WMSP
kHz | |
| Branding | Sports Radio 740 |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Affiliations | Infinity Sports Network Atlanta Braves Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WHHY-FM, WLWI, WLWI-FM, WMXS, WXFX | |
| History | |
First air date | 1953 (as WBAM) |
Former call signs | WBAM (1952-1985) WLWI (1985-1995)[1] |
Call sign meaning | W Montgomery SPorts |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 12316 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 10,000 watts (day) 233 watts (night) |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°25′18″N 86°09′51″W / 32.42167°N 86.16417°W |
| Repeater(s) | 95.1 WXFX-HD2 (Prattville) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live Listen Live via iHeart |
| Website | sportsradio740.com |
WMSP (740
Programming
WMSP broadcasts a
History
WBAM, The Big BAM
This station first began licensed operations in 1953 as a daytime-only 50,000-
WBAM became known as "The Big BAM" or "The Voice of the Deep South", and is legendary. Disc jockeys associated with WBAM's
Mornings were dedicated to farm and gospel music programming, with country and popular music played during the day.
In 1973, WBAM adopted a country music format. WBAM was sold to Colonial Broadcasting in 1985, and an era ended when the call letters changed to WMSP for sports radio programming.
On September 15, 2009 the building the original WBAM studios were located in was demolished.
Former programming and personalities
In the mid-1950s, the station was home to the "WBAM Deep South Jamboree" featuring live country and bluegrass acts such as Shorty Sullivan and his Green Valley Boys, Rebe Gosdin and his Sunny Valley Gang, Judy Jenkins, Jack Turner,[10] and other rotating regulars.[11]
Radio personality Johnny Gilbert began his broadcasting career at WBAM.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, the station sponsored a series of pop/rock concerts known as "Big BAM Shows" featuring acts ranging from
Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook.
Awards and honors
Paul Simpkins, an original WBAM on-air personality from the time of the station's launch in 1953 until the sale in 1984, received a number of honors during his more than three decades with the station.[14] These include being named Sterling Magazine Personality of the Month and TV Radio Mirror Personality of the Month in 1967, 1968 and 1972. Simpkins was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 1998.[14]
Cyril Brennan, the general manager and program director of WBAM, was named the 1976 "Program Director of the Year for Country Music" by Billboard magazine's International Radio Programming Forum.[16]
Former programming and personalities
In the mid-1950s, the station was home to the "WBAM Deep South Jamboree" featuring live country and bluegrass acts such as Shorty Sullivan and his Green Valley Boys, Rebe Gosdin and his Sunny Valley Gang, Judy Jenkins, Jack Turner,[10] and other rotating regulars.[11]
Radio personality Johnny Gilbert began his broadcasting career at WBAM.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, the station sponsored a series of pop/rock concerts known as "
Cliff Ellis, award-winning college basketball coach and currently the head coach at Coastal Carolina University, was a musician in the mid-1960s and his group, The Villagers, had several regional hits in the Southeastern U.S.[17] The group got their first big break when Ellis convinced WBAM disc jockey Bill Moody to play their first self-financed record, "Laugh It Off", on the air.[17] The airplay led the band to a record deal with FAME Studios.[17]
In popular culture
WBAM is
Alabama author Paul Hemphill included references to WBAM in his 1979 novel Long Gone as the preferred radio station of the protagonist, Jamie Weeks.[19] In 1987, Long Gone was made into a movie starring Dermot Mulroney by HBO Films.
Historical Photos
-
Poster of a Big BAM Fall Show featuring The Beach Boys -
Poster of a Big BAM Spring Show featuring The Turtles -
Poster of a Big BAM Summer Show featuring Paul Revere and The Raiders -
1960 Poster of a Big BAM Holiday show -
Poster of the Big Bam's Announcers -
A card showing proof of DXing reception from Pensacola, Florida -
WBAM Deep South Jamboree
Historical Videos
TV and Radio personality Jimmy Carter has assembled a few videos featuring some photos, jingles, and air checks of WBAM in its heyday.
After more than 30 years of ownership by the Brennan family, Deep South Broadcasting Company reached an agreement in October 1984 to sell this station to Colonial Broadcasting Company, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on November 30, 1984, and the transaction was consummated on March 5, 1985.[20]
As WLWI
The new owners had the FCC change the station's call sign to WLWI on March 11, 1985.[1]
In September 1994, Colonial Company, Inc., which owned station licensee Colonial Broadcasting Company, agreed to transfer control of the licensee to Robert E. Lowder. The deal was approved by the FCC on December 8, 1994, and the transaction was consummated on March 8, 1995.[21] Less than one week later, Robert E. Lowder applied to the FCC to transfer control of the licensee company to Republic Corporation. The transfer was approved by the FCC on April 14, 1995, but the transaction was never consummated.[22]
In February 1995, after more than 40 years as a 50,000-
As WMSP
This station's callsign was changed to the current WMSP on August 1, 1995, to reflect a new emphasis on
References
- ^ a b c "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Archived from the original on 2016-01-20.
- ^ "Cumulus Media Expands Montgomery, Alabama Radio Group; Deal Includes Option to Buy Stations". Business Wire. August 18, 1998. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
- ^ "Affiliates" (PDF). CBS Sports Radio. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ "Football Radio Network". Rolltide.com - The Official Web Site of University of Alabama Athletics. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ "Football Affiliates". The Auburn University Official Athletic Site. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ "Radio Booth". Montgomery Biscuits. Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ "Directory of AM and FM stations and Market Data of the United States". Broadcasting-Telecasting 1955 Yearbook-Marketbook Issue. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1955. p. 70.
- ^ "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada". Broadcasting Yearbook 1979. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1979. p. C-7.
- ^ a b "Turner, Jack". RCS Artist Discography. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ a b "WBAM Deep South Jamboree". Hillbilly-Music.com. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ a b c d "KEWB Channel 91, Oakland: Johnny G, Wednesday, January 19, 1966". Bay Area Radio Museum. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ a b "WPOP Personalities". Man From Mars Productions. January 1, 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Paul Simpkins". Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame. Country Radio Broadcasters. Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ a b "Lou Christie in Alabama: WBAM and WVOK". Archived from the original on 2009-08-06. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ "News and notes". Broadcast Engineering: The Technical Journal of the Broadcast-Communications Industry. Vol. 19. Intertec Publishing Corp. 1977. p. 77.
- ^ ISBN 1-58261-200-5.
- ISBN 1-57441-027-X. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ Hemphill, Paul (1979). Long Gone: A Novel. Viking Press. p. 26.
Jamie turned the dial of his portable radio to WBAM in Montgomery, with its endless wailing of Fats Domino and Elvis Presley, and the Platters, in an attempt to drown out the noise.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19841015EJ)". FCC Media Bureau. March 5, 1985.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BTC-19940919GJ)". FCC Media Bureau. March 8, 1995.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BTC-19950314GE)". FCC Media Bureau. April 14, 1995.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BP-19950216AB)". FCC Media Bureau. April 20, 1995.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BL-19960807AB )". FCC Media Bureau. November 15, 1996.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BTC-19980115GI)". FCC Media Bureau. March 10, 1998. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19981210GP)". FCC Media Bureau. December 31, 1998.
External links
- WMSP official website
- WMSP in the FCC AM station database
- WMSP in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W244CN in the FCC FM station database
- W244CN at FCCdata.org