WMEL-AM  920 
Melbourne

Original Call Letters: WMEG 

Originally Licensed: Jan 4, 1956 

Original City of  License: Melbourne/Eau Gallie 

Original Frequency: 920 

Origin of Call Letters: Location; Melbourne 

Original Power: 5,000 watts day/1,000 watts night

Original Location: 1800 Turtle Mound Road

Original Format: MOR


Network Affiliation(s):
ABC
ABC Information
CBS
Westwood One
S.E. Agrinet

Owner(s):
1956-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Co. c/o Victoria Martin
1957-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.
1967-WMEG, Inc.
1973-Radio Melbourne, Inc.
1974-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
1993-Twin Towers Broadcasting ($350,00)
2005-David Ryder (Receiver)
2007-Divine Mercy Communications Inc  ($650,000)

History Of  Call Letters and Formats:
WMEG-1956-Full Service
WMEL-1973-Contemporary
WMEL-1974-Rock
WMEL-1991-Dark
WMEL-1993-News/Talk  "The Talk To Me Station"
WDMC-2007-Catholic "Divine Mercy Radio"

Historical Note: The cities of Eau Gallie and Melbourne would consolidate as "Melbourne" in 1969.

History of WMEL
Mr. John Harper, Owner/President of WMEL was kind enough to supply us with the history. From Mr. Harpers email; "...WMEL Radio signed on the air New Years Day 1956. It actually started with the call letters of WMEG (for Melbourne/Eau Gallie) WMEG is the second oldest station in Brevard County. The station was a full service station in those days airing music programs during its day time operation. In the mid 60's the station changed call letters and became WMEL Radio. WMEL Radio was a rock and roll station and enjoyed a great reputation in the Space Coast as a station not only for music, but for news as well. The station earned an even bigger reputation by covering all of the Mercury and Apollo Space Rocket Launches from Cape Canaveral (later to become the Kennedy Space Center). WMEL continued through the seventies and eighties as a middle of the road station with a strong commitment to news. At one point the station employed eight people in its news staff alone. In the mid 80's and early 90's the station was owned by a company out of Elyria-Lorain, Ohio but found itself in difficult times due to the strong FM penetration into the market from Orlando. On October 31, 1991 the station signed off the air and went "dark" while awaiting a new owner to come and save the station. In April of 1993 John Harper bought the station and put it back on the air in August of 1993. John Harper's background was talk radio and he quickly filled a void in the market for local and national talk radio programming. WMEL Radio has enjoyed great success as a full service talk/news and sports radio station serving the space and treasure coasts since John put the station back on the air in the early 90's. WMEL Radio now airs a combination of local and national talk shows, local news and even sports making it truly a "local" station in the Space and Treasure Coasts. WMEL call itself the "Talk To Me Station" which is talking to you!

In December of 2007 WMEL was purchased by Divine Mercy Communications Inc, headed by CEO/Treasurer Norman Benz. This is the first station for them.
John Harper moved the "Talk To Me Station" to a new dial position at WMEL-AM 1300
More info from Jon Roberts (Apfeld); In 1985 the power was changed from 1Kw to 5Kw, which required a complete rebuild of the day and night directional signal.  After the station changed it's power and direction….AM Stereo was added.  The station went dark in October 1991

WMEL Personalities

                                                                                                       
 Dave Edwards-1972-1973-Mornings Biography
Keith Allen-1973-Program Director/Music Director/Afternoon Drive-Radio Melbourne, Inc./1975-Music Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
John Wade-1973-News Director-Radio Melbourne, Inc.
Steve Scott (Steve Church)-1973-(Founder of Telos Systems)                       
Bill Early-1974-Program Director-Radio Melbourne, Inc./1975-Program Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
Bill Harris-1974-News Director-Radio Melbourne, Inc./1975-News Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.


Frank Lasko-1975-News Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. In Memory


Bob Clifton (Bob Alfano)-1979 Biography 


Mike Murillo-1993-Chief Engineer/2002-Marketing Director Biography


Bill Mick-2000-2003-6AM-9AM/2002-Program Director
Troy Ford-2002-News Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Holden Kriss-2003-Shooting sports show-Saturday from 10AM-11AM
Adam Waltemire-2003-Producer/Host of "Pop Garden Radio"
Gerald Lostutter-2005-2008-Co-host of "Pipeline with Dave Isnardi and Gerald Lostutter"-Sundays, 7PM-9PM
Dave Isnardi-2005-2008-Co-host of "Pipeline with Dave Isnardi and Gerald Lostutter"-Sundays, 7PM-9PM


Paul Delaney-2005-Host of "Daybreak"/News Director Biography

Liz Litterello-2006-2008-6AM-7AM-"Daybreak with Liz Litterello" and "Coffee Talk" at 8AM Sundays
John Meissner-2006-Host of "Daybreak"/Board Operator-Host of "Daybreak"/Board Operator  


Kirk Agius-2007-"The Sports Addiction"


         
                      Together again. 
Carole Nelson and Danny Treanor 2007

Dave Randall-2007-Co-host "The Hustle" a local sports talk show             
Jimmy Bonenberger-2007-Co-host "The Hustle" a local sports talk show
Terry Henderson-2007-Co-host "The Hustle" a local sports talk show
Jim Martin-2007-Producer of "The Hustle" a local sports talk show


Mark Pence-Overnights/Public Service Director		                                                    
Ed Dean and Brent Mack-produced a live, political "Weekend Show". In 1998, the show added Gerald Lostutter (a.k.a. "The Lost Man") and switched to WAMT-AM 1060


Andrea Shea King


Ed Dean-Morning Co-Host
Gerald Lostutter-Morning Co- Host  


Michelle Murillo-News Director/Anchor-now a News Anchor/Reporter for Florida's Radio Network 
Jeff Marshall-News
Mark Vance-6PM-8PM-Saturdays
"Rocking Ron" Maher   In Memory
Joe Scott
Gary Sands
Craig Benedict
Pete Kerasotis-Fridays 8:45AM-9AM                                                                                 


Kevin Baldinger-Sports Biography
Jon Roberts (Apfeld)-1974-6PM-Midnight/1975-Program Director/Chief Engineer/1988-1993-General Manager/Chief Engineer 
Rob Selkow
Don Germaise-News
                           
  Dave Inardi-Gerald Lostutter.jpg (95553 bytes) Dave Isnardi (left) and Gerald Lostutter in the WMEL studio
                                     courtesy of Gerald Lostutter 
Other Names in WMEL History
Jack Siegel-1973-President/General Manager/1974-President/General Manager/Chief Engineer-Radio Melbourne, Inc.
Joe Matthews-1973-Commercial Manager/Promotions Manager-Radio Melbourne, Inc.
Pat Yatauro-1973-Chief Engineer/1974-Commercial Manager-Radio Melbourne, Inc./1975-Commercial Manager-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
Charles Weiler-1974-Promotions Manager-Radio Melbourne, Inc.
Otto Schoepfle-1975-President-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. 
William Humphries-1975-General Manager-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
Paul Nakel-1975-Vice President-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.
T.C. Weberling-1979-General Manager-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.


Ernie Legge-1979-Commercial Manager-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. In Memory
Chuck Deal-1979-Program Director

John Harper-1993-CEO/Chairman/General Manager/Sales Manager/Promotions Manager/Program Manager/News Director/General Sales Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting

Vernon Harper-1993-President/Sales and Marketing Vice President Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Diana Lynn-1993-Public affairs Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Johana Hall-2000-General Manager/Advertising Manager/Public Affairs Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Steve Seiler-2000-Chief Engineer-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Gary Duglin-2002-Operations Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Scott Embry-2002-Developmental Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Nancy Gee-2002-Promotions Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Ginny Baker-2002-Advertising Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Tim Schumacker-2002-Chief Engineer-Twin Towers Broadcasting
Peter Kerasotis-2005-General Manager-David Ryder (Receiver)
Matthew Bronson-2007-General Manager-David Ryder (Receiver) 
Larry Kessler-Operations Manager                                                                               
John St. James-News Director                                                                         
Chris Lanza-Sales 

   
                  WMEL production room


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