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WZGM 1350 is now Country!!

F

fmradionuts

Guest
Well, looks like WZGM in Black Mt. is now country except for Ken Bagwell's AM show on the weekdays. Glad to hear some country classics on the dial after the butcher of WWNC in Asheville. I just wish that they would not cold roll into and out of commercials> It's just a pet peave!! ;D
 
I hope something can be done with nightime service, maybe a different ground screen also for daytime..It's not what a 10KW should be. (Even at 1350 Khz) The stick is on the side of a hill right along I-40.
 
Lanny Ford of HRN is running this station, right? He must not be a patient man. He's flip-flopped WADA in Shelby and now this one. Wonder if this what the format will be in 6 months?
 
Lanny is running the station, yes. He's a close friend, and a super guy. However, as he and I joke all the time, patience is not one of his strong points. But, he doesn't do a half-bad job for somebody who three years ago was a full-time college Information Technology instructor, and has no other radio experience other than play-by-play announcing. I believe the plan with 1350 is to make it more focused on Black Mountain. Not a bad idea at all, instead of trying to play with the big boys in Asheville.

I've said for a long time now that the signal of WZGM isn't what it should be. The transmitter and processor is brand-new, and NICE. However, I personally believe that the ground system may be suspect. The buildout was done a couple years ago, and I think the hillside is an odd place for an AM tower. It's pretty rocky up there. I suppose none of us know how well the construction was done, since none of us were there, and the owner who did the upgrade planned to flip it anyway. But that's only my opinion. I lived in the Upper Hominy section of Eastern Buncombe County before I moved to Kentucky, and I had trouble getting the station at home in the middle of the day. Even at 1350, the signal should get out better.
 
Is the station back on the market? I have noticed a station for sale on a few broker sites that match the description of it. I agree with the change to serving the Black Mtn area. A good local station could work there.
The side of a mountain is an odd place for the tower location but for what land runs for around there some good moist bottom land would break the bank.
 
I just listened for about 30 minutes. I thought I would hear a "classic based" country list. I'm not going to jump on the negative bandwagon. Too much of that in radio, and life. My thing is, playing currents and re-currents isn't going to work. I would hope for at least a 1.5. This isn't going to happen playing the same thing as the dominant GIANT, that has nearly a 20 share. I was surprised to hear Kenny Chesney, Lee Ann Rimes, Montgomery Gentry, etc!! Also, I heard no imagining at all, in 30 minutes listening. No mention of calls, nothing. I know a lot of us with 30+ years in the business that would gladly do some sweepers and liners, free of charge. Maybe its early in the game though. ???
 
Naah, it's not back on the market. I'd have it listed if it were. Here's a hint for you...one of the little secrets some brokers use. Sometimes you'll see a generic description which could refer to any of a number of stations. They might not even have a listing to match the description, but instead are just fishing for buyers "just in case" they get a listing.

I listened a little today, and was surprised too. Not what I expected. Haha I'll have to chat with Lanny about that. I was expecting to hear lots of 50s, 60s and 70s classic country.
 
I did notice on radio-locator.com that WZGM 1350 Black Mountain Asheville 10,000 watt has lowered their power and moved to a old tower site. What is up with this and why?

WZGM-AM Technical Info:
Status Licensed Class D AM Station
Area of Coverage View Daytime Coverage Map, View Nighttime Coverage Map
Hours of Operation Unlimited
Antenna Mode Non-Directional - 1 Pattern
Daytime Transmitter Power 1000 Watts
Nighttime Transmitter Power 74 Watts
Number of Towers 1
Transmitter Location 35° 37' 19" N, 82° 19' 02" W
Last FCC Update January 27 2006
 
Radio-locator is wrong for some reason. The station is most definitely 10,000 watts, with only 56 at night. The FCC database will confirm this.
 
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