WVON
WVON (1690 AM "The Voice of the Nation", originally "Voice of the Negro") is a radio station serving the Chicago market, which airs an African-American-oriented talk format. WVON is operated by Midway Broadcasting Corporation via a local marketing agreement with frequency owner iHeartMedia.
| Broadcast area | Chicago metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1690 kHz |
| Branding | AM 1690 WVON |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | African-American-oriented talk |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| Operator | Midway Broadcasting Company |
| History | |
First air date | October 2003 |
Former call signs | WHTE (1998–2003) WRLL (2003–06) |
Call sign meaning | "The Voice of the Negro" "The Voice of the Nation." |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 87178 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 41°44′14″N 87°42′04″W |
| Translator(s) | 98.3 W252AW (Chicago) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (via iHeartRadio) |
| Website | wvon.com |
WVON's predecessor station began catering to an African-American audience in the 1940s. In 1963 Chess Records bought the station and debuted WVON, with its programming of soul, and rhythm and blues music becoming very popular throughout the 1960s. The station's news and commentary also played an active role during the Civil Rights Movement during this era. Its present African-American-oriented talk format began in 1986. The station served as a springboard for Barack Obama during the early days of his political career.
Licensed to Berwyn, Illinois, WVON has studios in the South Loop, and its transmitter is located at 87th and Kedzie in Chicago's Ashburn community.