The mission of WZND is to provide practical experience and training for all ISU students interested in the radio broadcasting industry and related industries and to provide a radio broadcast service to the ISU student body and citizens of Bloomington/Normal and listeners of the World Wide Web.
WILN was formed with help by Ruth Yates.
1981 WILN was changed to WZND on March 28th, 1981. "The Sound” was located in Cook Hall. The new WZND offered progressive rock-new wave sound and also soul and aired performances by local night spot bands and soul and jazz sessions. WZND was on the air from 7am-1am. WZND began broadcasting on Bloomington-Normal cable, increasing audience by 5,000-10,000 people!
1983 WZND drops “The Sound” and becomes “Cable’s Hot Music FM, The New WZND”.
1985 WZND moved to the “Media Services Building” aka the Old Union.
1987WZND receives national record recognition. WZND announces that it was chosen to report to The Gavin Report. At the time, The Gavin Report was the 2nd largest trade magazine in the radio industry. At the time there were only 125 urban stations in the entire country and only 2 in Illinois to report their play lists to The Gavin Report, WZND and WGCI.
1991WZND's 10 year anniversary! On April 11th, there was a celebration which included the burial of a time capsule filled with items pertaining to the station. More national recognition came WZND’s way when it was announced that WZND won a promotions award in the National Association of College Broadcasters “Top Station Search” contest. Over 60 applicants from all over the nation were entered and WZND was announced as the winner in the NACB’s Winter of 91’s issue of their magazine.
1992 WZND launched a petition campaign to be aired in the BSC. It worked and we are still broadcast there today!
1993WZND has won state and national awards through the years. In the fall of 1993, the plans to relocate to the lower level of Fell Hall were in full swing, awaiting the fixing of a crack in Fell’s foundation.
1992 WZND launched a petition campaign to be aired in the BSC. It worked and we are still broadcast there today!
1993WZND has won state and national awards through the years. In the fall of 1993, the plans to relocate to the lower level of Fell Hall were in full swing, awaiting the fixing of a crack in Fell’s foundation.
1994The space was renovated in the spring of 1994 and little by little the move to Fell Hall was completed. WZND is still located in Fell Hall Room 007. On October 6th of 1994, one of the studios was dedicated to Ruth Yates in a special ceremony. Ruth was an instructor and the founder of radio at ISU, she passed away in 1993. On hand at the ribbon cutting ceremony was ISU’s President at the time, Thomas Wallace, along with some of Ruth's family, friends and colleagues.
1996 The Student Union Party, a ticket for the SGA’s presidential race took it upon themselves to feature WZND in their campaign. They pledged to raise money, appropriate funds and raise awareness -all to get WZND on their airwaves- instead of just cable broadcasting. The plans fell through. In 1996, The Child Care Center at ISU became WZND’s philanthropy. Since then we have raised nearly $2000 a year and donated hours of time to the organization.
2001On March 28th, WZND celebrated its 20 year anniversary with a balloon launch of 106 balloons and a time capsule burial. Reggie the Redbird was in attendance.
2006 Alumni returned from all over the country attended WZND’s incredible 25 year reunion. Some activities included a countdown of WZND’s favorite 25 songs of the past 25 years. During a 6-hour long 80’s Rewind, there was food and opportunities for alumni to get back on the mic. The next day, WZND held a large banquet where memories were shared and General Managers throughout the years were honored, as well as the founders of WZND.
2007April 4th the rock alternative became the “Alternative Evolution” marking a change in format. The rock selections would keep all the great new alternative rock coming, but also include music from the 90’s
2010Z106 formally became WZND Fuzed Radio on 1.20.10, combining our two sounds and becoming a college shuffle station playing rock, hip-hop, classic, pop, country and more!
Throughout its history, WZND has been located in three different buildings. We have been located in the lower level in the of Fell Hall since March of 1994. Previously, we were at 103 Media Center (now called the Old UNion) from October of 1985 to March of 1994. And before that we were at 401 Cook Hall, the castle building! Stop by 007 Fell Hall to take a tour of the station. Make sure to ask where the time capsules are buried!
