WLNH-FM
Simulcast of WFNQ, Nashua
Broadcast areaLakes Region
Concord, New Hampshire
Frequency98.3 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding98.3 Frank FM
Programming
FormatClassic hits
SubchannelsHD2: News–talk (WEMJ simulcast)
AffiliationsNew England Patriots Radio Network
Ownership
Owner
  • Binnie Media
  • (WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
WEMJ, WFNQ, WJYY, WNNH, WNHW, WTPL
History
First air date
November 22, 1965 (1965-11-22)[1]
Call sign meaning
Laconia, New Hampshire
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID73215
ClassC3
ERP700 watts
HAAT547 meters (1,795 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°31′1.6″N 71°22′7.6″W / 43.517111°N 71.368778°W / 43.517111; -71.368778 (WLNH-FM)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via WFNQ)
Websitefrankfmradio.com

WLNH-FM (98.3 MHz) — branded as Frank FM — is a radio station located in Laconia, New Hampshire, United States. The station broadcasts to the Lakes Region and Concord, New Hampshire. The format is classic hits music, and on air it is identified as "The Soundtrack of the Lakes Region". WLNH-FM is owned by Binnie Media.

History

Former logo of the radio station used until December 1998

WLNH was known for its statewide competition, New Hampshire Idol. A smaller version of the highly successful American Idol, NH Idol was a singing competition for residents in New Hampshire aged 16 – 30. The 2006 winner was Jacob Heal, who won the grand prize of having a demo CD produced by Jimmy Landry, an A&R consultant and in-house producer for Virgin Records.

Every December, the WLNH Children's Auction, a nationally registered 501(c)(3) organization, organizes the long-standing WLNH Children's Auction. WLNH is a major contributor to the WLNH Children's Auction. In 2005, WLNH was able to raise $181,000 for the local community. Over the last 25 years, WLNH has brought in over $1 million for the community. The WLNH Children's Auction relies heavily on the community and local organizations for help. Contributors generously gave over 2,300 items in 2005.

WLNH-FM, along with 16 other stations in northern New England formerly owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners, was purchased at bankruptcy auction by WBIN Media Company, a company controlled by Bill Binnie, on May 22, 2012. Binnie already owned WBIN-TV in Derry and WYCN-LP in Nashua.[3][4] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[5]

Original version of the "98.3 Frank FM" logo

On May 24, 2019, WLNH-FM changed its format from adult contemporary to classic hits, branded as "Frank FM"; the programming is largely simulcast with Nashua sister station WFNQ, though WLNH breaks away for local commercials and IDs.[6] The "Frank FM" network, which also includes WBYY in Somersworth, transitioned to a hot adult contemporary format during 2021.[7]

Logo during the simulcast over WNNH between late 2020 and September 2, 2021
Pink version of the "Frank FM" logo used during the hot AC format

After morning host Marc Nazzaro (who used the air name "DJ Nazzy") was laid off from "Frank FM" in January 2023 as part of a refocus of Binnie Media's resources on its news and talk programming, vice president of programming Heath Cole told the Concord Monitor that "the music format that we do will change".[8] On February 1, 2023, WLNH-FM, along with the rest of the "Frank FM" network, returned to a classic hits format; the stations also dropped their remaining on-air staff, who were reassigned to other positions within the company.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-279. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WLNH-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ↑ "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  4. ↑ "WBIN Media acquires 17 N.E. radio stations". New Hampshire Union Leader. May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  5. ↑ Kitch, Michael (December 1, 2012). "Binnie closes on purchase of WLNH". Laconia Daily Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  6. ↑ Binnie Media Makes Trio of Flips in New Hampshire Radiooinsight - May 24, 2019
  7. ↑ "Binnie Makes Musical Shifts In New Hampshire". RadioInsight. January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  8. ↑ Duckler, Ray (January 22, 2023). "Even without his longtime role as on-air disc jockey, Nazzy still knows how to throw a party". Concord Monitor. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ New Hampshire's Frank-FM Returns to Classic Hits Radioinsight - February 1, 2023
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