WDAS-FM
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2020) |
MHz (HD Radio) | |
Branding | 105.3 WDAS-FM |
---|---|
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Urban adult contemporary |
Subchannels | HD2: WTEL simulcast (Black Information Network) |
Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WDAS, WIOQ, WRFF, WUMR, WUSL | |
History | |
First air date | September 1, 1959 |
Call sign meaning | Dannenbaum and Steppacher (previous owners of the AM sister station) |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 71316 |
Class | B |
ERP | 16,500 watts |
HAAT | 266 meters (873 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°02′30.4″N 75°14′22.6″W / 40.041778°N 75.239611°W |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen live (via iHeartRadio) |
Website | wdasfm |
WDAS-FM (105.3
WDAS-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 16,500 watts as a Class B station. The transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia, off Wigard Avenue near the Schuylkill River.[1] WDAS-FM broadcasts using HD Radio, with a simulcast of WTEL (airing Black Information Network programming) on the station's second digital subchannel.
History
WDAS-FM is considered to be a heritage radio station in Philadelphia, pioneering a format for adults in the
Early years
On September 1, 1959, WDAS-FM
In April 1968, the format changed to an "underground"
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, radio stations were under increased pressure by the Nixon administration through the FCC to censor music that involved drug content. Steve Leon ignored this directive and continued to play the music that was popular at the time. While playing
Philadelphia soul and Disco
In 1971, the station changed to a
By 1975, as the "Philly Sound" laid the musical groundwork for
WDAS-FM's activist voice was as powerful as its musical one. Legendary broadcasters George "Georgie The Man With The Goods" Woods and Edward "Ed" Bradley shaped the political voice of the station.[5][6] WDAS-FM earned its position as the "voice of the Black community". Its program director and afternoon DJ was a white radio professional, Joe "Butterball" Tamburro. He had a knack for knowing the records that would become successful hits among Philadelphia's young black fans. Tamburro, nicknamed "Butterball" for his rotund size, guided the station through several decades.
Competition from WUSL
The station was sold in November 1979 to Black-owned Unity Broadcasting Network, and it honed the Urban Contemporary format in 1980. In January 1982, a new competitor signed on when WUSL became “POWER 99fm”. WUSL's popularity forced WDAS-FM to go into a “CHUrban/Crossover” format (which has evolved into the rhythmic contemporary format), playing more dance hits from the Mainstream Top 40 charts while also keeping Rap and R&B. It also further leveraged their community involvement and public affairs programming aimed at both the black and white communities.
As the disco era faded, the station focused on Pop, Dance, R&B and
By 1992, WDAS-FM evolved into a successful Urban AC format after its AM station flipped to
Ownership changes
In May 1996, Beasley sold WDAS-AM-FM to Evergreen, which also owned WUSL, making them sister stations. In 1997, Evergreen and Chancellor merged to form Chancellor Media and later restructured in 1999 as AMFM, Inc. In 2000, Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) acquired AMFM.
In 2004, the Tom Joyner Morning Show moved to competitor WRNB. WDAS-FM subsequently picked up The Steve Harvey Morning Show as a replacement. The station also carried Michael Baisden in afternoon drive time until it dropped the show in January 2013.
Since 1979, WDAS-FM has sponsored Unity Day, an annual summer gathering on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This ended with the death of longtime WDAS-FM program director Joe "Butterball" Tamburro; Tamburro died in July 2012 at age 70.[citation needed]
Short spacing
WDAS-FM is short spaced to country music station WIOV-FM in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, near Lancaster. The two stations operate on first adjacent channels (105.3 MHz and 105.1 MHz) and the distance between the two stations' transmitters is only 49 miles as determined by FCC rules.[7] The minimum distance between two Class B stations operating on first adjacent channels according to current FCC rules is 105 miles.[8]
The two stations have been operating with this close spacing for decades, so the arrangement is grandfathered. It is also short spaced to
References
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WDAS-FM
- ^ Information from the Broadcasting Yearbook 1960 page A-218
- ^ Warren, Bruce (February 20, 2012). "R.I.P. Stephen 'Steve' Leon, Host of 'My Father's Son' on WDAS (Circa 1968)". The Key. xpn.org. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ Eyries, Patrice; Edwards, Dave; Callahan, Mike (24 November 2003). "Philadelphia International Story". Both Sides Now Publications' Home Page. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ a b "The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia". Broadcast Pioneers. 11 May 1927. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "TV & Radio Stations History". Philly Memories. 17 March 1922. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "Reference points and distance computations. 47 CFR § 73.208". Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ "Minimum distance separation between stations. 47 CFR § 73.207(b)(1)" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-03-06.
External links
- WDAS-FM Website
- WDAS Civil Rights History
- WDAS in the FCC FM station database
- WDAS in Nielsen Audio's FM station database