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Birmingham, Ala. radio dial through the years (1966-1986)

rwells2265

rwells2265

Source for 1966: Airchecks, oral and/or written history
All others based on personal recollection.

1966:
610 - WSGN - Top-40
690 - WVOK - Top-40 [daytimer]
850 - WYDE (ABC) - Country
900 - WATV (CBS) - (MOR and/or Talk??) [daytimer]
960 - WBRC (MUTUAL) - MOR
1070 - WAPI (NBC) - MOR
1220 - WAQY - Top-40 [daytimer]
1260 - WCRT - Easy Listening [daytimer]
1320 - WENN - Black [daytimer]
1400 - WJLD - Black
1450 - WYAM/Bessemer - Country
1480 - WIXI/Irondale - Country / Gospel mix [daytimer]

93.7 - WSFM - Classical (originally WSGN-FM)
94.5 - WAPI-FM - (Mostly simulcasted WAPI 1070)
96.5 - WCRT-FM - Easy Listening (first stereo FM in B'ham)
104.7 - WJLN - [no idea at this point; simulcasted WJLD-AM 1400 maybe??]
106.9 - WBRC-FM - (Mostly simulcasted WBRC 960)

*********

1971:
610 - WSGN - Top-40
690 - WVOK - Top-40
850 - WYDE (ABC/I) - Country
900 - WATV (CBS) - MOR/Talk
960 - WBRC (MUTUAL) - "Jack AM" (technically MOR, but very all-over-the-road at this point in time; by then WBRC-AM-FM were left twisting in the wind as parent company Taft paid 99.999% attention to WBRC-TV)
1070 - WAPI (NBC) - Full-Service
1220 - WAQY - (?? - I believe this was around the time of their "womens talk" format)
1260 - WCRT - Easy Listening
1320 - WENN - Black
1400 - WJLD (ABC/C) - Black
1450 - WYAM/Bessemer - Country
1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious

93.7 - WDJC - Religious
94.5 - WAPI-FM - Automated MOR [I think D-C "Hit Parade"]
96.5 - WCRT-FM - Easy Listening
104.7 - WJLN - Black - day / Progressive Rock - night
106.9 - WBRC-FM - Top-40
107.7 - WENN-FM - Black [signed on in 1969]

*********

1974:
610 - WSGN - Top-40
690 - WVOK (ABC/E) - Top-40
850 - WYDE (ABC/I) - Country
900 - WATV (CBS) - MOR/Talk
960 - WERC - Top-40 (Taft unloaded radio in 1972, calls changed and station began rocking)
1070 - WAPI (NBC) - Full-service / "Chicken rock"
1220 - WBUL (MBN) - Black ("The Bull")
1260 - WCRT (MUTUAL) - MOR
1320 - WENN (NBN) - Black
1400 - WJLD (ABC/C) - Black
1450 - WYAM/Bessemer - Country
1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious

93.7 - WDJC - Religious
94.5 - WAPI-FM - Drake-Chenault "Solid Gold"
96.5 - WQEZ - Easy Listening
104.7 - WJLN - Black - day / Progressive - night
106.9 - WERC-FM - Stereo Rock (some simulcasting of top-40 WERC-AM during day)
107.7 - WENN-FM - Black

*********

1978, one year after FM blossomed in the market and shook things up:
610 - WSGN - Top-40
690 - WVOK - Country [format changed the day WVOK-FM signed on]
850 - WYDE - Country
900 - WATV - Black [VERY intriguing story how this came about; will post if anyone's interested ... made national news in 1976]
960 - WERC - Top-40
1070 - WAPI - Adult Contemporary
1220 - WBUL - Black ("The Bull")
1260 - WCRT - MOR, some nostalgia creeping in
1320 - WENN - Gospel
1400 - WJLD - Black
1450 - WSMV/Bessemer - Country
1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious

90.3 - WBHM - Classical/NPR [signed on in 1976]
93.7 - WDJC - Religious
94.5 - WAPI-FM - Easy Listening [kneejerked from "Solid Gold" after WVOK-FM signed on and WERC-FM was retooled as WKXX]
96.5 - WQEZ - Easy Listening
99.5 - WVOK-FM - AOR ("K-99") [signed on early in 1977]
104.7 - WZZK - Country (changed calls/format in '78 - nothing's changed since!)
106.9 - WKXX - Top-40 ("KICKS 106") [changed in August 1977]
107.7 - WENN-FM - Black

*********

1983:
610 - WSGN - Adult Contemporary
690 - WVOK - Country
850 - WYDE - Oldies
900 - WATV - Black
960 - WERC - News/Talk [dropped music in 1982]
1070 - WAPI - Adult Contemporary
1220 - WBUL - Nostalgia ("Stardust" format)
1260 - WCRT - Music of Your Life
1320 - WAGG - Gospel
1400 - WJLD - Black
1450 - WSMV/Bessemer - Country
1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious

