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WFNK

From Wikipedia, in a visual modern way
WFNK
WFNK 107.5 Frank FM logo.png
Broadcast areaPortland Metropolitan Area
Frequency107.5 MHz
Branding107.5 Frank FM
Programming
FormatClassic hits
Ownership
Owner
WBQQ, WHXR, WTHT
History
First air date
March 1, 1973; 50 years ago (1973-03-01)
Former call signs
WBLM (1973–1989)
WTHT (1989–2004)
Call sign meaning
Frank
Technical information
Facility ID65675
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT283 meters (928 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
44°0′12″N 70°25′24″W / 44.00333°N 70.42333°W / 44.00333; -70.42333
Links
WebcastListen live
Website1075frank.com

WFNK (107.5 FM) – branded Frank 107.5 – is a commercial classic hits radio station licensed to serve Lewiston, Maine. Owned by Binnie Media, the station services the Portland metropolitan area.[1] WFNK has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, broadcasting from a transmitter in Poland, Maine, making it among the highest-powered FM stations in New England. Some WFNK programming is also heard on sister station WBQX in Thomaston, Maine, which also calls itself Frank FM.

WFNK is classified as a classic hits station, but it leans more toward classic rock. Core artists played include The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Bruce Springsteen, but the station avoids more pop-leaning artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince. Once a year, WFNK has a 1,000-song countdown of the greatest Frank FM songs, ending with the #1 song on Memorial Day. The station also plays its classic hits library from A to Z every September. WFNK is also known for its long-running campaigns in support of Portland's Barbara Bush Children's Hospital and Maine's Make-a-Wish chapter.

Discover more about WFNK related topics

FM broadcasting

FM broadcasting

FM broadcasting is the method of radio broadcasting that uses frequency modulation (FM). Invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong, wide-band FM is used worldwide to transmit high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. FM broadcasting offers higher fidelity—more accurate reproduction of the original program sound—than other broadcasting techniques, such as AM broadcasting. It is also less susceptible to common forms of interference, having less static and popping sounds than are often heard on AM. Therefore, FM is used for most broadcasts of music and general audio. FM radio stations use the very high frequency range of radio frequencies.

Frank FM

Frank FM

Frank FM is the branding used by Binnie Media for its radio stations airing a classic hits radio format. The Frank FM format is similar to the Jack FM format in that these stations play around 1000 songs in regular rotation at any time as opposed to the average number of 300 to 600 songs heard regularly on most commercial radio stations. However, Frank FM playlists otherwise resemble other classic hits stations rather than that of variety hits stations.

Classic hits

Classic hits

Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes songs from the top 40 music charts from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, with music from the 1980s serving as the core of the format. Music that was popularized by MTV in the early 1980s and the nostalgia behind it is a major driver to the format. It is considered the successor to the oldies format, a collection of top 40 songs from the late 1950s through the late 1970s that was once extremely popular in the United States and Canada. The term is sometimes incorrectly used as a synonym for the adult hits format, which uses a slightly newer music library stretching from all decades to the present with a major focus on 1990s and 2000s pop, rock and alternative songs. In addition, adult hits stations tend to have larger playlists, playing a given song only a few times per week, compared to the tighter libraries on classic hits stations. For example, KRTH, a classic hits station in Los Angeles, and KLUV, a classic hits station in Dallas, both play power songs up to 30 times a week or more, which is another differentiator compared to other formats that share songs with classic hits libraries.

Lewiston, Maine

Lewiston, Maine

Lewiston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Maine and the most central city in Androscoggin County. The city lies halfway between Augusta, the state's capital, and Portland, the state's most populous city. It is one-half of the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Statistical Area, commonly referred to as "L/A." or "L-A." Lewiston exerts a significant impact upon the diversity, religious variety, commerce, education, and economic power of Maine. It is known for an overall low cost of living, substantial access to medical care, and a low violent-crime rate. In recent years, the City of Lewiston has also seen a spike in economic and social growth. While the dominant language spoken in the city is English, it is home to a significant Somali population as well as the largest French-speaking population in the United States while it is second to St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, in percentage of speakers.

