Peoria Radio: 60s-70s Top 40 Giant WIRL Signing Off

Midwest Communications will shut down WIRL 1290 AM at noon on Tuesday, March 31, ending nearly eight decades of broadcasting for one of central Illinois’ historic radio stations.

WIRL Survey 1966

The Peoria station, which first signed on in 1948, will go silent as part of a business decision driven by declining audience and revenue, according to company leadership. Executives said the station no longer had enough listenership to justify continued operation, and resources will be redirected to stronger-performing stations in the market.

Despite the shutdown, listeners will not lose programming. WIRL has largely been simulcasting conservative talk content from “Freedom 95.9” in recent years, and that programming will continue on other frequencies and platforms.

The move will not result in job losses, with the company stating employees will be retained and reassigned as needed across its other Peoria stations.

WIRL’s closure marks the end of a long legacy. The station was once a dominant Top 40 outlet in the 1960s and 1970s, when it led local ratings and helped define the Peoria radio market.

Popular WIRL disc jockeys were Robyn Weaver, Lee Ranson, Jerry Barr, Jim French, Timmy "Old Weird" West, Bill McCluggage, Lee Malcolm, Wayne R. Miller, Howard Taylor, Pete Stewart, VLJ, Charlie O'Day, John Sebastian Bachman, Ann Holub, Dave Phillips, Steve Young, Scott Robbins, Ron Thorn, with Mark Wainwright and many more.

In the late 1970s, WKZW, known as "KZ93" (now WPBG), began playing Top 40 hits on the FM band, and siphoned away many listeners from WIRL thanks to its clearer sound and FM stereo. 

In its final days, the station is airing special retrospective programming, including archival audio, interviews, and tributes from former staff. A longtime personality is expected to deliver the final sign-off when the station goes dark at noon on March 31.

The shutdown reflects broader industry trends, as AM stations with limited audiences and duplicated formats face increasing financial pressure in a shifting audio landscape.