90.3 - WBHM - Classical/NPR [signed on in 1976]
93.7 - WDJC - Religious
94.5 - WAPI-FM - AOR ("95-ROCK") [another kneejerk from B/EZ late in 1981]
96.5 - WMJJ - Adult Contemporary ("MAGIC 96") [format/calls changed in 1982]
99.5 - WQUS - Country ("US-99")
104.7 - WZZK - Country
106.9 - WKXX - Top-40 ("KICKS 106")
107.7 - WENN - Black

*********

1986:
610 - WZZK - Country (full simulcast of 104.7)
690 - WVOK - Oldies
850 - WYDE - Southern Gospel
900 - WATV - Black AC (I believe they were running SMN "Heart and Soul")
960 - WERC - News/Talk
1070 - WAPI - Nostalgia
1220 - WAYE - Gospel
1260 - WCRT - Oldies
1320 - WAGG - Gospel
1400 - WJLD - Urban Contemporary
1450 - WSMV/Bessemer - Country
1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious

90.3 - WBHM - Classical/NPR
93.7 - WDJC - Religious
94.5 - WAPI-FM - CHR ("I-95") [transitioned from AOR to CHR in 1984]
96.5 - WMJJ - Adult Contemporary ("MAGIC 96")
99.5 - WLTB - Soft AC ("LIGHT 99")
104.7 - WZZK-FM - Country
106.9 - WKXX - CHR ("KICKS 106")
107.7 - WENN - Urban Contemporary
 
> Source for 1966: Airchecks, oral and/or written history
> All others based on personal recollection.
>
> 1966:
> 610 - WSGN - Top-40
> 690 - WVOK - Top-40 [daytimer]
> 850 - WYDE (ABC) - Country
> 900 - WATV (CBS) - (MOR and/or Talk??) [daytimer]
> 960 - WBRC (MUTUAL) - MOR
> 1070 - WAPI (NBC) - MOR
> 1220 - WAQY - Top-40 [daytimer]
> 1260 - WCRT - Easy Listening [daytimer]
> 1320 - WENN - Black [daytimer]
> 1400 - WJLD - Black
> 1450 - WYAM/Bessemer - Country
> 1480 - WIXI/Irondale - Country / Gospel mix [daytimer]
>
> 93.7 - WSFM - Classical (originally WSGN-FM)
> 94.5 - WAPI-FM - (Mostly simulcasted WAPI 1070)
> 96.5 - WCRT-FM - Easy Listening (first stereo FM in B'ham)
>
> 104.7 - WJLN - [no idea at this point; simulcasted WJLD-AM
> 1400 maybe??]
> 106.9 - WBRC-FM - (Mostly simulcasted WBRC 960)
>
> *********
> Do you have any info on WAFN 99.5. I think Ch. 13 owned it, but I want to know what the format was and why it went dark. I think it was on in the 60's or early 70's.
> 1971:
> 610 - WSGN - Top-40
> 690 - WVOK - Top-40
> 850 - WYDE (ABC/I) - Country
> 900 - WATV (CBS) - MOR/Talk
> 960 - WBRC (MUTUAL) - "Jack AM" (technically MOR, but very
> all-over-the-road at this point in time; by then WBRC-AM-FM
> were left twisting in the wind as parent company Taft paid
> 99.999% attention to WBRC-TV)
> 1070 - WAPI (NBC) - Full-Service
> 1220 - WAQY - (?? - I believe this was around the time of
> their "womens talk" format)
> 1260 - WCRT - Easy Listening
> 1320 - WENN - Black
> 1400 - WJLD (ABC/C) - Black
> 1450 - WYAM/Bessemer - Country
> 1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious
>
> 93.7 - WDJC - Religious
> 94.5 - WAPI-FM - Automated MOR [I think D-C "Hit Parade"]
> 96.5 - WCRT-FM - Easy Listening
> 104.7 - WJLN - Black - day / Progressive Rock - night
> 106.9 - WBRC-FM - Top-40
> 107.7 - WENN-FM - Black [signed on in 1969]
>
> *********
>
> 1974:
> 610 - WSGN - Top-40
> 690 - WVOK (ABC/E) - Top-40
> 850 - WYDE (ABC/I) - Country
> 900 - WATV (CBS) - MOR/Talk
> 960 - WERC - Top-40 (Taft unloaded radio in 1972, calls
> changed and station began rocking)
> 1070 - WAPI (NBC) - Full-service / "Chicken rock"
> 1220 - WBUL (MBN) - Black ("The Bull")
> 1260 - WCRT (MUTUAL) - MOR
> 1320 - WENN (NBN) - Black
> 1400 - WJLD (ABC/C) - Black
> 1450 - WYAM/Bessemer - Country
> 1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious
>
> 93.7 - WDJC - Religious
> 94.5 - WAPI-FM - Drake-Chenault "Solid Gold"
> 96.5 - WQEZ - Easy Listening
> 104.7 - WJLN - Black - day / Progressive - night
> 106.9 - WERC-FM - Stereo Rock (some simulcasting of top-40
> WERC-AM during day)
> 107.7 - WENN-FM - Black
>
> *********
>
> 1978, one year after FM blossomed in the market and shook
> things up:
> 610 - WSGN - Top-40
> 690 - WVOK - Country [format changed the day WVOK-FM signed
> on]
> 850 - WYDE - Country
> 900 - WATV - Black [VERY intriguing story how this came
> about; will post if anyone's interested ... made national
> news in 1976]
> 960 - WERC - Top-40
> 1070 - WAPI - Adult Contemporary
> 1220 - WBUL - Black ("The Bull")
> 1260 - WCRT - MOR, some nostalgia creeping in
> 1320 - WENN - Gospel
> 1400 - WJLD - Black
> 1450 - WSMV/Bessemer - Country
> 1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious
>
> 90.3 - WBHM - Classical/NPR [signed on in 1976]
> 93.7 - WDJC - Religious
> 94.5 - WAPI-FM - Easy Listening [kneejerked from "Solid
> Gold" after WVOK-FM signed on and WERC-FM was retooled as
> WKXX]
> 96.5 - WQEZ - Easy Listening
> 99.5 - WVOK-FM - AOR ("K-99") [signed on early in 1977]
> 104.7 - WZZK - Country (changed calls/format in '78 -
> nothing's changed since!)
> 106.9 - WKXX - Top-40 ("KICKS 106") [changed in August
> 1977]
> 107.7 - WENN-FM - Black
>
> *********
>
> 1983:
> 610 - WSGN - Adult Contemporary
> 690 - WVOK - Country
> 850 - WYDE - Oldies
> 900 - WATV - Black
> 960 - WERC - News/Talk [dropped music in 1982]
> 1070 - WAPI - Adult Contemporary
> 1220 - WBUL - Nostalgia ("Stardust" format)
> 1260 - WCRT - Music of Your Life
> 1320 - WAGG - Gospel
> 1400 - WJLD - Black
> 1450 - WSMV/Bessemer - Country
> 1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious
>
> 90.3 - WBHM - Classical/NPR [signed on in 1976]
> 93.7 - WDJC - Religious
> 94.5 - WAPI-FM - AOR ("95-ROCK") [another kneejerk from
> B/EZ late in 1981]
> 96.5 - WMJJ - Adult Contemporary ("MAGIC 96") [format/calls
> changed in 1982]
> 99.5 - WQUS - Country ("US-99")
> 104.7 - WZZK - Country
> 106.9 - WKXX - Top-40 ("KICKS 106")
> 107.7 - WENN - Black
>
> *********
>
> 1986:
> 610 - WZZK - Country (full simulcast of 104.7)
> 690 - WVOK - Oldies
> 850 - WYDE - Southern Gospel
> 900 - WATV - Black AC (I believe they were running SMN
> "Heart and Soul")
> 960 - WERC - News/Talk
> 1070 - WAPI - Nostalgia
> 1220 - WAYE - Gospel
> 1260 - WCRT - Oldies
> 1320 - WAGG - Gospel
> 1400 - WJLD - Urban Contemporary
> 1450 - WSMV/Bessemer - Country
> 1480 - WLPH/Irondale - Religious
>
> 90.3 - WBHM - Classical/NPR
> 93.7 - WDJC - Religious
> 94.5 - WAPI-FM - CHR ("I-95") [transitioned from AOR to CHR
> in 1984]
> 96.5 - WMJJ - Adult Contemporary ("MAGIC 96")
> 99.5 - WLTB - Soft AC ("LIGHT 99")
> 104.7 - WZZK-FM - Country
> 106.9 - WKXX - CHR ("KICKS 106")
> 107.7 - WENN - Urban Contemporary
>
 
