WMGN

WMGN
Madison, Wisconsin;
Broadcast area	Madison metropolitan area
Frequency	98.1 MHz
Branding	Magic 98
Programming
Format	Adult contemporary
Affiliations	Premiere Networks
Ownership
Owner	Mid-West Family Broadcasting; (Mid-West Management, Inc.);
Sister stations	WHIT, WJJO, WJQM, WLMV, WOZN, WRIS-FM WWQM-FM
History
First air date	September 1948; 76 years ago (as WISC-FM)
Former call signs	WISC-FM (1948–59); WISM-FM (1959–83);
Call sign meaning	Magic Ninety-Eight
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	41900
Class	B
ERP	36,000 watts
HAAT	176 meters (577 ft)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live
Website	www.magic98.com

WMGN (98.1 FM) is a commercial radio station in Madison, Wisconsin, known as "Magic 98". It is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting and broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format. Notable programming includes a "Five at Five" feature on weekday evenings with five songs in the same theme, and the syndicated call-in and request show Delilah. Weekend programming includes "Saturday at the 70s", "Sunday at The 80s", and the "Magic Sunday Morning" program.

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WMGN has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 36,000 watts. The transmitter is off County Highway MM, near U.S. Route 14 in Fitchburg.^[2] The studios and offices are on Rayovac Drive in Madison.

The station signed on the air in September 1948^[3] as WISC-FM. It was mostly simulcast with sister station WISC 1480 AM (now WLMV). WISC-AM-FM were owned by Radio Wisconsin, Inc., with offices in the Commercial State Bank Building. WISC-FM was the second commercial FM station in Madison, going on the air a year after 101.5 WIBA-FM.

WISC-AM-FM slightly changed their call signs to WISM-AM-FM in 1959.^[4] They were network affiliates of the Mutual Broadcasting System. By the late 1960s, WISM-FM had a separate easy listening format, that was largely automated.

By the 1980s, the easy listening format was attracting mostly older listeners. To gain a younger audience, WISM-FM flipped to soft rock as "Movin' Easy 98 FM".^[5] On December 1, 1983, the station changed its call letters to WMGN with the moniker "Magic 98".^[6] The format switched to soft adult contemporary music. Over time, the tempo picked up and WMGN became a Mainstream AC station.

WMGN is one of the few AC stations in the U.S. that do not switch to all-Christmas music for most of November and December. The all-holiday music format in Madison is heard on iHeartMedia’s 92.1 WXXM, Audacy’s 105.1 WMHX and non-commercial Christian Contemporary station 102.5 WNWC-FM, owned by the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. WMGN only switches to all-Christmas music a few days before December 25, calling it "The 98 Hours of Christmas", tying in its dial position.