Smile FM

Smile FM is a network of non-commercial, contemporary Christian radio stations owned by Superior Communications, a nonprofit organization. Most programming originates from studios in Williamston, Michigan (just east of Lansing) and is relayed (with local inserts) by an expanding number of stations throughout the state. The network also has studios in Imlay City, Michigan.

Smile FM
Programming
FormatReligious; Contemporary Christian
Ownership
OwnerSuperior Communications
History
Founded1996[1]
Links
Webcastwww.smile.fm/streaming/
Websitewww.smile.fm

Smile FM was originally two separate networks. The first, The Light, was founded in December 1996, when WLGH Lansing, Michigan began broadcasting.[2] The second, Joy FM, began on December 12, 2000, with WHYT (renamed as WWKM and again as WDTR) in Imlay City. While both played contemporary Christian music, The Light aimed for a younger audience. In June 2004, the two networks were combined to form Smile FM in a "wedding ceremony" conducted at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing.[3][4] The new name eliminated confusion since many other unrelated stations used The Light and Joy FM names.

The network is notable for putting stations on the air at a low cost. They lease existing towers and manufacture some of their own equipment. Unlike many Christian stations, they play music with only a few short breaks for weather, news, announcements, and features. Smile FM has also pioneered the use of new technology to help distribute and customize its programming, including developing an emergency weather notification system that is faster and more reliable than the required EAS system (which they also operate).

The licenses for the four stations are split between four subsidiaries: Superior Communications, Michigan Community Radio, Northland Community Broadcasters and Smile FM.

In January 2008, Smile FM established WWKM (now WDTR) Imlay City as the flagship of an experimental Smile FM Praise network playing Christian contemporary worship music. Previously, the station had broadcast traditional Christian music and hymns. The Smile FM Praise experiment was ended in 2009 and plans made to move that station to the northern suburbs of Detroit.

The owners have often recycled the call letters of famous Michigan stations of the past for their stations. WDTR (now WRCJ), WHYT (now WDVD), and WVMV (now WDZH) were once used by Detroit stations. WTAC (now WSNL) was the leading top 40 station in Flint during the 1960s (and, ironically, a pioneering contemporary Christian station during the 1980s). WKPK was used by a popular top 40 station of the 1980s and 1990s in northern Michigan (now WSRT). WAIR was an oldies station in northern Michigan (now WFDX) and the calls were also used for a construction permit for a station in Honor (now WSRJ). WWKM was a now-defunct station in Harrison (and Smile FM's 88.5 FM station in the Alpena area, WSFP, once bore the calls of WWKM's sister station WKKM, which is now WTWS in Houghton Lake).

Others were named for the original formats of the stations. WLGH and WTLI were The Light. All of the stations beginning with WJ were in or scheduled to be in the Joy FM network. All call letters beginning with WDT (WDTE, WDTP, and WDTR) serve portions of the Detroit metropolitan area.

Smile FM Network Stations

The combined footprint of Smile FM's stations covers most of Michigan's densely populated area (though much of West Michigan relies on translators).

Map of stations and translators

Stations owned and operated by Smile FM include:

Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		Height
(m (ft))		ClassFCC info
KOYH95.5Elaine, Arkansas6,00085 m (279 ft)AFCC FM Query
WLGH88.1Leroy Township, Ingham County, Michigan6,700174 m (571 ft)B1FCC FM Query
WSMF88.1Monroe, Michigan1,20041 m (135 ft)AFCC FM Query
WHYT88.1Goodland Township, Michigan400177 m (581 ft)AFCC FM Query
WEJC88.3White Star, Michigan55,000114 m (374 ft)C1FCC FM Query
WKPK88.3Michigamme, Michigan15,000252 m (827 ft)C2FCC FM Query
WSMZ-FM88.3Crystal Valley, Michigan1,500200 m (660 ft)AFCC FM Query
WDTE88.3Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan5,50050 m (160 ft)AFCC FM Query
WJOM88.5Eagle, Michigan4,300[nb 1]40 m (130 ft)AFCC FM Query
WSIS88.7Riverside, Michigan6,000117 m (384 ft)B1FCC FM Query
WDTR88.9Imlay City, Michigan3,20061 m (200 ft)AFCC FM Query
WTLI89.3Bear Creek Township, Michigan50,000312 m (1,024 ft)C1FCC FM Query
WSMB89.3Harbor Beach, Michigan12,000145 m (476 ft)C3FCC FM Query
WDTP89.5Huron Charter Township, Michigan70095 m (312 ft)AFCC FM Query
WJOJ89.7Rust Township, Michigan31,000143 m (469 ft)C2FCC FM Query
WTAC89.7Burton, Michigan15,000110 m (360 ft)B1FCC FM Query
WSLI-FM90.9Belding, Michigan11,50073 m (240 ft)B1FCC FM Query
WJOG91.3Good Hart, Michigan6,000209.2 m (686 ft)C2FCC FM Query
WVMV91.5China Township, Michigan1,05075 m (246 ft)AFCC FM Query
WAIR104.9Lake City, Michigan2,800149 m (489 ft)AFCC FM Query
WJOH91.5Raco, Michigan5,500100 m (330 ft)AFCC FM Query
WYOR88.5Republic, Ohio10032 m (105 ft)AFCC FM Query

Translators

Translators rebroadcasting Smile FM include:

Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		Height
(m (ft))		ClassFCC infoNotes
W242BH96.3Marshall, Michigan17032.1 m (105 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WLGH; serves Battle Creek
W246CW97.1Long Lake Township, Michigan10260.8 m (856 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WTLI; serves Traverse City
W247CU97.3Fort Gratiot, Michigan2583 m (272 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WVMV; serves Port Huron
W262AF100.3Parchment, Michigan3852.5 m (172 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WSIS; serves Kalamazoo
W273CI102.5Grand Haven, Michigan250191 m (627 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WSMZ-FM; serves Muskegon
W280EL103.9Yates, Michigan10119.3 m (391 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WVMV; serves northern Metro Detroit suburbs
W286CI105.1Saginaw, Michigan25049 m (161 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WEJC
W299CB107.7Manistee, Michigan1998 m (322 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WSMZ-FM
W272DG102.3Pittsfield Township, Michigan1998 m (322 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WTAC; serves Ann Arbor
W244EN96.7Lapeer, Michigan250276.5 m (907 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WLCO; serves Flint
W260CQ99.9Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan10126 m (413 ft)DFCC FM Queryrepeats WSLI-FM; serves Grand Rapids
WLHT95.7Grand Rapids, Michigan40,000147 m (482 ft)BFCC FM Queryuses HD2 subchannel, repeats WSLI-FM

Future stations

On October 6, 2022, it was announced that Smile FM has filed a $60,000 deal to purchase WGVU Grand Rapids from Grand Valley State University.[5] The station, along with WGVS AM Muskegon, originally carried an oldies radio format until January 7, 2022, when both stations closed down.[6] Smile FM had already acquired WGVS effective June 28, 2022 for $25,000, but the station is currently silent.

Explanatory notes
  1. WJOM currently holds a construction permit to increase to 25,000 watts.

References
  1. Demske, Kristyne E. "Smile! It's a new radio station", St. Clair Shores Sentinel. May 16, 2012. p. 3A.
  2. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000. Broadcasting & Cable. 2000. p. D-227. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. Austerman, Mike. "June 2004 News and Notes", Michiguide.com. June 30, 2004. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  4. "Josh Strickland Exits Townsquare/Lansing To Join Smile FM Radio Network". All Access. 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  5. "Deal Digest: New Owners for Adams Radio, TelevisaUnivision Sells in San Juan".
  6. Venta, Lance (December 29, 2021). "WGVU To Shut Down Real Oldies 1480/850". RadioInsight. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
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