WABD
MHz | |
Branding | 97-5 WABD |
---|---|
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
Affiliations | Westwood One |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WBLX-FM, WDLT-FM, WGOK, WXQW | |
History | |
First air date | February 5, 1973 (as WABB-FM) |
Former call signs | WABB-FM (1973–2012) WLVM (2012)[1] |
Call sign meaning | Tribute to WABB-FM; B D also can refer to WABB-FM's former owner Bernie Dittman |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 70657 |
Class | C |
ERP | 100,000 watts |
HAAT | 473 meters (1,552 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 30°41′20″N 87°49′49″W / 30.68889°N 87.83028°W |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | 975wabd.com |
WABD (97.5
This station began broadcasting a
History
Early years
The station originally had its roots in
97.5 WABB (1973–2012)
The modern WABB-FM (97.5 FM) signed on for the first time on February 5, 1973, with the song "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" by Bob Dylan (which was also the final song played on February 29, 2012).[4] WABB-FM was originally a simulcast of its sister station before moving toward its long-running Top 40 format in 1984. Notable alumni of WABB include radio personalities Michael Scott Shannon and Leslie Fram.[5]
WABB's longtime owner, president, and general manager Bernie Dittman died on October 25, 2006, after suffering from a stroke the previous week.
Final WABB to "K-Love" (2012)
On February 17, 2012, the Dittman family announced on its website that it has decided to sell WABB-FM to Educational Media Foundation for $3.1 million.
97.5 WABD (2012–present)
On July 9, 2012, the Educational Media Foundation announced that WLVM had been sold to
Air Staff
The station has gone through many personalities through the years. Currently WABD has two full-time local personalities. Jimmy Steele (Program Director) hosts mid days and Twiggins hosts afternoons. Twiggins has been with WABD since 2015 but got his start at the original WABB. Mornings became syndicated from Melbourne, Florida in late 2016 by Tony Zazza and Cheree. The show is called "Zazza mornings with Cheree," and is broadcast in 3 markets (Melbourne, Florida; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and Mobile, Alabama). The current air staff has been in place in their current configuration since October 2016.
References
- ^ a b c d "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
- ^ a b Venta, Lance (July 9, 2012). "WABD Returning Home To 97.5". Radio Insight. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- ^ "People: Radio". Media Life. October 30, 2006. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
Dittman owned WABB-AM since 1959, adding WABB-FM in 1973.
- ^ "Bernie Dittman Passes Away". Radio Monitor. October 26, 2006.
- ^ Farber, Erica (April 11, 2003). "Publisher's Profile: Scott Shannon". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on May 8, 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
- ^ "WABB's Dittman Dead At 79". Radio Ink. October 31, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
- ^ Holbert, Rob (November 8, 2006). "Media Frenzy". Lagniappe Mobile. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
- ^ Licensing document FCC [dead link]
- ^ "WABB-FM Agrees to be Purchased by Educational Media Foundation" from WABB (February 17, 2012)
- ^ "104.1 Mobile To Fill WABB Void - RadioInsight". radioinsight.com. March 1, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- ^ Williams, Alvin (November 16, 2012). "New call letters adopted for WABB-AM". Examiner.com.
- ^ a b "Application Search Details (BALH-20120709AFX)". FCC Media Bureau. July 10, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- ^ "WABD is Heading To The Old WABB 97.5 Frequency". All Access. July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
External links
- WABD official website
- WABD in the FCC FM station database
- WABD in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- WABB Tribute Website