Synergy Broadcast Group

 radio station, 20th century construction, 1950s construction

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Former space for radio broadcasting studio WKLA until early-October 2016

WKLA was established and on air since October 8, 1944 as an AM radio station (1450 AM), it was originally housed on the second floor of the Masonic Temple at 108 W Ludington Ave. in downtown Ludington. Karl L. Ashbacker (born December 11, 1877 in Defiance, Ohio – died December 10, 1955 at 11:15am in Ludington) was the original owner, with his initials being the original basis for the call letters. The studio was relocated to the Ludington Chamber of Commerce office at 204 E Ludington Ave. in 1945 and then to this current site in 1951. Raymond A. Plank purchased the station in April 1950. In May 1971, WKLA expanded its programming with WKLA-FM. That FM radio station (106.3 FM) went on air as a "middle of the road" programming and it was switched to adult contemporary format around 1980. Talk programming was introduced in the late 1990's and the station soon went all talk prior to the switch to oldies in 2010.

On June 19, 2013, WKLA-AM/FM and other radio stations in the area were transferred to Synergy Broadcast Group (or Synergy Media, Inc.) at a price of $580,000.

In late 2013/early 2014, WKLA added two FM translators to extend its reach, 92.7 FM in Ludington and 107.9 FM in Manistee (which has since moved to a different frequency and is simulcasting WKLA's sister station WMLQ). 92.7 FM covers a larger coverage area than 1450 AM. WKLA is also the home of Manistee Chippewas football and basketball despite the 1450 signal not reaching Manistee itself.

On August 26, 2016, WKLA-FM changed its frequency to 96.3 FM and continued the Westwood One Hot AC format as "Hits 96" (now "96-3 KLA" to avoid confusion with WSFQ, which is "Hits 96" and also on 96.3; WKLA and WSFQ, along with WLXT in Petoskey, are known for interfering with each other in the Manistee area).

In early-October 2016, Synergy Broadcast Group relocated its studios from 5399 W Wallace Ln. to this location. Today, the broadcasting company owns five radio stations: WKLA 1450 AM/92.7 FM - "Good Time Oldies" in Ludington, WKLA 96.3 FM - "Hits 96" in Ludington, WLDN 98.7 FM - "News 97 and 98" in Ludington (with a simulcast station WMLQ 97.7 FM in Manistee), WKZC 94.9 FM - "Big Dog Country" in Scottville, and WWKR 94.1 FM - "West Michigan's "K-Rock"" in Hart.

5941 W US-10
Ludington, MI 49431
Ph: (231) 843-0941
Fax: (231) 843-9411
Web: www.gowithsynergy.com/ , www.wklaoldies.com/ , www.94k-rock.com/ , www.bigdogcountryfm.com/

Todd Mohr, owner

Studio open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

External links
www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/news/local-...
radioinsight.com/headlines/107895/station-sales-week-of...
www.rbr.com/r2-synergy_0823/
www.insideradio.com/features/deal_digest/deal-digest---...
www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/archives/do...
www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/archives/sy...
www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/archives/k-...
www.masoncountypress.com/2013/08/08/wkla-not-moving-jus...
www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/archives/hi...
www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-j/wklaam.html (about WKLA-AM)
transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=10810 (about WKLA-AM)
radio-locator.com/info/WKLA-AM (about WKLA-AM)
transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WKLA (about WKLA-FM)
radio-locator.com/info/WKLA-FM (about WKLA-FM)
ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/forum/topics/out-with-the-old...
ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/forum/topics/and-now-you-have...
www.fybush.com/site-20170113/
www.michiguide.com/north/
www.angelfire.com/wi/dxmidamerica/LMCT.html
news.google.com/newspapers?id=0UsxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rEIDAAA... (about the late Karl L. Ashbacker)
news.google.com/newspapers?id=0EsxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rEIDAAA... (about the late Karl L. Ashbacker)
news.google.com/newspapers?id=z0sxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rEIDAAA... (about the late Karl L. Ashbacker)
news.google.com/newspapers?id=zksxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rEIDAAA... (about the late Karl L. Ashbacker)
news.google.com/newspapers?id=IKAxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n0IDAAA... (about the late Karl L. Ashbacker)

Facebook (News 97 and 98)
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