WJDM

WJDM AM (1530 kHz, "Radio Cantico Nuevo") is a radio station licensed to Elizabeth, New Jersey (the seat of Union County) and the surrounding municipalities and broadcasts a Spanish Christian format. The station's transmitter is located in nearby Union Township, Union County, New Jersey. The original calls of WELA were changed in January 1971 to avoid any confusion with WERA Plainfield, NJ (1590 kHz) which left the air in 1997 after being acquired by WWRL 1600 kHz New York, New York and shut down to extend that station's coverage area to the west.

History

WELA signed on the air on March 11, 1970 with the following jingle: (Drumroll) - Announcer: "You've listened to the rest, now listen to the best!" (Chorus - "W-E-L-A, You never heard it so good!") The original format consisted of music, mainly middle-of-the-road (MOR), adult contemporary and rock 'n roll oldies selections, with local news and information. The station made a name for itself with its coverage of an explosion at the Linden, NJ Bayway Refinery just after 11 PM Saturday December 5, 1970, which had area residents fearing for their lives much of the next day.