {{HD Radio}}
airdate = 1990|
| airdate = August 19, 1990 (as WEZO)
⚫
frequency = 98.9 [[Megahertz|MHz]] {{HD Radio}}|
format = [[Adult Hits]]/Rock AC |
| format = [[Classic hits]]/[[Classic rock]]
sister_stations = [[WCFB]], [[WDBO]], [[WHTQ]], [[WPYO]], [[WWKA]]<br>''part of Cox cluster with TV station [[WFTV]]''|
| sister_stations = [[WCFB]], [[WDBO (AM)|WDBO]], [[WOEX]], [[WWKA]]<br>''part of Cox cluster with TV station [[WFTV]]''
erp = 44,000 [[watt]]s|
| erp = 44,000 [[watt]]s
haat = 159 meters|
| haat = 159 meters (522 ft)
class = C2|
| class = C2
facility_id = 23444|
| facility_id = 23444
callsign_meaning = May mean '''M'''ore '''M'''usic for '''O'''rlando, though the station took similar call signs from WMMS in Cleveland|
| callsign_meaning = May mean '''M'''ore '''M'''usic for '''O'''rlando, though the station wanted a call sign similar to [[WMMS]] in [[Cleveland]]
former_callsigns = |
| former_callsigns = WURG (1988–1990, CP)<br>WEZO (2/1990-9/1990)
owner = [[Cox Communications]] |
| owner = [[Cox Media Group]]
| licensee = Cox Radio, LLC
webcast = [http://streaming.wmmo.com/_players/coxradio/index.php?callsign=WMMOFM Listen Live]|
website = [http://wmmo.com/ wmmo.com] |
| webcast = [http://www.wmmo.com/stream/ Listen Live]
| website = [http://wmmo.com/ WMMO.com]
| licensing_authority= [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
}}
}}

'''WMMO''' is a [[Cox Radio]] station in [[Orlando, Florida]], broadcasting at 98.9 FM with an [[Adult Hits]] format. The station signed on as WEZO in 1990 before taking its current callsign. Previous owners of this station include [[Infinity Broadcasting]], Granum Communications, and Radio Orlando L.P., a partnership controlled by Jim Martin.
'''WMMO''' (98.9&nbsp;MHz) is a [[Commercial radio|commercial]] [[FM radio|FM]] [[radio station]] in [[Orlando, Florida]]. It is owned by the [[Cox Media Group]], and airs a [[classic hits]] [[radio format]] that leans toward [[classic rock]]. Most songs heard on WMMO were hits from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, on both the [[Top 40]] charts and on the [[Album Rock]] charts. WMMO's studios and offices are located in Orlando on North John Young Parkway (Route 423).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmmo.com/contact-us/|title = WMMO}}</ref> WMMO broadcasts in the [[HD Radio]] format.

The [[transmitter]] tower is off Park Hamilton Boulevard in [[Pine Hills, Florida|Pine Hills]].<ref>[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Wmmo&nav= Radio-Locator.com/WMMO]</ref> The site is shared with [[WTLN (AM)|WTLN]], owned by the [[Salem Media Group]].


==History==
==History==
===Early years===
WMMO signed on August 19, 1990 as one of only two radio stations in the world broadcasting from a fully enclosed transmit antenna. The station broadcast from the top of Orlando's SunBank Center (now the SunTrust Center), Orlando's tallest building. When Cox Communications purchased WMMO and WHTQ, the station moved to WHTQ's former tower in [[Pine Hills, Florida|Pine Hills]] for better coverage. This was the original planned location for WMMO's transmitter, but a breakdown in negotiations with WHTQ's former owner, John Tenaglia, forced the change of location to SunBank Center. The station derives its call letters from [[WMMS]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio]]. The founding programmer and chief engineer, Cary Pall, was reported to have been a fan of WMMS, and secured the call letters to honor the longtime Cleveland rock station.<ref>[http://www.cflradio.net/98.9_WMMO_FM.htm WMMO page] on Central Florida Radio. Accessed 24 February 2007.</ref> WMMS and WMMO are owned by different companies, and have been owned by different companies throughout their histories despite several ownership changes for each station. The two stations also feature different radio formats.
[[File:WMMO former logo (August 1990-January 2001).png|thumb|left|200px|Former logo of the radio station used from August 19, 1990 through January 31, 2001]]
In the late 1980s, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) awarded a [[construction permit]] to build a new FM radio station in Orlando to the Urban Broadcasting Corporation. The [[call sign]] '''WURG''' was granted as the station was being built.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1989/B-1%20Radio%20Ala%20to%20Mont%201989-5.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1989 page B-66]</ref>


