You’re stuck on I-75. The brake lights ahead look like a sea of glowing embers, and you just need to know if it’s a simple stall or a full-blown jackknifed semi blocking all three lanes at 14 Mile. If you’re a Detroiter, your hand instinctively goes for that tuner.
You’re looking for the "on the eights" promise.
But what if you aren't in your car? Or maybe you’re one of the many people who simply don't own a standalone AM receiver anymore. Finding a way to get AM 950 Detroit listen live access is basically a survival skill in Metro Detroit. Whether it’s a blizzard rolling in from Lake Michigan or a massive power outage in Oakland County, WWJ Newsradio 950 is the heartbeat of the city's information grid.
Honestly, the station is a bit of a legend. It’s been around since 1920—back when people were still getting used to the idea of "wireless" anything. Today, it’s owned by Audacy, and it remains the only 24-hour all-news station in the entire state of Michigan. That’s a lot of pressure, but they handle it by staying relentlessly local.
Digital Ways to Stream WWJ 950 Right Now
You don't need a clunky silver box with a wire antenna to hear the news. The most direct way to get the AM 950 Detroit listen live stream is through the Audacy app or website. Since they own the station, the feed is usually the most stable there.
If you’re a creature of habit and prefer other platforms, you've got options:
- TuneIn Radio: This is the old reliable for many. It’s available on almost every smart TV, phone, and tablet.
- iHeartRadio: Even though it's a competitor’s platform, WWJ usually maintains a presence there for accessibility.
- Smart Speakers: Just tell your device to "Play WWJ Newsradio nine-fifty." It works surprisingly well unless you have a thick accent or a vacuum running.
Then there is the HD Radio trick. If you have a newer car but the AM signal is getting "fuzzy" because of power lines or buildings, tune your FM dial to 97.1 (The Ticket). Most people don't realize that WWJ is actually simulcast on 97.1 HD-2. It sounds crisp, like an FM station, but it’s the exact same news feed.
Why 950 AM Still Dominates the Detroit Airwaves
Why do we care about a signal that technically started under the call sign 8MK over a century ago? Because the "all-news" format is exhausting to produce, and nobody else in the market is doing it. Most stations are syndicated talk shows or music loops. WWJ has actual humans sitting in a studio in Southfield, watching the scanners and the radar.
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The morning drive is currently anchored by Jackie Paige and Chris Fillar. Fillar joined the morning team in mid-2025, moving over from the sports desk to bring a fresh energy to the 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. slot. If you’re waking up with them, you’re getting the "Traffic and Weather Together" every ten minutes. It's a rhythm.
The 2026 Programming Lineup
Programming can be a moving target, but as of early 2026, the weekday schedule is built for the commuter:
- Mornings (5 am - 10 am): Jackie Paige and Chris Fillar.
- Middays (10 am - 2 pm): Brooke Allen.
- Afternoons (2 pm - 7 pm): Tony Ortiz and Brooke Allen (they often tag-team the heavy commute hours).
- Nights (7 pm - Midnight): Erin Vermeulen (often called "Erin Vee").
Dealing with the Signal "Bounce"
AM radio is weird. If you’re listening live on a physical radio at night, you might suddenly hear a station from New York or Chicago bleeding through. This is called "skywave propagation." Because WWJ uses a massive 50,000-watt transmitter in Newport, Michigan, its signal is a beast. At night, it uses a directional five-tower array that actually pushes the signal north.
You can sometimes hear the Detroit news clearly in the Upper Peninsula or even parts of Canada once the sun goes down. But if you're in a basement in Troy? You might get static. This is exactly why the digital "listen live" options have become the primary way people consume the station.
Is WWJ Just For News?
Kinda, but not entirely. They are the flagship for the Michigan Sports Network. While sister station 97.1 The Ticket handles the bulk of live sports play-by-play, 950 AM is the backup. If the Tigers and Red Wings are playing at the same time, one of them is getting bumped to 950.
They also lean heavily into CBS News Radio for national updates. So, you get the local Southfield/Detroit reporting for the first half of the hour, and then the global perspective kicks in. It’s a balanced diet of information.
Practical Steps for Local Listeners
If you want to make sure you never miss a breaking news update or a winter weather school closing, do these three things:
- Download the Audacy App: Pin WWJ to your favorites so it's a one-tap start when you get in the car.
- Set an FM Preset: Save 97.1 to your presets. If you have an HD Radio-capable receiver, navigate to the sub-channel HD-2 for a static-free version of the AM feed.
- Follow the "Eights": Remember that traffic and weather happen at :08, :18, :28, :38, :48, and :58. If you just missed the update, you only have to wait ten minutes for the next one.
The reality is that while the technology changes, the need for a reliable AM 950 Detroit listen live source doesn't. Whether it's through a 1920s-style transmitter or a 5G stream, knowing what's happening on the Lodge or the Davidson is part of being a Detroiter. Stick to the digital streams for the best audio quality, especially during those summer thunderstorms when AM signals love to crackle.