| WBZG | |
| City: | Peru, Illinois |
| Area: | LaSalle / Princeton |
| Branding: | 100.9 FM Rocks! |
| Frequency: | 100.9 MHz |
| Airdate: | March 15, 1970[1] |
| Format: | Classic rock |
| Erp: | 3,000 watts |
| Class: | A |
| Facility Id: | 69732 |
| Licensing Authority: | FCC |
| Coordinates: | 41.303°N -89.236°W |
| Former Callsigns: | WGSY (1969–1977)[2] WIVQ (1977–1984)[3] WLRZ (1984–2000) |
| Affiliations: | Westwood One |
| Owner: | Shaw Media[4] |
| Licensee: | Shaw Local Radio Co. |
| Sister Stations: | WALS, WGLC-FM, WIVQ, WSTQ, WYYS |
| Website: | wbzg.net |
WBZG (100.9 FM) is a radio station licensed to Peru, Illinois, covering, LaSalle, Peru, Princeton, and Vicinity. WBZG airs a classic rock format and is owned by Shaw Media, through licensee Shaw Local Radio Co., after previously being owned by Studstill Media/Mendota Broadcasting, Inc. until April 2023.[5]
The station began broadcasting on March 15, 1970, holding the call sign WGSY.[1] [2] The station was originally owned by George W. Yazell, and had an ERP of 3,000 watts at a HAAT of 145 feet.[2] WGSY aired a variety format.[6] [7] In 1977, the station was sold to Radio Illinois, Ltd. for $85,000.[2] [8]
In 1977, the station's call sign was changed to WIVQ, and the station began airing a MOR format.[2] [9] By 1980, the station had begun airing an adult rock format.[10] By 1983, the station had begun airing a beautiful music/easy listening format.[11] By 1984, the station was airing a MOR format.[12] In 1984, the station was sold to Starved Rock Radio Project for $155,000.[13] [14]
In September 1984, the station's call sign was changed to WLRZ.[3] WLRZ would air an adult contemporary format.[15] By 1990, the station had begun airing a classic rock format.[16] [17] In 1994, the station was sold to Valley Plus Broadcasting for $150,000.[18] [19] In 1997, the station was sold to Mendota Broadcasting, Inc., along with 103.3 WAIV, for $700,000.[20] [21]
In July 2000, the station's call sign was changed to WBZG, and the station was branded "The Buzz".[3] [22] However, in August 2000, 107.7 WBZM in Bloomington would begin broadcasting with "The Buzz" branding, airing a modern rock format.[23] Unbeknownst to WBZG, the owner of WBZM had trademarked "The Buzz" branding for the entire state of Illinois, and WBZG stopped calling itself "The Buzz" to avoid a lawsuit.[23] The station would later be branded "100.9 FM Rocks!".[24]
On January 24, 2023, it was announced that Studstill Media had sold WBZG, along with its sister stations, to Shaw Media in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for a total of $1.8 million. The sale was under FCC review for just under two months before being finalized on March 23, 2023.[25] Shaw Local Radio officially assumed ownership of WBZG and its sister stations on April 3, 2023.[26]