WNGC (FM)
Encyclopedia
WNGC is a radio station
in North Georgia that plays country music
. Its city of license is Arcade, Georgia
with studios in Athens.
Then in March of 1968, WGAU-FM expanded its studios and became WNGC-FM. The following year, WNGC became North Georgia's first full-time country music
station, also one of the first in the nation to program country music full-time. In 1976, WNGC went 24 hours a day, and began broadcasting at 100,000 watts from a tower located in Neece, Georgia.
Then in 1999, Clarke Broadcasting (the owners at the time) sold the WNGC call letters/studio, along with sister WGAU-AM to Southern Broadcasting. They sold the 95.5 dial position to Cox Radio in Atlanta. Southern Broadcasting already owned WSTE-FM 106.1 in Toccoa/Gainesville, and decided to move 106.1 to Athens. Until the deal was finalized, WNGC was heard on 95.5 and 106.1. The transition was made at the end of a Georgia Bulldogs game, 95.5 went dead for a few seconds, and signed back on as 95-5 The Beat, (WBTS) and 106.1 became WNGC-FM.
Prior to December 1996, 106.1 was a light rock station before switching to country and calling itself "South 106." The studios had moved from Toccoa to Gainesville and finally to Athens. Its signal was hard to pick up in the Atlanta area outside of Gwinnett. In the spring of 1999, WSTE built a new tower because at the time they were still in competition with WNGC, before the two stations merged. The purpose of the deal was to try to reach a larger audience and give the two Atlanta country stations WKHX "Kicks" 101.5, and WYAY (at the time Y106) some competition.
While WNGC's City of License is in Arcade, the transmitter is located in Lula, Georgia
(in northern Hall County). WNGC's signal can be heard in Downtown Atlanta, Greenville, South Carolina
and in parts of Asheville, North Carolina
, but the main coverage area is northeast Georgia and the Athens metro area (where the studios are located). Attempts were made in 2001 to move the transmitter to Sugar Hill in Gwinnett County, but those plans were scrapped.
In January 2008, it was announced that WNGC was sold (along with sister stations WGMG
, WPUP
, WRFC
and WGAU
) to Cox Radio in Atlanta. On March 7, 2008, WNGC started running ads inviting former Eagle 106.7 listeners to switch to 106.1 WNGC, as WYAY had become an oldies station. In February 2009, WNGC became an affiliate of the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and the Performance Racing Network (PRN), and began carrying coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing on weekends.
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...
in North Georgia that plays country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. Its city of license is Arcade, Georgia
Arcade, Georgia
Arcade is a city in Jackson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,643 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Arcade is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of...
with studios in Athens.
Station history
On May 1, 1948, the radio station signed on as WGAU-FM, broadcasting on 99.5 at 3600 watts, simulcasting sister station WGAU-AM. In 1956, the station moved to 102.5 because when Atlanta's channel 11 came on the air, it created a second "harmonic" interference. During the 1962 year, WGAU-FM was broadcasting in stereo for 6 hours, the second station in Georgia to do so. Also in 1962, WGAU-FM moved to 95.5. This was due to when Channel 8 came on, it created a "beat-frequency" with Channel 5 in the Athens area. From 1963 to 1968, Clarke Broadcasting had an agreement with The University of Georgia School of Journalism to allow students to use WGAU-FM for 3 hours, using the format on the air at the time: beautiful music.Then in March of 1968, WGAU-FM expanded its studios and became WNGC-FM. The following year, WNGC became North Georgia's first full-time country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station, also one of the first in the nation to program country music full-time. In 1976, WNGC went 24 hours a day, and began broadcasting at 100,000 watts from a tower located in Neece, Georgia.
