WCSM (AM)

WCSM ("Mellow 1350") is an American AM radio station in Celina, Ohio, broadcasting at 1350 kHz on the AM dial. The station is owned with 96.7 WCSM-FM by Hayco Broadcasting, Inc.

Brief history

WCSM was founded in 1964 by Richard Hunt and C. Oscar Baker who at the time also owned WPTW in Piqua (currently owned by Muzzy Broadcasting Group). Since the 1977 it has been owned by Hayco Broadcasting. During most of the 1970s, WCSM and its companion FM were owned by Johnston Broadcasting, Inc., Hugh Johnston, President. At that time both stations aired an adult contemporary format which included the top Country songs. Popular programming included Janie's Corner with Janie Henderson, Paul Harvey's 3 daily broadcasts and Ed Johnson with the Agri Broadcasting Network. Service and Music, which allows listeners to buy, sell and trade, remains popular. WCSM is the second oldest commercial radio station in Mercer County with WCSM-FM making its initial sign-on in 1965. It was originally a daytimer from its inception until the 1990s when WCSM was given permission to operate with reduced power (11 watts) during the evening hours. Its normal daytime power is 500 watts with a direction pattern reaching neighboring Saint Marys, Wapakoneta, Van Wert and the southwestern suburbs of Lima.

Since the late 1980s departure of former competitor WERM at Moulton near Wapakoneta (later WAXC which then moved its studios to Lima as WZOQ-FM and currently WFGF...previously at 93.1 following a callsign and frequency swap), WCSM has maintained its local image and for the most part remains locally originating in Celina and for many years also operated an additional live studio in downtown St. Marys. Its main studios, offices and transmitter remain located on the southwestern corner of Celina at the intersection of Meyer and Schunck Road.

WCSM AM and FM remain as Mercer and Auglaize County's only AM–FM combo still offering locally-originating full-service programming. Its slogan and jingle (produced by Dallas' TM Productions) "We Do It For You" has been in use since Hayco's purchase in 1977.

Programming

WCSM's programming format includes adult standards from the Music of Your Life network, local high-school sports, and farm programming. WCSM also features newscasts from ABC Radio and the Ohio News Network as well as NASCAR racing while sister WCSM-FM offers an adult contemporary format.

WCSM features agricultural news and weather updates several times daily from the Agri Broadcast Network, of which the station is a charter affiliate, and the Buckeye Ag Radio Network (BARN).

See also

• WCSM-FM

External links

• WCSM official website
• Query the FCC's AM station database for WCSM
• Radio-Locator Information on WCSM
• Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for WCSM