WSB-FM
Encyclopedia
WSB-FM is an Atlanta radio station. Along with several other Atlanta radio stations, WSB-FM is owned by Cox Enterprises
' Cox Media Group subsidiary
, and is the group's flagship FM station. It is the only Atlanta FM radio station to continue to share a callsign with local TV and AM radio stations (WSB AM
and WSB-TV
), and one of the few such triopolies
(under the same ownership) left in the entire U.S.
.
As of January 2010, WSB-FM broadcasts a split format. Monday thru Friday afternoons, the station broadcasts an Adult Contemporary format. From 3 pm on Friday until 7 Sunday, WSB-FM broadcasts 1980s and 1990's pop music. WSB-FM broadcast 80s weekends from 2001-2003, and all-1970s weekends during the mid-1990s. During the holiday seasons from 2004 forward, the station plays all-Christmas music
from the day before Thanksgiving
to Christmas Day. Prior to 2007
, its main competitor was Atlanta's other AC, Peach 94.9 (which became Lite FM in 2002).
In 1985, WSB-FM, at the time known as "99FM", sued AC competitor WLTA-FM 99.7 "Warm 99", claiming copyright infringement. Arbitron was docking both stations in the ratings because of the common use of "99". In the landmark case, Cox v. Susquehanna Broadcasting, the judge was handed a digital radio and asked to tune to 100.0 MHz. There was no signal. To find the nearest station, he pressed the Scan button, and it stopped on 101.5 MHz (WKHX-FM
). Next, he entered 99.0 MHz, which, again, contained no signal. Scanning from there, the radio hit 99.7, WLTA's frequency. In his precedent-setting decision, the Federal district judge stated that on a radio dial "a radio station's frequency is its address" and one cannot copyright an address. He ruled in favor of Warm 99. Soon thereafter, WSB-FM became known as "B98.5FM".
The station plays over 90 minutes of commercial
-free music each weekday at 9 am known as The 98 at 9. Until 2006, WSB-FM's primary "listen at work" competitor was 94.9 FM, under the names "95 WPCH", "Peach 94.9", and "94.9 Lite FM" with the WLTM callsign. On December 18, 2006, 94.9 flipped to country as "The Bull". WLTM moved to the weak 96.7 station until December 26, 2007, when the station flipped to classic country WWLG
"96.7 the Legend". After 94.9 switched to a country format and WLTM
switched to classic country, B98.5 became the only adult contemporary music
station in Atlanta.
On December 29, 2006, WSB-FM became the Atlanta affiliate for the nationally syndicated Delilah
show (which was previously broadcast on 94.9 Lite FM/Peach 94.9).
WSB-FM's current HD-2
service is a throwback to their 'beautiful music
' days.
In the past, WSB-FM produced an annual "Family Fun Fest" event, where companies that provide products for kids and families showcase what products and services they offer. The show featured live events and appearances from local sports stars. The station conducted a live broadcast both days of the event. The event has not been held since 2009 due to the economic crisis.
WSB-FM shares a tower
with WPBA TV 30, and in fact shares the same antenna
with WSTR FM 94.1 and WVEE FM 103.3. The three stations' transmitter
s are diplexed together, so that they all feed to the antenna instead of into each other.
A planned merger of GE and Cox in the late 1970s almost caused WSB-FM to be spun off to Ragan Henry with plans to take the WEZA calls.
On July 1, 2008, Steve McCoy
and Vikki Locke joined WSB-FM as the morning show after 17 years at top 40 WSTR
"Star 94". Steve McCoy was fired on February 25, 2010. Vikki Locke does remain as morning show host. In March 2011, Kelly Stevens from the old "Kelly and Alpha" show rejoined the station and joined Vikki.
During the Spring of 2011, the station made dramatic on-air changes due to declining ratings as a result of changes at hot AC WSTR
and the success of top 40 WWWQ. All music before 1980 was dropped, more songs from the 2000's were added, and the station abandoned the longtime "Atlanta's Best Variety of Soft Rock" tagline in favor of "Your favorites from the 80's, 90's, and now".
On September 16,2011, the station changed their all 80's weekend format to an 80's and 90's weekend format to compete with Journey 97.9.
WSB-FM airs public affairs programming on Sunday mornings at 7 a.m. starting February 21, 2010, when Dr. Joe Esposito began hosting Health Talk Atlanta.
Former hosts:
Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is the successor to the publishing company founded in Dayton, Ohio, United States, by James Middleton Cox, who began with the Dayton Daily News. He was the Democratic candidate for the President of the United States in the election of 1920...
' Cox Media Group subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
, and is the group's flagship FM station. It is the only Atlanta FM radio station to continue to share a callsign with local TV and AM radio stations (WSB AM
WSB (AM)
WSB — branded AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB — is a commercial radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting a news/talk format. The station transmits with 50,000 watts of nondirectional power day and night, enjoying clear-channel status on its broadcast frequency according to the U.S...
and WSB-TV
WSB-TV
WSB-TV, virtual channel 2.1 , is the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship television station of Cox Enterprises and its Cox Media Group subsidiary...
