WGUE (AM)

WGUE (1180 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Turrell, Arkansas, serving the Memphis metropolitan area. WGUE is owned by Butron Media Corporation and airs a Regional Mexican radio format. The transmitter is off Legion Road in West Memphis, Arkansas.[1]

WGUE
CityTurrell, Arkansas
Broadcast areaMemphis, Tennessee
BrandingLa Jefa 99.3 FM - 1180 AM
Frequency1180 kHz
Translator(s)99.3 W257CY (Memphis)
101.5 K268DA (Memphis, CP)
First air date1987 (as WPLX Collierville, TN, at 1170)
FormatRegional Mexican
Power5,000 watts day
3,500 watts critical hours
26 watts night
ClassD
Facility ID52906
Transmitter coordinates35°8′31.00″N 90°8′6.00″W
Call sign meaningW-GUEss
Former call signsWWEE (1985-1987)
WPLX (1987-2012)
KXIQ (2012-2014)
WUMY (2014-2017)
Former frequencies1170 kHz (1989-2009)
OwnerButron Media Corporation
Sister stationsWGSF (AM)
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.lajefa993.com

WGUE broadcasts with 5,000 watts by day. But because AM 1180 is a clear channel frequency reserved for Class A WHAM in Rochester, New York, WGUE must drastically reduce power at night to 26 watts (during critical hours it operates with 3,500 watts). WGUE programming is also heard in the Memphis area on an FM translator station at 99.3 MHz.

History
Logo as Guess FM, used from 2017 to 2018

In April 1987, the station first signed on as KPLX.[2] It was a 1,000 watt daytimer, broadcasting on 1170 kHz and licensed to Collierville, Tennessee.

On December 15, 2009, the station switched from 1170 to 1180 and moved its city of license to Turrell, Arkansas. In 2012, the call sign became KXIQ.

On January 1, 2014, KXIQ changed format from talk radio to classic country, branded as "Y 105.5" (simulcasting on FM translator W288BJ 105.5 FM), and changed call letters to WUMY on January 15, 2014. On January 24, 2014, WUMY rebranded its station from "Y 105.5" by adding another translator as "Big Country 105.5/100.1".

On November 30, 2017, WUMY swapped call signs with sister station WGUE and took on the "Guess FM" classic hits format that had been on that frequency. While on 1180, Guess FM was associated with three translators, adding W257CY on 99.3 MHz.

On June 15, 2018, Memphis First Ventures filed to sell WGUE and W257CY to Butron Media Corporation for $799,000. Butron Media Corporation is owned by Sergio Butron and Ivette Butron Ramos and also manages the heritage Spanish-language station in Memphis, WGSF "Radio Ambiente", under a time brokerage agreement.[3] Butron also acquired the construction permit for a second translator facility, K268DA on 101.5 MHz; the remaining translators were paired with other stations as part of the sale of the Mighty Media Group cluster.[4]

In August 2018, Guess FM moved to WOWW 1430 and 97.7,[4] making way for WGUE to be relaunched as La Jefa with a Regional Mexican format.

References
  1. Radio-Locator.com/WGUE
  2. Broadcasting Yearbook 1992 page A-325
  3. Cashiola, Mary (10 October 2018). "New, locally owned radio station launched to target growing population". Memphis Business Journal. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  4. Venta, Lance (14 August 2018). "Guess Where Guess-FM Moved In Memphis". RadioInsight. Retrieved 15 November 2018.


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