WGFN

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WGFN is a group of several radio stations in northern Michigan that simulcast a classic rock format called "The Bear". Those stations are:

• 98.1 WGFN Glen Arbor
• 105.1 WGFM Cheboygan
• 107.1 WCKC Cadillac
• 97.9 WIHC Newberry

In 1989, longtime northern Michigan radio personality and engineer Del Reynolds and wife Mary purchased 100,000 watt CHR WQLZ in Cheboygan. Shortly afterward, he changed the station's format to classic rock with the WGFM call letters, meaning "W-Gold-FM". The station's main focus was classic rock, but also played new cuts from classic rock artists as well. The station was live/local 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. and aired Westwood One's Adult Rock format overnights. Del was the station's morning man.

In the 1990s, Del's radio empire grew when he acquired many other local stations and built new ones as well. He purchased WIDG 940 in St. Ignace, MI and WCBY AM in Cheboygan the station that launched his career in the late 1960s. He purchased 98.1 WMLB Glen Arbor, and changed that to WGFN, giving WGFM a clearer signal in the Traverse City, MI area. He also took over 107.1 WCKC "Cadillac KC Country" Cadillac which was simulcasting his 102.9 WMKC "KC Country" St. Ignace, MI, but eventually changing to a WGFM simulcast.

In 1998, Reynolds sold his stations to Calibre Communications for $7 million. As a result, the station would remain classic rock, but under a new moniker, The Bear, and Reynolds would leave the morning show host position. When Calibre asked Reynolds who should replace him, he suggested Bob and Tom. It was a wise decision on the station's part since they would pry AOR stalwart WKLT from the Arbitron #2 spot all the way down to #5, while in many books, The Bear is in the top five. Bob and Tom - whose radio career started at WJML in the late 1970s - are now one of the most-popular morning shows in northern Michigan.

Also, WGFN was made the flagship of The Bear stations, even though most of their operations are in Cheboygan, partially due to Traverse City being the biggest city in northern Michigan.

Unfortunately, the deal between Calibre and Reynolds failed, though a new company, Northern Star Broadcasting, was formed to take over Reynolds' stations. Although he no longer owns The Bear, Reynolds remains as the station's engineer.

Recently, the popular internet message board Michigan Radio and TV Buzzboard [1] awarded The Bear its "Buzzy Award" for being the best overall rock station in Michigan. According to the board's Detroit-based moderator, he claims that the station has a good balance of classic rock and has great consistency.

The Bear recently updated its classic-rock playlist to include more hit AOR and alternative rock tracks from the 1980s and 1990s, from artists such as White Zombie, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Live, Stone Temple Pilots and Depeche Mode (though some listeners feel playing Depeche Mode is an odd choice for a classic AOR station). The station's music mix now very closely resembles that of Mainstream Rock-formatted competitor WKLT.

[edit] External links

• The Bear website