1440 WMKM Inkster off the air

[Colonel Flagg]

I noticed WMKM is off the air today. I wonder what's going on? Seems odd for a station that plays gospel music (among other things) to be silent on Sunday.

Not even a dead carrier. The co-owned Chicagoland AM has been in receivership for awhile. Something might be up with this...I wouldn't want to rebuild 2 six tower arrays that sit side by side. Studios are where WJZZ used to be, on the boulevard. Haven't been by there in awhile.

[SolarMax]

Studios are where WJZZ used to be, on the boulevard. Haven't been by there in awhile.

Bell Broadcasting's WCHB, which occupied 1440 for many years, originated from there as well. It vied for the R&B audience with WJLB, which then was on 1400.
WJZZ had formerly been WCHD.

[Colonel Flagg]

Studios are where WJZZ used to be, on the boulevard. Haven't been by there in awhile.

Bell Broadcasting's WCHB, which occupied 1440 for many years, originated from there as well. It vied for the R&B audience with WJLB, which then was on 1400.
WJZZ had formerly been WCHD.

Yes, I am old enough to remember all of that

WJZZ is missed by many. What a treasure that station was.

WCHB was the first station in Detroit to go all Disco, only to get creamed by FM upstart WLBS shortly thereafter.

[MWmetalhead]

There are great extended off air recordings of WJZZ, Jazz 106, on YouTube. I have liked what I've heard.

The station was frequently top 5 in Men 25 to 54 until V98.7 came on the scene.

Within the past week, I sampled a few WLTI airchecks from YouTube. Yuck. That station sounded dull, lifeless and low budget, even during "the new Lite FM" reboot toward the end. W-Lite in Grand Rapids during that era was a much better sounding radio station.

[windsorjoe]

Just turned it on myTuner radio and it’s broadcasting.

[billmich88888]

that would be streaming, .... doesn't mean that AM 1440 is broadcasting

[Marcus]

Jazz 106 used to get higher ratings than Classical 105. In 1996 many listeners switched over to V 98.7 and that was the last year for Jazz 106.

[Colonel Flagg]

Jazz 106 used to get higher ratings than Classical 105. In 1996 many listeners switched over to V 98.7 and that was the last year for Jazz 106.

Most jazz efficianados would find that comparison offensive

Pat Frisco, the jazz guy at WHFR certainly would.

As for WMKM, the day and night DA's are only slightly different. The problem must be transmitter related, because it seems to me that they could *maybe* operate on the night pattern under STA if there was an issue with the daytime DA. WBRB is long gone, so that only leaves WHLS and the 1440 in Bay City to protect. I'd bet the transmitter is kaput, and the backup was probably kaput long ago. Just a guess, of course.

[edj]

I drove near the towers in Romulus earlier, and there’s still nothing, even at very low power.

Speaking of WJZZ, I was never into jazz in my younger years, so I never listened. My older self enjoys it on occasion, and the station would have been a “change of pace” spot on the presets.

[MWmetalhead]

WMKM's signal has long been pitiful, and listener usage of AM radio in general continues to diminish. The black gospel audience largely moved to FM years ago when Praise 102.7 came about.

It will be interesting to see if an STA is filed with the FCC soon for the station to remain off the air.

There had been approval for an FM translator at 95.1 MHz from one of the 10 Mile Rd or 8 Mile Rd sites, but that station never signed on. I am unsure if that CP has expired.

[Ben Zonia]

Most jazz afficianados would find that comparison offensive

And vice versa.

Most stations seem to have some oscillator level pass through that is radiated through the antenna system. In the parking lot of two diplexed AM stations, both off the air, I measured one at about 5 mV/m and the other at 10 uV/m, so there is considerable variation in the pass through.

[edj]

It's back on. Hooray.

Even with that, WLEC Sandusky, OH is booming in. Must be atmosphere.

[Colonel Flagg]

It's back on. Hooray.

Even with that, WLEC Sandusky, OH is booming in. Must be atmosphere.

At least WMKM has some paid programs that are entertaining. My favorite, as I probably mentioned here before, is the Italian guy from Dearborn Heights (of all places) who offers to come to your home and sing opera "I will entertain your guests at your dinner party"

An honorable mention goes to the lady insurance agent from Eastpointe, who plays gospel and soul music, with the State Farm "Like a good neighbor..." jingle between every song.

As sad as it may be, it's better than hearing Bon Jovi or Bryan Adams one more time.

[MWmetalhead]

That sounds far more entertaining than anything WJR offers these days. LOL

I cannot pick up WMKM over the air in my area. I'm very much in one of their pattern nulls