Maine

Maine

Maine is the easternmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and northwest, respectively. The largest state by total area in New England, Maine is the 12th-smallest by area, the 9th-least populous, the 13th-least densely populated, and the most rural of the 50 U.S. states. It is also the northeasternmost among the contiguous United States, the northernmost state east of the Great Lakes, the only state whose name consists of a single syllable, and the only state to border exactly one other U.S. state. Approximately half the area of Maine lies on each side of the 45th parallel north in latitude. The most populous city in Maine is Portland, while its capital is Augusta.

Portland metropolitan area, Maine

Portland metropolitan area, Maine

The city of Portland, Maine, is the hub city of a metropolitan area in southern Maine, United States. The region is commonly known as Greater Portland or the Portland metropolitan area. For statistical purposes, the U.S. federal government defines three different representations of the Portland metropolitan area. The Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine, metropolitan statistical area is a region consisting of three counties in Maine, anchored by the city of Portland and the smaller cities of South Portland and Biddeford. As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 514,098. A larger combined statistical area (CSA), the Portland–Lewiston–South Portland combined statistical area, is defined as the combination of this metropolitan statistical area (MSA) with the adjacent Lewiston–Auburn MSA. The CSA comprises four counties in southern Maine. The Portland–South Portland metropolitan New England city and town area is defined on the basis of cities and towns rather than entire counties. It consists of most of Cumberland and York counties plus the town of Durham in Androscoggin County. The Greater Portland area has emerged as an important center for the creative economy, which is also bringing gentrification.

Effective radiated power

Effective radiated power

Effective radiated power (ERP), synonymous with equivalent radiated power, is an IEEE standardized definition of directional radio frequency (RF) power, such as that emitted by a radio transmitter. It is the total power in watts that would have to be radiated by a half-wave dipole antenna to give the same radiation intensity as the actual source antenna at a distant receiver located in the direction of the antenna's strongest beam. ERP measures the combination of the power emitted by the transmitter and the ability of the antenna to direct that power in a given direction. It is equal to the input power to the antenna multiplied by the gain of the antenna. It is used in electronics and telecommunications, particularly in broadcasting to quantify the apparent power of a broadcasting station experienced by listeners in its reception area.

Poland, Maine

Poland, Maine

Poland is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,906 at the 2020 census. Set among rolling hills and numerous lakes, the town is home to Range Ponds State Park, which includes hiking trails and a pristine freshwater beach. Poland is also a historic resort area. It is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan statistical area, which itself is part of the Greater Portland-Lewiston Combined Statistical Area.

Classic rock

Classic rock

Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid-1990s, primarily focusing on commercially successful blues rock and hard rock popularized in the 1970s AOR format. The radio format became increasingly popular with the baby boomer demographic by the end of the 1990s.

Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band, formed in London in 1967. Fleetwood Mac were founded by guitarists and vocalists Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer and drummer Mick Fleetwood. Bob Brunning was hired as a temporary bass guitarist before John McVie joined the line-up in time for their eponymous debut album. Danny Kirwan joined as a third guitarist and vocalist in 1968. Keyboardist and vocalist Christine Perfect, who contributed as a session musician starting with the band's second album while she was a member of Chicken Shack, married McVie and joined Fleetwood Mac as a full member in 1970, becoming known as Christine McVie.

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums during a career spanning six decades, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. He is an originator of heartland rock, a genre combining mainstream rock music with poetic and socially conscious lyrics that tell a narrative about working-class American life. Nicknamed "The Boss", he is known for his lyrics and energetic concerts, with performances that can last more than four hours.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture. Jackson influenced artists across many music genres; through stage and video performances, he popularized complicated dance moves such as the moonwalk, to which he gave the name, as well as the robot.

History

On March 1, 1973, a station at 107.5 MHz first signed on in Lewiston as WBLM.[2] It was owned by the Stereo Corporation, which owned no other stations. WBLM "The Blimp" was a progressive rock station, staffed by young disc jockeys playing a mostly free form radio format, in contrast to tightly programmed radio found on the AM dial. DJs were given the freedom to choose whatever rock albums they wanted to play and discuss topics in music, politics and lifestyles they felt motivated to cover. Over time, the station moved to a more structured album rock sound. In the 1980s, it was acquired by the Fuller-Jeffery Company, with longtime Maine broadcaster J. J. Jeffrey serving as co-owner and vice president.[3]

