WGNI
Encyclopedia
WGNI is a radio station
broadcasting an Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina
, USA, it serves the Wilmington area. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Licensing Llc.
The studios were moved to the Eagle Island transmitter site in the late 1950s, then to 211 North Second Street until the spring of
1992, afterwards they relocated to 1890 Dawson Street and then in July 2001 moved to their current location of 3233 Burnt Mill
Road in Wilmington.
The FM (102.7) was put on the air in 1971 as WAAV, a beautiful music
station. By this time, the AM transmitter site had been moved to River Road near Greenfield Lake and the original FM antenna was side mounted on the AM tower. Subsequently, a taller tower was built on the site to house the FM antenna until the station was sold to an owner which then purchased an existing tower south of Wilmington to upgrade their signal.
In 1981, WAAV-FM and WGNI-AM were sold to Cape Fear Broadcasting, which was based in Fayetteville
with two stations, WFNC-AM
and WQSM-FM
. Once this sale took place, WAAV & WGNI switched call letters and frequencies, WAAV going to 1340, and WGNI to 102.7. In the process WAAV changed to a "Music of Your Life" format and WGNI picked up the Adult Contemporary format.
In the fall of 1999, Cape Fear Broadcasting announced the sale of their Wilmington and Fayetteville stations to their current owners, Cumulus Media. This sale was challenged by Ocean Broadcasting of Wilmington because it would give Cumulus 6 FMs and an AM in Wilmington, and about 55 percent of market revenue. After selling one of their FM's, a change in the FCC, and other matters, the sale was finally approved in the spring of 2001.
Known "on air" as 1027 GNI, WGNI has a wide variety of music and brands it's format as "Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites;" with songs primarily ranging from the 80's to Today. 80's songs can be heard, primarily on the Retro Cafe (each weekday at noon), and weeknights from 8:00- 9:00 p.m. on the 80's @ 8. The 90's @ 9 airs from 9:00- 10:00 p.m. each weeknight. 1027 GNI airs The Bob and Sheri Show
each weekday morning. The Workday Network with Jackie Jordan airs each weekday from 10a.m.-3p.m. The Afternoon Drive then follows from 3p.m.-7p.m., with "The Daily Dees" by Rick Dees
. Weekend programming consists of the "1027 GNI Retro Weekend." The Retro Weekend airs 80s and 90s music all weekend long. Each Summer, WGNI has a promotion in which listeners have the chance to win a GNI Beach Bag, filled with prizes. During the Hurricane Season, 1027 GNI is Wilmington's Hurricane Information Station providing coverage on the latest hurricane information to listeners. Each year towards the end of November, 1027 GNI is "Wilmington's Original All Christmas Music Station" and flips to an all-Christmas music format. The format continues through mid-night Christmas day.
Jackie Jordan (10 a.m.- 3 p.m.)
Rick Dees
(3 p.m.- 7 p.m.)
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...
broadcasting an Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, USA, it serves the Wilmington area. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Licensing Llc.
History
The call letters WGNI were originally assigned to 1340 AM in Wilmington. The station went on the air on Christmas Eve in 1945. The original station was owned by General Newspapers Inc, publisher of the Wilmington Post. The Station was known as "The Rock of Coastal Carolina". Studios were state of the art, suspended studios located in the 200 block of Princess Street in downtown Wilmington.The studios were moved to the Eagle Island transmitter site in the late 1950s, then to 211 North Second Street until the spring of
1992, afterwards they relocated to 1890 Dawson Street and then in July 2001 moved to their current location of 3233 Burnt Mill
Road in Wilmington.
The FM (102.7) was put on the air in 1971 as WAAV, a beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
station. By this time, the AM transmitter site had been moved to River Road near Greenfield Lake and the original FM antenna was side mounted on the AM tower. Subsequently, a taller tower was built on the site to house the FM antenna until the station was sold to an owner which then purchased an existing tower south of Wilmington to upgrade their signal.
In 1981, WAAV-FM and WGNI-AM were sold to Cape Fear Broadcasting, which was based in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
with two stations, WFNC-AM
WFNC (AM)
WFNC is an AM radio station in Fayetteville, North Carolina broadcasting on frequency 640. The station has a conservative talk format and is under ownership of Cumulus Media.-History:...
and WQSM-FM
WQSM
WQSM is a licensed FM class C1 hot adult contemporary radio station based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA. Owned and operated by Cumulus Media, Q98 has offices and studios located at 1009 Drayton Road in downtown Fayetteville...
. Once this sale took place, WAAV & WGNI switched call letters and frequencies, WAAV going to 1340, and WGNI to 102.7. In the process WAAV changed to a "Music of Your Life" format and WGNI picked up the Adult Contemporary format.
In the fall of 1999, Cape Fear Broadcasting announced the sale of their Wilmington and Fayetteville stations to their current owners, Cumulus Media. This sale was challenged by Ocean Broadcasting of Wilmington because it would give Cumulus 6 FMs and an AM in Wilmington, and about 55 percent of market revenue. After selling one of their FM's, a change in the FCC, and other matters, the sale was finally approved in the spring of 2001.
Known "on air" as 1027 GNI, WGNI has a wide variety of music and brands it's format as "Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites;" with songs primarily ranging from the 80's to Today. 80's songs can be heard, primarily on the Retro Cafe (each weekday at noon), and weeknights from 8:00- 9:00 p.m. on the 80's @ 8. The 90's @ 9 airs from 9:00- 10:00 p.m. each weeknight. 1027 GNI airs The Bob and Sheri Show
The Bob and Sheri Show
The Bob and Sheri Show is a syndicated U.S. radio program hosted by Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch at radio station WLNK in Charlotte, North Carolina...
each weekday morning. The Workday Network with Jackie Jordan airs each weekday from 10a.m.-3p.m. The Afternoon Drive then follows from 3p.m.-7p.m., with "The Daily Dees" by 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...
. Weekend programming consists of the "1027 GNI Retro Weekend." The Retro Weekend airs 80s and 90s music all weekend long. Each Summer, WGNI has a promotion in which listeners have the chance to win a GNI Beach Bag, filled with prizes. During the Hurricane Season, 1027 GNI is Wilmington's Hurricane Information Station providing coverage on the latest hurricane information to listeners. Each year towards the end of November, 1027 GNI is "Wilmington's Original All Christmas Music Station" and flips to an all-Christmas music format. The format continues through mid-night Christmas day.
Air Staff
Bob & Sheri (5:30 a.m.- 10 a.m.)Jackie Jordan (10 a.m.- 3 p.m.)
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...
(3 p.m.- 7 p.m.)