WIIL
MHz | |
| Branding | 95 WIIL Rock |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Format | Active rock |
| Affiliations | United Stations Radio Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WLIP | |
| History | |
First air date | December 22, 1962 (as WLIP-FM) |
Former call signs | WLIP-FM (1961–1978) WJZQ (1978–1992) |
Call sign meaning | A border station serving Wisconsin and Illinois (postal abbreviations combined) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 28473 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 117 meters (384 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 95wiilrock.com |
WIIL (95.1
The call letters stand for Wisconsin and Illinois for its dual-state coverage area. The station is branded as "95 WIIL Rock," with "WIIL" pronounced on air the same as 'will.' The station has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 50,000 watts, the maximum output for the region in which it operates. The station's transmitter is off Green Bay Road (Wisconsin Highway 31) at 85th Street in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, while its studio is based in the north end of the Gurnee Mills mall in Gurnee.[2]
WIIL serves as a complement to Alpha's station licensed to Coal City, Illinois, and broadcasting from Crest Hill, WRXQ (100.7), which serves the southern and southwest suburbs of Chicago.
History
Beautiful Music WLIP-FM
On December 22, 1962, the station
In the mid-1970s, WLIP-FM began playing
Top 40 WJZQ
In the early 1980s, Rock 95 changed to a
The station returned to mainstream top 40 by late 1991/early 1992. The transition to Power 95 was marked by a day-long stunt with a continuous loop of "The Power" by Snap!, for 24 hours without interruption or explanation.
WIIL Rock
In September 1992, the call letters changed to WIIL, using the moniker 95 WIIL ROCK with a classic rock format. For a short period in the summer of 2003, WIIL was renamed 95.1 The Rock Station, but returned to "95 WIIL Rock" not long after.
In 2000, the
Switch to Union Grove
In April 2010, the station received
Ownership changes
In 2013, Florida-based Digity Media acquired the NextMedia Group, including WIIL and sister station WLIP.
In 2015, Alpha Media spent $264 million to acquire the 116 radio stations of Digity Media, including the NextMedia Group.[5] That put WIIL and WLIP, its AM sister station, under Alpha Media ownership.
Music Festivals
AugustFest was a music festival created and produced by Lakeside Productions, Inc, and sponsored by WIIL. It was held in August 2007 and 2008 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, Illinois. The all-day festival featured two stages and multiple bands.
The 2007 AugustFest was held on August 25 and featured performances from Chevelle, Saliva, Shinedown, Crossfade, and PreZence.
The 2008 AugustFest took place on August 9.[6] This iteration featured performances from Shinedown, P.O.D., Filter, Alter Bridge and Black Stone Cherry as headliners, with 12 Stones performing on a second stage.
The WIIL Rock Fest is an annual music festival produced and sponsored by FM Entertainment, 95 WIIL Rock and Route 20 Outhouse in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The 2012 WIIL Rock Fest was held on August 11 and featured performances by All That Remains, Saving Abel, 10 Years, Fear Factory, Static-X, Black Stone Cherry, and Shadows Fall and others.
The 2013 WIIL Rock Fest was held on August 24 and featured a partial lineup of
The 2015 WIIL Rock Fest was held at Franksville Memorial Park in Racine County, Wisconsin. Performing bands included Hollywood Undead, Pop Evil, Royal Bliss, We Are Harlot, Saint Asonia, Red Sun Rising, Starset, Devour the Day, Texas Hippie Coalition, Aranda, Butcher Babies, Failure Anthem and Psychostick.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WIIL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WIIL
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1964 page B-176
- ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 page D-597
- ^ Radio Insight.com "Alpha Acquires Digity" Aug. 12, 2015. Retrieved Nov. 20, 2018
- ^ Lakeside Productions presents August Fest 08'
External links
- WIIL Website
- Lake County Journal
- WIIL in the FCC FM station database
- WIIL in Nielsen Audio's FM station database