WZZK-FM
Encyclopedia
WZZK-FM is a country music
formatted radio station
licensed to Birmingham
that serves northern and central Alabama
. As of January 3, 2007, WZZK-FM is the flagship station of the Rick and Bubba
radio network. It was the first FM station in Birmingham to switch to country music, and throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s was the top-rated radio station in Birmingham. The station is owned by Cox Radio
alongside six other stations. Its transmitter is located atop Red Mountain in Birmingham
.
-AM (1400). It signed on in 1948 as WJLN-FM and originally repeated the rhythm and blues music format of the AM station. By the end of the 1960s, WJLN began playing progressive rock music at night, while continuing the daytime simulcast of WJLD.
In 1973, the call letters of WJLN were changed to WZZK. With the new call letters, WZZK became a full-time album rock station. The station’s main competitor in this format was WERC-FM
. However, the station failed to attract a significant listening audience. In 1977, WVOK-FM (K-99)
made its on-air debut as an album rock station, forcing WZZK to abandon the format a year later.
In 1978, WZZK changed formats and became Birmingham's first FM country music station, challenging long-time market leader WYDE-AM
. Initially, the new WZZK was automated, with no live studio announcers. The station began adding announcers in 1980 and began to assert itself in the Birmingham market. By 1982, the success of WZZK forced WYDE to drop the country music it had had since 1963. Throughout most of the 1980s and 90s WZZK was ranked no lower than #3 in the Birmingham Arbitron
ratings, despite challenges from first WQUS
, then from WBMH, later WIKX
. Neither station made a significant impact; in fact the parent company of WZZK bought WIKX in 1991 and changed its format.
In 1985, the first of two AM stations that had the WZZK call letters made its debut. Longtime Top 40 powerhouse WSGN
(610) was purchased, and began a simulcast that continued until 1998. The AM station is now one of the more successful urban gospel stations in Birmingham. In 2003, the second WZZK-AM debuted as a classic country
station at 1320 AM (now WENN). The second WZZK-AM changed formats in January 2006 and is today a neo-soul music station.
The most serious and successful challenge to WZZK’s dominance came in 1994, when WZBQ
, a station licensed to Jasper
that had previously targeted the Tuscaloosa
area, moved its studios to Birmingham and relaunched itself as WOWC. The new competitor, by then having the new call letters WDXB
, gradually began chipping away at WZZK’s audience, and in 2002 began broadcasting from atop Red Mountain in Birmingham, where most of the market’s FM stations have their broadcast towers located. In 2006, WZZK and WDXB were the two dominant country music stations in Birmingham.
On January 2, 2007, it was announced that the popular morning-drive radio team of Rick and Bubba
would be moving their show from crosstown rival WYSF to WZZK, effective the next day.
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...
formatted radio station
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
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...
that serves northern and central Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. As of January 3, 2007, WZZK-FM is the flagship station of the Rick and Bubba
Rick and Bubba
Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey are cohosts of The Rick & Bubba Show—a syndicated comedic radio program based in Birmingham, Alabama...
radio network. It was the first FM station in Birmingham to switch to country music, and throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s was the top-rated radio station in Birmingham. The station is owned by Cox Radio
Cox Radio
Cox Radio, Inc. is a division of Cox Enterprises that holds a number of radio stations. Cox Radio is headquartered at 6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs, Georgia....
alongside six other stations. Its transmitter is located atop Red Mountain in Birmingham
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...
.
History
The 104.7 frequency was originally put on the air as the sister station of WJLDWJLD
WJLD is a radio station licensed to Fairfield, Alabama, that serves most of the Birmingham metropolitan area. The station offers talk and music programming targeted towards African-American listeners, including a mixture of locally originated talk programming and urban oldies music. The station...
-AM (1400). It signed on in 1948 as WJLN-FM and originally repeated the rhythm and blues music format of the AM station. By the end of the 1960s, WJLN began playing progressive rock music at night, while continuing the daytime simulcast of WJLD.
