WPPN (106.7 FM) is a radio station licensed to Des Plaines, Illinois, that targets the Chicago metropolitan area. WPPN broadcasts a Spanish AC format. WPPN is owned by TelevisaUnivision through its Uforia Audio Network subsidiary. The station's studios are located at 625 North Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, and its transmitter is located in Arlington Heights.
Due to WPPN's 50,000-watt signal and north suburban location, it can be heard through much of the Rockford area and southeastern Wisconsin. It also broadcasts in the HD Radio (hybrid) format.
WPPN is also the affiliate station for the Chicago Cubs, through HD Radio (on HD2 as TUDN Radio Chicago)
History Request Radio The station began broadcasting December 3, 1971, holding the call sign WYEN.Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000, Broadcasting & Cable, 2000. p. D-137. Retrieved January 14, 2019. The station was owned by Walt-West Enterprises. WYEN aired an all-request format branded "Request Radio", playing music requested by listeners.Hall, Claude. "WYEN Goes All Request", Billboard. September 23, 1972. p. 16. Retrieved January 14, 2019."Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine, March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved January 14, 2019. Contemporary and middle of the road music was played on the station.Broadcasting Yearbook 1975, Broadcasting, 1975. p. C-56. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
"Request Radio" continued airing on the station through the mid–1980s.Chicago Radio Guide. Vol. 1, No. 1. May 1985. Retrieved January 14, 2019. In 1986, the station was sold to Flint Metro Mass Media for $8 million."Changing Hands", Broadcasting. November 25, 1985. p. 75. Retrieved January 14, 2019.Application Search Details - BALH-19851112HR, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2019.Public Notice Comment - BALH-19851112HR, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
Z Rock On September 1, the station's call sign was changed to WZRC, and the station adopted a hard rock/heavy metal format, becoming the first affiliate of the syndicated Z Rock network.Freeman, Kim. "WYEN Goes From Soft to Hard", Billboard. September 13, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
The Wave On October 16, 1987, the station's call sign was changed to WTWV, and the station adopted a new-age/smooth jazz/soft rock format as "The Wave".Freeman, Kim. "Vox Jox", Billboard. October 24, 1987. p. 15. Retrieved January 14, 2019.Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1989, Broadcasting & Cable, 1989. p. C-56. Retrieved January 14, 2019.Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988. Retrieved January 14, 2019. The station was an affiliate of the Satellite Music Network, with programming originating on KTWV in Los Angeles.
WYLL (1989-2001) In 1989, the station was sold to Salem Communications for $9,250,000, and the station adopted a Christian contemporary music format, with its call sign being changed to WYLL."Ownership Changes", Broadcasting. October 2, 1989. p. 66. Retrieved January 14, 2019.Kampert, Patrick. "Bid For Redemption", Chicago Tribune. September 3, 1991. Retrieved January 14, 2019."WYLL FM 106.7", Radio Chicago. Fall 1989. p. 63. Retrieved January 14, 2019.Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved January 14, 2019. However, the format was short-lived, as Salem gradually replaced the Christian contemporary music with Christian talk programming.
By 1991, Christian contemporary music was mostly relegated to weekends."WYLL FM 106.7", Radio Chicago. Summer 1991. p. 62. Retrieved January 14, 2019. Christian talk and teaching programs heard on WYLL included shows hosted by Alistair Begg, Chuck Swindoll, Adrian Rogers, Chuck Smith, Beverly LaHaye, Jay Sekulow, James Dobson, Hank Hanegraaff, Janet Parshall, and Sandy Rios.The Shepherd's Guide. Spring 1994-Spring 1995. p. 97-99.Kirk, Jim. "'Sports Writers' May Be Near Fox Finish", Chicago Tribune. December 9, 1998. As a Christian talk and teaching station, WYLL was branded "Your Station For Life" and later "Chicago's Word".
In 2000, Salem acquired WXRT 1160 (formerly known as WJJD) for $29 million.Kilgore, Tomi. "Salem buys WXRT-AM from Infinity", MarketWatch. November 11, 2000. Retrieved January 14, 2019. In February 2001, Salem moved the Christian talk programming of WYLL to 1160, along with the WYLL call letters."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 06. February 7, 2001. p. 1. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
WZFS (2001-2004)
With the move of WYLL to 1160, 106.7's call sign was temporarily changed to WYLL-FM. On March 2, 2001, the station adopted Christian contemporary format branded "106.7 The Fish", with the slogan "Safe for the Whole Family". The station was launched with "40 days and 40 nights" of commercial free music. Shortly thereafter, the station's call sign was changed to WZFS. "The Fish" branding, a reference to the ichthys used in the station's logo, was also used by Salem for Christian contemporary stations in other markets,"While You Weren’t Watching, Christian Radio Grew Into A Goliath", InsideRadio. February 12, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2020. such as Atlanta, on WFSH-FM 104.7, and Los Angeles, on 95.9 KFSH-FM.
In 2004, Salem agreed to trade WZFS and KSFB 100.7 (now KVVZ) in the San Francisco area to Univision in exchange for KOBT 100.7 in the Houston area (now KKHT-FM), KHCK 1480 in Dallas (now KNGO), KOSL-FM 94.3 in Sacramento (now KGRB), and 560 WIND in Chicago."Univision Radio and Salem Communications to Exchange Radio Assets", Business Wire. October 4, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2019."Univision Radio and Salem Communications to exchange assets", Dallas Business Journal. October 5, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
WPPN (2004-present) On November 1, 2004, at midnight, after playing "Remember Me" by Mark Schultz, WZFS signed off with sounds of water. After a brief period of dead air, Univision took control and launched a Spanish-language adult contemporary format on the station, branded ""."106.7 The Fish Gives Way To Pasion", Format Change Archive. Retrieved January 14, 2019."Univision to Switch Chicago 'Fish' to Spanish AC", Radio & Records. October 29, 2004. p. 3. Retrieved January 14, 2019. The station's call sign was changed to WPPN shortly thereafter.
In October 2005, Univision tweaked the music blend of WPPN, but left the name and the personalities of "" in place, with the station shifting to a Spanish oldies/adult hits format.Devine, Cathy (2006). The Radio Book. 2006-2007 Edition. p. 196. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
On January 28, 2009, sister station WVIV-FM changed its format to Spanish oldies and WPPN adopted a Spanish CHR/Hurban format as ""."Univision Radio Chicago Changes Station Formats", Chicagoland Radio and Media. July 5, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2019.Devine, Cathy (2009). The Radio Book. 2009-2010 Edition. p. 203. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
On July 1, 2011, WPPN changed their format back to Spanish adult contemporary, and re-branded as "", while the previous "" format moved to WVIV-FM 103.1 FM/WVIX 93.5 FM."Univision rebranding WVIV in Chicago", Radio & Television Business Report. November 30, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2019.Feder, Robert. "FM news war could break out with Newsradio simulcast", Time Out Chicago. June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
In March 2014, WPPN rebranded as "".Venta, Lance. "WPPN Turns its Pasion to Amor", Radio Insight. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
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References
External links WPPN Website