WTCM-FM

WTCM-FM consists of two radio stations: WTCM-FM 103.5 in Traverse City, Michigan and simulcast WBCM 93.5 FM in Boyne City, Michigan. The two stations carry a country music format and are owned by Midwestern Broadcasting. Today, WTCM-FM/WBCM is on or near the top of the Arbitron ratings . WTCM-FM's 100,000 watt signal can be heard south toward Grand Rapids at times. During the summer its signal wafts southeast into southern lower Michigan,(heard in the Tri-Cities mixing with WMUZ-FM in Detroit). This is a good 150 miles from its originating city, Traverse City.

Founding

In 1939, WTCM founder Les Biederman and several of his friends - engineer Bill Kiker and Drew McClay among others - wanted to start a radio station, but in an undeveloped radio market. They decided that Traverse City, Michigan was a city destined for growth and had no local radio station, so they moved to the city and built the 250-watt transmitter that would be Traverse City's first radio station. WTCM initially broadcast from a small studio at the base of the tower. The WTCM control console was hand built by Biederman and Kiker, and served the station until its replacement around 1980.