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January 1999:
- WYKL-FM 94.9 Benton Harbor granted its license
- WKYL-FM 94.9 Benton Harbor changed formats from Gold to Hot AC with new calls/handle WCNF (Coast 94.9).
- WXMI-TV (Fox 17) Grand Rapids successfully launched first local newscast on Monday 1/11/99
- WHTV-TV 18 Jackson issued a new construction permit. This permit replaces the original construction permit that was granted 11/16/87 and expired on 11/29/92.
- WWBR-FM 102.7 Mt. Clemens/Detroit switched from Classic Rock to Adult Contemporary on 1/16/99
- WHFB-FM 99.9 Benton Harbor dumped Hot Adult Contemporary in favor of Country.
- Construction permit granted to Great Lakes Broadcast Academy for new FM station at 88.5 in Mackinaw City
- WMOM-FM Pentwater has construction permit modified for frequency change from 103.1 to 102.7
- WWJ-AM 950 Detroit moved to new tower in Monroe County, will boost nighttime power to 50,000 watts, daytime to 12,000
- WNIL-AM 1290 Niles dropped sports programming and now is Oldies full time
- The FCC officially proposes licensing low power FM stations (LPFM)
February:
- WAYG-FM 89.9 Grand Rapids signed back on (was previously public WBYW) as simulcast of sister station WAYK Kalamazoo (WAY-FM)
- Construction permit granted to Gospel Opportunities for a new FM station at 89.9 in Trout Lake
- WLJN-FM 89.9 Traverse City granted construction permit to upgrade to 39,000 watts from 12,500
- WJML-AM 1110 Petoskey added blocks of Oldies programming to talk lineup in response to FM 92.5 moving from Oldies to Country
- WMJZ-FM 95.3 Gaylord switched from Adult Contemporary to Oldies
- WJBK-TV 2 Detroit is first in state to get its digital facilites licensed
March:
- WDIV-TV 4 Detroit began airing digital programming on March 1st at 3pm with a video about the Chevy Corvette
- WCHB-AM 1200 Detroit returned to the air after being silent to upgrade its daytime signal to 50,000 watts
- LPTV station W18BT Alpena was granted its license
- WTLZ-FM 107.1 Saginaw repositioned from Urban to Adult Urban Contemporary
- D&B Broadcasting acquired WZTU-FM 100.1 Bear Lake and the construction permit for WBVE-FM 92.1 Beulah from Roger Hoppe
- WDRQ-FM 93.1 Detroit, while still CHR/Rhythmic, begans to lean CHR/mainstream
- Classic Rock simulcasters WMJK-FM 100.9 Pinconning and WMJA-FM 104.5 Saginaw began stunting. On April 1st, the format remained Classic Rock, but a new positioner, Wheelz 104.5/101 with new calls WYLZ/WILZ, was adopted.
April:
- WZTU-FM 100.1 Bear Lake retured to the air as '100.1 The Storm' with an Adult Alternative format for about one week before falling silent again
- WXDG-FM 105.1 dropped Modern Rock after only about 18 months in favor of Urban Oldies on Easter Sunday
- WYUR-AM 1310 Detroit added Classic Music blocks to its programming
- WIBM-AM 1450 Jackson switched its format from Soft Adult Contemporary to Sports
- WGKL-FM 105.5 Gladstone is on the air with an Oldies format as 'Kool 105.5'
- FCC approves transfer of WGVS-FM 95.3 and WGVS-AM 850 in the Muskegon area to Grand Valley State University from KBZ Broadcasting
- WYCE-FM 88.1 Grand Rapids granted construction permit to increase power to 7,000 watts from 1,000
- WYTZ-FM 97.5 Bridgman / WZTY-FM 103.7 Hartford won a Crystal Award (improving a community's quality of life) from the National Association of Broadcasters
May:
- Sister stations WVHQ-FM 92.1 and WDOW-AM 1440 Dowagiac sold to Jason Communications by VanHawke Communications for $680,000
- Announced that the Jerry Lewis Telethon on Labor Day weekend is moving off of WJBK channel 2 Detroit after 20 years. WDWB-TV 20 picks up the program
- New name for Chancellor Media will be AM/FM once acquisition of Capstar is complete. FCC approves transfer of the following Capstar-owned Michigan properties to Chancellor Media: WBCK-AM 930, WRCC-AM 1400, and WBXX-FM 95.3 Battle Creek, WNWZ-AM 1410, WLHT-FM 95.7, and WGRD-FM 97.9 Grand Rapids, WTRV-FM 100.5 Walker, and WWKN-FM 104.9 Marshall.
