Smile FM is a network of non-commercial, contemporary Christian radio stations. Most programming originates from studios in Williamston, Michigan (just east of Lansing) and is relayed (with local inserts) by an expanding number of stations throughout the state. The network also has studios in Imlay City, Michigan.
Smile FM was originally two separate networks. The first, The Light, was founded on December 2, 1996 when WLGH Lansing, Michigan began broadcasting. The second, Joy FM, began on December 12, 2000 with WHYT (renamed as WWKM and again as WDTR) in Imlay City. While both played contemporary Christian music, The Light aimed for a younger audience. In June 2004 the two networks were combined to form Smile FM in a "wedding ceremony" conducted at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing. The new name eliminated confusion since many other unrelated stations used The Light and Joy FM names.
The network is notable for putting stations on the air at a low cost. They lease existing towers and manufacture some of their own equipment. Unlike many Christian stations, they play music with only a few short breaks for weather, news, announcements and features. Smile FM has also pioneered the use of new technology to help distribute and customize its programming, including developing an emergency weather notification system that is faster and more reliable than the required EAS system (which they also operate).
The network's stations, although having the same ownership, are officially owned by one of four non-profit entities: Superior Communications, Michigan Community Radio, Northland Community Broadcasters and Smile FM. All four were founded by Jennifer and Edward Czelada.
WCZE 103.7 Harbor Beach, owned by Jennifer and Edward Czelada, aired Smile FM programming until December 12, 2012, when WSMB Harbor Beach began broadcasting.
In January 2008, Smile FM established WWKM (now WDTR) Imlay City as the flagship of an experimental Smile FM Praise network playing Christian contemporary worship music. Previously, the station had broadcast traditional Christian music and hymns. The Smile FM Praise experiment was ended in 2009 and plans made to move that station to the northern suburbs of Detroit.
The owners have often recycled the call letters of famous Michigan stations of the past for their stations. WDTR (now WRCJ), WHYT (now WDVD), and WVMV (now WDZH) were once used by Detroit stations. WTAC (now WSNL) was the leading top 40 station in Flint during the 1960s (and, ironically, a pioneering contemporary Christian station during the 1980s). WKPK was used by a popular top 40 station of the 1980s and 1990s in northern Michigan (now WSRT). WAIR was an oldies station in northern Michigan (now WFCX) and the calls were also used for a construction permit for a station in Honor (now WSRJ). WWKM was a now-defunct station in Harrison (and Smile FM's 88.5 FM station in the Alpena area, WSFP, once bore the calls of WWKM's sister station WKKM, which is now WTWS in Houghton Lake).
Others were named for the original formats of the stations. WLGH and WTLI were The Light. All of the stations beginning with WJ were in or scheduled to be in the Joy FM network. All call letters beginning with WDT (WDTE, WDTP and WDTR) serve portions of the Detroit metropolitan area.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
On-air staff
- Josh Strickland (mornings, news, and traffic from Durand)
- Faron Dice (afternoons)
- Rob Dempsey (mid-days)
- Elly Singer (evenings)
- Dennis
- Mike Couchman
- Rob Dale (Weather; former WLNS meteorologist)
- Jenn Czelada
Smile Fm Radio Stations Video
Smile FM Network Stations
Stations owned and operated by Smile FM include:
Translators rebroadcasing Smile FM include:
Future Stations/Upgrades Approved by the FCC
- WDTP Huron Township/Detroit -- move to 90.1 and increase to 50kW
- W248CC Ecorse -- (97.5) new translator for WDTP
- W272DG Pittsfield Township -- 120 meters from a different tower (expires 2/17/2020)
- WYOR Republic, OH -- increase to 25 kW from a different tower (expires 2/26/2018)
- WJOM Eagle/Lansing -- increase to 25 kW (expires 11/2/2018)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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