WRNW
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| City | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Branding | 97-3 Now |
| Slogan | Milwaukee's #1 for All the Hits |
| Frequency | 97.3 (MHz) (also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | July 1949 (on 102.9) January 1961 (on 97.3) |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
| ERP | 15,500 watts |
| HAAT | 278 meters |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 26609 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 43° 06' 41.00" N 87° 55' 38.00" W |
| Callsign meaning | Radio NoW |
| Former callsigns | WISN-FM (1961–78) WLPX (1978–84) WBTT (1984–85) WLTQ (1985–2004) WQBW (2004–10) |
| Owner |
iHeartMedia (Capstar TX LLC) |
| Sister stations | WISN, WKKV-FM, WMIL-FM, WOKY, WRIT-FM |
| Webcast | "Radio Now" stream |
| Website | 973radionow.com |
WRNW (97.3 FM) - currently branded as 97-3 Now - is a Top 40 (CHR) FM radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin owned and operated by iHeartMedia. WRNW's studios are located with iHeartMedia's other Milwaukee operations in rural-suburban Greenfield, with their transmitter located with the WISN-TV tower in Milwaukee's Lincoln Park.
The station started as WISN-FM, the second iteration of the station after a short-lived attempt in 1949 on 102.9 FM, where WHQG now resides. From the beginning, it has been a sister to WISN (AM) (1130) (starting as a straight simulcast of WISN), and for many years WISN-TV (channel 12) under the founding ownership of the Hearst Corporation. For most of 97.3's early two decades between January 1961 and 1978, it carried automated beautiful music like longtime rival (through Journal and Hearst's various Milwaukee ventures) WTMJ-FM, which converted to automated top 40 in 1974 as WKTI, from its sign-on in January 1961 until 1978.
In January 1978, the station flipped to AOR as WLPX, using consultant Lee Abrams' "SuperStars" format. The station became an immediate success in the ratings, even pushing rival WZMF to tighten their format, and later drop it altogether for beautiful music. WLPX also sponsored future NASCAR driver Alan Kulwicki on local racetracks.
In the summer of 1983, WLPX abruptly switched to CHR, first as 97X, then shortly after as WBTT, B-97.
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Wikipedia