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1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Discussion pertaining to Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Battle Creek, Big Rapids, and Michiana
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MWmetalhead
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by MWmetalhead » Sun Jan 09, 2022 5:32 pm

It was a good run. Some FM commercial station brands cannot survive twelve years! You and your colleagues created memorable programming for your loyal listeners, and for that, I commend all of you. 👍



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Radio Chili
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Location: Way down in the sunny South.

Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by Radio Chili » Mon Jan 10, 2022 12:19 am

A job well done, Bob!

And you closed 'er down with flair. Kudos.

See you in the Spring.



Steve Dirksen
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by Steve Dirksen » Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:55 am

Well Bob, it's been fun to be a part of your magnificent career. But don't call it quits just yet...
Robert "Bob" Sirott is 72,(born August 9, 1949). He is the morning host at WGN-AM in Chicago. He is also a former television news anchor, most recently working in that role at Chicago's WFLD.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Sirot ... 0Sirott%20(born,that%20role%20at%20Chicago's%20WFLD.



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Ben Zonia
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by Ben Zonia » Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:23 pm

Steve Dirksen wrote:
Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:55 am
Well Bob, it's been fun to be a part of your magnificent career. But don't call it quits just yet...
Robert "Bob" Sirott is 72,(born August 9, 1949). He is the morning host at WGN-AM in Chicago. He is also a former television news anchor, most recently working in that role at Chicago's WFLD.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Sirot ... 0Sirott%20(born,that%20role%20at%20Chicago's%20WFLD.
Dick Biondi is 89. John Landecker is 74.


"I had a job for a while as an announcer at WWV but I finally quit, because I couldn't stand the hours."

-Author Unknown

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Musicrewired
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by Musicrewired » Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:47 pm

Thanks for clarifying how the scenario went down. I had suspected that the value of the land being sold was the only real consideration, and the virtue of the public aspect of the station was also the fault of the "not-in-the-broadcasting-business-so-not-too-concerned-about-whether-the-listeners-liked-the-station-or-in-serving-a-market".

That would be why a lame explanation by the station even mentioned competitors playing similar music. If you don't care about your station any longer, you don't believe in it enough to say that your station is better than anyone else in the format. Non-radio ownership (investment groups as opposed to broadcasting companies) only really cares about profits, and public radio is beholden to the university and all financial considerations it has.

Nonetheless, RealOldies existed and we enjoyed it, realizing how rare a station it was. Here's a toast to you and your co-workers who knew what really should have happened, but did great work in spite of those who cared about other objectives. Those in radio know having a chance to say farewell doesn't always happen.

And still, no media outlet around GR ever mentioned RealOldies 1480's demise.
Last edited by Musicrewired on Tue Jan 11, 2022 7:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.



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MWmetalhead
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by MWmetalhead » Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:59 am

Great post; beautifully stated!



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Musicrewired
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by Musicrewired » Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:08 pm

Thanks. I'm still sore about the school tossing away the stations, but that disappointment isn't much different than any time I saw management or ownership take a good thing and ruin it by basing decisions on economics or personal bias rather than what the listener might really want.

One wonders how an institution of higher learning decides what level of highbrow they feel is deserving of their broadcast efforts, and who should be served by the "common" radio stations.



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STARKY
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by STARKY » Wed Jan 12, 2022 6:36 pm

Hi everybody.......good ol' wkbz am 850
I was there around 1972 for a few years before going back to wmus.
I did the morning show. 1972 was like going back in time. wkbz was a well run radio station.
playing nat king cole, Frank sinatra, tony bennett........i had very good numbers. lots of tiger games.....paul harvery.
IM SO TANKFUL TO BE A PART OF THE ERA. I believe it signed on in 1948.

THANKS...JIM COX



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STARKY
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by STARKY » Wed Jan 12, 2022 6:48 pm

Hi everybody.......good ol' wkbz am 850
I was there around 1972 for a few years before going back to wmus.
I did the morning show. 1972 was like going back in time. wkbz was a well run radio station.
playing nat king cole, Frank sinatra, tony bennett........i had very good numbers. lots of tiger games.....paul harvery.
IM SO TANKFUL TO BE A PART OF THE ERA. I believe it signed on in 1948.



sdaddy
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2020 1:35 pm

Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by sdaddy » Thu Jan 13, 2022 1:25 pm

An iconic station.

Living in Roosevelt Park, WKBZ was my must listen to station in the 70's and '80s.

Mohawks Hockey on WKBZ ! I miss the days.



paul8539
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by paul8539 » Sun Feb 20, 2022 2:23 am

WHICH 1480 is shutting down? Owosso?



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dwp49423
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Location: West Michigan

Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by dwp49423 » Sun Feb 20, 2022 4:08 am

paul8539 wrote:
Sun Feb 20, 2022 2:23 am
WHICH 1480 is shutting down? Owosso?
WGVU (1480 Grand Rapids) and WGVS (850 Muskegon) both ceased operations on January 7.


---
"Cheap Cheap Cheap" it is live or is it Gannett?

ftballfan
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by ftballfan » Tue Feb 22, 2022 7:11 pm

Owosso is on 1080. The other 1480 in Michigan is in Salem Township/Ypsilanti



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Ben Zonia
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by Ben Zonia » Tue Feb 22, 2022 8:09 pm

ftballfan wrote:
Tue Feb 22, 2022 7:11 pm
Owosso is on 1080. The other 1480 in Michigan is in Salem Township/Ypsilanti
And don't forget WIOS 1480 Tawas City-East Tawas.


"I had a job for a while as an announcer at WWV but I finally quit, because I couldn't stand the hours."

-Author Unknown

edj
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Re: 1480 & 850 Shutting Down

Post by edj » Wed Feb 23, 2022 7:58 am

I tried contacting the school into buying 1480 alone but couldn’t get an answer. I don’t think selling was even an option.



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