WDJC-FM
Encyclopedia
WDJC-FM is a radio station
licensed to Birmingham, Alabama
. The station was one of the first commercial FM radio stations in the United States to exclusively feature Christian programming. Today the station programs contemporary Christian music. Crawford Broadcasting Company
owns WDJC.
, and it was the sister station of one of the more popular AM radio stations in Birmingham
. In 1953, the parent company of The News purchased WAFM-TV
, WAPI and WAFM-FM
and was forced to sell WSGN-AM and FM. Because FM radio was in its infancy, and as such neither popular nor profitable, the station was sold later in the 1950s and became WSFM, featuring a classical music format.
In 1967, WSFM owner James Melonas, who struggled through most of his ownership to get advertisers to sponsor classical music programming, sold the frequency to Crawford Broadcasting Company. With its new call letters, WDJC, the station changed formats and began broadcasting Christian programming. Initially, the programming consisted of Bible studies, church services and other Christian teaching; by the mid-1970s, some contemporary Christian music was added to the programming mix (it is believed that only Huntsville's now-defunct WNDA--now WRTT-FM
--was the only other station in the state to do so at the time). At about the same time, a nightly program featuring Southern gospel
music was added. This programming strategy continued well into the 1990s.
After an AM sister station was named WDJC, this station was assigned the WDJC-FM call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
on December 4, 1978
. On December 1, 1981
, the station resumed its former WDJC call letters. The station was re-assigned the current WDJC-FM call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
on June 3, 1994
.
In 1998 WDJC dropped the non-music elements of its programming. WFMH-FM
in Cullman
was purchased by a group of Birmingham investors with the purpose of launching a station that would play contemporary Christian music 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Initially, the new station, rebranded as WRRS-FM proved to be a challenger to WDJC; in reaction to the challenge, WDJC began to play contemporary Christian music exclusively. Within three years, WRRS changed formats; ironically, Crawford Broadcasting bought the competing station in 2003 and changed its format to talk radio
.
In 2008, WDJC continued its ratings success but experienced turmoil in the key morning drive timeslot with three different morning show lineups in less than a single calendar year.
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...
. The station was one of the first commercial FM radio stations in the United States to exclusively feature Christian programming. Today the station programs contemporary Christian music. Crawford Broadcasting Company
Crawford Broadcasting
Crawford Broadcasting is a family-owned media company based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Crawford Broadcasting primarily owns radio stations mostly with Christian and Oldies/Nostalgia formats.-History:...
owns WDJC.
History
The initial call letters of WDJC were WSGN-FM. The station signed on in the 1940s, and was originally owned by the parent company of 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 it was the sister station of one of the more popular AM radio stations in Birmingham
WAGG
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...
. In 1953, the parent company of The News purchased WAFM-TV
WVTM-TV
WVTM-TV, channel 13, is the NBC-affiliated television station in the Birmingham-Anniston-Tuscaloosa-Gadsden, Alabama television market. The station is owned by Media General...
, WAPI and WAFM-FM
WYSF
WJOX-FM is a radio station licensed to Birmingham. The station airs a sports radio format. WJOX is owned by Cumulus Media. The station was assigned the WJOX-FM call sign by the Federal Communications Commission on February 8, 2010.-Programming:...
and was forced to sell WSGN-AM and FM. Because FM radio was in its infancy, and as such neither popular nor profitable, the station was sold later in the 1950s and became WSFM, featuring a classical music format.
In 1967, WSFM owner James Melonas, who struggled through most of his ownership to get advertisers to sponsor classical music programming, sold the frequency to Crawford Broadcasting Company. With its new call letters, WDJC, the station changed formats and began broadcasting Christian programming. Initially, the programming consisted of Bible studies, church services and other Christian teaching; by the mid-1970s, some contemporary Christian music was added to the programming mix (it is believed that only Huntsville's now-defunct WNDA--now WRTT-FM
WRTT-FM
WRTT-FM is an active rock music-formatted radio station licensed to serve Huntsville, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by the Black Crow Media Group and the license is held by BCA Radio LLC...
--was the only other station in the state to do so at the time). At about the same time, a nightly program featuring Southern gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
music was added. This programming strategy continued well into the 1990s.
After an AM sister station was named WDJC, this station was assigned the WDJC-FM 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 December 4, 1978
1978 in radio
The year 1978 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:* May 6 – Bob Kingsley, producer of the syndicated "American Country Countdown," takes over as host. He replaces Don Bowman, who had hosted for the first 4½ years...
. On December 1, 1981
1981 in radio
The year 1981 in radio involved some significant events.-Debuts:* September 22 - WCAU-FM in Philadelphia debuts a new Hot Hits format called "98 Now!" which sweeps the local ratings and inspires parent company CBS to look at converting its other FM stations to similar formats.* October — "The...
, the station resumed its former WDJC call letters. The station was re-assigned the current WDJC-FM 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 June 3, 1994
1994 in radio
The year 1994 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 11 - The Irish government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the Provisional Irish Republican Army and its political arm Sinn Féin....
.
In 1998 WDJC dropped the non-music elements of its programming. WFMH-FM
WYDE-FM
WYDE-FM is a radio station that serves Birmingham and nearly all of north-central Alabama. The station is licensed to Cullman, Alabama. Because of the location of the station's broadcast tower and its strong signal, WYDE serves the Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden and Florence markets as well. ...
in Cullman
Cullman, Alabama
Cullman is a city in Cullman County, State of Alabama. Cullman is located along Interstate 65, about north of Birmingham, and about south of Huntsville. According to the U.S...
was purchased by a group of Birmingham investors with the purpose of launching a station that would play contemporary Christian music 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Initially, the new station, rebranded as WRRS-FM proved to be a challenger to WDJC; in reaction to the challenge, WDJC began to play contemporary Christian music exclusively. Within three years, WRRS changed formats; ironically, Crawford Broadcasting bought the competing station in 2003 and changed its format to talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
.
In 2008, WDJC continued its ratings success but experienced turmoil in the key morning drive timeslot with three different morning show lineups in less than a single calendar year.