In December 1989, WBLM switched call signs and frequencies with WTHT and became "Thunder 107", airing a contemporary hit radio format. WTHT's next format was oldies, and a few years later, went country, first as "New Country WTHT 107.5", and then "107-5 The Wolf." In 2004, WTHT was acquired by Nassau Broadcasting Partners, which had big plans for the station.[4]

Since its founding, the station was hard to hear in parts of Portland and its suburbs, due to its 30,000-watt tower located 25 miles north of Maine's largest city. Nassau Broadcasting worked to give the station a major power boost, going from a Class B to Class C FM outlet. Power was increased to the maximum permitted in the U.S. under current guidelines, 100,000 watts. The tower height was also increased from 630 feet (190 m) to 928 feet (283 m). This gave the station a coverage area ranging from Biddeford and Sanford to the south, to Augusta and Rumford in the north.

The Original Logo of 107.5 Frank FM, used from its launch on April 6, 2004 until April 1, 2020.
The Original Logo of 107.5 Frank FM, used from its launch on April 6, 2004 until April 1, 2020.

On April 6, 2004, WTHT began running a continuous recorded loop directing listeners to 99.9 FM, where "The Wolf" was relocated. A week later, WTHT switched to a classic hits format as WFNK "Frank FM." The station launch was backed by numerous TV commercials and other promotions, with WFNK quickly becoming a ratings success in the Portland radio market.

When it was launched, WFNK began jockless and commercial-free in the spring of 2004. Personalities were added by fall, including longtime morning host Bill Fox, midday DJ Chrissy Cavotta, and afternoon drive DJ Jim Kenton. Kenton was replaced by Leif Erickson in 2005, and Cavotta departed for WFLY in Albany, New York, in 2006. Heidi Knight became morning co-host in 2008, and Program Director Stan Bennett replaced Fox in the morning slot in 2010. Other morning co-hosts included market veterans Joe Lerman, Teddy McKay and Rick Johnson. The late Mike "Roberts" Tibbetts served as evening host for many years. Mark Persky, formerly of WBLM, had a short stint on the morning show as well. Local music blogger Holly Nunan joined on middays in 2015. WFNK had been hosted by all local personalities since its launch, but with other co-owned Frank FM stations around New England, management decided to have some DJs heard on other Frank stations.

On May 22, 2012, WFNK, along with 16 other stations in Northern New England formerly owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners, was purchased at bankruptcy auction by WBIN Media Company, a company controlled by Bill Binnie. Binnie already owned WBIN-TV in Derry, New Hampshire.[5][6] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[7]

Former WEEI sports host Mikey Adams began hosting afternoons on WFNK via co-owned WFNQ in Nashua, New Hampshire in late 2016, moving longtime host Leif Erickson to evenings;[8][9][10] Erickson later returned to the afternoon drive time slot.

Discover more about History related topics

Progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Initially termed "progressive pop", the style was an outgrowth of psychedelic bands who abandoned standard pop traditions in favour of instrumentation and compositional techniques more frequently associated with jazz, folk, or classical music. Additional elements contributed to its "progressive" label: lyrics were more poetic, technology was harnessed for new sounds, music approached the condition of "art", and the studio, rather than the stage, became the focus of musical activity, which often involved creating music for listening rather than dancing.

Disc jockey

Disc jockey

A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs, club DJs, mobile DJs, and turntablists. Originally, the "disc" in "disc jockey" referred to shellac and later vinyl records, but nowadays DJ is used as an all-encompassing term to also describe persons who mix music from other recording media such as cassettes, CDs or digital audio files on a CDJ, controller, or even a laptop. DJs may adopt the title "DJ" in front of their real names, adopted pseudonyms, or stage names.

J. J. Jeffrey

J. J. Jeffrey

J.J. Jeffrey is an American radio executive and a former prominent Top 40 disc jockey. His work aired on United States' rock-and-roll stations during the 1960s and 1970s.

Contemporary hit radio

Contemporary hit radio

Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts. There are several subcategories, dominantly focusing on rock, pop, or urban music. Used alone, CHR most often refers to the CHR-pop format. The term contemporary hit radio was coined in the early 1980s by Radio & Records magazine to designate Top 40 stations which continued to play hits from all musical genres as pop music splintered into Adult contemporary, Urban contemporary, Contemporary Christian and other formats.

