Station History
The Story of WMRN — Marion’s Hometown Radio Since 1940
WMRN Radio has served Marion and north-central Ohio since 1940, providing news, sports, music, and community service across generations.
This archive documents the station’s ownership, call letters, formats, milestones, and role as a trusted local voice — preserving its legacy for researchers, alumni, and the public.
A Timeline of WMRN
1940s — WMRN Goes on the Air
WMRN officially began regular broadcasting at 1:15 p.m. on December 23, 1940, following receipt of final federal authorization earlier that day. The station signed on broadcasting at 1500 kilocycles on the AM dial from Marion, Ohio.
The inaugural broadcast marked the arrival of Marion’s first full-time local radio voice. From its earliest days, WMRN emphasized local news, community information, and public service, quickly becoming an essential part of daily life in Marion and north-central Ohio.
In early 1941, WMRN shifted from 1500 kilocycles to 1490 kilocycles as part of the nationwide frequency reallocation mandated by the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA). The reassignment placed WMRN on a standard local-channel frequency, where it has continued to operate for decades.
During World War II and the years that followed, WMRN served as a trusted source of information, helping connect the community during a period of national uncertainty and change.
1950s — Expansion and the Birth of WMRN-FM
On May 6, 1953 at 6:30a.m., WMRN expanded to the FM band with the launch of WMRN-FM, representing a major technical and strategic milestone in the station’s history.
In its early years, WMRN-FM primarily simulcast WMRN-AM, a common practice at the time as FM broadcasting was still emerging and FM receivers were not yet widespread. The addition of FM positioned WMRN for the future while maintaining the station’s established AM service.
Throughout the decade, WMRN continued to strengthen its role as Marion’s hometown station, offering music, news, sports, farm programming, and community announcements.
1960s — FM Develops Its Own Identity
As FM radio gained popularity nationally during the 1960s, WMRN-FM gradually moved away from full simulcasting and adopted a beautiful music / instrumental format, often historically described as “elevator music.”
This format took advantage of FM’s superior audio fidelity and reflected broader industry trends. Meanwhile, WMRN-AM remained focused on local news, information, and community service, allowing the station to serve different audiences across its AM and FM signals.
1970s — Established Voices and Community Service
Throughout the 1970s, WMRN operated as a firmly established dual AM/FM broadcaster.
- WMRN-AM continued as a primary source for local news, sports, and public-affairs programming.
- WMRN-FM maintained its beautiful music format, providing a calm, music-centered listening experience.
The station’s coverage of local schools, civic institutions, and regional sports further reinforced its identity as a trusted community voice.
1981 — A Defining FM Turning Point
On April 1, 1981, WMRN-FM made a decisive and permanent format change, transitioning from beautiful music to country music.
This shift marked one of the most significant milestones in the station’s FM history. The move aligned WMRN-FM with regional audience preferences and the rapid national growth of country radio.
WMRN-FM has remained a country station ever since, evolving through branding and frequency changes while maintaining its core format.
1980s–1990s — Dual-Band Broadcasting in the Modern Era
During the 1980s and 1990s, WMRN operated as a mature, professional AM/FM broadcast operation.
- WMRN-AM emphasized local news, talk, sports, and community programming.
- WMRN-FM built a strong and loyal country-music audience.
On-air personalities, journalists, and sports broadcasters became well-known figures in Marion, and the station’s newsroom and studios reflected a fast-paced, professional broadcast environment.
2000s — Technological Transition
As broadcasting entered the digital era, WMRN modernized its operations through updated production equipment, automation systems, and evolving workflows.
Despite industry-wide changes, the station continued to prioritize local coverage, community connection, and service, maintaining the values established at its founding.
2010s — Recognizing the Historical Record
With more than seven decades of continuous broadcasting, WMRN’s long history became increasingly apparent. Attention turned toward preserving the station’s past, including photographs, recordings, documents, and firsthand accounts from both the AM and FM eras.
These efforts laid the groundwork for formal archival preservation.
2020s — The WMRN Radio History Archive
The WMRN Radio History Archive exists to preserve and share the station’s legacy across:
- AM broadcasting since December 23, 1940 (1:15 p.m. first regular broadcast)
- FM broadcasting since May 1953
This is a living project dedicated to documenting WMRN’s people, programming, facilities, and community impact so that its history is preserved for future generations.
Archival Note
This timeline reflects ongoing historical research. As additional documentation, recordings, and firsthand accounts are discovered, details and milestones will be further refined.