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Iconic Alabama Radio Formats

C

Charles1

With the soon-to-be demise of WABB, what Alabama radio stations would be considered icons in their formats? By iconic, I guess I would mean stations that have been in their current formats at least 20 consecutive years? I would have to include these:

WZZK--country for 34 years
WQEN--Top 40 for 37 years (first as Gadsden's Q-104, now as Birmingham's 103-7 the Q)
WQSB--country since???
WERC--news/talk since 1982
WJOX--sports since 1992
WZYP--Top 40 since 1980(?)
WDJC--Christian since 1968, although they began as a teaching station and really didn't go full-time Contemporary Christian until '98

WZRR would have fit this description until their flip on New Year's Day.

Any others?
 
Charles1 said:
With the soon-to-be demise of WABB, what Alabama radio stations would be considered icons in their formats? By iconic, I guess I would mean stations that have been in their current formats at least 20 consecutive years? I would have to include these:

WZZK--country for 34 years
WQEN--Top 40 for 37 years (first as Gadsden's Q-104, now as Birmingham's 103-7 the Q)
WQSB--country since???
WERC--news/talk since 1982
WJOX--sports since 1992
WZYP--Top 40 since 1980(?)
WDJC--Christian since 1968, although they began as a teaching station and really didn't go full-time Contemporary Christian until '98

WZRR would have fit this description until their flip on New Year's Day.

Any others?
Click to expand...

I remember WQEN dabbled into both AC and Hot AC at some points during those 37 years...maybe late 80's/early 90's?
 
keithneese said:
from what I am reading online yes. I'm 31 and it has been country all my life lol ;D
Click to expand...

According to wikipedia, WKSJ-FM originally signed on in 1971 as WZAM-FM. I checked the Broadcasting Yearbook from 1972 online and 94.9 was indeed listed as WZAM-FM.
 
Was WZAM-FM programming country at that time, also? Anyone know?
 
1270 Prichard was WZAM, country in the late 60s, and that's where 94.9 fm originated ... it was beautiful music for a time, but switched to country and took the calls for its owner Kenneth S Johnson. 1270 was originally WAIP around 1960, then WSIM easy listening... then went to WZAM.
 
If you pull out the Key Work "ICONIC" then I think WZEW, 92 ZEW may be #1. They are used by other AAA stations nation wide to create playlist. They've been AA since sometime in the 80's and only took about a year off to try classic rock and then a little time trying to jump on the Alternative bandwagon before coming to their senses and bringing back the ZEW. The dropping of AAA was so short that some people (like me) were in college and never heard the format changes. AAA when I went to Athens, AAA when I got home. Also, how many other AAA stations are there in Dixie?? 3 Maybe? and those would be in Nashville and probably North Carolina.
 
I'm not a fan, but you've got to include WLWI (FM) Montgomery I-92 - the Country Giant. I remember how they played Foreigner's "Cold As Ice" a hundred or so times to mark the end of "Stereo 92", what seemed to be an automated hits station before I 92 signed on in 1978 and has remained country ever since.

However, it appears WBAM-FM has finally caught up with I-92 (the unretiring of WLWI <and Mix 103> morning legend Doctor Sam certainly seems to have helped).

There are dozens of local gospel stations (WMGY <Southern Gospel> and WXVI <Black Gospel> in Montgomery, for example) which may not be heritage status but they are consistent and probably will go dark before changing formats.
 
Could we also include every non-commercial station that serves Selma and Montgomery?

If we can, then let's put them all on the list.

I don't see them leaving anytime soon.

R.D.P. <><
 
WTGZ "The Tiger" in Auburn has been alternative since we all learned the word "alternative". Also for Auburn, predating the Tiger, WEGL has always been one of my favorite "road stations". Those kids always plug together a playlist of good songs when I drive through, kinda like they know I'm on I85.

WVAS Montgomery too maybe?
 
WTXT Fayette/Tuscaloosa has not been around nearly as long as the others, but it has been WTXT since the early 90's if I remember correctly. It's marketed as Tuscaloosa's Country Music Station, 98 'TXT, since forever.

My favorite days of Tuscaloosa were with WFFX "95.7 the Fox," "100.7 WLXY" Northport/Tuscaloosa, WTID Reform/Tuscaloosa "101.7 The Tide" (now WBEI, although I think it pulled a brief stint as WTID again?) I miss the days when there were so many classic rock stations on the dial to choose from. I didnt get to experience a lot of the music during its time as I was born in the mid-80's but Tuscaloosa was a classic rock haven for a long while when I was a kid.

de NV4P
 
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