WBBS
Encyclopedia
WBBS is a Country music
formatted radio station
serving the Syracuse
area. The Clear Channel Communications
outlet broadcasts at 104.7 MHz with an ERP of 50 kW and is licensed to Fulton, New York
.
. The station has been a Country outlet since 1993 and adopted the WBBS-FM calls shortly after changing format. Past formats included Top 40 (As WKFM in the 1970s and early 1980s as "Magic 104.7") and Classic Rock (as "KIX 104.7").
B104.7 used to host an annual summer concert with national recording acts called B-Jam, which has most recently coordinated with Harborfest in Oswego, NY. The last BJAM concert was held in 2007; no concert was held in 2008.
For most of the early to middle 2000s, WBBS competed with WSCP
, a Sandy Creek-based AM/FM classic country outlet. WSCP never threatened WBBS's top standing; though it developed a niche audience, WSCP eventually gave up in 2007 (the AM station now simulcasts WTKW
, the FM simulcasts K-LOVE
). In August 2009, WBBS was challenged by WVOA-FM
, which changed to a country music format known as "The Wolf."
Incidentally, WVOA was, circa 2000, owned by Clear Channel, and actually simulcasted WBBS under the call sign WXBB.
Current morning team hosts Tom and Becky were nominated for a CMA and ACM awards in 2009 and 2010.
Tom Owens and Becky Palmer broadcast live from the CMA Awards in Nashville.
In 2004, B104.7's Ron and Becky received a CMA Award for "Personality of the Year" for a US Medium Market.
overnight. Weekend hosts include Daryl Thomas and Justin James. Earl Pitts Uhmerikun
is heard during the morning show.
Weather is provided by Dave Longley from former sister station WSYR-TV
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
formatted radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
serving the Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
area. The Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
outlet broadcasts at 104.7 MHz with an ERP of 50 kW and is licensed to Fulton, New York
Fulton, Oswego County, New York
Fulton is a small city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 11,855 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.The city of Fulton is located in the western part of the county....
.
History
The station, which debuted in 1961 as WOSC, with the call sign representing its home county, OSwego CountyOswego County, New York
Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 Census, the estimated population was 122,109. The City of Oswego and the Village of Pulaski serve as the dual county seats in a two shire system of government...
. The station has been a Country outlet since 1993 and adopted the WBBS-FM calls shortly after changing format. Past formats included Top 40 (As WKFM in the 1970s and early 1980s as "Magic 104.7") and Classic Rock (as "KIX 104.7").
B104.7 used to host an annual summer concert with national recording acts called B-Jam, which has most recently coordinated with Harborfest in Oswego, NY. The last BJAM concert was held in 2007; no concert was held in 2008.
For most of the early to middle 2000s, WBBS competed with WSCP
WSCP
WSCP is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish-language sports talk format.The station is currently owned by Galaxy Communications, and is an affiliate of ESPN Deportes Radio....
, a Sandy Creek-based AM/FM classic country outlet. WSCP never threatened WBBS's top standing; though it developed a niche audience, WSCP eventually gave up in 2007 (the AM station now simulcasts WTKW
WTKW
WTKW, "TK99," is a Classic rock radio station in Syracuse, New York. The station broadcasts to the Syracuse, New York and the Utica-Rome area markets on a frequency of 99.5 FM....
, the FM simulcasts K-LOVE
K-LOVE
K-LOVE is a Contemporary Christian music radio programming service in the United States operated by the Educational Media Foundation. As of January 2011, K-LOVE's programming is carried on over 440 FM stations and translators in 45 states. K-LOVE claims an audience of 250,000 people each week via...
). In August 2009, WBBS was challenged by WVOA-FM
WVOA-FM
WVOA-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Mexico, New York, USA, the station serves the Syracuse area. The station is currently owned by Renard Communications Corporation, wholly owned by Craig Fox...
, which changed to a country music format known as "The Wolf."
Incidentally, WVOA was, circa 2000, owned by Clear Channel, and actually simulcasted WBBS under the call sign WXBB.
Current morning team hosts Tom and Becky were nominated for a CMA and ACM awards in 2009 and 2010.
Tom Owens and Becky Palmer broadcast live from the CMA Awards in Nashville.
In 2004, B104.7's Ron and Becky received a CMA Award for "Personality of the Year" for a US Medium Market.
Personalities
Current WBBS on-air personalities include morning team Tom & Becky, mid-day host Amber Taylor, afternoon drive host Rich Lauber, evening host Gabby Knight, and syndicated host Blair GarnerBlair Garner
Blair Garner is an American radio personality. According to his After MidNite with Blair Garner show website, he purchased his first car at age 12. He is the host of the syndicated radio programs After MidNite with Blair Garner and The Blair Garner Show...
overnight. Weekend hosts include Daryl Thomas and Justin James. Earl Pitts Uhmerikun
Earl Pitts (radio character)
Earl Pitts is a fictional character performed by Gary Burbank, a radio personality from Cincinnati, Ohio.Pitts, who is almost always referred to as "Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun" is a stereotype of a redneck from the Southern United States...
is heard during the morning show.
Weather is provided by Dave Longley from former sister station WSYR-TV
WSYR-TV
WSYR-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Central New York State that is licensed to Syracuse. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 17 from a transmitter on Sevier Road in Pompey. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 9 and in high definition on...
.