WSB-FM
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| WSB-FM | |
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| Broadcast area | Atlanta, Georgia |
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| Branding | B98.5 FM |
| Slogan | "Atlanta's only soft rock station" |
| Frequency | 98.5 MHz FM (Also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | 1948 on 104.5 MHz mid-1950s on 98.5 MHz |
| Format | 98.5: Adult Contemporary 98.5-HD2: Soft Standards |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 313 meters |
| Class | C0 |
| Facility ID | 73978 |
| Callsign meaning | Welcome South Brother |
| Owner | Cox Radio |
| Sister stations | WALR-FM, WBTS, WSB, WSRV, WSB-TV |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | http://www.b985.com/ |
WSB-FM (98.5 FM, "B98.5FM") is an Atlanta radio station that plays adult contemporary music. Along with several other Atlanta radio stations, WSB-FM is owned by Cox Enterprises' publicly-traded subsidiary Cox Radio, and is the group's flagship FM station. It is the only Atlanta FM radio station to continue to share a callsign with local TV and AM radio stations (WSB AM and WSB-TV), and one of the few such triopolies (under the same ownership) left in the entire U.S.
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[edit] History
Following in the footsteps of pioneer WSB-AM, WSB-FM was the first FM station in the Southeast, debuting originally on 104.5 FM in 1948. After Cox acquired the Atlanta Constitution, WSB-FM went silent in 1952, and returned a few years later on 98.5 FM. The station has been an adult contemporary music station since 1980.
In 1985, WSB-FM, at the time known as "99FM", sued AC competitor WLTA-FM "Warm 99", claiming copyright infringement. Arbitron was docking both stations in the ratings because of the common use of "99". In the landmark case, Cox v. Susquehanna Broadcasting, the judge was handed a digital radio and asked to tune to 100.0 MHz. There was no signal. To find the nearest station, he pressed the Scan button, and it stopped on 101.5 MHz. Next, he entered 99.0 MHz, which, again, contained no signal. Scanning from there, the radio hit 99.7. In his precedent-setting decision, the Federal district judge stated that on a radio dial "a radio station's frequency is its address" and one cannot copyright an address. He ruled in favor of Warm 99. Soon thereafter, WSB-FM became known as "B98.5FM".
For a couple of years in the mid 1990's, the station played all-70's music on weekends From late 2000 until the fall of 2003, the station played AC on weekdays and 1980s music on weekends. This ended when WMAX-FM (now WBZY) became an all-80s station. During the holiday seasons from 2004 forward, the station played all-Christmas music from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas.
The station plays over 90 minutes of commercial-free music each weekday at 9AM known as The 98 at 9. Until 2006, WSB-FM's primary "listen at work" competitor was 94.9 FM, under the names "95 WPCH", "Peach 94.9", and "94.9 Lite FM" with the WLTM callsign.
On December 29, 2006, WSB-FM became the Atlanta affiliate for the nationally syndicated Delilah show (which was previously broadcast on 94.9.
WSB-FM's current HD-2 service is a throwback to their 'beautiful music' days.
On the second or third weekend in February, WSB-FM produces an annual "Family Fun Fest" event, where companies that provide products for kids and families showcase what products and services they offer. The show features live events and appearances from local sports stars. The station conducts a live broadcast both days of the event.
Along with WUBL, WSB-FM is the primary entry point (PEP) for Emergency Alert System messages for the state of Georgia. In an emergency, the two stations receive alerts via secure networks directly from the U.S. president, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, and the National Weather Service. All other radio and television stations and cable TV systems in metro Atlanta must monitor these two stations at all times with their EAS equipment. Alerts are then relayed across the state by other stations.
WSB-FM shares a tower with WPBA TV 30, and in fact shares the same antenna with WSTR FM 94.1 and WVEE FM 103.3. The three stations' transmitters are diplexed together, so that they all feed to the antenna instead of into each other.
A planned merger of GE and Cox in the late 70s almost caused WSB-FM to be spun off to Ragan Henry with plans to take the WEZA calls.
On July 1, 2008, Steve McCoy and Vikki Locke will join WSB-FM as the new morning show after 17 years at top 40 WSTR "Star 94". The status of the departing morning show with Kelly Stevens and Alpha Trivette is unknown.
[edit] Station line-up
Present personalities:
- Kelly Stevens and Alpha Trivette (5 AM-9 AM)
- Will Gara (Morning Show Producer)
- Marjorie Coley Davis (News)
- Jordan Graye (9 AM-2 PM)
- Kelly McCoy (2 PM-7 PM)
- Delilah (7 PM-12 AM)
- Larry Lane (12 AM-5 AM)
Past personalities:
- Denise Alexander, midday personality (?)
- Eddie Bauer, morning personality (?-1999)
- Brenda Bissett, midday personality (1999-2001) Currently in Syracuse, NY.
- Brian Buzby, morning personality (?)
- Mike Calhoun, morning personality/news reader (?-1999)
- Jason Durdan, traffic reporter (1996-2007 Now on WSB-TV on News Chopper 2)
- Sabrina Gibbons, morning personality/news reader (?-1998) Currently at sister station WSB-AM, and hosts state lottery drawings.
- Christy Henry, morning personality/news reader (2003-2007)
- Trevor Johns, morning personality (?)
- Jeff Lawrence, Saturday Night Dance Party host (?-2001)
- Bobi Marks, fill-in/weekend personality (?-1999)
- Gary McKee, morning personality (?) Worked at WQXI 94 Q (now WSTR Star 94) before 98.5... after 98.5, later surfaced at WZGC Z 93 (now 92.9 Dave FM).
- Charles McPhee, Dream Doctor Show host (2002-2004) Retired
- Michael Mitchell, Atlanta's Love Songs host (2001-2002)
- Dale O'Brien, morning personality (?) Later surfaced at WPCH Peach 94.9 (then WLTM 94.9 Lite FM, now WUBL 94.9 The Bull).
- Nancy Richards, morning personality/news reader (1999-2003)
- Chandler Steele, fill-in/weekend personality (?)
- Rebecca Stevens, Atlanta's Love Songs host (1985-2001) Later surfaced at WPCH Peach 94.9 (then WLTM 94.9 Lite FM, now WUBL 94.9 The Bull).
- Kristy Tanner, morning personality (?-1999)
- Larry O'Neal, middays (1983-84). Left to buy KIX96 in El Dorado, AR. Now owns KKHJ-FM (93KHJ) in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
- Kari Dean(?) morning personality/news. Kari Dean is currently a TV news producer at Fox5 Atlanta.
Future personalities
- Steve McCoy and Vikki Locke. (July 1, 2008) Signed to host Morning Drive after leaving WSTR "Star 94" in November 2007.[1]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- B98.5 website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WSB
- Radio Locator information on WSB
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WSB
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