> Do you have any info on WAFN 99.5. I think Ch. 13 owned
> it, but I want to know what the format was and why it went
> dark. I think it was on in the 60's or early 70's.

The calls were WAFM ... it first went on the air ~1948. It was co-owned with WAPI-AM 1070, and when 13 signed on in 1949, the first calls were WAFM-TV. Several years later TV would become WABT - (A)labama's (B)est in (T)elevision.

In 1958, WAFM became WAPI-FM at the same time WABT was changed to WAPI-TV. At some point -- between 1955 and 1965 -- the station changed frequencies from 99.5 to 94.5, so the station never went dark, per se.

-RW
 
Two FM stations that were omitted:

103.7-WQEN (Top 40 from at least the late '70's). Although it was licensed to Gadsden until 2005, and didn't move its tower to become a Birmingham rimshot until 1998, Q-104 always had pretty good coverage in Birmingham, especially east of downtown. I remember a billboard that they used to have on I-20 at the I-59 junction in Woodlawn sometime in the early '80's.

102.5-WZBQ (Top 40 from about 1982; flipped to oldies in '92; flipped to country as WOWC later in '92, now WDXB). After WWWB in Jasper upped its power and began broadcasting from the old WDBB-17 tower west of Bessemer, Z-102 had great coverage over central Alabama, including Birmingham.

And a couple of corrections:
1450's call letters were WSMQ. They changed in '04 to WZGX.
After 1220 flipped from R & B to nostaligia, the call letters flipped to WTWG.
 
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