WJJD now on iTunes!
Our request for listing on the iTunes media platform was approved in November! Welcome to the many listeners who are just discovering WJJD for the first time!
To find us on the iTunes player:
Under Library, click the Radio icon;
Under Radio, click the Genre icon;
Under Genre, click the Country listing;
We are listed as "The Big Country Giant." Enjoy!
WJJD logged 26,744 listener streams in December and is ranked #9 in country on Live365.com. Thanks for listening!
Thanks for making us your country station of choice!
THE COST OF BROADCASTING
Here's the rough breakdown:
1.) Streaming/bandwidth/music license fees to Live365: $1800
a. Royalties to ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and SoundExchange: $900
b. Streaming, software, bandwidth, storage to Live365: $900
2.) Building renovation: $1800
A 10x20 building has been donated to us. This will become the new home for the station, with a combo on-air studio, production area, office area, kitchenette and music storage. The building will require painting, insulation, additional electrical work, inside wall, additional windows, and air conditioning. Total cost is estimated at $1800.
.
THE BUDGOMETER FOR FEBRUARY
INCOME:
FEBRUARY INCOME $220.00
FEB 1 BILLING: $50.00
FEBRUARY PLEDGES: -0-
OTHER DONATIONS IN KIND:
Gold Record from original WJJD lobby!
Record storage shelving units (2)
Air conditioning unit for new radio building
Mini-fridge and microwave for new radio building
Some building supplies for new radio building
Five gallon paint - green and light green interior (2)
EXPENSES:
PRINTING/POSTAGE/PROMOTIONS $461.95
STREAMING & ROYALTIES $385.85
TOTAL EXPENSES: $847.80
BUDGOMETER: <-847.80>
WE REALLY NEED YOU. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
"Pay for a Day"
Make a donation via PayPal to cover the cost of broadcasting for one day. Based on current expenses, this is roughly $28.00.
Purchase an Ultimate Fast Food Discount Card for $25
Purchase a Computer Games Gold CD-ROM for $35
Advertise your business with our $100 special or $250 "Here's A Deal" packages
Pledge a contribution to our Kickstarter project
Make a donation directly to us:
Delta Star Radio of Florida Inc.
Att: Alan McCall
2625 Doll Place
Tallahassee, FL 32311-5324
The "country giant" slogan was used quite extensively throughout the U.S. during the 1960s and 70s. Many of the stations using this term were located in small towns, but this was not always the case. Sometimes it was used on stations in big cities as well. Many of the station jingles and IDs of this era had a very distinctive sound. WJJD began its run as a "country giant" in 1965.
HISTORY OF WJJD
Many of the historic radio station is U.S. broadcast history are gone - some have gone silent; others have gone through ownership and format changes over the years. Most are unrecognizable as any type of "heritage" station, instead offering syndicated or brokered programs, with little personality of its own.
One of these was WJJD, first put on the air in 1924 by J.J. Davies in 1924 at Moosehart, the Moose Club Children's Home, located north of Aurora, Illinois. It was reallocated to Chicago in 1941 and operated on "limited hours" from 1941 to 1980.
WJJD had a number of formats. I'm particularly interested in the format switch from Top-40 to country in 1965. The first record played was Buck Owens' "I've Got A Tiger by the Tail." Under the guidance of program director Chris Lane, WJJD went on to be a trendsetter, featuring such air personalities as Art Nelson, Roy Stingley, Ted Clark, Rich Osborn, Mark Edwards, Mike Larsen and a number of others. WJJD was also the home of the 'Suppertime Frolic' with Randy Blake.
WJJD was a trendsetter - if WJJD "broke a record" on the air by being the first to play it, you could bet other country stations across the U.S. would soon be playing it as well. Program directors from stations around the country would travel to Chicago, listening to the formatics and programming of this country music station.
Despite 73 years of history, this station died quietly on April 8, 1997. Chicago's 1160 is now WYLL, owned by Salem Communications. Very little original WJJD program material has survived. I am grateful to those who have contributed aircheck tapes, jingles and IDs and music!
ABOUT THE WJJD OF TODAY
The WJJD of today was developed by Tallahassee radio veteran Alan McCall, founder of Delta Star Radio of Florida, Inc., a Florida nonprofit corporation. It began as a thought to "bring back the hometown country giant sound." Several call letters were considered, but it was after a radio colleague mentioned "WJJD" as a country station that many people would remember that the station began to take shape.
Locating the WJJD jingles and the other station IDs you hear was not easy. It took several months of searching before I finally was able to purchase them.
The Internet stream originally began as Christian-formatted "Delta Star Radio" in July of 2001, but the format was changed to country with the 'JJD brand on July 27, 2003.
Delta Star Radio continues to own and operate WJJD. Delta Star Radio is nonprofit, but is not a 501(c)3, allowing us the ability to air spots and commercials if necessary to meet expenses. We would prefer to be listener supported, but when donations are low, it does mean ads must air within the stream to help offset the operating costs.
WJJD BROADCASTING AT 32 KBPS BITRATE
The majority of our listeners have broadband. WJJD is now broadcasting at a bitrate of 32k. This seems to be the best bitrate for reaching both dial-up and broadband listeners.
WJJD IS A "PRO" LEVEL STATION
The Country Giant is a "professional" level station running our own ads and promotions. If you like and appreciate the type of music and programming offered here, please consider making a donation or becoming a sponsor of our programming.
It costs a minimum of $150 per month to operate. (see "cost of broadcasting" above) This amount may increase with the addition of iTunes.
If you are a business, organization or individual that would be interested in supporting us via advertising/sponsorship, please contact me via email or snail mail address below.
CONTACT US
You are welcome to write us anytime:
Delta Star Radio of Florida Inc/WJJD
c/o Alan McCall
2625 Doll Place
Tallahassee, FL 32311-5324
Email me: alanmccal@hotmail.com
Thanks to all of you who are helping create the best radio station ever!
