WOMG
Encyclopedia
WOMG is an Oldies
radio station licensed to Lexington, South Carolina
and serves the Columbia, South Carolina
market. The Cumulus Media
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to broadcast at 98.5 MHz with an effective radiated power
(ERP) of 6 kW. The station goes by the name Magic 98.5 and its current slogan is "Carolina's Greatest Hits."
outlet WOIC-AM
and one of the dismissed applicants for the proposed FM.
Eventually, the FCC sided with a lower court, approving the station to be licensed to MIDCOM in October 1981. Finally in 1982, the station hit the air as WDPN-FM with an urban contemporary
and jazz
music format with its studios and tower located in the Columbia suburb of Dentsville
.
Ratings for the new outlet were at a 4.2 in its first Arbitron
ratings period. However, the station was overshadowed not only by the well-established WOIC, but competition from Sumter
-based FM Urban Contemporary outlet WWDM-FM, which became the dominate Urban outlet in the market. By 1985, WDPN-FM was acquired by WOIC's parent company, Nuance Corporation and WDPN's studios were moved into WOIC's facility at 910 Comanche Trail in West Columbia
. Ratings for both stations began to decline.
In early 1986, both WDPN-FM and WOIC-FM were acquired by Alpha Communications. a group headed up by legendary air personality Chuck Dunaway
(of WABC
and KLIF
fame). WOIC-FM was left urban, while WDPN-FM changed to Top 40/Crossover
as "C-103" under the new call letters of WMMC. Almost overnight, the station's ratings increased. By early 1987, the station had evolved more toward a mainstream CHR
format.
By early 1988, what gains that C-103 had made were slowly being eroded by rival CHRs WNOK-FM and new upstart WYYS-FM (now WLTY-FM). The station was sold to Price Broadcasting, which changed the station's call letters to WPRH-FM and the handle to "Power 103" on May 2, but kept the previous Top 40 format. This move did not work as the station's ratings spiraled downward within a year's time.
On April 15, 1989, after a week where the station experimented with a brief Album Rock format, Magic 103.1 was born, taking the new call letters of WOMG-FM. This was the market's first FM Oldies station since WWGO's (now WMFX-FM) attempt 3 years prior (WODE-FM, now known as WOIC
, was doing Oldies on AM during this time, but would change formats by the end of the year). At the start, Magic 103.1 was more focused on music from 1956 through 1968, but as time moved on, music from the 1970s were added into the format as well.
In February 1991, after the station had experienced a significant dip in the ratings, the station reimaged itself as Oldies 103, focusing on the music from 1964 to 1973. The basic format has remained ever since, although in recent years, music from the late 70s was re-added into the format.
In 1997, after years of planning and delays, the station was finally able to increase its power from 3kw. to 6kw. This move solidified its signal coverage in the Columbia metro area. However, even with its new wattage, and Gamecock Basketball and Baseball rights, the station's power made it inaccessible to western Lexington County, into Calhoun and Orangeburg; WQKI-FM in Rowesville, SC blocked its signals. Those complaints led to Citadel Broadcasting
moving the WNKT tower from St. George to Eastover, changing its market, and flipping that station to a sports station in order to carry Gamecock sports to a more accessible area.
On April 1, 2008, the WOMG-FM calls and the oldies format moved from 103.1 FM to 98.5 FM, which had previously been occupied by an Urban Adult Contemporary
format as WLXC-FM. The WLXC-FM calls and the Urban format moved to WOMG's old dial position at 103.1 as "Magic 103.1." The switch happened at 10:00 AM. The Oldies format's positioner was changed from "Oldies 103" to "Magic 98.5." The Oldies format aired on 103.1 for 18 years.
The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media
, which acquired it as part of its merger with Citadel on September 16, 2011.
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
radio station licensed to Lexington, South Carolina
Lexington, South Carolina
Lexington is a town in and the county seat of Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 17,870 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Lexington is located at ....
and serves the Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
market. The Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
outlet is licensed 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...
(FCC) to broadcast at 98.5 MHz with an effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
(ERP) of 6 kW. The station goes by the name Magic 98.5 and its current slogan is "Carolina's Greatest Hits."
