WSMN

WSMN (1590 AM) is an American radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Nashua, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the Manchester area. The station is owned by Absolute Broadcasting LLC and features programing from Talk Radio Network and Dial Global.

History

WSMN signed on March 9, 1958. The first voice heard was that of Manchester, New Hampshire native Frank G. Teas who spent the next 44 years with the organization until he retired in December 2002. Original owner Merrimack Valley Broadcasting System sold the station only one year later, to 1590 Broadcasting Corporation. By 1971, WSMN had a middle-of-the-road format, mixed in with talk; this format remained in place through the decade.

During the mid-1990s, WSMN attempted a country music format; however, this format became less viable for the station after Boston country station WKLB-FM moved from 96.9 FM (now WBQT) to 99.5 FM (now WCRB), and it reverted to adult standards in December 1997. This was short lived; in March 1998, the station changed to news/talk, though some timeslots were temporarily filled with adult contemporary music for a time. Initially locally-oriented, in June WSMN began adding nationally-produced programming, including Talk America shows and business news from Bloomberg Radio. Two years later, Tom O'Brien signed a local marketing agreement to take over the station's operations.