WALX Selma

[jsu5381m]

I had a couple of questions,

1. Is WALX Lazer 101 Selma a true top 40 station, or are they a Hot AC station?

2. Why doesn't WALX move their signal closer to Montgomery and serve both Montgomery and Selma? It could give Montgomery either a new hot a/c station for those who are tired of all the rap on Y102, or a new top 40 station to compete with Y102. Of course if WALX went the top 40 route it should compete with Y102 by adding a live and local morning show, Rick Dees on the Weekend, and a local Saturday Night party show.

 

[Nate Wesley]

I'll let RDP answer the first question--he's from the area.

As for the second, now that Scott Communications' WJAM-FM 107.9 has approval for a move/upgrade to Shorter (blanketing city-grade coverage over Montgomery), there's probably no urgency to move WALX, even if it's possible.

 

[R.D.P.]

To Question Number 1:

Hot AC and Classic Rock mix.

To Question Number 2:

Rick Dees is on at 2 P.M. Sunday Afternoons
Open House Party is on at 6 P.M. Saturday nights

To The Last Half Of Question Number 2:

For reasons unknown to me, WALX is moving their COL to Orrville Alabama.

R.D.P. <><

 

[Poledo]

For reasons unknown to me, WALX is moving their COL to Orrville Alabama.

You have to keep at least one radio station licensed to each city. WJAM is Orrville's only radio station. Since Orrville is loosing it's only radio station to Shorter, Scott Communications is relicensing WALX from Selma to Orrville to replace WJAM. Selma has several other radio stations, so they can afford to loose one license.

 

[tomservo]

Is Lazer 101 still loosely programmed as it used to be? I recall hearing them several years ago (they often wafted into Shelby County, outside Birmingham, during the nighttime) and they were pretty diverse. They were "Jack-FM" before such a thing ever existed!

 

[R.D.P.]

Yes

R.D.P. <><

 

[passtheword]

Yes

R.D.P. <><

I can remember hearing WALX (as a class A and later C2) in the Jefferson County area when I was a teen back in the 80's. Their format is rather unique and has always defied explanation...


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[Charles1]

Yes

R.D.P. <><

I can remember hearing WALX (as a class A and later C2) in the Jefferson County area when I was a teen back in the 80's. Their format is rather unique and has always defied explanation...


_______________________
What If...
Radio Didn't Exist?
www.LifeWithoutRadio.com

Darndest thing, though...schizophrenic as their playlist is, it's always entertaining!

 

[R.D.P.]

Another thing though, I can remember the year they:

1. Changed their format to what it is now (Hot AC/Classic Rock/Jack FM 1981)
2. Increased their power to what it is now (50,000 Watts in 1988)

I loved their Beautiful Music presentation and would find myself rocking in a chair, while listening to them, in the late 70s.  I was just getting started in Elementary School, when that happened.

I also remember them being heard on what was Telecable (Now Charter) channel number 12, during that time.  This channel would have the weather and time pieces, moving from the left to the right.  During the early 80s that channel would soon disappear and would be replaced by a new upstart called the Weather Channel.

When they switched to their current format, I was just getting into the 4th grade and it was from them, that I got hooked on Top 40 music.

It was back in 1987 (8th Grade) when they would become the first Radio station in Selma, to play the music from CD's.  The other stations would follow suit.

I was in High School, (10th Grade) when they upped their power.  They were the first FMer in Selma to broadcast with 50,000 watts.  WTUN now WDXX would follow suit and upgrade to 50,000 watts too.

That was some great memories, indeed. 

R.D.P. <><

P.S. This station still remains automated, to this day.  It's been that way since signing on in 1974.

 

[ALRocker]

Hey, R.D.P. do you remember 100.1 short run as Magic 100? It was sometime in the early 80's. It was a AC format. I still have a bumper sticker from them. I was in Selma one day and went to all the stations. Got stickers from Stereo 101, MRK, 100 TUN, WTQX. The visit to TQX was a trip. I remember TQX was upstairs in a downtown building that was possibly condemed about 10 years earlier! How long have they been off, and did the building finally fall in causing them to go off.

 

[R.D.P.]

Yes I do remember.  They tried to compete with WALX but it didn't work out.

Been in Selma my whole life and know this radio market forward and backwards. 

Even know about the history of Christian Radio.  We'll leave that one alone and wish WRNF, WAQU and W232AN all the success and Pray that God will use them, to help change this city and get it on fire for Him again.

WTQX did move to a new home, in 1991, I think?  They were last located besides their tower, off Valley Creek Circle.  They went silent back in 1995, I think?  Their tower still stands.  It has yet to be torn down.  I always look at it, when I travel down West Highland Avenue.  I also remember their old home.  It was upstairs in an old building.  Even had a transmitter, on top of it.  Back in November of 1986, they were granted limited nighttime service but had little success in keeping it going, due to "Technical Problems" they always had.  Their old address was 271/2 Franklin Street. 

R.D.P. <><

P.S. Since you last visited, we've gotten several new stations and they include:

WAPR 88.3 FM
WRNF 89.5 FM
WAQU 91.1 FM
W232AN 94.3 FM
WBFZ 105.3 FM
WJAM 107.9 FM

...And I may soon be returning to radio.  Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted.