WUSN
A Chicago country music FM radio station branded as US✶99.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
WUSN is a commercial FM radio station serving the Chicago metropolitan area on 99.5 MHz. It broadcasts a country music format and is branded US✶99, commonly rendered as US 99.5 in earlier branding. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., the radio company formerly known as Entercom, and operates from Chicago's Loop at Two Prudential Plaza. Its transmission facilities are located atop the John Hancock Center, one of the city's best-known high-rise landmarks, and the station also transmits an HD Radio signal. WUSN has unusually deep roots in American FM broadcasting. Its lineage begins on February 2, 1940, when Zenith Radio Corporation began operating experimental station W9XEN in Chicago. A commercial FM construction permit was subsequently issued to Zenith for a 45.1 MHz facility using the call sign W51C. The station is regarded as one of the earliest FM broadcasters in the United States and the oldest FM station in the country that remains in operation. Its original transmitter was installed atop the Field Building. The station spent almost four decades associated with classical music. Its call sign changed to WWZR in 1943 and then to WEFM in 1946, the latter reflecting the initials of Eugene F. McDonald, Zenith's president. After the FCC reorganized the FM band, the station moved to 98.5 MHz and then to its present 99.5 MHz frequency in 1947. WEFM became the second American station to broadcast in FM stereo in 1961. For many years it carried very limited advertising, initially promoting primarily Zenith products; commercial time expanded in 1966, although advertisements remained constrained by the station's classical positioning. Zenith agreed in the 1970s to sell the station to General Cinema Corporation. A proposed rock-format conversion and call-sign change were delayed by litigation, but the transaction and format change eventually took place in February 1978. General Cinema converted the service first to a Top 40 format and later to a middle-of-the-road format, while retaining the WEFM call sign for a period. In 1980 the studios moved to the John Hancock Center, where the station's transmission facilities were also located. First Media Corporation acquired the station in 1982 for $9.2 million. On February 6 of that year, it introduced a country format under the US-99 name, and on February 25 the call sign became WUSN. The station's launch promotion promised four songs between commercial breaks, with a cash giveaway if the promise was broken. Listener-detected errors during the first week resulted in $50,000 being distributed. WUSN subsequently developed into one of Chicago's most prominent country stations and, during periods with limited local competition, ranked among the most-listened-to country stations in the United States. Infinity Broadcasting purchased WUSN in 1993. Infinity later became part of CBS following its 1997 acquisition by CBS's parent company. In 2017, CBS Radio merged with Entercom, transferring the station into the ownership structure that later became Audacy. In 2016, WUSN refreshed its identity as US✶99, removed the decimal frequency from its main on-air name, and adopted the slogan Chicago's Hottest Country. The updated logo used a six-pointed star and Chicago-inspired colors, linking the station's country identity with its local civic imagery. WUSN's recognition has included major-market station and personality honors from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and Country Radio Broadcasters/Country Aircheck. The station remains an active Chicago broadcast brand focused on country music, local personalities, promotions, artist interviews, and digital extensions of its terrestrial radio service.
History
WUSN's history reaches back to the earliest period of American FM radio. Zenith Radio Corporation began operating experimental station W9XEN in Chicago on February 2, 1940. In October of that year, Zenith received one of the first commercial FM construction permits issued by the FCC. The resulting facility used the call sign W51C and broadcast at 45.1 MHz from a transmitter atop the Field Building. Following changes to FCC FM allocations and call-sign policy, the station became WWZR in 1943 and WEFM in 1946. WEFM referred to Eugene F. McDonald, Zenith's president. The station moved first to 98.5 MHz and then to 99.5 MHz in 1947, establishing the frequency it uses today. From its launch until 1978, its programming was primarily classical music. WEFM was an important early stereo broadcaster, becoming the second station in the United States to offer FM stereo in 1961. Its commercial policy was restrained: advertising was initially limited largely to Zenith products, and after commercial sales began in 1966, the station maintained limits intended to preserve its classical format. Zenith's plans to sell the station in the 1970s led to a prolonged transition. General Cinema Corporation intended to replace the classical format with rock music and proposed the call sign WICV, a reference to the station's frequency. Litigation delayed the sale and format change until February 1978. General Cinema instead retained the WEFM call letters for a time while launching a Top 40 format, with programming led by program director Brian White and afternoon host Don Cox. In 1980, the studios moved to the John Hancock Center, where the transmitter was located. The station briefly shifted toward a middle-of-the-road format in 1981 and also leased a subcarrier to Physicians Radio Network, a medical news service. First Media Corporation purchased the station in 1982. On February 6, it converted 99.5 FM to country music and introduced the US-99 identity. The WUSN call sign followed on February 25. The launch emphasized a promise of four songs before each commercial break, backed by a cash guarantee. When listeners identified two failures during the first week, the station paid out $50,000. This aggressive promotional positioning helped distinguish the new country service in the Chicago market. WUSN's country competitors included WMAQ, WJEZ, and WJJD, although some competing stations changed formats soon after US-99 launched. Over time, WUSN became a leading country outlet in Chicago and, in years when it faced limited direct competition, was described as the country's most-listened-to country station. Its programming history included prominent local hosts such as Don Wade, Gary Dee, Lisa Dent, and Ramblin' Ray Stevens, although the available reference material does not establish a complete current or historical executive roster. Infinity Broadcasting acquired WUSN in 1993. Infinity became associated with CBS after CBS's parent company acquired the group in 1997. CBS Radio announced a merger with Entercom in 2017; regulators approved the transaction in November and it closed later that month. Entercom subsequently rebranded as Audacy, placing WUSN within Audacy's national radio portfolio. The station refreshed its visual and verbal identity in August 2016, changing its on-air presentation from US-99.5 to US✶99 and adding the slogan Chicago's Hottest Country. Its new star symbol used six points rather than the more familiar five-pointed country-radio star, while the light blue and red palette referenced the Chicago flag. WUSN's awards history includes Country Music Association honors in 1993 and 2006, an Academy of Country Music major-market award in 2015, and multiple station and personality awards during the 2000s and 2010s. It continues to operate as an active Chicago FM country station.