), and one of the few such triopolies
Duopoly (broadcasting)
In United States broadcast television and radio, duopoly is a term used to describe a single company which owns two or more stations in the same city or community....
(under the same ownership) left in the entire U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
As of January 2010, WSB-FM broadcasts a split format. Monday thru Friday afternoons, the station broadcasts an Adult Contemporary format. From 3 pm on Friday until 7 Sunday, WSB-FM broadcasts 1980s and 1990's pop music. WSB-FM broadcast 80s weekends from 2001-2003, and all-1970s weekends during the mid-1990s. During the holiday seasons from 2004 forward, the station plays all-Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
from the day before Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
to Christmas Day. Prior to 2007
2007 in radio
The year 2007 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 8: Nanci "The Fabulous Sports Babe" Donnellan returns to radio after a six-year absence, filling in for local hosts in Florida....
, its main competitor was Atlanta's other AC, Peach 94.9 (which became Lite FM in 2002).
History
Following in the footsteps of pioneer WSB-AM, WSB-FM was one of the first FM stations in the Southeast, debuting originally on 104.5 FM in 1948. After Cox acquired the Atlanta Constitution, WSB-FM went silent in 1952, and returned a few years later on 98.5 FM. The station has been an adult contemporary music station since 1980.In 1985, WSB-FM, at the time known as "99FM", sued AC competitor WLTA-FM 99.7 "Warm 99", claiming copyright infringement. Arbitron was docking both stations in the ratings because of the common use of "99". In the landmark case, Cox v. Susquehanna Broadcasting, the judge was handed a digital radio and asked to tune to 100.0 MHz. There was no signal. To find the nearest station, he pressed the Scan button, and it stopped on 101.5 MHz (WKHX-FM
WKHX-FM
WKHX-FM, known as "Kicks 101.5", is an Atlanta FM radio station that plays country music. Its city of license is Marietta, Georgia. "Kicks" debuted in 1980 after Capital Cities Communications purchased the station. WKHX used to simulcast on AM 590, which is now Radio Disney...
). Next, he entered 99.0 MHz, which, again, contained no signal. Scanning from there, the radio hit 99.7, WLTA's frequency. In his precedent-setting decision, the Federal district judge stated that on a radio dial "a radio station's frequency is its address" and one cannot copyright an address. He ruled in favor of Warm 99. Soon thereafter, WSB-FM became known as "B98.5FM".
The station plays over 90 minutes of commercial
Radio commercial
Commercial radio stations make most of their revenue selling “airtime” to advertisers. Of total media expenditures, radio accounts for 6.9%. Radio advertisements or “spots” are available when a business or service provides valuable consideration, usually cash, in exchange for the station airing...
-free music each weekday at 9 am known as The 98 at 9. Until 2006, WSB-FM's primary "listen at work" competitor was 94.9 FM, under the names "95 WPCH", "Peach 94.9", and "94.9 Lite FM" with the WLTM callsign. On December 18, 2006, 94.9 flipped to country as "The Bull". WLTM moved to the weak 96.7 station until December 26, 2007, when the station flipped to classic country WWLG
WWLG
WWLG FM 96.7 is an Atlanta radio station broadcasting a rhythmic contemporary radio format which features R&B, pop music and dance hits. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is licensed to serve Peachtree City, Georgia...
"96.7 the Legend". After 94.9 switched to a country format and WLTM
WWLG
WWLG FM 96.7 is an Atlanta radio station broadcasting a rhythmic contemporary radio format which features R&B, pop music and dance hits. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is licensed to serve Peachtree City, Georgia...
switched to classic country, B98.5 became the only adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
station in Atlanta.
On December 29, 2006, WSB-FM became the Atlanta affiliate for the nationally syndicated Delilah
Delilah Rene
Delilah Rene Luke , almost always known mononymously as Delilah, is an American radio personality, author, and songwriter, best known as the host of a nationally syndicated nightly U.S...
show (which was previously broadcast on 94.9 Lite FM/Peach 94.9).
WSB-FM's current HD-2
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
service is a throwback to their 'beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
' days.
In the past, WSB-FM produced an annual "Family Fun Fest" event, where companies that provide products for kids and families showcase what products and services they offer. The show featured live events and appearances from local sports stars. The station conducted a live broadcast both days of the event. The event has not been held since 2009 due to the economic crisis.
WSB-FM shares a tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
with WPBA TV 30, and in fact shares the same antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
with WSTR FM 94.1 and WVEE FM 103.3. The three stations' transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
s are diplexed together, so that they all feed to the antenna instead of into each other.
A planned merger of GE and Cox in the late 1970s almost caused WSB-FM to be spun off to Ragan Henry with plans to take the WEZA calls.
On July 1, 2008, Steve McCoy
Steve McCoy
Steve McCoy is an American radio personality best known for his show with Vikki Locke in Atlanta, Georgia for over 18 years. The duo was twice nominated for the Marconi Award. McCoy came to Atlanta in 1981 to work at legendary top 40 WZGC FM...
and Vikki Locke joined WSB-FM as the morning show after 17 years at top 40 WSTR
WSTR (FM)
WSTR is an Atlanta FM radio station airing an Hot Adult Contemporary format during the week and a 1990's pop music format on weekends. It is owned by Lincoln Financial Media, and has Smyrna, Georgia as its city of license.-History:...
