WELY (1450 AM) and WELY-FM (94.5 FM) are a pair of simulcast radio stations based in the small tourist destination town of Ely, Minnesota, United States. WELY serves the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and surrounding towns and areas of northeastern Minnesota. The stations are owned by Zoe Communications; a sale to Civic Media is pending.

Nov 26, 2019 · 94.5 WELY is home to Ely's only community radio station, providing news, information, community events, Personal and Emergency Messages, music and entertainment across the Boundary Waters and beyond.

Feb 27, 2025 · Selling WELY Civic signed a purchase agreement for the station back on Jan. 2, and Zoe applied to the Federal Communications Commission this past week to transfer WELY’s broadcast license. The sale represents an unadjusted loss for Zoe, which bought the station from the Bois Forte Band on Dec. 23, 2022, for $130,000.

Feb 28, 2025 · WELY was revived in mid-1995 when CBS Broadcaster Charles Kuralt bought the station just months after the second closure and operated it until he died in 1997. An FM signal was added and later moved to 94.5 on the dial, and WELY later moved downtown to Chapman Street and Bois Forte purchased it from previous owner Janice Erickson in 2005.

May 12, 2022 · ELY, MN. (KBJR 6) - Ely’s beloved “End of the Road” radio station, WELY, may be reaching the end of its road by June, unless a last minute buyer emerges. The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa has owned the station for 17 years. In a press release, spokespeople said they’ve been working hard to make it profitable.

5 days ago · Stations and programming. Civic Media announced some plans for WELY/1450 and WELY-FM/94.5 (Ely), which it is in the process of buying.While the news release did not reveal specific formats, it did say the stations would carry “popular music formats featuring local news, weather, sports, and information, Trading Post with Trader Craig, the …

Mar 12, 2025 · MADISON, WI – In the company’s first expansion outside Wisconsin, Civic Media, is acquiring WELY-FM 94.5 FM and WELY 1450 AM in Ely, Minnesota from Zoe Communications. The stations have been silent since late 2022 but Civic Media plans to return these historic stations to the air as quickly as possible, pending FCC approval. Civic […]

Feb 18, 2025 · The 2022 sale to Zoe did not include WELY’s former downtown studio building. Since buying the stations, Zoe has obtained a construction permit to upgrade WELY-FM from 6kW/100m (class A) to 35kW/100m (class C2). WELY/1450 uses 1kW non-directional day and night, the same as virtually all stations on that frequency.

Dec 1, 2022 · It includes all of WELY's equipment, the tower and licensing. Zoe Communications also owns 11 other FM and AM radio stations in northwestern Wisconsin. The station will move out of its current location at 133 E. Chapman St., with the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa keeping the building, according to a release.

Civic Media is inviting anyone who would like to share stories of what WELY means to them, or who are interested in helping refresh and support the stations, to email [email protected]. Civic Media will soon operate 23 radio stations, including 21 in Wisconsin, featuring news/talk, country, oldies, and adult hits formats. About Civic Media