WERK


WERK is a commercial FM radio station. The station serves the Muncie-Marion area. The station is currently owned by Woof Boom Radio Muncie License LLC.

History

The current WERK signed on as WOKZ "KZ 105" on January 16, 1986. Airing an adult contemporary-oldies format, the station's creation was delayed by a series of interference concerns that led to three stations changing frequencies. To make way for WOKZ, WWHC at Hartford City and WXUS of Lafayette moved to 93.5, while WZWZ in Kokomo was relocated to 92.7, all at the new station's expense. The original owner, James Beatty's L&B Broadcasting of Indianapolis, bought out competing applicants Hoosier's Favorite Station and Ben-Del Broadcasting to obtain the construction permit.
In 1991, Beatty sold WOKZ and WERK to American Hometown Radio. The new owners changed WOKZ's call letters to WERK-FM and, after stunting as "Louie 105" with a loop of Louie Louie, the station relaunched as "Oldies 105" on November 20. American Hometown sold the pair in 1997 to Dream Weaver Broadcasting. Dream Weaver divested the AM station two years later by donating the license.
In 2013, Woof Boom Radio acquired WERK from Backyard Broadcasting along with the rest of its Muncie cluster for $4.45 million. On December 26th, 2014, after its annual stint of airing Christmas music, WERK relaunched as "The New Sound". The format features pop, rock, and disco tunes from 1975-2001, with an emphasis on the 1980s.