| WMJX | |
| City of license | Boston, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greater Boston |
| Branding | Magic 106.7 |
| Slogan | "Continuous Soft Rock" |
| Frequency | 106.7 MHz (also on HD Radio) 106.7 HD-2 Smooth Jazz |
| First air date | 1956 (as WBZ-FM) |
| Format | Adult Contemporary |
| ERP | 21,500 watts |
| HAAT | 235 meters |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 25052 |
| Callsign meaning | WMJX = Magic |
| Former callsigns | WBZ-FM (1956-1981) |
| Owner | Greater Media |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www.magic1067.com |
WMJX is a radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. It broadcasts on 106.7 MHz. It has an Adult Contemporary format. Its transmitter is located atop the Prudential Tower in Downtown Boston. Magic 106.7 is Boston's most successful radio station.
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History
The 106.7 frequency in Boston, Massachusetts was first used as WBZ-FM, the FM complement to WBZ (AM), and was owned by Westinghouse (later Group W). The station's earliest format was a classical music format, and later evolved into a combination simulcast of WBZ (AM) during the morning, with the classical music at other times.
On December 31, 1971, WBZ-FM became a rock music station as "Rockin' Stereo 106.7", programming mostly Top-40 with some album cuts. Although automated, it featured voice-tracked announcing from Clark Smidt (who also programmed the station) and Ken Shelton. For a time in the mid-1970s, WBZ-FM was Boston's second most popular Top-40 station, only trailing WRKO in popularity. In 1975, both Smidt and Shelton left to join WCOZ, which was changing formats from beautiful-music to album-oriented rock. By 1979, WBZ-FM had drifted into an automated album-oriented rock format itself, which remained in place through 1981.
During the years as a rock station, WBZ-FM also simulcast the hourly newscasts from sister station WBZ (AM), the commercial spots on which were the only commercials heard on the FM side.
In 1981, WBZ-FM was sold to Greater Media, becoming that company's first Boston station. Under the new ownership, the station signed off for a couple of weeks at the very end of 1981. Before signing back on as "Magic" in January 1982, the station installed a new transmitter and raised the height of the antenna on the WBZ tower. A few years later the transmission equipment was relocated to the Prudential Tower, giving 106.7 a great signal in Downtown Boston.
On January 6, 1982 at 6:00 PM, the new 106.7 signed on as WMJX "Magic 106", using the adult contemporary format pioneered by Greater Media at WMGK "Magic 103" in Philadelphia, and also heard on WMGQ "Magic 98.3" in New Brunswick, New Jersey and WMJC-FM "Magic 94.7" in Detroit, Michigan. The station's first song was "Magic" by Olivia Newton-John. By the mid-1980s, the station's name evolved to "Magic 106.7".
WMJX had a very strong debut in 1982, but was met with numerous competitors. However the 1990s Adult Contemporary competitors WROR 98.5, WVBF "Boston 105" and WSSH "Wish 99.5" as well as Easy Listening WJIB ("Jib 97") had changed ownership and/or formats. (Ironically, the current successors of three of those stations – WROR, WTKK and WKLB-FM – have since entered ownership by Greater Media and are therefore sister stations to WMJX.) Two of the personalities on Magic 106.7, Nancy Quill and David Allan Boucher, have been on the station since the first day in 1982. Boucher hosts the very popular nighttime show Bedtime Magic (he can also be heard on a few other stations around the country, and for a time on sister stations WMGC "Magic 105.1 in Detroit, and WMJQ "Magic 98.3" in New Brunswick, NJ).
WMJX has had only three program directors during its entire run. Jack Casey was the original PD (1981–1986), Phil Redo was the second (July 1986 – Oct 1989), and then Don Kelly (October 1989 – present).
During the early 2000s, WMJX was one of the few AC stations not to broadcast wall-to-wall Christmas music during the weeks leading up to Christmas. In 2005, WMJX joined the bandwagon and broadcast an All-Christmas format from the day after Thanksgiving through December 25. However in 2007, sister station WROR handled the All-Christmas format.
Cool, Hot or Green
In 2008 WMJX ran a contest titled Cool, Hot or Green. The prize was advertised as a new car, a choice of a “cool” Mercedes-Benz C-series sedan, a “hot” Audi TT convertible or a “green” Toyota Prius. A complaint was filed when it was learned that the prize was a two year lease on one of the three cars, and would only be awarded if the winner qualified for the lease. In response the FCC issued a $4,000 fine to Greater Media, the station's owners.[1][2]
HD Radio
WMJX broadcasts on 106.7 HD2 as a smooth jazz station, a spinoff of the popular Sunday Morning Jazz program.
Awards
In 1998 WMJX received a "Radio Active" Grammy Award for programming excellence. In 2007 the station was nominated for the top 25 markets adult contemporary station of the year award by Radio & Records magazine. Other nominees included KOST in Los Angeles, WALK-FM in Nassau, New York, WLTW in New York, WBEB, in Philadelphia, and KEZK-FM in St. Louis. [3]
References
- ^ http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/messenger/index.php/2009/04/10/fcc-fines-magic-1067-over-contest/
- ^ http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2009/db0408/DA-09-779A1.txt
- ^ "2007 Industry Achievement Awards". Radio and Records. September 28, 2008. http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/con2007/awards/indexFinal.asp.
Arbitron Radio Ratings NARAS Radio Active Award
External links
- Magic 106.7 website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WMJX
- Radio Locator information on WMJX
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WMJX
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