WZOX
| City | Portage, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | [1] |
| Branding | Z96.5 |
| Slogan | Kalamazoo's Alternative |
| Frequency | 96.5 MHz |
| First air date | February 28, 1992 (as WUBU) |
| Format | Modern Rock |
| ERP | 6,000 watts |
| HAAT | 76 meters |
| Class | A |
| Facility ID | 67775 |
| Callsign meaning | W KalamaZOo X |
| Former callsigns | WLWJ (1988-1989, CP) WUBU (1989-1992) WFAT (1992-2008) WYZO (2008-2010) WKZO-FM (2010-2013) |
| Owner | Duey E. Wright (Midwest Communications, Inc.) |
| Sister stations | WKZO, WNWN, WNWN-FM, WQLR, WVFM |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | z965fm.com |
WZOX (96.5) is an FM radio station in Portage, Michigan. The station currently broadcasts a modern rock format branded as "Z 96.5".
96.5 FM signed on in December 1988 as WLWJ owned by Larry Langford, Jr. Langford owned stations in Chicago and South Bend such as WVON and WLLJ-AM 910 (now WGTO). WLWJ was mixed of a Rhythm leaning Oldies Rock station.
In February 1991 the calls were changed to WUBU, as "96-5 UBU" with an urban adult contemporary format. WUBU, owned by Larry Langford, Jr. (who owned a similarly formatted station in Cassopolis, WLLJ-AM 910, now classic hits WGTO and still owned by Langford) was Kalamazoo's first FM R&B station and was supported highly. There was support to maintain this only R&B station in the area, mostly from students on WMU's campus.
In June 1992 the station was bought out by Tri-State Broadcasting, Inc., after WUBU was unable to generate enough revenue to support itself. The WUBU calls were dropped as well as the urban AC format. The WUBU call letters and format were eventually picked up by 106.3 FM in South Bend, Indiana. Throughout the years there have been attempts for another FM R&B station. Today Midwest Communications operates WNWN 1560 AM The Touch with a similar format to that of WUBU; although it is daytime only its programming is available on FM 24/7 via a translator at 95.5. Coincidentally, 1560 AM is 96.5 FM's former sister station, as both were owned by Tri-State Broadcasting in the early-1990s.
On June 9, 1992, the station acquired the calls WFAT and switched its format to oldies, then all 1970s, then classic hits, and finally to Hot AC as 96.5 The Fat One. In the late-1990s the station flirted with a CHR/Pop format briefly in competition with WKFR. But by April 2000 the station decided to a move in a new direction and switched its format to mainstream AC with Rick Dees coming to the station for mornings and Delilah at night.
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