In 1973, the call letters of WJLN were changed to WZZK. With the new call letters, WZZK became a full-time album rock station. The station’s main competitor in this format was WERC-FM
WBPT
WBPT is a classic hits music-formatted radio station licensed to Homewood, Alabama, that serves the Birmingham and central Alabama area. The station was assigned the WBPT call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on October 17, 2001. Since October 2005, it has used the branding "106.9...
. However, the station failed to attract a significant listening audience. In 1977, WVOK-FM (K-99)
WZRR
WZRR is a classic rock FM radio station licensed to Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its on-air name is "Rock 99". The station is owned by Cumulus Media. Other stations in the market that Cumulus owns include WJOX-FM , WAPI-FM , WUHT-FM , WJOX-AM and WAPI-AM...
made its on-air debut as an album rock station, forcing WZZK to abandon the format a year later.
In 1978, WZZK changed formats and became Birmingham's first FM country music station, challenging long-time market leader WYDE-AM
WXJC (AM)
WXJC is a radio station licensed to serve Birmingham, Alabama. The station is licensed to Kimtron, Inc. and owned by Crawford Broadcasting Company...
. Initially, the new WZZK was automated, with no live studio announcers. The station began adding announcers in 1980 and began to assert itself in the Birmingham market. By 1982, the success of WZZK forced WYDE to drop the country music it had had since 1963. Throughout most of the 1980s and 90s WZZK was ranked no lower than #3 in the Birmingham 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, despite challenges from first WQUS
WZRR
WZRR is a classic rock FM radio station licensed to Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its on-air name is "Rock 99". The station is owned by Cumulus Media. Other stations in the market that Cumulus owns include WJOX-FM , WAPI-FM , WUHT-FM , WJOX-AM and WAPI-AM...
, then from WBMH, later WIKX
WBPT
WBPT is a classic hits music-formatted radio station licensed to Homewood, Alabama, that serves the Birmingham and central Alabama area. The station was assigned the WBPT call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on October 17, 2001. Since October 2005, it has used the branding "106.9...
. Neither station made a significant impact; in fact the parent company of WZZK bought WIKX in 1991 and changed its format.
In 1985, the first of two AM stations that had the WZZK call letters made its debut. Longtime Top 40 powerhouse WSGN
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...
(610) was purchased, and began a simulcast that continued until 1998. The AM station is now one of the more successful urban gospel stations in Birmingham. In 2003, the second WZZK-AM debuted as a classic country
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 at 1320 AM (now WENN). The second WZZK-AM changed formats in January 2006 and is today a neo-soul music station.
The most serious and successful challenge to WZZK’s dominance came in 1994, when WZBQ
WDXB
WDXB is a Clear Channel Communications-owned country music formatted radio station licensed to Pelham, Alabama, that serves Birmingham and north-central Alabama.-Programming:...
, a station licensed to Jasper
Jasper, Alabama
Jasper is a city in Walker County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 14,659. As of 2011 the population had was 13,857. The city is the county seat of Walker County, and once ranked among the world's leading producers of coal....
that had previously targeted the Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
area, moved its studios to Birmingham and relaunched itself as WOWC. The new competitor, by then having the new call letters WDXB
WDXB
WDXB is a Clear Channel Communications-owned country music formatted radio station licensed to Pelham, Alabama, that serves Birmingham and north-central Alabama.-Programming:...
, gradually began chipping away at WZZK’s audience, and in 2002 began broadcasting from atop Red Mountain in Birmingham, where most of the market’s FM stations have their broadcast towers located. In 2006, WZZK and WDXB were the two dominant country music stations in Birmingham.
On January 2, 2007, it was announced that the popular morning-drive radio team of Rick and Bubba
Rick and Bubba
Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey are cohosts of The Rick & Bubba Show—a syndicated comedic radio program based in Birmingham, Alabama...
would be moving their show from crosstown rival WYSF to WZZK, effective the next day.