- WHFB-AM 1060 Benton Harbor switched format from 70's Oldies to CNN Headline News
- WEFG-FM 97.5 Whitehall/Muskegon switched format from 70's Oldies to Urban Oldies
- WHAK-FM 99.9 Rogers City switched format from Country to Oldies as "99.9 The Wave"
- Construction permit granted to Gaylord Baptist Church School for new FM station at 88.1 in Gaylord, to be 3,000 watts
- WOWE-FM 98.9 Vassar/Flint switched format from Urban AC to Urban Oldies
- WLKM-AM 1510 Three Rivers switched format from News/Talk to Nostalgia with some talk
June:
- Former WABX-FM 99.5 Detroit air-ace Dave Dixon passed away at age 60
- WJLB-FM 97.9 Detroit nighttime co-host Arthur Young passed away from leukemia at age 21
- Announced that former Domino's Pizza and Detroit Tigers owner Tom Monaghan will be purchasing WWCM-AM 990 Ypsilanti for $2.5 million
- WXBV-AM 1140 Grand Rapids switched format from News/Talk to Urban Oldies as WKWM
- WOMC-FM 104.3 Detroit morning man Dick Purtan was named Oldies Personality of the Year by Radio and Records
- WTCF-FM 100.5 Saginaw repositioned from Top 40/Mainstream to Top 40/Rhythmic as Pirate Radio
- WPLB-FM/AM 106.3/1380 Lakeview/Greenville was sold from Kortes Communications to Stafford Communications Group, pending FCC approval
- WSRQ FM 100.1 Bear Lake and WBVE FM 92.1 Beulah are on-air as 'Star FM' with 80's format
- Muskegon area stations WMHG AM 1600, WMRR FM 101.7, and WSHZ FM 107.9 Muskegon are sold from Goodrich Radio to Connoisseur Communications for $2.7 million.
- WZPX-TV 43 Battle Creek to add WB programming for Fall season.
- WBGV-FM 92.5 Marlette begins testing
- WVIC-FM 92.7 Charlotte, which had been running an automated Classic format, goes dark
July:
- WCXT-FM 105.3 Hart switched format from Adult Contemporary to Top 40/Rhythmic as 'The Whip' under prospective buyer Harbor Pointe Communications. The station is being operated under a local marketing agreement. Harbor Pointe is also in the process of purchasing WKBZ-AM 1520 Muskegon for $434,000
- Founder of Flint station WAMM (WFLT) Al Binder passed away at age 73
- WAGN-AM 1340 Menominee switched format from Oldies/Talk to Nostalgia
- WWJ-TV 62 Detroit increased power to 5,000,000 watts
- WHWG-FM 89.9 Trout Lake is on the air (duplicates WHWL-FM 95.7 Marquette)
- VCY America acquires WBUM-FM 104.3 Baraga
- WHTV-TV 18 Jackson signed on carrying programming from Bloomberg
- WWON-AM 1160 Fenton is acquired by Birach Broadcasting
- WGLQ-FM 97.1 Escanaba repositioned away from Hot Adult Contemporary towards Top 40/Mainstream
- 106.3 FM Stephenson is on-air testing
- WUPY-FM 101.1 Ontonagon granted construction permit to increase to 100,000 watts from 30,000
- WBGV-FM 92.5 is on-air full time with Country format
- Pathfinder Communications acquired WAOR-FM 95.3 and WNIL-AM 1290 Niles from Niles Broadcasting
- WODJ-FM 107.3 Greenville/Gd Rapids is sold to Bloomington Broadcasting from Goodrich
- WSNX-FM 104.5 Muskegon/Gd Rapids is sold to Clear Channel from Goodrich
- WJZZ-AM 1210 Kingsley/Traverse City returned to the air with an Urban Oldies format
August:
- Clear Channel took over operations of WSNX-FM 104.5 Muskegon/Gd Rapids, format moved to Top 40 from Top 40/Rhythmic
- WVTI-FM 96.1 Holland Gd Rapids moved from Top 40 towards Modern Adult Contemporary
- WHAK-AM 960 Rogers City switched from Country to Country Gold
- WION-AM 1430 Ionia acquired by Agricultural Resource Group as part of bankruptcy settlement for $111,000
- WOOD-TV 8 Grand Rapids began digital services on channel 7
- WZZM-TV 13 Grand Rapids aired final 'Bozo' program after 33 years
- Announced that West Michigan's UPN affiliation will move from WZPX to a group of Low Power TV stations in West Michigan owned by WOOD-TV
