WKLA (AM)

WKLA is an AM radio station owned by Todd Mohr, through licensee Synergy Media, Inc. It broadcasts from Ludington, Michigan. It airs Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel programming from Citadel Media & can be heard in a very small area around Ludington and Scottville. In late 2013 and early 2014, WKLA added two FM translators to extend its reach, 92.7 W224CA in Ludington (formerly a rebroadcaster of sister station WWKR) and 107.9 W300CG in Manistee. Both 92.7 and 107.9 cover more area than 1450 AM. WKLA is also the home of Manistee Chippewas football and basketball despite the 1450 signal not reaching Manistee itself.

History

The AM station went on the air on October 8, 1944, originally housed on the second floor of the Masonic Temple in downtown Ludington. Karl L. Ashbacher was the original owner, with his initials being the original basis for the call letters. (Previously the family had operated WKBZ in Ludington from 1926 to 1934, moving it to Muskegon, Michigan in the latter year.) In 1945 the WKLA studio moved to the Ludington Chamber of Commerce office at 204 E. Ludington Avenue. Raymond A. Plank purchased the station in 1949. In 1951, the station was moved to its current site at 5941 W. US 10 in Ludington. In 1971, WKLA expanded its programming with WKLA-FM.