WJNL

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title: "WJNL" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["radio-stations-in-michigan", "radio-stations-established-in-1947", "1947-establishments-in-michigan", "daytime-only-radio-stations-in-michigan", "grand-traverse-county,-michigan"] topic_path: "general/radio-stations-in-michigan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WJNL" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox radio station"]

FieldValue
nameWJNL
cityKingsley, Michigan
countryUS
areaTraverse City, Michigan
frequency1210 kHz
translator
airdateApril 17, 1947 (as WKNX)
formatStunting
power
classD
facility_id4599
licensing_authorityFCC
coordinates
callsign_meaningSimilar to sister station WJML
former_callsigns
ownerMitten News LLC
::

| name = WJNL | logo = | city = Kingsley, Michigan | country = US | area = Traverse City, Michigan | branding = | frequency = 1210 kHz | translator = | airdate = April 17, 1947 (as WKNX) | format = Stunting | power = | class = D | facility_id = 4599 | licensing_authority = FCC | coordinates = | callsign_meaning = Similar to sister station WJML | former_callsigns = | affiliations = | owner = Mitten News LLC | licensee = | webcast = | website =

WJNL (1210 AM) is a radio station licensed to Kingsley, Michigan, and serving the Traverse City area. The station is owned by Mitten News LLC. The station is also rebroadcast on 101.1 FM, through a translator in Traverse City, Michigan.

History

WKNX in Saginaw

The station began broadcasting April 17, 1947, holding the call sign WKNX, and was licensed to Saginaw, Michigan. The station was owned by Lake Huron Broadcasting. The station ran 1,000 watts, during daytime hours only. In 1960, the station's power was increased to 10,000 watts. In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, the station aired a country music format. By 1964, the station was airing a top 40 format. The station would become an affiliate of American Top 40. By the late 1970s, the station was airing a MOR format. In 1978, the station was sold to Radiocom for $600,000. By 1980, the station was again airing a top 40 format.

By the mid-1980s, the station would begin airing an oldies format. In 1993, the station was sold to Bell Broadcasting for $270,000. Bell Broadcasting intended to take the station off the air so that 1200 WCHB in Detroit could increase power. In 1997, the station's oldies format and call sign were moved to 1250 WJZZ, and the station was taken silent, with its call sign changed to WJZZ. That year, the station was granted a construction permit to move to Kingsley, Michigan, and increase its daytime power to 50,000 watts (2,500 watts critical hours).

After move to Kingsley

The station returned to the air in July 1999, after having been moved to Kingsley, Michigan, airing an urban oldies format, before again being silent in November of that year. It would return to the air in October 2000, again airing an urban oldies format, but again being taken silent in January 2001. In 2001, the station was sold to Fort Bend Broadcasting for $225,000. The station returned to the air in February 2001 airing an oldies format, with its format being changed to talk in March of that year, as an affiliate of Michigan Talk Radio Network for most of the day, but airing the audio of CNN Headline News during the afternoon drive. In August 2001, the station's call sign was changed to WLDR. In January 2002, the station's call sign was changed to WWJR, and in May 2002 it was changed back to WLDR.

In 2004, the station adopted a classic country format. In 2007, Fort Bend Broadcasting exchanged the station for 750 WWKK in Petoskey, Michigan, and $244,000 in cash, with Stone Communications taking ownership of 1210 WLDR. In April 2007, the station's call sign was changed to WJNL, and the station would begin simulcasting the talk programming of 1110 WJML in Petoskey, Michigan. In 2017, Mitten News LLC purchased the station, along with 1110 WJML, for $700,000.

On March 31, 2023, WJNL went silent, due the end of an LMA between Blarney Stone Broadcasting and Mitten News.

On October 18, 2023, WJNL returned to air, initially by stunting with music by Grateful Dead.

