WJJY-FM

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WJJY-FM
Broadcast area
Brainerd micropolitan area
Frequency106.7 MHz
RDSPI: 6D6E
PS/RT: Title By Artist On WJJY
Branding106.7 WJJY
Programming
FormatHot adult contemporary
AffiliationsABC News Radio
Ownership
Owner
KLIZ, KLIZ-FM, KVBR, KBLB, KUAL-FM
History
First air date
July 21, 1978 (1978-07-21)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
5394
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT170 meters (560 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.1067wjjy.com

WJJY-FM (106.7 MHz) is a radio station that is located in Baxter, Minnesota, with a hot adult contemporary format.

WJJY-FM's sister stations include KVBR 1340, KLIZ 1380, KBLB 93.3, KUAL-FM 103.5, and KLIZ-FM 107.5. All of the aforementioned stations are located in a broadcast facility located at 13225 Dogwood Drive, Baxter.

WJJY-FM is not licensed by the FCC to broadcast in HD.[2]

History

The 106.7 MHz facility that became WJJY-FM was developed in the late 1970s. FCC application records show a construction-era minor modification filed in 1976 and granted in 1978, followed by a license-to-cover application filed July 10, 1978 and granted April 1, 1980.[3] The station's registered tower record lists a build date of June 1, 1978.[4]

By 1980, Fred Directory of Radio listed WJJY-FM in Brainerd at 106.7 MHz with 100,000 watts. The station was owned by Tower Broadcasting Corp.; James R. Pryor was listed as general manager, James J. O'Rourke as program director and music director, Margaret Ames as news director, Richard Tyner as chief engineer, and Bruce Salberg as sales manager.[5]

The station was originally associated with the WJJY call sign before becoming WJJY-FM. In 1986, Broadcasting reported that Tower Broadcasting had received the WJJY call sign for a new AM station in Baxter, while the existing Brainerd FM was listed as changing from WJJY to WJJY-FM.[6] FCCInfo's call-sign history lists WJJY-FM from April 28, 1986, with WJJY as the earlier call sign.[4]

During the Tower Broadcasting era, WJJY-FM operated as part of an AM/FM operation in Brainerd. A Minnesota station directory listing from the early 1990s showed Tower Broadcasting officers James Pryor and Mary Pryor at 410 Front Street in Brainerd. The directory's FM entry listed the station with an adult contemporary format, MBS and CBS affiliations, 100,000 watts, a 626-foot antenna height, and 24-hour operation.[7]

The station changed ownership in the 1990s. FCC records show an assignment of authorization for WJJY-FM filed January 12, 1994 and granted March 2, 1994.[3] Later FCC records identify BL Broadcasting, Inc. as the applicant for WJJY-FM, with Louis H. Buron Jr. listed as certifier on a 2002 application.[4] Under BL Broadcasting and the Buron/Campbell Omni Broadcasting group, WJJY-FM was part of a larger cluster of central and northern Minnesota radio stations. FCC records list technical modification and license-to-cover activity for WJJY-FM in 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002, with the 2002 minor modification becoming the active license record.[3]

WJJY-FM also became known for community service. The Radiothon to End Child Abuse history says Omni Broadcasting expanded the radiothon to the Brainerd Lakes area in 1994, with WJJY-FM 106.7 among the participating stations.[8] The National Association of Broadcasters lists WJJY-FM as a Crystal Radio Award winner in 2001, 2003, 2007, 2021 and 2024. In 2025, NAB named WJJY-FM the recipient of the Crystal Heritage Award, which recognizes stations that have won five Crystal Radio Awards for long-term community service.[9]

On November 13, 2014, Hubbard Broadcasting announced an agreement to acquire 16 radio stations from Omni Broadcasting Company in the Alexandria, Bemidji, Brainerd and Wadena markets, including WJJY-FM.[10] FCC records show the assignment from BL Broadcasting, Inc. to HBI Radio Brainerd/Wadena, LLC was granted January 26, 2015.[3] The sale closed on February 27, 2015, for $8 million for 16 stations and one translator.[11]

WJJY-FM remains licensed to Brainerd as a class C1 station on 106.7 MHz. FCCInfo lists the station with 100,000 watts effective radiated power and an antenna height above average terrain of 170 meters.[4]

Programming

Every Saturday night, the station plays music from the 1980s entitled "All 80's Saturday Night".

The morning show from 5-9 AM is hosted by Ken Thomas, who may be better known for doing the stations' Cash Calls. Some of the clips from the Cash Call contestants over the years are part of classic bit used on KQRS-FM in Minneapolis titled the "Brainerd Cash Call".

Awards

The station was one of 10 stations awarded the 2007 Crystal Radio Award for public service awarded by the National Association of Broadcasters.[12] Winners were honored at the Radio Luncheon on April 17, 2007, during the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for WJJY-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "Station Search Details".
  3. "FCCInfo Application Search Results: WJJY-FM, Facility ID 5394". FCCInfo.com. Cavell, Mertz & Associates. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  4. "FCCInfo Results: WJJY-FM". FCCInfo.com. Cavell, Mertz & Associates. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  5. "Fred Directory of Radio" (PDF). Fred Directory of Radio. 1980. p. 106. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  6. "Call Letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 5, 1986. p. 80. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  7. Minnesota Anniversary & Directory (PDF). Minnesota Broadcasters Association. p. 57. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  8. "About/History". Radiothon To End Child Abuse. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  9. "NAB Crystal Heritage Award". National Association of Broadcasters. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  10. "Hubbard Broadcasting Acquires Stations Owned by Omni Broadcasting" (Press release). Hubbard Broadcasting. November 13, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  11. "Hubbard Closes on 16 MN Stations from Omni". Radio Online. February 27, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  12. "NAB Announces Crystal Radio Awards Winners". National Association of Broadcasters. April 17, 2007. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2008.

46°26′35″N 94°22′55″W / 46.443°N 94.382°W / 46.443; -94.382