Oldies

Oldies

Oldies is a term for musical genres such as pop music, rock and roll, doo-wop, surf music from the second half of the 20th century, specifically from around the mid-1950s to the 1980s, as well as for a radio format playing this music.

Country music

Country music

Country is a music genre originating in the Southern and Southwestern United States. First produced in the 1920s, country primarily focuses on working class Americans and blue-collar American life.

Nassau Broadcasting Partners

Nassau Broadcasting Partners

Nassau Broadcasting Partners LP was a company based in Princeton, New Jersey that owned radio stations in New England and the Mid-Atlantic United States. Nassau's stations, which included both AM and FM frequencies, were located in Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company was owned and headed by Louis F. Mercatanti. Nassau was predominantly an operator of radio stations in medium and small markets. Nassau formerly owned radio station WCRB in Waltham, a Boston suburb, and located in the Boston market, the 11th largest radio market in the US, according to BIA Financial Network. However that station was sold to WGBH in 2009. Nassau operated radio stations in substantially all of the major formats. The company's most common format was classic rock/classic hits. On October 13, 2011 Nassau Broadcasting entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after their senior lenders petitioned for an involuntary Chapter 7 liquidation in September. The stations were auctioned to various bidders in May 2012 subject to bankruptcy judge and FCC approval. Nassau's last station, WPLY in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, lost its license in 2014 after having shut down in 2011.

List of North American broadcast station classes

List of North American broadcast station classes

This is a list of broadcast station classes applicable in much of North America under international agreements between the United States, Canada and Mexico. Effective radiated power (ERP) and height above average terrain (HAAT) are listed unless otherwise noted.

Biddeford, Maine

Biddeford, Maine

Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the 2020 census. The twin cities of Saco and Biddeford include the resort communities of Biddeford Pool and Fortunes Rocks. The town is the site of the University of New England and the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival. First visited by Europeans in 1616, it is the site of one of the earliest European settlements in the United States. It is home to Saint Joseph's Church, the tallest building in Maine.

Augusta, Maine

Augusta, Maine

Augusta is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Kennebec County.

Frank FM

Frank FM

Frank FM is the branding used by Binnie Media for its radio stations airing a classic hits radio format. The Frank FM format is similar to the Jack FM format in that these stations play around 1000 songs in regular rotation at any time as opposed to the average number of 300 to 600 songs heard regularly on most commercial radio stations. However, Frank FM playlists otherwise resemble other classic hits stations rather than that of variety hits stations.

Classic hits

Classic hits

Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes songs from the top 40 music charts from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, with music from the 1980s serving as the core of the format. Music that was popularized by MTV in the early 1980s and the nostalgia behind it is a major driver to the format. It is considered the successor to the oldies format, a collection of top 40 songs from the late 1950s through the late 1970s that was once extremely popular in the United States and Canada. The term is sometimes incorrectly used as a synonym for the adult hits format, which uses a slightly newer music library stretching from all decades to the present with a major focus on 1990s and 2000s pop, rock and alternative songs. In addition, adult hits stations tend to have larger playlists, playing a given song only a few times per week, compared to the tighter libraries on classic hits stations. For example, KRTH, a classic hits station in Los Angeles, and KLUV, a classic hits station in Dallas, both play power songs up to 30 times a week or more, which is another differentiator compared to other formats that share songs with classic hits libraries.

Source: "WFNK", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, March 7th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFNK.

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Further Reading

WXLF

WBACH

WHXR

WLNH-FM

WTHT

WBQX

WNNH

WBAK

WPOR

WFNQ

WNHW

WYNZ

WBYA

WEMJ

WRFK (FM)
References
  1. ^ "WFNK Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1974 page B-94
  3. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1988 page B-127
  4. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2005 page D-249
  5. ^ "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  6. ^ "WBIN Media acquires 17 N.E. radio stations". New Hampshire Union Leader. May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  7. ^ Kitch, Michael (December 1, 2012). "Binnie closes on purchase of WLNH". Laconia Daily Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  8. ^ "107.5 Frank - Portlands' #1 for Classic Hits". 2005-02-20. Archived from the original on 2005-02-20. Retrieved 2017-02-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "107.5 Frank FM Portland #1 for classic Hits". 2010-11-19. Archived from the original on 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2017-02-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ "Mike Adams returning to radio - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
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