WMMO is known for its pioneering format, Rock AC, that blended elements of adult contemporary, adult alternative and album rock radio. Its creators sought to bring back a listening experience similar to early FM rock stations of the late 60s and 70s, focusing on music rather than contests and promotions. A popular slogan in its early days was, "if you want to win money, play the lottery." WMMO used a wide ranging playlist of songs from many genres, and its library stretched from the mid 60s to the present day, unlike many stations of its time that focused on small slices of music from specific genres. WMMO also made a promise to always identify songs by title and artist frequently, and to never talk over the music as it played, as many Top 40 stations and DJs like to do. "We love the music as much as you do" was another slogan pioneered by WMMO that has been copied widely in the radio industry ever since.
The station [[sign-on|signed on]] the air on August 19, 1990.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1991/B-Radio-AL-MT-1991-B&W.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1991 page B-72]</ref> It was owned by Radio Orlando and it aired a unique format with a large library, a mix of [[soft rock]], [[adult album alternative]] and [[classic rock]], and was considered to be the first ever example of the "Rock Adult Contemporary" format. Its creators sought to bring back a listening experience similar to early FM rock stations of the late 1960s and 1970s, focusing on music rather than contests and promotions. A popular slogan in its early days was, "if you want to win money, play the lottery."


WMMO used a wide ranging [[playlist]] of songs from many genres. Its library stretched from the mid-1960s to current releases, unlike many stations that focus on small slices of music from specific genres. WMMO also made a promise to always identify songs by title and artist, and to never talk over the music. "We love the music as much as you do" was a slogan the station used during this era.<ref>[http://cflradio.net/98.9_WMMO_FM.htm Central Florida Radio.net/WMMO History]</ref>
90 days after signing on, WMMO was ranked number one in adult listeners in the Orlando market, and was among the ratings leaders in Orlando for its first four years. In the mid 90s, management changed and the station shifted to a more aggressive playlist of new "progressive" music. Ratings fell dramatically until, in 1996, Cox Radio took over and, for the most part, returned the format to its original Rock AC roots. WMMO has regained its leading position in the market ever since.


===Unusual call sign and transmitter location===
In 2008, longtime personalities Jerry Steffen and Jay Francisco were let go. Steffen was at WMMO for 18 years and Francisco for 14 years.
The call letters used at first were '''WEZO'''. After a month on the air, the call sign switched to '''WMMO'''. The station derives its call letters from [[WMMS]] in [[Cleveland]]; the founding programmer and chief engineer, Cary Pall, was a fan of WMMS, and secured the call sign to honor the legendary rock station, even though WMMO's format was not as rock-oriented.<ref>[http://www.cflradio.net/98.9_WMMO_FM.htm CentralFloridaRadio.net/WMMO History Accessed February 24, 2007].</ref>

WMMO was one of only two radio stations in the world broadcasting from a fully enclosed transmitter. WMMO was located at the top of the SunBank Center (now the [[SunTrust Center]]), Orlando's tallest building.<ref>[http://cflradio.net/98.9_WMMO_FM.htm CFLradio.net/WMMO History]</ref> Its [[effective radiated power]] (ERP) was 38,000 [[watt]]s and its antenna was only 439 feet in [[height above average terrain]] (HAAT), while most of the top FM stations in Orlando broadcast at 100,000 watts on towers 1,500 feet or taller. The station's coverage area was limited due to [[WKGR]] in [[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]], which broadcasts on 98.7 FM. Around 2015, WKGR's transmitter was moved about 20 miles south to [[Wellington, Florida|Wellington]], near [[West Palm Beach]]; because of this, WMMO was able to increase its power and antenna height slightly.

