Radio Banana 101.5 (WWBN)

WWBN (101.5 FM, "Banana 101.5"), is a radio station broadcasting rock music to Central Michigan and The Thumb areas of Michigan. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and is a member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. WWBN is most often referred to as The Banana by the public audience.This article needs additional citations for verification.Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2009)The station began operations in 1987 as WGMZ-FM with an Easy Listening music format, reviving the call sign and format formerly used on 107.9 FM (now WCRZ) from 1961 to 1984 and also in the 1980s on 1570 AM (now WWCK). In 1991, WGMZ-FM became country WKMF-FM, simulcasting AM 1470 (now WFNT). The "Banana" name, album-oriented rock format and the WWBN calls debuted in 1994. Subsequently, WWBN moved from 101.7 to 101.5 in a frequency swap with WPRJ-FM, a contemporary Christian music station in Coleman, Michigan, and both stations were also able to increase their power.WWBN's owner, Regent Broadcasting (now Townsquare Media), took control of active rock station WRXF 103.1 FM "Radio X" in Lapeer, Michigan in December 2001.[citation needed] After a short three-month period of simulcasting the Banana on 103.1, WRXF debuted a new classic rock format as "U.S. 103.1" WQUS in February 2002, and the Banana evolved from mainstream AOR into its current active rock sound. Current program director and air personality Tony LaBrie is a veteran of WRXF's "Radio X" days.