Smile FM
Programming
FormatReligious; Contemporary Christian
Ownership
OwnerSuperior Communications
History
Founded1996[1]
Links
Webcastwww.smile.fm/streaming/
Websitewww.smile.fm

Smile FM is a network of non-commercial, contemporary Christian radio stations owned by Superior Communications, a nonprofit organization. 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 in December 1996, when WLGH Lansing, Michigan began broadcasting.[2] 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.[3][4] 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 licenses for the four stations are split between four subsidiaries: Superior Communications, Michigan Community Radio, Northland Community Broadcasters and Smile FM.

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 WFDX) 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.

Smile FM Network Stations

The combined footprint of Smile FM's stations covers most of Michigan's densely populated area (though much of West Michigan relies on translators).

Map of stations and translators

Stations owned and operated by Smile FM include:

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
KOYH 95.5 FMElaine, Arkansas6,00085 m (279 ft)AFMQ
WLGH 88.1 FMLeroy Township, Ingham County, Michigan6,700174 m (571 ft)B1FMQ
WSMF 88.1 FMMonroe, Michigan1,20041 m (135 ft)AFMQ
WHYT 88.1 FMGoodland Township, Michigan400177 m (581 ft)AFMQ
WEJC 88.3 FMWhite Star, Michigan55,000114 m (374 ft)C1FMQ
WKPK 88.3 FMMichigamme, Michigan15,000252 m (827 ft)C2FMQ
WSMZ-FM 88.3 FMCrystal Valley, Michigan1,500200 m (656 ft)AFMQ
WDTE 88.3 FMGrosse Pointe Shores, Michigan5,50050 m (164 ft)AFMQ
WJOM 88.5 FMEagle, Michigan4,300[nb 1]40 m (131 ft)AFMQ
WSIS 88.7 FMRiverside, Michigan6,000117 m (384 ft)B1FMQ
WDTR 88.9 FMImlay City, Michigan3,20061 m (200 ft)AFMQ
WTLI 89.3 FMBear Creek Township, Michigan50,000312 m (1,024 ft)C1FMQ
WSMB 89.3 FMHarbor Beach, Michigan12,000145 m (476 ft)C3FMQ
WDTP 89.5 FMHuron Charter Township, Michigan70095 m (312 ft)AFMQ
WJOJ 89.7 FMRust Township, Michigan31,000143 m (469 ft)C2FMQ
WTAC 89.7 FMBurton, Michigan15,000110 m (361 ft)B1FMQ
WSLI-FM 90.9 FMBelding, Michigan11,50073 m (240 ft)B1FMQ
WJOG 91.3 FMGood Hart, Michigan6,000209.2 m (686 ft)C2FMQ
WVMV 91.5 FMChina Township, Michigan1,05075 m (246 ft)AFMQ
WAIR 104.9 FMLake City, Michigan2,800149 m (489 ft)AFMQ
WJOH 91.5 FMRaco, Michigan5,500100 m (328 ft)AFMQ
WYOR 88.5 FMRepublic, Ohio10032 m (105 ft)AFMQ

Translators

Translators rebroadcasting Smile FM include:

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC infoNotes
W242BH 96.3 FMMarshall, Michigan17032.1 m (105 ft)DFMQrepeats WLGH; serves Battle Creek
W246CW 97.1 FMLong Lake Township, Michigan10260.8 m (856 ft)DFMQrepeats WTLI; serves Traverse City
W247CU 97.3 FMFort Gratiot, Michigan2583 m (272 ft)DFMQrepeats WVMV; serves Port Huron
W262AF 100.3 FMParchment, Michigan3852.5 m (172 ft)DFMQrepeats WSIS; serves Kalamazoo
W273CI 102.5 FMGrand Haven, Michigan250191 m (627 ft)DFMQrepeats WSMZ-FM; serves Muskegon
W280EL 103.9 FMYates, Michigan10119.3 m (391 ft)DFMQrepeats WVMV; serves northern Metro Detroit suburbs
W286CI 105.1 FMSaginaw, Michigan25049 m (161 ft)DFMQrepeats WEJC
W299CB 107.7 FMManistee, Michigan1998 m (322 ft)DFMQrepeats WSMZ-FM
W272DG 102.3 FMPittsfield Township, Michigan1998 m (322 ft)DFMQrepeats WTAC; serves Ann Arbor
W244EN 96.7 FMLapeer, Michigan250276.5 m (907 ft)DFMQrepeats WLCO; serves Flint
W260CQ 99.9 FMPlainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan10126 m (413 ft)DFMQrepeats WSLI-FM; serves Grand Rapids
WLHT 95.7 FMGrand Rapids, Michigan40,000147 m (482 ft)BFMQuses HD2 subchannel, repeats WSLI-FM

Future stations

On October 6, 2022, it was announced that Smile FM has filed a $60,000 deal to purchase WGVU (1480 AM) in Grand Rapids from Grand Valley State University.[5] The station, along with WGVS (850 AM) in Muskegon, originally carried an oldies radio format until January 7, 2022, when both stations closed down.[6] Smile FM had already acquired WGVS effective June 28, 2022, for $25,000.

Explanatory notes

  1. WJOM currently holds a construction permit to increase to 25,000 watts.

References

  1. Demske, Kristyne E. "Smile! It's a new radio station", St. Clair Shores Sentinel. May 16, 2012. p. 3A.
  2. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000. Broadcasting & Cable. 2000. p. D-227. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. Austerman, Mike. "June 2004 News and Notes", Michiguide.com. June 30, 2004. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  4. "Josh Strickland Exits Townsquare/Lansing To Join Smile FM Radio Network". All Access. June 19, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  5. "Deal Digest: New Owners for Adams Radio, TelevisaUnivision Sells in San Juan".
  6. Venta, Lance (December 29, 2021). "WGVU To Shut Down Real Oldies 1480/850". RadioInsight. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
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