WAGG
Encyclopedia
WAGG is a radio station
licensed to Birmingham, Alabama
. It broadcasts at a daytime power 5,000 watts, and at nighttime, it broadcasts at 1,000 watts. WAGG is a gospel music
station that targets Birmingham's African-American population. It is owned by Cox Radio
, which also owns six other stations in the market. The station was assigned the WAGG call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
on January 15, 1999.
, and the callsign was changed to WSGN. That callsign stood for "South’s Greatest Newspaper," an obvious tribute to The Chicago Tribune’s WGN
, whose callsign stands for "World’s Greatest Newspaper."
Throughout the 1940s, WSGN was an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network, the forerunner of the current ABC
Network. Late in 1955, WSGN became the first station in Birmingham to adopt a Top 40 format. In the early days it did battle with WYDE
-AM 850 and WVOK-AM 690 to lead the pack in the current hits category.
Many legendary personalities worked at WSGN over the years. Perhaps the most famous alumnus of WSGN was Rick Dees
, who hosted morning drive-time from 1973-1974.
The dominance of WSGN was challenged when in 1972 when longtime middle of the road station WBRC (the former sister television station has kept the same callsign to this present day) was sold. Its callsign was changed to WERC, and for the first time since 1965, WSGN had a serious Top 40 challenger in the market. For much of the mid-1970s, the battle between “The Big 610, WSGN” and “96-ERC” gave Birmingham and central Alabama listeners two strong choices for Top 40 music.
Prior to 1977, Top 40 could be heard on two FM stations: the automated WAPI-FM 94.5 and the daytime simulcasts of WERC
on WERC-FM 106.9
. In 1977, Birmingham got its first live, freestanding top-40 FM when WKXX (now WBPT
) made its debut, replacing the WERC-FM calls. The ratings of WSGN began to decline, and by 1981, the station had moved away from its longtime Top 40 format and began targeting adult listeners. “The Big 610” gave way to “Music 610, The Station That Grew Up with You”, and the format became adult contemporary with a heavy mix of oldies.
The debut of a second FM challenger, adult contemporary-formatted WMJJ
, in late 1982 signaled the beginning of the end of current hit music on WSGN. In February
1984, the station made a format switch and became known as “Real Music 610”, playing adult standards
and big band
music. This continued until April 26, 1985, when the owners sold the station and it became the AM simulcast partner of country station WZZK-FM (104.7). After 53 years, the call letters of WSGN were changed to WZZK-AM. This simulcast continued until 1998, when 610 AM returned to big band and adult standards with the new callsign WEZN.
led station ownership to adopt the gospel format, which proved to be successful. By the end of the 1980s, WAGG was one of the highest-rated AM stations in Birmingham.
In 1998, Cox Radio, who already owned WZZK-FM, WODL-FM (now WBPT
) and WEZN, bought WAGG, WBHJ
and WBHK
. One year later, WEZN and WAGG swapped dial positions in order for WAGG to take advantage of the superior signal on 610 AM.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. It broadcasts at a daytime power 5,000 watts, and at nighttime, it broadcasts at 1,000 watts. WAGG is a gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
station that targets Birmingham's African-American population. It is owned by Cox Radio
Cox Radio
Cox Radio, Inc. is a division of Cox Enterprises that holds a number of radio stations. Cox Radio is headquartered at 6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs, Georgia....
, which also owns six other stations in the market. The station was assigned the WAGG call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on January 15, 1999.
History of AM 610
Some generations ago, the 610 AM frequency was home to Birmingham’s second oldest radio station. That station began in 1926 as WKBC, broadcasting at 1310 AM. The original owner of the station was a local furniture company. In 1934, the station was sold to The Birmingham NewsThe Birmingham News
The Birmingham News is the principal daily newspaper for Birmingham, Alabama, United States, and the largest newspaper in Alabama. The paper is owned by Advance Publications...
, and the callsign was changed to WSGN. That callsign stood for "South’s Greatest Newspaper," an obvious tribute to The Chicago Tribune’s WGN
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
, whose callsign stands for "World’s Greatest Newspaper."
Throughout the 1940s, WSGN was an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network, the forerunner of the current ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Network. Late in 1955, WSGN became the first station in Birmingham to adopt a Top 40 format. In the early days it did battle with WYDE
WXJC (AM)
WXJC is a radio station licensed to serve Birmingham, Alabama. The station is licensed to Kimtron, Inc. and owned by Crawford Broadcasting Company...