History
103.1 FM was allocated to Columbia beginning in 1976. The construction permit for the 3 kW. station was awarded in June of that year to MIDCOM Corporation, a group made up of Rev. I. DeQuincey Newman, J.E. Dickson, Bob Parnell, & Bob Cook. Construction for the station was held up for several years by appeals filed by Nuance Corp, the owners of crosstown AM Urban ContemporaryUrban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
outlet WOIC-AM
WISW
WISW is a news/talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina. It serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 1320 kHz with 5,000 watts daytime and 2,500 watts nighttime, directional...
and one of the dismissed applicants for the proposed FM.
Eventually, the FCC sided with a lower court, approving the station to be licensed to MIDCOM in October 1981. Finally in 1982, the station hit the air as WDPN-FM with an urban contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music format with its studios and tower located in the Columbia suburb of Dentsville
Dentsville, South Carolina
Dentsville is a census-designated place in Richland County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 13,009 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
Ratings for the new outlet were at a 4.2 in its first Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
ratings period. However, the station was overshadowed not only by the well-established WOIC, but competition from Sumter
Sumter, South Carolina
-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
-based FM Urban Contemporary outlet WWDM-FM, which became the dominate Urban outlet in the market. By 1985, WDPN-FM was acquired by WOIC's parent company, Nuance Corporation and WDPN's studios were moved into WOIC's facility at 910 Comanche Trail in West Columbia
West Columbia, South Carolina
West Columbia is a city in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 13,064 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Ratings for both stations began to decline.
In early 1986, both WDPN-FM and WOIC-FM were acquired by Alpha Communications. a group headed up by legendary air personality Chuck Dunaway
Chuck Dunaway
Chuck Dunaway is a retired radio personality and owner best known for his work at a variety of popular radio stations in Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma and New York City...
(of WABC
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
and KLIF
KLIF
KLIF is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Dallas, Texas, USA. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. KLIF broadcasts a conservative-leaning news/talk radio format to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Call sign history:...
fame). WOIC-FM was left urban, while WDPN-FM changed to Top 40/Crossover
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
as "C-103" under the new call letters of WMMC. Almost overnight, the station's ratings increased. By early 1987, the station had evolved more toward a mainstream CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format.
By early 1988, what gains that C-103 had made were slowly being eroded by rival CHRs WNOK-FM and new upstart WYYS-FM (now WLTY-FM). The station was sold to Price Broadcasting, which changed the station's call letters to WPRH-FM and the handle to "Power 103" on May 2, but kept the previous Top 40 format. This move did not work as the station's ratings spiraled downward within a year's time.
On April 15, 1989, after a week where the station experimented with a brief Album Rock format, Magic 103.1 was born, taking the new call letters of WOMG-FM. This was the market's first FM Oldies station since WWGO's (now WMFX-FM) attempt 3 years prior (WODE-FM, now known as WOIC
WOIC
WOIC is a News/Talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina. It serves the Columbia market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 1230 kHz with an effective radiated power of 1 kW full time...
, was doing Oldies on AM during this time, but would change formats by the end of the year). At the start, Magic 103.1 was more focused on music from 1956 through 1968, but as time moved on, music from the 1970s were added into the format as well.
In 1997, after years of planning and delays, the station was finally able to increase its power from 3kw. to 6kw. This move solidified its signal coverage in the Columbia metro area. However, even with its new wattage, and Gamecock Basketball and Baseball rights, the station's power made it inaccessible to western Lexington County, into Calhoun and Orangeburg; WQKI-FM in Rowesville, SC blocked its signals. Those complaints led to Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
moving the WNKT tower from St. George to Eastover, changing its market, and flipping that station to a sports station in order to carry Gamecock sports to a more accessible area.
On April 1, 2008, the WOMG-FM calls and the oldies format moved from 103.1 FM to 98.5 FM, which had previously been occupied by an Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
format as WLXC-FM. The WLXC-FM calls and the Urban format moved to WOMG's old dial position at 103.1 as "Magic 103.1." The switch happened at 10:00 AM. The Oldies format's positioner was changed from "Oldies 103" to "Magic 98.5." The Oldies format aired on 103.1 for 18 years.
The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
, which acquired it as part of its merger with Citadel on September 16, 2011.