Artistic Media Partners
| Industry | Entertainment |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Indianapolis, IN |
Key people | Arthur A. Angotti, CEO & President |
| Products | radio |
| Website | www.artisticradio.com |
Artistic Media owns 14 radio stations in 4 markets in Indiana. Artistic Media Partners, Inc (formerly University Broadcasting Company) was formed on June 23, 1987.
History
Originally founded in 1986 as Broadcast Management Inc. the company owned radio station WXCX-AM/WXCX-FM in Columbus Indiana along with WMDH-AM/WMDH-FM in New Bedford Indiana. For a very short time in the 90's the company also owned WWKI-FM in Kokomo which sold the group to Wilks Broadcasting. The company changed names in 1987 as University Broadcasting Company when purchasing WAZY-AM/WAZY-FM. In 1993 University Broadcasting retained the company name in Lafayette and its new market of Bloomington Indiana where they purchased WGCT-FM and WBWB-FM from Oasis Radio while the rest of the company was renamed under the Artisic Media Partners banner. In 1995, the entire company became Artistic Media and the sale of Columbus Indiana and New Bedford Indiana stations took place.
In 1996 Artistic Media Partners purchased a radio station in Attica Indiana moving it to nearby Lafayette and in 1998 purchased WNDU-AM/WNDU-FM from Notre Dame and WLEZ-FM from Bomar Broadcasting to give them additional properties in South Bend and Lafayette Indiana. In 2002 Artistic Media Partners purchased radio stations in South Bend and Fort Wayne and continued to grow the company during this time.
When radio station sales became hot again in 2007, Artistic Media Partners sold WBTU-FM along with WSHY-FM to Oasis Radio who still owns both Fort Wayne stations to this day.
Bloomington Indiana
96.7 WBWB MAINSTREAM TOP 40 Radio Station WBWB was founded by Russ Oasis in 1979 as the markets only Top 40 Format. In 1993 the radio station was purchased by Artistic Media Partners and has remained with the company since. WBWB
105.1 WHCC COUNTRY
Radio Station WHCC signed on in 1989 as Top 40 WBCC serving Bloomington and owned by Bloomington Radio Partners Inc. In 1991, Russ Oasis purchased the radio station to form a cluster with currently owned WBWB which turned Top 40 and reformatting WGCT with a Country Format known as Cat Country 105. In 1993 Artistic Media Partners purchased the radio station changing the call letters to WHCC and renamed to Hoosier Country 105.1 WHCC
Lafayette Indiana
95.3 WBPE ADULT HITS
Radio Station WBPE signed on as Active Rock "LAZER 95" under the ownership of William Sharpe Inc. Shortly thereafter, Karson Jacobs Media purchased the radio station and changed the calls to WKJM with an AC format. In 1989 95.3 would become Top 40 to compete with WAZY until 1991 when it was purchased by Bomar Broadcasting. Bomar changed the station to WEZV with a Beautiful Music format simulcasting sister WMRI Marion Indiana. In 1998 University Broadcasting purchased the radio station moving it to Lafayette and flipping it to country as WLFF. The station remained country for many years until its flip to the current WBPE in 2007. WBPE
95.7 WSHP CLASSIC HITS
Radio Station WSHP signed on in 1988 as WBQR carrying an anything block programming format. In 1994 the radio station was purchased by University Broadcasting moving it to Lafayette as WGBD "Country Big Dog 95.7". In 1996 the radio station was flipped to a more younger appealing Alternative Rock format complimenting sister WAZY-FM and was ranked the highest rated rock station in the country. In March 2001, the station changed call letters and formats to Classic Rock as WSHP 95.7 The Rocket. WSHP
96.5 WAZY MAINSTREAM TOP 40
Radio Station WAZY signed on as the first FM Top 40 station under the ownership of Todd Storz (the father of Top 40). After various sales to owners such as Westinghouse, Hillebrand Toledo, Peoria Star Journal and Fischer Communications the station remained true to the Top 40 roots making it the longest running station of that format in the country. In 1980 Lightfoot Broadcasting of Connecticut purchased the radio station and eventually sold the sister AM radio station to a local church. In 1987 University Broadcasting purchased both radio stations in the community and has owned them since. WAZY
South Bend Indiana
1490 WDND SPORTS/TALK
Radio Station WDND signed on in 1947 as WNDU-AM owned by Notre Dame University. For many years the station simulcasted sister WNDU-FM and carried local mass services along with various Notre Dame events. In 1998 the college agreed to sell both the AM/FM to Artistic Media Partners when they had to switch the call letters to WNDV-AM/FM. The simulcast remained until Fall of 2006 when 1490 became WDND Sports Radio. WDND
1620 WPNT NEWS/TALK
Radio Station WPNT signed on in 1998 as WJVA simulcasting sister oldies outlet WHLY as Hollywood Radio AM. In 2006 1620 switched to its own format as Soft AC or known as Love Songs 1620 which switched again only a few short months later. The new format which remains today is CNN Radio News. WPNT
92.9 WNDV MAINSTREAM TOP 40
One of America's most legendary radio stations signed on in 1962 to simulcast sister AM station WNDU owned by Notre Dame University. Airing the beautiful music format until 1981 when they changed formats to Top 40. Being owned by the Catholic Church, the format remained very conservative in its hosts and playlist until being sold to Artistic Media Partners in 1998. The station changed call letters to WNDV because of the sale however retained the slogan "U93". WNDV
97.7 WZOW ROCK
Signed on in 1977 as WKAM-FM and simulcasted sister WKAM-FM owned by Northern Indiana Broadcasters. In 1979 the station changed to a rock format and call letters became WZOW-FM. In 1998 both stations were sold to VanHawke - Johnson Communications who kept the individual formats and sold both to Artistic Media Partners in 2002 where the format changed to Classic Rock simulcasting then 102.3 WGTC. In 2005 the station segued back to a mainstream rock format playing all genres of Rock oriented programming. WZOW
102.3 WSMM ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Signed on in 1991 as WGTC-FM by Summit Broadcasting (primary owners are now part of Gurley Leep car dealerships). The station aired a Contemporary Country format as "Cat Country 102.3" until the lease with LeSea Broadcasting who changed the format to Contemporary Christian. In 2002, Summit Broadcasting sold 102.3 to Artistic Media Partners who changed the format to Classic Rock simulcasting 97.7 WZOW. In 2003, Artistic changed the format again to a soft AC format as WWLV simulcasting then sister AM station 1580. This simulcast didn't last long as they paired again with 97.7 until splitting apart in 2008. The station currently airs Waitt Radio Networks Adult Contemporary Format as 102.3 The Stream. WSMM