“One World. One Station.” That’s the motto of WUNR-AM.
Right here we’re standing before a beacon of Boston’s diverse cultures. WUNR-AM is a radio station with a rich history. It broadcasts on 1600 kHz. The station serves the city of Boston. It is licensed to nearby Brookline.
Let’s dive into the story of WUNR-AM. The station first signed on in 1948. Back then it was known as WVOM. WVOM was one of the first in Boston to broadcast 24 hours a day.
In 1955, Herbert Hoffman bought WVOM. He changed the call letters to WBOS in 1956. Eventually, an FM station was added WBOS-FM.
WBOS AM featured some ethnic programming. But it also hosted one of Boston’s first rock-and-roll shows. This was in the mid-1950s. A young Arnie “Woo-Woo” Ginsburg hosted. Later in the 1950s, WBOS mostly simulcasted beautiful music on both AM and FM. Some ethnic programming remained on the AM side.
The late 1960s saw WBOS gradually stop simulcasting with WBOS-FM. The amount of ethnic programming on the AM side increased. In 1969, the AM station became WUNR. The new call letters reflected its ethnic format. WUNR stood for “United Nations of Radio”. This showed its commitment to Boston’s diverse communities.
WUNR’s transmitter and antenna are in Newton, Massachusetts. A few years ago the transmitter site was rebuilt. This resulted in a more powerful signal. It now transmits at 20,000 watts. This covers most of the Boston area. The signal is intentionally weaker to the southwest. This protects WWRL in New York City.
The station provides news music and information. This is available in multiple languages. It serves a diverse group of listeners all day. The studios moved to 60 Temple Place in Downtown Crossing around 2009.
WUNR continues to serve its communities. It offers a vital service to Boston’s ethnic populations. The station provides a platform for diverse voices. It keeps listeners connected to their cultures and communities.
WUNR’s story reflects Boston’s own story. It is a city of immigrants and diverse cultures. The station provides a voice to many different communities. It truly embodies its motto “One World. One Station.” So next time you tune into 1600 AM remember the rich history and cultural significance of WUNR.