- Lakes Radio acquired WQXO-AM 1400 and WHCH-FM 98.3 Munising, and WFXD-FM 103.3 Marquette from Mid-Pen Broadcasting for $1.15 million
- WDMK-FM 102.7 Mt. Clemens/Detroit switched format from Adult Contemporary to Urban Adult Contemporary. The station retained use of the 'Kiss-FM' positioner
September:
- WWWW-FM 106.7 Detroit switched format from Country to Rockin' Hits
- WMFN-AM 640 Zeeland switched format from Sports to Business News
- Rockfleet Broadcasting purchases Fox affliates WGKI-TV 33 Cadillac and WGKU-TV 45 Vanderbilt
- WUGN-FM 99.7 Midland won the Marconi award for Religious Station of the Year
- WPLT-FM 96.3 Detroit tweaked format from Modern Rock Hits to Alternative Classics
- WKQI-FM 99.5 Detroit tweaked format from Hot Adult Contemporary to Adult Top 40, dropping most 80's music
- WJSZ-FM 92.5 Ashley is sold to Curwood Broadcasting by Owosso Broadcasting
- WIDL-FM 92.1 Caro changed format from Classic Rock to Hot Adult Contemporary
- WWCM-AM 990 Ypsilanti changed format from Christian Music to Catholic Talk
- WDEO-AM 1290 Saline changed format from Catholic Talk to Business News/Talk
- WCXT-FM 105.3 Hart switched its format back to Adult Contemporary from Contemporary Hits/Dance after the owners, Waters Broadcasting, pulled the Local Marketing agreement with Harbor Point Broadcasting. The deal to sell the station from Waters to Harbor Point is also off.
- WMOM-FM 102.7 Pentwater/Ludington signs on with Adult Top 40 format
October:
- John F. Wismer, owner and president of Wismer Broadcasting (WHLS 1450/WSAQ 107.1 Pt. Huron) passed away
- Clear Channel and AM/FM announce merger
- Construction permit for 88.5 FM Mackinaw City is sold by Great Lakes Broadcast Academy to Broadcast Music Ministries for $108,000
- WMJZ-FM Gaylord shifted frequency from 95.3 to 101.5
- WSHZ-FM 107.9 Muskegon moved its format from Hot Adult Contemporary to Adult Contemporary
- WCLS-FM 100.7 Oscoda switched format from Country to Adult Contemporary. The station had switched from AC to Country about 1 year ago.
- WHCH-FM 98.3 and WQXO-AM 1400 Munising, along with WFXD-FM 103.3 Marquette are swapped from Lakes Radio to Great Lakes Radio in exchange for WCCM 94.7 and WTIQ 1490 Manistique. Total value of transaction- $1.15 million plus accounts receivable
November:
- W68CH 68 Detroit granted license
- WJZZ-AM 1210 Kingsley went silent
- WTLI-FM 89.3 Boyne City granted license
- WIDG-AM 940 St. Ignace switched format from Country to Sports
- WMXG-FM 106.3 Stephenson granted license
- Simulcasters WSRI-FM 92.1 Beulah and WSRQ-FM 100.1 Bear Lake went silent
- Former WJBK-TV 2 Detroit anchor Beverly Payne passed away. Ms. Payne was Detroit's first African-American anchorwoman, and one of the first female anchors in the top 10 markets of the USA
- WZPX-TV 43 Battle Creek was sold by DP Media to Paxson Communications
- WGKL-FM 105.5 Gladstone granted license
- WBGV-FM 92.5 Marlette granted license
- WSTD-FM 96.9 Standish went silent
- WOBE-FM 100.7 Crystal Falls granted license
- Cumulus Media announced the acquisition of Connoisseur Communications in a deal worth $242 million. Connoisseur owned the following Michigan stations: Muskegon- WMRR, WMUS-FM/AM, WSHZ, WMHG; Flint/Saginaw- WDZZ, WRSR, WWCK-FM/AM, WTLZ, WFDF
December:
- Citadel announced the purchase of Liggett Broadcast- the sale included 9 stations (Lansing's WJIM-AM/FM, WFMK-FM, WITL-FM, WMMQ-FM, and WVFN-AM; Bay City's WHNN-FM; Flint's WFBE-FM; Saginaw's WTCF-FM). The deal was worth $120.5 million.
- WSNQ-AM 900 Gaylord went silent
- WDWO-LP 44 Detroit (moving to ch. 18) was sold from Detroit World Outreach Assembly of God to TCT Michigan
- WHTV-TV 18 Jackson was sold from Jackson TV Company to Spartan TV
