WFMG started broadcasting on December 17, 1960 as WKBV-FM at 106.5 MHz. WKBV-FM featured a Beautiful music format throughout its duration. WKBV-FM moved to 101.3 MHz in the early 1960s. In 1976, the station dropped beautiful music in favor of a middle-of-the-road Adult Contemporary format as WRIA, meaning "W Richmond Indiana Area". The station eventually segued into what would today be considered Hot Adult Contemporary by the early and mid 80s. "FM 101" went to a soft rock format in 1986. The calls changed to WFMG and the station became known on the air as "Magic 101...Lite Rock, Less Talk." This format continued until the late 80s when cross-town station WQLK dropped its Top 40 format in favor of Classic Hits. "Magic 101" maximized on this move by adding hotter records to its playlist by 1990. Also added was a nightly countdown show as well as American Top 40. Unlike WQLK, "Magic 101" did not go full-fledged into the format in order to maintain its presence as an Adult Contemporary station. By 1991, WFMG began adding a couple of weekend Oldies shows to its line-up, which eventually led up to a format change in December 1991. The station became known as "Goodtime Oldies 101" and eventually just "Oldies 101." Unlike many of the Oldies stations of the early 90s, WFMG played a generous amount of 70s Pop and more or less stayed away from 50s Doo-Wop and Pop. The nearly-two year stint was a flop and, as a result, the station dropped the "Oldies" name and gradually moved back into a contemporary music direction. The transition was complete by 1994 when the station officially became Hot Adult Contemporary "Hits 101.3," featuring music of the 80s and 90s. The station remained "Hits" until the late 90s when the station became "G 101-3" as a result of an imaging change. Although the format remains Hot AC to this day with Rick Duncan as the Morning Show Host, the G101.3 Morning Show has a program from 7 to 9 called The Free For All Friday allowing listeners to request any song in any format as long as they have it, even Christmas songs in July. Originally they allowed for any tempo song to be requested, a second rule was added stating the songs must be up-tempo as people were requesting slow songs to be played after up-beat songs. Scott Epic does mid-days 10am-3pm. The crazy & young Hoover hosts the afternoon show from 3 pm to 7 pm. News Updates are provided by Joel Brantingham throughout the day, and weather is provided by Dayton affiliate WDTN-TV Channel 2. G1013 is also home to the Miami University RedHawks Football & Basketball teams. Longtime G101-3 personality Dave Snow left the station in 2015 to run for mayor of the city of Richmond, IN. He had a successful campaign.
Reception
In 2005, WFMG's sister station, WIFE-FM in nearby Connersville, applied to move to Norwood, Ohio, in the Cincinnati radio market. As a result of this move, many stations throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky had to reduce power or change frequencies in order to make the move feasible. Therefore, WFMG had to cut its power in half, from 50,000 watts to 25,000 watts, in order for Radio One's WIZF in Cincinnati to move to 101.1 MHz. Radio One owns WIZF and was the suitor for WIFE-FM. WFMG, being on first-adjacent frequency from 101.1, had to reduce its power in order to prevent interference with WIZF. This severely affected WFMG's reception in the southern Whitewater Valley once WIZF signed on 101.1. Reception in the eastern, western, and northern portions of the coverage area were much less affected. However, this may change as another pending frequency move -- WKSW Urbana into the Dayton metro—may have further impact on the station's reception to the east of Richmond if approved.
