WFYR

For the radio station at 103.5 in Chicago, Illinois and formerly known as WFYR-FM, see WKSC-FM.

WFYR (97.3 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a country music format^[2] and licensed for Elmwood, Illinois, United States, in the Peoria area. The station is owned by Cumulus Media,^[3] which purchased the station from Townsquare Media.^[4]

WFYR

Studio in downtown Peoria
Elmwood, Illinois
Broadcast area	Peoria, Illinois
Frequency	97.3 MHz
Branding	97.3 River Country
Programming
Format	Country music
Affiliations	Compass Media Networks Westwood One
Ownership
Owner	Cumulus Media (Radio License Holding CBC, LLC)
Sister stations	WGLO, WIXO, WVEL, WZPW
History
First air date	August 2, 1993; 31 years ago (1993-08-02)
Call sign meaning	"Fire" (station's original moniker, Fire 97.3)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	72080
Class	B1
ERP	23,500 watts
HAAT	103 meters (338 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	40°46′22.1″N 89°44′50.4″W (NAD83)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live Listen Live (iHeart)
Website	973rivercountry.com

History

Ever since the station signed on on August 2, 1993, it has always aired a country format. At first, WFYR used the branding "Fire 97", while using the Jones Satellite Networks' CD Country format on the air. The first local personality on the station was Program Director/Morning Host Dr Chris Michaels (now at competitor WXCL). The second air talent added locally in 1996 was Robb Rose to Afternoon Drive/Promotions Director. In the early-2000s, it was changed to "97.3 River Country". From September 6, 2013, to February 2, 2020, it used the nationally syndicated "Nash FM" branding.^{[5][non-primary source needed][6]}

Today, they are known for boosting local country music artists, with a weekly feature. From 2013 to 2020, the station competed in the Nash Next National Competition.

On February 3, 2020, WFYR rebranded back to its previous identity as "97.3 River Country."^[7]

Previous logo

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for WFYR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
3. "WFYR Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
4. "Cumulus, Townsquare Swap Involves 65 Stations, 13 Markets, $116 Million Cash" Archived May 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine from All Access (April 30, 2012)
5. 97.3 River Country (September 6, 2013). "We have a new name !! !! !". Retrieved September 30, 2013 – via Facebook.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
6. Tarter, Steve (September 9, 2013). "On the air: River Country handle traded in for a NASH". Minding Business. Peoria, Illinois. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
7. "WFYR Returns To River Country Identity - RadioInsight".

External links

• Facility details for Facility ID 72080 (WFYR) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WFYR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database