- 2017
CBS Radio and Entercom merger closes
[1]WUSN entered Entercom's ownership structure through the completed CBS Radio merger.
- 2016
US✶99 branding introduced
[1]The station adopted the US✶99 name, Chicago's Hottest Country slogan, and a Chicago-inspired logo.
- 1993
Infinity Broadcasting acquisition
[1]Infinity Broadcasting acquired the station.
- 1982
US-99 country format launches
[1]First Media introduced country programming and the US-99 brand; the call sign became WUSN.
- 1978
Classical format ends
[1]After General Cinema's acquisition, the station moved from classical music to a Top 40 format.
- 1961
FM stereo service introduced
[1]WEFM became the second station in the United States to broadcast in FM stereo.
- 1947
Moves to 99.5 MHz
[1]After postwar FM allocation changes, the station moved to the 99.5 MHz frequency it retains today.
- 1946
Station becomes WEFM
[1]The call sign changed to WEFM, associated with Zenith president Eugene F. McDonald.
- 1943
Call sign changes to WWZR
[1]The station received the WWZR call letters under revised FCC call-sign policy.
- 1940
Experimental FM broadcasting begins
[1]Zenith began operating experimental station W9XEN in Chicago, establishing the station's lineage.
Products and positioning
A major-market Chicago country music station combining current country programming, local radio personalities, promotions, and a strongly regional US✶99 identity.
Country music radio station · 2016
US✶99
WUSN's principal on-air brand and its current presentation as a Chicago country music station. The service combines recorded country music with local hosts, promotions, artist-related programming, and market-focused radio content. The identity emphasizes both the country format and the station's Chicago location through its name, slogan, and logo.
Country music radio format · 1982
US-99
The original country identity launched in 1982 after First Media converted the former WEFM facility to country music. US-99 established WUSN as a major Chicago country outlet and used distinctive launch promotions, including a promise to play four songs before commercial breaks.
Classical music radio format · 1946
WEFM classical service
The station's long-running classical music service, broadcast under the WEFM call sign from 1946 until the format change in 1978. It was known for limited advertising and became an early FM stereo broadcaster.
Controversies
2003
Cliff Dumas employment lawsuit
Radio personality Cliff Dumas sued Infinity Broadcasting and WUSN, alleging that management induced him to resign from another job for a WUSN position that never materialized.
2001
Employee-attendance memo controversy
A leaked management memo reportedly asked station employees to attend a George Strait Country Music Festival at their own expense and promote WUSN at the event, generating criticism in Chicago media.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016US✶99 rebrand
Chicago metropolitan area
WUSN simplified its spoken brand from US-99.5 to US✶99 and introduced the slogan Chicago's Hottest Country.
Outcome. The refreshed identity connected the country station more explicitly to Chicago through a six-pointed star and local flag colors.
- 1982Four Songs Before a Commercial
Chicago metropolitan area
At the launch of its country format, US-99 promised listeners four songs before each commercial break and offered a cash guarantee if the promise was broken.
Outcome. Two errors were identified during the first week, resulting in $50,000 in payouts.
Brand decisions
2017
Transfer into Entercom ownershipM&ABackground
CBS Radio announced a merger with Entercom as part of a broader consolidation of American radio ownership.
Action taken
The transaction was approved in November 2017 and completed on November 17, placing WUSN under Entercom, later renamed Audacy.
Aftermath
WUSN became part of Audacy's station portfolio while continuing its Chicago country format.
2016
US✶99 brand refreshStrategyBackground
The station updated its identity while retaining its established country positioning and Chicago market focus.
Action taken
WUSN dropped the .5 from its spoken brand, adopted US✶99 and Chicago's Hottest Country, and introduced a Chicago-inspired logo.
Aftermath
The station continued operating as a Chicago country music service under the refreshed identity.
1982
Adoption of country music formatStrategyBackground
First Media sought a distinctive format for the Chicago 99.5 FM facility in a market with several country and country-adjacent competitors.
Action taken
The station launched country programming as US-99 and changed its call sign to WUSN.
Aftermath
WUSN became one of Chicago's leading country stations and achieved strong national standing during periods of limited direct competition.
Station acquisition price. $9.2 million (1982 acquisition by First Media)
1978
Conversion from classical music to Top 40StrategyBackground
General Cinema's acquisition followed plans to replace the long-running WEFM classical format with a more commercially oriented service.
Action taken
The station changed to Top 40 programming in February 1978, ending its classical era.
Aftermath
The station later moved through a middle-of-the-road format before adopting country music in 1982.
Sources2 sources
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