===Ownership changes===
In 1991, WMMO was bought by Granam Communications for $8.15 million.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1997/B-Radio-AL-MT-BC-YB-1997.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1997 page B-97]</ref> The station continued its unique playlist of Soft Rock, Adult Album Rock and Classic Rock. In 1997, Granam Communications was acquired by [[Infinity Broadcasting]], later part of [[CBS Radio]]. Infinity quickly spun off WHOO (now [[WTLN (AM)|WTLN]]), WHTQ (now [[WOEX]]) and WMMO to [[Cox Radio]], so the company could acquire [[WCFS-FM|WCKG]] in [[Chicago]].

Cox had plans move WMMO's transmitter to WHTQ's former tower in [[Pine Hills, Florida|Pine Hills]] for better coverage, but a breakdown in negotiations with WHTQ's former owner forced WMMO's transmitter to remain at the SunBank Center/SunTrust Center for several more years.

In 2008, longtime personalities Jerry Steffen and Jay Francisco were let go. Steffen was at WMMO for 18 years and Francisco for 14 years. Francisco was rehired in 2011 for several more years. Also in 2011, longtime morning host Shawn Burke was released after 12 years at WMMO. In 2012, the station abandoned its previous practice of listing the names of all the songs and artists played. The music also became more rock-oriented during these years. In July 2015, WMMO began referring to itself as a [[classic hits]] station in an effort to compete with classic hits outlet [[WOCL]].
Recently, WMMO has moved its music in a direction to become the de facto [[Classic Rock]] station for Orlando.

==DJ Line Up==
*Mornings—Denise Ryan
*Middays—Joe Rock
*Afternoons—Hildi
*Evenings—A.J. Maguire

[[File:WMMO former logo (February 2001-April 2002).png|thumb|left|200px|Former logo of the radio station used from February 2001 through April 2002]]

[[File:WMMO former logo (May 2002-December 2011).png|thumb|200px|left|Former logo of the radio station used from May 2002 through December 2011]]

[[File:WMMO logo.png|thumb|left|200px|Former logo through early 2015.]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
<references />


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://wmmo.com/ 98.9 WMMO]
*{{FM station data|WMMO}}
*{{FM station data|23444|WMMO}}


{{Orlando Radio}}
{{Orlando Radio}}
{{Classic Hits Radio Stations in Florida}}
⚫
{{COX}}
{{Classic Rock Radio Stations in Florida}}
⚫
{{COXMG}}

{{coord|28.574|N|81.463|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}


[[Category:Radio stations in Orlando, Florida|MMO]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wmmo}}
[[Category:Radio stations in Florida|MMO]]
[[Category:Classic hits radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Media in Orlando, Florida]]
[[Category:Classic rock radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Cox Media Group]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1990]]

Latest revision as of 20:42, 24 September 2024

WMMO
Broadcast areaGreater Orlando
Frequency98.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding98.9 WMMO
Programming
FormatClassic hits/Classic rock
Ownership
Owner
WCFB, WDBO, WOEX, WWKA
part of Cox cluster with TV station WFTV
History
First air date
August 19, 1990 (as WEZO)
Former call signs
WURG (1988–1990, CP)
WEZO (2/1990-9/1990)
Call sign meaning
May mean More Music for Orlando, though the station wanted a call sign similar to WMMS in Cleveland
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID23444
ClassC2
ERP44,000 watts
HAAT159 meters (522 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteWMMO.com

WMMO (98.9 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Orlando, Florida. It is owned by the Cox Media Group, and airs a classic hits radio format that leans toward classic rock. Most songs heard on WMMO were hits from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, on both the Top 40 charts and on the Album Rock charts. WMMO's studios and offices are located in Orlando on North John Young Parkway (Route 423).[2] WMMO broadcasts in the HD Radio format.

The transmitter tower is off Park Hamilton Boulevard in Pine Hills.[3] The site is shared with WTLN, owned by the Salem Media Group.

