WCBM
| |
|---|---|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | WCBM Maryland, Inc. |
| WQLL | |
| History | |
First air date | March 28, 1924 |
Call sign meaning | Randomly assigned from a sequential list |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 4759 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 39°22′27.38″N 76°51′27.92″W / 39.3742722°N 76.8577556°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | wcbm |
WCBM (680
By day, WCBM transmits with 50,000 watts, the maximum allowed for United States AM stations. To protect other stations on 680 AM at night, it reduces power to 20,000 watts. It uses a directional antenna at all times, with a six-tower array. The transmitter site is off Marriottsville Road in Randallstown.[3]
Programming
Weekdays on WCBM, local hosts are heard from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. The morning
Weekends feature shows on money, health, gardening, cars, movies, technology, travel, veterans affairs, real estate and religion. They include The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show, The Lutheran Hour, The RM Travel Show with Rudy Maxa and The Kim Komando Show. Some weekend shows are paid brokered programming. Most hours begin with an update from Townhall News.
History
Early years
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WCBM was first licensed in March 1924 to Charles Schwarz on 1310 kHz.
Following the establishment of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) in 1927, stations were initially issued a series of temporary authorizations starting on May 3, 1927.[7] In addition, they were informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard.[8] On May 25, 1928, the FRC issued General Order 32, which notified 164 stations, including WCBM, that "From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it."[9] However, the station successfully convinced the commission that it should remain licensed.
On November 11, 1928, the FRC implemented a major reallocation of station transmitting frequencies, as part of a reorganization resulting from its implementation of General Order 40, and WCBM was assigned to 1370 kHz.[10]
In the 1930s, WCBM had moved to the Hearst Tower Building in Baltimore.
Move to 680 AM
WCBM changed transmitting frequencies numerous times. With the 1941 implementation of the
Metromedia ownership
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WCBM-AM-FM were sold in 1963 to Metromedia, a large New York City-based broadcasting company. Metromedia also owned WTTG—Washington, D.C.; WNEW, WNEW-FM and WNEW-TV—New York City; WHK and WHK-FM—Cleveland; and WIP and WIP-FM—Philadelphia. The studios were moved to Owings Mills, Maryland.
Metromedia helped WCBM establish a reputation for radio news reporting. It affiliated the station with
But WCBM had a hard time competing with
Switch to all-talk
In 1981, WCBM began running talk programming in the evening, while keeping its music and news in the daytime. As fewer people listened to music on AM radio, WCBM evolved to all talk by 1983. It was also the
The station was sold in 1987 to local owners using the corporate name "Magic 680 Inc."]
Rescue from bankruptcy & the Mangione ownership
At about the same time that WCBM was in the middle of bankruptcy, rival AM station 1300 WFBR was sold in 1988 and changed its format from news/talk to 1950s' rock & roll. With the format flip, WFBR let go most of the station's talk show hosts that summer. In October 1988, WCBM was bought by Baltimore area businessman and philanthropist
WCBM originally had The Rush Limbaugh Show on its weekday schedule in the early 1990s, but lost it to competitor 1090 WBAL in 1994. With its stronger signal and higher ratings, Limbaugh's syndicator put the program on WBAL. At the time, WCBM was broadcasting at 10,000 watts by day and 5,000 watts night. WCBM had to scramble to replace Limbaugh in the Noon to 3 p.m. slot, choosing Zoh Hieronimus to fill the role. Despite having a following, Zoh Heironimus didn't capture the listeners as well as Limbaugh. So WCBM added Dr. Laura Schlessinger to the 12–3 spot but her ratings dropped further. After WJFK (1300 AM) discontinued his program, WCBM added the syndicated G. Gordon Liddy Show. Liddy improved the ratings numbers for WCBM, although was not as successful as Limbaugh. By the end of 2001, The Sean Hannity Show was added to the 3–6 p.m. time slot, replacing Bob Scherr.[citation needed]
Power boost
In 2001, WCBM completed construction on a new six-
In 2009, WCBM dropped the
Lineup changes
On October 31, 2019, veteran personality Frank Luber retired after 31 years with WCBM, 27 of them hosting "Maryland's Wake Up Call."[16] Luber's co-host, Sean Casey, was teamed with former late morning host Bruce Elliott for "The Morning Drive with Casey & Elliott". Derek Hunter, formerly of 1090 WBAL, took Elliott's time slot, 9 to 11:45 a.m. Hunter departed the station in 2023.[17]
With the death of syndicated host Rush Limbaugh in February 2021, WCBM management decided to temporarily replace his popular early afternoon show with local programming. Derek Hunter was moved to Limbaugh's early afternoon time slot, with Elliott relocated to late mornings and Casey remaining as the wake-up host.
In September 2021, WCBM began the syndication of "The Rob Carson Show" from Newsmax Radio. The show airs in the early afternoon slot of Noon-3 pm.[18] "The Morning Drive with Casey & Elliott" returned after to the early morning timeslot after the change.
As of December 2024, the station airs full local programming from 6 AM in the mornings, with syndication in the afternoon hours.[19] Former Republican Congressional Candidate, Kimberly Klacik, hosts her own show on the station from 9 am to Noon.[20]
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCBM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ FCC.gov/WCBM
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WCBM
- ^ WCBM (advertisement), Baltimore Sun, April 4, 1924, page 40.
- ^ "New stations", Radio Service Bulletin, April 1, 1924, page 4. This source incorrectly lists the last name of "Schwarz" as "Swarz".
- ^ "Third Broadcasting Station Opens Here", Baltimore Sun, March 28, 1924, page 40.
- ^ "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, pages 6-14.
- ^ "Extension of Broadcasting Station Licenses", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1927, page 7.
- ^ "Appendix F (2): Letter to and list of stations included in General Order No. 32, issued May 25, 1928", Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission for the Year Ended June 30, 1928, Together With Supplemental Report for the Period From July 1, 1928 to September 30, 1928, pages 146-149.
- ^ "Broadcasting Stations", Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission (June 30, 1928), page 178.
- ^ "Directory of Broadcasting Stations of the United States: Maryland: Baltimore"', Broadcasting Yearbook (1935 edition), page 36.
- ^ "WCBM to 680" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 22, 1948. p. 32. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- ^ a b "WCBM Legmen" (advertisement), Broadcasting Yearbook, (1964 edition), page B-69.
- ^ "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada: Maryland: Baltimore", Broadcasting Yearbook (1988 edition), page B-129.
- ^ "FCC Antenna Structure Registration".
- ^ "Frank Luber Steps Away from Mornings" InsideRadio.com, October 28, 2019
- ^ Staff, B. N. M. (October 20, 2023). "Derek Hunter Joins WFMD in Frederick | Barrett Media". barrettmedia.com. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ "Newsmax Launches The Rob Carson Show".
- ^ "WCBM On Air Schedule".
- ^ "Kim Klacik Live".
External links
- Official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 4759 (WCBM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WCBM in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for WCBM (covering 1927-1981)