WACA (AM)

WACA
Laurel, Maryland; United States;
Broadcast area	Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
Frequency	900 kHz
Branding	Radio America 900
Programming
Format	Spanish news/talk
Ownership
Owner	Alejandro Carrasco; (ACR Media, Inc.);
History
First air date	1965 (59 years ago) (as WLMD)
Former call signs	WLMD (1964–1985); WILC (1985–2018); WCLM (2018–2021)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	28279
Class	B
Power	1,900 watts daytime; 500 Watts nighttime
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Website	www.radioamerica.net

WACA is a Spanish news/talk formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Laurel, Maryland, serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.^[3] It is owned by Alejandro Carrasco, through licensee ACR Media, Inc.^[4]

900 AM is a Canadian and Mexican clear-channel frequency.

History

From 1965^[5] to the early 1980s, the station (then WLMD^[6]) broadcast a succession of formats in English; several radio personalities began their careers with the station.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]

Before 1969, WLMD was a MOR (Middle Of The Road) formatted radio station and held to the model created by WMAL and WBAL in Washington and Baltimore, respectively. Its dismal ratings, primarily due to being a relatively low power AM station only broadcasting during the day with a poor coverage area, led to a format change beginning in 1975. The new Progressive Country music format was loved by the small audience it attracted and ratings increased modestly.^{[citation needed]} The station changed its call sign to WILC on December 19, 1985.

ZGS Communications, then the owner of Telemundo affiliate WZDC-CD, purchased WILC in 2002.^[12]

On March 14, 2011, WILC flipped to a Spanish Adult Contemporary format as Romantica 900 AM. On February 3, 2014, the station changed formats to Conservative Talk;^[13] with a more Libertarian emphasis.^[14] On the same date, Wallis Communications began operating the station under a local marketing agreement.^[15] On November 5, 2014, WILC changed their format back to Spanish adult contemporary, branded as "Romantica 900".

From January 1, 2016, WILC was operated by Alejandro Carrasco under a local marketing agreement. The station continued with a Spanish adult contemporary format branded "Radio America 900" to correspond with Carrasco's news-talk WACA, long known as "Radio America 1540". As part of its exit from broadcasting, ZGS sold to Carrasco for $700,000 on January 29, 2018. WILC was ZGS' last remaining broadcast property after selling its television stations to Telemundo in the same month.^[4] Carrasco closed on the purchase of WILC on April 10, 2018, and then changed the station's call sign to WCLM on April 25, 2018. At the beginning of 2019, the news/talk programming moved from the daytimer 1540 AM, which was then leased to a local Catholic broadcaster. With the outright sale of 1540 AM (now WDON) closing in July 2021, the WACA callsign relocated to 900 AM, replacing WCLM, where the station commenced 24/7 broadcasting.^[16]

References

^ "FCC History Cards for WACA". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
^ "Facility Technical Data for WACA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Venta, Lance (February 2, 2018). "Station Sales Week Of 2/2". RadioInsight.
^ "Radio and Television Stations". Archives of Maryland Online. Volume 178. page 474. Maryland Manual, 1977–1978. Retrieved on August 25, 2008.
^ White, Thomas H. "Washington, D.C. AM Station History". Retrieved on May 19, 2007.
^ "Ken Merson". ultimateoldiesradio.com. Ultimate Oldies Radio. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
^ "Ty Ford". ultimateoldiesradio.com. Ultimate Oldies Radio. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
^ "Resume". stevethatdjguy.com. Steve Willett. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
^ Chambers, Steve. "Jobs, Jobs, & More Jobs". stevec.us. Steve Chambers. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
^ "98 Rock's Lopez Dies of Lung Cancer". WTOP-FM. Hubbard Broadcasting. May 23, 2005. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
^ "WILC Facility Data". FCCData.
^ Venta, Lance (February 2, 2014). "WILC Shifts to Talk". RadioInsight. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
^ "WILC-AM flips to Libertarian Talk in DC | Radio & Television Business Report". April 15, 2014.
^ "Monday, February 3, 2014". Talk Media, Inc. February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
^ Venta, Lance (January 15, 2021). "Station Sales Week Of 1/15". RadioInsight. Retrieved July 25, 2021.