-AM 850 and WVOK-AM 690 to lead the pack in the current hits category.
Many legendary personalities worked at WSGN over the years. Perhaps the most famous alumnus of WSGN was Rick Dees
Rick Dees
Rigdon Osmond "Rick" Dees III is an American comedic performer, entertainer, and radio personality, best known for his internationally syndicated radio show The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown and for the novelty song "Disco Duck." He is a People's Choice Award recipient, a Grammy-nominated...
, who hosted morning drive-time from 1973-1974.
The dominance of WSGN was challenged when in 1972 when longtime middle of the road station WBRC (the former sister television station has kept the same callsign to this present day) was sold. Its callsign was changed to WERC, and for the first time since 1965, WSGN had a serious Top 40 challenger in the market. For much of the mid-1970s, the battle between “The Big 610, WSGN” and “96-ERC” gave Birmingham and central Alabama listeners two strong choices for Top 40 music.
Prior to 1977, Top 40 could be heard on two FM stations: the automated WAPI-FM 94.5 and the daytime simulcasts of WERC
WERC
WERC — branded News Radio 105.5 WERC — is a news/talk radio station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama, and serving the Birmingham market as a complete simulcast of sister station WERC-FM...
on WERC-FM 106.9
WBPT
WBPT is a classic hits music-formatted radio station licensed to Homewood, Alabama, that serves the Birmingham and central Alabama area. The station was assigned the WBPT call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on October 17, 2001. Since October 2005, it has used the branding "106.9...
. In 1977, Birmingham got its first live, freestanding top-40 FM when WKXX (now WBPT
WBPT
WBPT is a classic hits music-formatted radio station licensed to Homewood, Alabama, that serves the Birmingham and central Alabama area. The station was assigned the WBPT call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on October 17, 2001. Since October 2005, it has used the branding "106.9...
) made its debut, replacing the WERC-FM calls. The ratings of WSGN began to decline, and by 1981, the station had moved away from its longtime Top 40 format and began targeting adult listeners. “The Big 610” gave way to “Music 610, The Station That Grew Up with You”, and the format became adult contemporary with a heavy mix of oldies.
The debut of a second FM challenger, adult contemporary-formatted WMJJ
WMJJ
WMJJ , "Magic 96.5") is a Clear Channel-owned Adult contemporary radio station that broadcasts from Birmingham, Alabama. Other stations in the Birmingham market owned by Clear Channel include WDXB-FM , WQEN-FM , WERC-FM , and WERC...
, in late 1982 signaled the beginning of the end of current hit music on WSGN. In February
February
February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the shortest month and the only month with fewer than 30 days. The month has 28 days in common years and 29 days in leap years...
1984, the station made a format switch and became known as “Real Music 610”, playing adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
and big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
music. This continued until April 26, 1985, when the owners sold the station and it became the AM simulcast partner of country station WZZK-FM (104.7). After 53 years, the call letters of WSGN were changed to WZZK-AM. This simulcast continued until 1998, when 610 AM returned to big band and adult standards with the new callsign WEZN.
WAGG history
Originally assigned to 1320 AM, WAGG has been an Urban Gospel station since 1982. Before then, the call letters were WENN-AM. Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, WENN was Birmingham's most popular station targeting African-American listeners, although it broadcast only during daylight hours with a relatively weak signal. The growing popularity of its FM sister stationWUHT
-External links:*...
led station ownership to adopt the gospel format, which proved to be successful. By the end of the 1980s, WAGG was one of the highest-rated AM stations in Birmingham.
In 1998, Cox Radio, who already owned WZZK-FM, WODL-FM (now WBPT
WBPT
WBPT is a classic hits music-formatted radio station licensed to Homewood, Alabama, that serves the Birmingham and central Alabama area. The station was assigned the WBPT call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on October 17, 2001. Since October 2005, it has used the branding "106.9...
) and WEZN, bought WAGG, WBHJ
WBHJ
WBHJ is a urban-leaning rhythmic-formatted radio station that serves Birmingham, Alabama. In 2005, it also began broadcasting in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity. It is owned by Cox Radio Holdings along with six other stations in the market...
and WBHK
WBHK
WBHK is an urban adult contemporary music formatted radio station owned by Cox Broadcasting that serves Birmingham, Alabama. It is currently ranked by the Arbitron rating system as the nation's highest rated urban adult contemporary station...
. One year later, WEZN and WAGG swapped dial positions in order for WAGG to take advantage of the superior signal on 610 AM.