First broadcast on December 11, 1947. That’s quite a history for WLYN. It is more than just a radio station. It’s a voice that has echoed through the Greater Boston area for decades.
WLYN, licensed to Lynn, Massachusetts, broadcasts on 1360 AM. It is owned by Multicultural Broadcasting. The station serves the Boston radio market. WLYN is known for its world music format.
Imagine tuning in to WLYN back in 1947. It was a daytime-only station. It broadcasted with 500 watts. The transmitter was near the Fox Hill Bridge. The Lynn Daily Evening Item and the Lynn Telegram-News covered the opening. A.M. “Vic” Morgan was the president. He was a veteran broadcaster involved with early television. Dorothy Rich oversaw women’s programming. She also handled public affairs. She even directed radio at Endicott Junior College.
In 1950, Theodore “Ted” Feinstein bought WLYN. He also owned WNBP and WTSA. For years, WLYN provided local news. It also broadcasted high school sports. Talk shows focused on local issues. WLYN played popular music. Announcers from other Boston stations joined. These included John “Jack” Chadderton and Hank Forbes. Later, WLYN switched to nostalgia and big-band music. Bill Marlowe a veteran broadcaster joined the station. They briefly experimented with country music in the 1970s. It was unsuccessful.
WLYN launched an FM station in 1948. WLYN-FM broadcasted on 101.7. It simulcasted WLYN during the day. It offered separate programming after sunset. In the early 1970s, both stations began offering an hour of Spanish programming on Sundays. This was to serve the growing Spanish-speaking community.
By the mid-1970s, WLYN-FM broadcasted ethnic programs. These included Greek and Italian shows. In 1981, WLYN-FM added a nighttime block of “new wave” rock. In 1982, it became a 24/7 modern rock station. The ethnic programs moved to WLYN. In 1983, Stephen Mindich bought WLYN-FM. He owned the Boston Phoenix. The station became WFNX. It retained the modern rock format. Today, that frequency is WBWL.
Since the early 1980s, WLYN has broadcasted ethnic programming. It now broadcasts 24 hours a day. It operates with reduced nighttime power. WLYN broadcasted in AM Stereo until the end of 2006.
Today, WLYN continues to serve the community. It broadcasts world music. You can reach them at 781-938-0869. WLYN’s story is one of evolution. It’s a testament to the changing face of Boston radio. From its humble beginnings to its current format, WLYN remains a vital part of the city’s airwaves.