104.5 FM began in the early 1990s as
WUVE, an
album oriented rock station that aired some programming from
ABC/Satellite Music Network's "
Z Rock" network (though not an official "Z-Rock" affiliate). The station became
WMJA ("Magic") with a
classic hits format in 1995, and then adopted its current calls and format in 1999 (possibly in tribute to former
Detroit album-rock station WLLZ 98.7 FM, now alternative rock station
WDZH). WILZ's format was formerly simulcast on then-sister station
WYLZ (100.9 FM) (now
WLUN), licensed to
Pinconning, Michigan. WYLZ has broadcast a variety of different formats since signing on in 1983. 104.5 and 100.9 together were known as "Wheelz 104.5 and 101" from 1999 to 2007. In June 2007, WYLZ was sold by
Citadel Broadcasting (along with nine other stations) to The Last Bastion Station Trust, LLC, as part of
ABC Radio's absorption into Citadel. Upon ending the simulcast, WYLZ switched to a satellite-fed
country format ("Mainstream Country" from
Dial Global) under the "Thunder Country" moniker. Despite the programming changes, WYLZ continued to air play-by-play of
Great Lakes Loons baseball during the summer of 2007. In the winter of 2008, the Great Lakes Loons finally took over ownership and changed the station to sports radio under new calls
WLUN. Citadel retained WILZ until its merger with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011. ==References==