Call Letters: WHMS-FM
City: Champaign-Urbana, IL (Arbitron Market #212)
Owner: D.W.S., Inc.
Format: Adult Contemporary
Frequency: 97.5
Website: http://www.whms.com/
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The Champaign-Urbana, IL area is best known for housing the main campus of the University of Illinois, one of the finest major universities in the U.S. The university boasts some of the finest schools in the country including engineering, law, and medicine. The "U of I" is also known for its rich athletic history, particularly in men's basketball and football. Every season, thousands of rabid fans clad in orange and blue flock to the imposing Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium to cheer on their Fighting Illini.
The flagship FM station of the Fighting Illini, WHMS "Lite Rock 97.5," has deep roots in the community and ties to the university. It also has a very talented air lineup and plays a great variety of light rock from the 60's to today.
The station first came onto the air in the late 1940's as WDWS-FM, a simulcast of sister station WDWS-AM. During the 1960's, however, the FCC began to limit AM simulcasting to only 50% of the time. To adjust, the station began to broadcast an automated easy listening format during the hours that it didn't simulcast WDWS-AM. The station gradually moved away from easy listening in the late 1980's and gradually to light rock in the early 90's.
Over the years, WHMS has evolved to become a long time favorite of listeners in east-central Illinois and (with sister station WDWS) has achieved multiple Illinois Broadcasters Association "Silver Dome" Award for its broadcasting prowess. In 2009, the station won the best local newscast award for its newscast of a 2008 fire that destroyed the Metropolitan Building in downtown Champaign. A year earlier, the station won the same award for a story about FutureGen, a company that was slated to locate nearby Mattoon, IL but never did. Fighting Illini Broadcaster Brian Barnhart has also won multiple Silver Dome awards, including his 2007 broadcast of the Fighting Illini football team upsetting then top-ranked Ohio State
Listeners start their day with station General Manager Mike Haile ("Mike in the Morning"). The weekday morning show features the station's usual music fare consisting of a wide variety of lite rock from the 60's to today. The morning show also offers the usual news, sports, and weather updates as well as friendly banter between Haile, News Director Carol Vorel, Weatherman Greg Soulje, Brian Barnhart, and others.
At 7:45, the morning host reads the "quiz question" of the day (one of my personal favorites), where listeners are stumped by Haile offering an obscure fact, ie "Who was the first female duo to have a number one album on both the country and pop charts." The first correct answer usually receives a free pizza from Monicals, movie tickets, etc. Haile says that he has written over six thousand questions and "loves the challenge of writing them." Listeners must enjoy the challenge as well, as in all of my years trying, I have never been able to get through once the lines open.
Haile, who has a very distinctive radio voice, offers a Paul Harvey-esqe sort of way of interacting with listeners-transitioning gradually from dialogue to a commercial and speaking about products and services without the listener even realizing that they are in fact listening to a commercial.
Haile has been in the Champaign-Urbana radio market for over thirty years. Initially employed with WKIO, he was hired by Stevie Jay in the summer of 2000 as the Assistant General Manager of WHMS/WDWS and morning show host of WHMS. After coming from Southern California, Haile admits that he only planned on staying in the area for two years. "Well, two has turned into almost thirty four years," said Haile. "The community was very nice to me from the day I arrived. The people, the opportunities, the living environment, the philanthropic attitude of the community......I could go on and on. I was very fortunate to land here. I am so thankful to this community for everything that they have done for me and my family."
The GM is also quick to give praise to his supporting cast. "Brian's (Barnhart's) sportcasting abilities are truly remarkable. Football, Basketball, Baseball, play by play, interviews, etc. He is so prepared before each game. Listeners would be amazed at the hours of preparation he does before each and every game. I am so lucky to have him on our morning show each day. He is so well read and can converse on virtually any subject. He delivers great punch lines for me every day! He is so good on the air."
"I am very proud of our news department", Haile added. "Carol Vorel our news director has assembled a terrific team. They work very hard at delivering on listener expectations."
So, how has this light rock station continued its success in such a young college community? "Lots of market research", said Haile. "Our format is designed for east-central Illinois. I'm not sure if you could pick it up and move it somewhere else." Haile also credits the station's close ties with the University of Illinois as well. "Our on air product investment in the University of Illinois meets the expectations of our audience. We deliver a product that listeners are looking for." Finally, Haile credits the presence of the University of Illinois and Parkland College in his market as great resources for talent both on and off air. In addition, Haile states that Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University, and Lakeland College have also been terrific resources.
In addition to Haile's morning show, the station's on air lineup includes Alli Adams from 10 AM-3PM and Lee Marcus from 3-7PM. Marcus' show features the "5 at 5," where 5 songs that represent a particular year (or theme) are played in succession at 5pm. One of the few syndicated shows that WHMS features is the nationally renowned "Delilah" show airing Sunday-Friday at 7PM.
The station celebrates the weekend by playing even more older favorites all weekend long. In addition, an all 80's show is aired on Saturday nights at 7PM.
A recent Saturday afternoon hourly log of the station's play list indicates how vast the station's music library is:
"Human" by The Human League
"Against All Odds" by Phil Collins
"MacArthur Park" by Donna Summers
"Please Don't Leave Me" by Pink
"When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge
"Manic Monday" by The Bangles
"Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran
"Brighter Than the Sun" by Colbie Caillat
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John (with Kiki Dee)
Yes, you really don't know what you will hear next on WHMS, but I suggest checking out the station if you like a wide variety of music, great radio personalities, and quality NCAA sports broadcasts. With a 50,000 watt "stick" just south of Champaign, WHMS can be heard about 50 miles or so in all directions. If you are outside of the listening range, the station also streams online at http://www.whms.com/. Smartphone users can also utilize the "TuneIn Radio" application to stream WHMS.
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