WBZG

WBZG (100.9 FM) is a radio station licensed to Peru, Illinois, covering, LaSalle, Peru, Princeton, and Vicinity. WBZG airs a classic rock format and is owned by Shaw Media, through licensee Shaw Local Radio Co., after previously being owned by Studstill Media/Mendota Broadcasting, Inc. until April 2023.

History WGSY The station began broadcasting on March 15, 1970, holding the call sign WGSY. The station was originally owned by George W. Yazell, and had an ERP of 3,000 watts at a HAAT of 145 feet. WGSY aired a variety format.1973 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting. 1973. p. B-64. Retrieved September 11, 2018.Broadcasting Yearbook 1977, Broadcasting. 1977. p. C-66. Retrieved September 11, 2018. In 1977, the station was sold to Radio Illinois, Ltd. for $85,000."Ownership changes", Broadcasting. May 23, 1977. p. 68. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

WIVQ In 1977, the station's call sign was changed to WIVQ, and the station began airing a MOR format.Broadcasting Yearbook 1978, Broadcasting. 1978. p. C-68. Retrieved September 11, 2018. By 1980, the station had begun airing an adult rock format.Broadcasting Yearbook 1980, Broadcasting. 1980. p. C-71. Retrieved September 11, 2018. By 1983, the station had begun airing a beautiful music/easy listening format.Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983, Broadcasting/Cablecasting. 1983. p. B-77. Retrieved September 11, 2018. By 1984, the station was airing a MOR format.Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1984, Broadcasting/Cablecasting. 1984. p. B-83. Retrieved September 11, 2018. In 1984, the station was sold to Starved Rock Radio Project for $155,000."Ownership changes", Broadcasting. July 9, 1984. p. 78. Retrieved September 13, 2018.Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

WLRZ In September 1984, the station's call sign was changed to WLRZ. WLRZ would air an adult contemporary format.Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1986, Broadcasting/Cablecasting. 1986. p. B-90. Retrieved September 11, 2018. By 1990, the station had begun airing a classic rock format.The Broadcasting Yearbook 1990, Broadcasting & Cable. 1990. p. B-103. Retrieved September 12, 2018.Rocheleau, Paul (1991). Radio on Wheels. Berkley Books. p. 102. Retrieved September 12, 2018. In 1994, the station was sold to Valley Plus Broadcasting for $150,000."Late 1993 Transactions at a Glance", Radio & Records. January 14, 1994. p. 7. Retrieved September 13, 2018.Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2018. In 1997, the station was sold to Mendota Broadcasting, Inc., along with 103.3 WAIV, for $700,000."Transactions", Radio & Records. April 11, 1997. p. 6. Retrieved September 13, 2018.Consent to Assignment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

WBZG In July 2000, the station's call sign was changed to WBZG, and the station was branded "The Buzz"."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 17 No. 31. August 2, 2000. p. 2. Retrieved September 2, 2018. However, in August 2000, 107.7 WBZM in Bloomington would begin broadcasting with "The Buzz" branding, airing a modern rock format.Sadler, Roger L. (2005). Electronic Media Law. SAGE Publications. p. 329. Retrieved September 12, 2018. Unbeknownst to WBZG, the owner of WBZM had trademarked "The Buzz" branding for the entire state of Illinois, and WBZG stopped calling itself "The Buzz" to avoid a lawsuit. The station would later be branded "100.9 FM Rocks!".

On January 24, 2023, it was announced that Studstill Media had sold WBZG, along with its sister stations, to Shaw Media in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for a total of $1.8 million. The sale was under FCC review for just under two months before being finalized on March 23, 2023. Shaw Local Radio officially assumed ownership of WBZG and its sister stations on April 3, 2023.

References

External links WBZG's website