History

[edit]

Early years

[edit]
Former logo of the radio station used from August 19, 1990 through January 31, 2001

In the late 1980s, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) awarded a construction permit to build a new FM radio station in Orlando to the Urban Broadcasting Corporation. The call sign WURG was granted as the station was being built.[4]

The station signed on the air on August 19, 1990.[5] It was owned by Radio Orlando and it aired a unique format with a large library, a mix of soft rock, adult album alternative and classic rock, and was considered to be the first ever example of the "Rock Adult Contemporary" format. Its creators sought to bring back a listening experience similar to early FM rock stations of the late 1960s and 1970s, focusing on music rather than contests and promotions. A popular slogan in its early days was, "if you want to win money, play the lottery."

WMMO used a wide ranging playlist of songs from many genres. Its library stretched from the mid-1960s to current releases, unlike many stations that focus on small slices of music from specific genres. WMMO also made a promise to always identify songs by title and artist, and to never talk over the music. "We love the music as much as you do" was a slogan the station used during this era.[6]

Unusual call sign and transmitter location

[edit]

The call letters used at first were WEZO. After a month on the air, the call sign switched to WMMO. The station derives its call letters from WMMS in Cleveland; the founding programmer and chief engineer, Cary Pall, was a fan of WMMS, and secured the call sign to honor the legendary rock station, even though WMMO's format was not as rock-oriented.[7]

WMMO was one of only two radio stations in the world broadcasting from a fully enclosed transmitter. WMMO was located at the top of the SunBank Center (now the SunTrust Center), Orlando's tallest building.[8] Its effective radiated power (ERP) was 38,000 watts and its antenna was only 439 feet in height above average terrain (HAAT), while most of the top FM stations in Orlando broadcast at 100,000 watts on towers 1,500 feet or taller. The station's coverage area was limited due to WKGR in Fort Pierce, which broadcasts on 98.7 FM. Around 2015, WKGR's transmitter was moved about 20 miles south to Wellington, near West Palm Beach; because of this, WMMO was able to increase its power and antenna height slightly.

Ownership changes

[edit]

In 1991, WMMO was bought by Granam Communications for $8.15 million.[9] The station continued its unique playlist of Soft Rock, Adult Album Rock and Classic Rock. In 1997, Granam Communications was acquired by Infinity Broadcasting, later part of CBS Radio. Infinity quickly spun off WHOO (now WTLN), WHTQ (now WOEX) and WMMO to Cox Radio, so the company could acquire WCKG in Chicago.

Cox had plans move WMMO's transmitter to WHTQ's former tower in Pine Hills for better coverage, but a breakdown in negotiations with WHTQ's former owner forced WMMO's transmitter to remain at the SunBank Center/SunTrust Center for several more years.

In 2008, longtime personalities Jerry Steffen and Jay Francisco were let go. Steffen was at WMMO for 18 years and Francisco for 14 years. Francisco was rehired in 2011 for several more years. Also in 2011, longtime morning host Shawn Burke was released after 12 years at WMMO. In 2012, the station abandoned its previous practice of listing the names of all the songs and artists played. The music also became more rock-oriented during these years. In July 2015, WMMO began referring to itself as a classic hits station in an effort to compete with classic hits outlet WOCL. Recently, WMMO has moved its music in a direction to become the de facto Classic Rock station for Orlando.

DJ Line Up

[edit]
  • Mornings—Denise Ryan
  • Middays—Joe Rock
  • Afternoons—Hildi
  • Evenings—A.J. Maguire
Former logo of the radio station used from February 2001 through April 2002
Former logo of the radio station used from May 2002 through December 2011
Former logo through early 2015.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WMMO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WMMO".
  3. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WMMO
  4. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1989 page B-66
  5. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1991 page B-72
  6. ^ Central Florida Radio.net/WMMO History
  7. ^ CentralFloridaRadio.net/WMMO History Accessed February 24, 2007.
  8. ^ CFLradio.net/WMMO History
  9. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1997 page B-97
[edit]

28°34′26″N 81°27′47″W / 28.574°N 81.463°W / 28.574; -81.463

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