WSOY-FM

WSOY-FM
Broadcast areaCentral Illinois
Frequency102.9 MHz
BrandingY103
Programming
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
  • Champaign Multimedia Group
  • (Champaign Multimedia Group, LLC)
WCZQ, WDZ, WDZQ, WSOY (AM)
History
First air date
1940s[1]
Former frequencies
102.1 MHz (1949–1960)[2]
Call sign meaning
Refers to soybeans, commonly grown in the area
Technical information[3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID36951
ClassB[4]
ERP54,000 watts[1][4]
HAAT135 meters (443 ft)[1][4]
Transmitter coordinates
39°52′41″N 88°56′32″W / 39.87806°N 88.94222°W / 39.87806; -88.94222[1]
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.nowdecatur.com/y103/

WSOY-FM (102.9 MHz) is a Top 40 (CHR) radio station licensed to Decatur, Illinois, and serves Central Illinois. The station is owned by the Neuhoff Corporation and calls itself "Y103". The call sign is shared with sister station WSOY 1340 AM, a reference to Decatur's role in soybean farming.[5] On weekdays, Y103 carries two nationally syndicated shows during drive time: "Brooke & Jeffrey" from KQMV Seattle in mornings and "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" from KIIS-FM Los Angeles in afternoons.

WSOY-FM's radio studios and offices are on South Water Street in Decatur.[6] The transmitter is on East Pershing Road at Vicki Drive.[7] WSOY-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 54,000 watts, which is slightly higher than the current maximum of 50,000 watts for Central Illinois.

History

WSOY first received a construction permit for a new FM station on October 7, 1946. The original frequency was 98.7 MHz, and later as 102.1 MHz. It received its full license on February 2, 1949, powered at 31,200 watts, broadcasting on 102.1 MHz.[2] The switch to 102.9 MHz received a construction permit in August 1959 and license on May 31, 1960. The increase to the current 54,000 watts received its construction permit in May 1961 and license on September 7, 1961.[2]

At first, WSOY-FM largely simulcast the programming of WSOY (1340 AM). By the late 1960s, it tried an automated country music format, separate from the AM station. It later switched to beautiful music, playing quarter hour sweeps of mostly soft instrumental cover versions of popular songs.[8]

In the early 1980s, WSOY-FM adopted a Top 40 format and the name "Y-103" to distinguish itself from its AM partner, though it remained mostly on automation until 2000.[8] At that point, disc jockeys were hired.

On February 1, 2024, Neuhoff Media sold radio stations in Danville and Decatur IL to Champaign Multimedia Group for $2 million and has since closed in May 2024.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Facility details for Facility ID 36951 (WSOY-FM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "WSOY-FM history cards". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  3. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WSOY-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ a b c "WSOY-FM". FCCInfo.com. Manassas, Virginia: Cavell Mertz & Associates. November 25, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  5. ^ "100 Reasons: WAND, WSOY precursors were Decatur broadcast pioneers". Herald & Review. Decatur, IL. October 6, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "Contact". Y103.
  7. ^ "WSOY-FM". Radio-Locator.com.
  8. ^ a b Quick, Doug. "Select Area Radio Stations". Doug Quick On Line. Retrieved July 21, 2019. Older non-JavaScript version at Quick, Doug. "Area CHR Radio History". Doug Quick Online. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "Neuhoff Media Sells Danville & Decatur IL Clusters; Intends To Sell Remainder Of Radio Holdings". Radio Insight. February 5, 2024.


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