Then in 1999, Clarke Broadcasting (the owners at the time) sold the WNGC call letters/studio, along with sister WGAU-AM to Southern Broadcasting. They sold the 95.5 dial position to Cox Radio in Atlanta. Southern Broadcasting already owned WSTE-FM 106.1 in Toccoa/Gainesville, and decided to move 106.1 to Athens. Until the deal was finalized, WNGC was heard on 95.5 and 106.1. The transition was made at the end of a Georgia Bulldogs game, 95.5 went dead for a few seconds, and signed back on as 95-5 The Beat, (WBTS) and 106.1 became WNGC-FM.
Prior to December 1996, 106.1 was a light rock station before switching to country and calling itself "South 106." The studios had moved from Toccoa to Gainesville and finally to Athens. Its signal was hard to pick up in the Atlanta area outside of Gwinnett. In the spring of 1999, WSTE built a new tower because at the time they were still in competition with WNGC, before the two stations merged. The purpose of the deal was to try to reach a larger audience and give the two Atlanta country stations WKHX "Kicks" 101.5, and WYAY (at the time Y106) some competition.
While WNGC's City of License is in Arcade, the transmitter is located in Lula, Georgia
Lula, Georgia
Lula is a city in Banks and Hall Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 1,438 at the 2000 census. The Hall County portion of Lula is part of the Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lula is home of RailRoad Days, a yearly festival usually every May. Major roads near...
(in northern Hall County). WNGC's signal can be heard in Downtown Atlanta, Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
and in parts of Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, but the main coverage area is northeast Georgia and the Athens metro area (where the studios are located). Attempts were made in 2001 to move the transmitter to Sugar Hill in Gwinnett County, but those plans were scrapped.
In January 2008, it was announced that WNGC was sold (along with sister stations WGMG
WGMG
WGMG is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Crawford, Georgia, USA with studios in Athens, Georgia. The station is owned by Cox Radio, Inc....
, WPUP
WPUP
WXKT is a radio station broadcasting a news talk format. Licensed to the town of Maysville, Georgia, it serves the Gainesville, Georgia metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1989 under the call sign WBIC. The station is currently owned by Cox Radio.-History:WXKT was first assigned...
, WRFC
WRFC (AM)
WRFC is a sports radio station licensed to Athens, Georgia, USA. The format was easy listening until the late 1960s, when it changed to a light rock format. The station was previously owned by Southern Broadcasting of Athens, Inc. until June 2008, when it was purchased, along with its sister...
and WGAU
WGAU
WGAU is a radio station licensed to serve Athens, Georgia, United States, that broadcasts a News/Talk format. The transmitter is located at the studios in the Five Points area of Downtown Athens....
) to Cox Radio in Atlanta. On March 7, 2008, WNGC started running ads inviting former Eagle 106.7 listeners to switch to 106.1 WNGC, as WYAY had become an oldies station. In February 2009, WNGC became an affiliate of the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and the Performance Racing Network (PRN), and began carrying coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing on weekends.
Current programs
- Moby in the Morning, mornings (Former Kicks 101.5 morning host, now has a syndicated program)
- Saturdays: North Georgia Night Train, Country Top 40, WNGC's Classic Country Saturday Night
- Sundays: North Georgia Night Train, The Gospel Greats, Racin' Country USA, CMT's Country Countdown USA
The Georgia Bulldogs
WNGC-FM is one of the many stations that carry The University of Georgia Football Games (along with sister WRFC-AM), something it has done since January 30, 1991. WNGC was also the home of UGA men's basketball until 2005. It can now be heard on sister station WRFC-AM and on FM 103.7 WXKT. [WXKT-FM].Previous callsigns for 106.1
- WLET-FM 1978-1985
- WZLI 1985-1992
- WLET-FM 1992-1997
- WSTE-FM 1997-1999
- WNGC 1999-Now
Previous frequencies for WNGC
- 95.5 (as WGAU-FM 1962-1968, WNGC-FM 1968-1999)
- 102.5 (as WGAU-FM/1957-1962)
- 99.5 (as WGAU-FM/1948-1957)