"Star 94". Steve McCoy was fired on February 25, 2010. Vikki Locke does remain as morning show host. In March 2011, Kelly Stevens from the old "Kelly and Alpha" show rejoined the station and joined Vikki.
During the Spring of 2011, the station made dramatic on-air changes due to declining ratings as a result of changes at hot AC WSTR
WSTR (FM)
WSTR is an Atlanta FM radio station airing an Hot Adult Contemporary format during the week and a 1990's pop music format on weekends. It is owned by Lincoln Financial Media, and has Smyrna, Georgia as its city of license.-History:...
and the success of top 40 WWWQ. All music before 1980 was dropped, more songs from the 2000's were added, and the station abandoned the longtime "Atlanta's Best Variety of Soft Rock" tagline in favor of "Your favorites from the 80's, 90's, and now".
On September 16,2011, the station changed their all 80's weekend format to an 80's and 90's weekend format to compete with Journey 97.9.
WSB-FM airs public affairs programming on Sunday mornings at 7 a.m. starting February 21, 2010, when Dr. Joe Esposito began hosting Health Talk Atlanta.
Station line-up chart
| 5:00 - 9:00 | 9:00 - 2:00 | 2:00 - 7:00 | 7:00 - 8:00 | 8:00 - 1:00 | 1:00 - 5:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikki Locke, Kelly Stevens, and Jessica Forkel (Mark Arum with traffic) | Jordan Graye | Kelly McCoy (Kim McCarthy with traffic) | Automation | Delilah | Automation |
Former hosts:
- Denise Alexander, midday host (1987–1991)
- Eddie Bauer, morning host (?-1999)
- Brenda Bissett, midday host (1999–2001) Currently paired with her husband (Pete Michaels) as part of the morning show, "Pete & Brenda In the Morning" nationally syndicated radio show.
- Brian Buzby, morning host (?)
- Michael J. "Mike" Calhoun, morning host/news reader (?-1999)
- Marjorie Coley Davis, morning host/news reader (2007–2008)
- William C. "Barnacle Bill" Duncan, weekend host/fill-in WSB-FM, WJZF, WBTS (1994–2005) Deceased 2007
- Jason Durden, traffic reporter (1996–2007) Now on WSB-TVWSB-TVWSB-TV, virtual channel 2.1 , is the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship television station of Cox Enterprises and its Cox Media Group subsidiary...
in News Chopper 2. Also occasional morning traffic fill-in on B98.5FM. - Sabrina Gibbons, morning host/news reader (?-1998) Currently at sister station WSB-AM, and hosts state lotteryGeorgia LotteryThe Georgia Lottery is overseen by the government of Georgia, United States. Headquartered in Atlanta and run by the Georgia Lottery Corporation, the lottery takes in over US$1 billion yearly. By law, half of the money goes to prizes, one-third to education, and the remainder to operating and...
drawings. - Christy Henry, morning host/news reader (2003–2007)
- Trevor Johns, morning host (?)
- Jeff Laurence, Saturday Night Dance Party host (?-2001)
- Bobbi Marks, fill-in/weekend host (?-1999)
- Bob (Bob Marsicano), morning show producer/host(1999–2000). Later employed as a sound designer at Wild Hare Studios, Atlanta. Then worked, on air, at WZGC Z-93 (Now 92.9, Dave FM). Currently working for Cox Radio, Tampa and as instructor at CSB School of Broadcasting.)
- Steve McCoy, morning host (2008–2010)
- Gary McKee, morning host (?) Worked at WQXI 94 Q (now WSTR Star 94) before 98.5. After 98.5, later surfaced at WZGC Z 93 (now 92.9 Dave FM).
- Charles McPheeCharles McPheeCharles Lambert McPhee was a nationally syndicated talk radio host on the CBS Radio Network. On his call-in program, “The Dream Doctor Show,” which began in 2000, he interpreted dreams for people.-Life and career:...
, Dream Doctor Show host (2002–2004) Retired - Michael Mitchell, Atlanta's Love Songs host (2001–2002)
- Dale O'Brien, morning host (?) Later worked at WPCH Peach 94.9 (then WLTM 94.9 Lite FM, now WUBL 94.9 The Bull).
- Nancy Richards, morning host/news reader (1999–2003)
- Chandler Steele, fill-in/weekend host (?)
- Rebecca Stevens, Atlanta's Love Songs host (1985–2001) Later worked at WPCH Peach 94.9 (then WLTM 94.9 Lite FM, now WUBL 94.9 The Bull).
- Kristy Tanner, morning host (?-1999)
- Alpha Trivette, morning host (1999–2008)
- Larry O'Neal, middays (1983–84). Left to buy KIX96 in El Dorado, AR. Now owns KKHJ-FM (93KHJ) in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
- Kari Dean(?) morning host/news. Dean is currently a TV news producer at WAGA-TV.
- Jim Larsin, weekend/fill-in (now retired from radio)