FM translator

| callsign = WJNL | width =

| call1 = W266CS | freq1 = 101.1 | city1 = Traverse City, Michigan | fid1 =147731 | watts1 = | haat1 = | class1 = D | coord1 = | notes1 =

References

References

  1. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1971/B-1-Radio-YB-1971.pdf 1971 Broadcasting Yearbook]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]], 1971. p. B-107. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  2. [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=62621 History Cards for WJNL], fcc.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  3. [https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=4599&Callsign=WJNL4599 Call Sign History], fcc.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  4. [https://radio-locator.com/info/WJNL-AM WJNL-AM 1210 kHz], radio-locator.com. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  5. [http://www.michiguide.com/4599/ WJNL AM 1210 Kingsley/Traverse City], Michiguide.com. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  6. Billboard]]'', February 9, 1960. p. 3. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  7. Billboard]]'', October 22, 1949. p. 101. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  8. Billboard]]'', August 27, 1949. p. 33. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  9. "[http://las-solanas.com/surveys/WKNX/WKNX_1964-10-10_1.jpg WKNX-Radio Powervoice 1210 Big Ten Survey]", WKNX. October 10, 1964. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  10. Billboard]]'', February 6, 1971. p. 39. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  11. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1977/C-1%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201977.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1977]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]], 1977. p. C-108. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  12. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1978/1978-05-29-BC.pdf Changing Hands]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]]'', May 29, 1978. p. 32. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  13. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1980/C-1%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201980.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1980]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]], 1980. p. C-117. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  14. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1984/B-Radio-AL-MT-BC-YB-1984.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1984]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting/Cablecasting]], 1984. p. B-133. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  15. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1986/B-Radio-AL-to-MT-BC-YB-1986.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1986]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting/Cablecasting]], 1986. p. B-146. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  16. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1993/RR-1993-11-05.pdf Transactions]", ''[[Radio & Records]]'', November 5, 1993. p. 10. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  17. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1994-05.pdf Elsewhere]", ''The M Street Journal''. Vol. 11 No. 21. May 25, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  18. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1997-02.pdf Format Changes & Updates]", ''The M Street Journal''. Vol. 14 No. 6. February 12, 1997. p. 2. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  19. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1997-06.pdf Facilities/Parameters: Grants]", ''The M Street Journal''. Vol. 14 No. 23. June 11, 1997. p. 6. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  20. "[https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/ams-96402 AMs]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]'', February 18, 2001. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  21. "[http://www.michiguide.com/2001-news/ 2001 Michigan Broadcasting News Highlights]", Michiguide.com. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  22. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/2001/AL-MT-M-Street-10-2001-2002.pdf The M Street Radio Directory]''. 2001-2002. p. 294. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  23. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/2004/AL-MT-M-Street-13-2004-2005.pdf The M Street Radio Directory]''. 2004-2005. p. 306. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  24. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180814105156/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101175745&qnum=5040&copynum=1&exhcnum=1 Station Exchange Agreement], fcc.gov. February 7, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  25. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/2007/AL-MT-M-Street-16-2007.pdf The Radio Book]''. 2007-2008. p. 313. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  26. "WELCOME to all our new listeners on the new AM-1210". WJML.
  27. "[http://www.record-eagle.com/news/business/company-buys-wjml-wjnl/article_ddb86426-69eb-53c8-a1e4-2ebdb6e64972.html Company buys WJML, WJNL]", ''[[Traverse City Record-Eagle]]''. February 16, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  28. [https://radioinsight.com/headlines/250754/wqon-and-wgry-fm-lose-simulcast-partners-as-mitten-news-lma-comes-to-an-end/ WQON and WGRY-FM Lose Simulcast Partners as Mitten News LMA Comes to an End] Radioinsight - April 12, 2023
  29. (October 18, 2023). "Michigan Trio Gratefully Returns From The Dead".

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radio-stations-in-michiganradio-stations-established-in-19471947-establishments-in-michigandaytime-only-radio-stations-in-michigangrand-traverse-county,-michigan