WDEF-FM
Encyclopedia
WDEF-FM is a radio station
serving the Chattanooga
area, broadcasting on 92.3 FM
. The station operates a Adult Contemporary format and is branded as Sunny 92.3 FM. They are owned by Bahakel Communications
.
The FM is the sister station of WDEF-AM and was the sister station of WDEF-TV
. The radio stations were spun off from the CBS affiliate in the 1990s.
outlet during the 1970s, WDEF has done successfully with its "Sunny AC" format since they made the transition in the early 1990s. One of the market's longest running disc jockeys, Luther Masingill, has been the station's morning host since December 31, 1940--the longest run on one time slot in the history of the world.
When Danny Howard (Skyler McKenzie on the air) joined WDEF-FM as program director in 1993, only Masingill was getting good ratings. Howard made changes that resulted in the station being "mainstream AC" and "not ... too soft or too hard." Hot adult contemporary included music from the '80s
and '90s
, while Bright AC included some 70s music but relied more on the on-air presentation--not "laid back" like so many soft adult contemporary stations. Howard said the 25 to 49 female listeners were not boring--the image AC programmers needed to avoid was "hair up in a bun ... white house with a picket fence ... no life."
The main competition was gold-based WLMX, where Howard had previously worked. WDEF-FM did more promotion than the CHR
stations WZST
and WKXJ
. Howard also intended to go after country
WUSY
, since country music was in a decline at the time.
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 Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
area, broadcasting on 92.3 FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
. The station operates a Adult Contemporary format and is branded as Sunny 92.3 FM. They are owned by Bahakel Communications
Bahakel Communications
Bahakel Communications is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based communications company that owns radio and television stations in the United States...
.
The FM is the sister station of WDEF-AM and was the sister station of WDEF-TV
WDEF-TV
WDEF–TV channel 12 is the CBS affiliate television station for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley. The station, whose call letters came from its former AM and FM sister stations, is owned by Morris Multimedia. Its transmitter is located in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. Syndicated programming on...
. The radio stations were spun off from the CBS affiliate in the 1990s.
History
Once a beautiful musicBeautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
outlet during the 1970s, WDEF has done successfully with its "Sunny AC" format since they made the transition in the early 1990s. One of the market's longest running disc jockeys, Luther Masingill, has been the station's morning host since December 31, 1940--the longest run on one time slot in the history of the world.
When Danny Howard (Skyler McKenzie on the air) joined WDEF-FM as program director in 1993, only Masingill was getting good ratings. Howard made changes that resulted in the station being "mainstream AC" and "not ... too soft or too hard." Hot adult contemporary included music from the '80s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
and '90s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, while Bright AC included some 70s music but relied more on the on-air presentation--not "laid back" like so many soft adult contemporary stations. Howard said the 25 to 49 female listeners were not boring--the image AC programmers needed to avoid was "hair up in a bun ... white house with a picket fence ... no life."
The main competition was gold-based WLMX, where Howard had previously worked. WDEF-FM did more promotion than the CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
stations WZST
WZST
WZST is a Hot Adult Contemporary formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Westover, West Virginia, serving the Morgantown/Fairmont area. WZST is owned and operated by Fantasia Broadcasting.Variety 101 targets Women 18-49 as part of its demographic...
and WKXJ
WLND
WLND is a radio station serving the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is licensed to serve Signal Mountain, Tennessee, USA.-History:...
. Howard also intended to go after country
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...
WUSY
WUSY
WUSY "U.S. 101" is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Tennessee, USA, and broadcasting to the Chattanooga, Tennessee area...
, since country music was in a decline at the time.