WGZB-FM
Encyclopedia
WGZB-FM is an Urban Contemporary
music formatted radio station
licensed to Lanesville, Indiana
, serving the Louisville, Kentucky
area. The station is licensed by the FCC to broadcast with an ERP
of 1,600 watt
s.
In addition, the station operates a 295-watt
booster as WGZB-FM1 to assist with the station's coverage.
and was handicapped with a signal that covered only half of Louisville's metro. Nevertheless, WGZB soon became the choice for Louisville's African American
population and was the final nail in the coffin for 1350 AM WLOU
's long running Urban format as well as rimshot FM Urban WJYL
.
In 2004, WGZB's license was changed from Corydon to Lanesville so that the tower could be moved closer to Louisville, eliminating much of the signal problems that the station had.
WGZB carries the syndicated Russ Parr
Morning Show, though it did at one time carry Doug Banks
until the station was purchased by Radio One. In 2007, Main Line Broadcasting purchased Radio One's Louisville properties, which included WGZB-FM.
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
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...
licensed to Lanesville, Indiana
Lanesville, Indiana
Lanesville is a town in Franklin Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States. The population was 564 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Lanesville is located at . Its elevation is 699 feet above sea level....
, serving the Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
area. The station is licensed by the FCC to broadcast with an ERP
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 1,600 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s.
In addition, the station operates a 295-watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
booster as WGZB-FM1 to assist with the station's coverage.
Station history
WGZB-FM signed on in the Fall of 1989 with its present Urban Contemporary format under the "B-96" name. In its first few years on the air, the station was licensed to Corydon, IndianaCorydon, Indiana
Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the...
and was handicapped with a signal that covered only half of Louisville's metro. Nevertheless, WGZB soon became the choice for Louisville's African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
population and was the final nail in the coffin for 1350 AM WLOU
WLOU
WLOU is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel music format. Licensed to Louisville, Kentucky, USA, the station serves the greater Louisville area...
's long running Urban format as well as rimshot FM Urban WJYL
WKRD-FM
WKRD-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to Shelbyville, Kentucky, USA, the station serves the Louisville area. The station is owned by Aloha Station Trust....
.
In 2004, WGZB's license was changed from Corydon to Lanesville so that the tower could be moved closer to Louisville, eliminating much of the signal problems that the station had.
WGZB carries the syndicated Russ Parr
Russ Parr
Russ Parr is an American radio and television personality.-Career:Parr began as a Production Services Director at ABC TV....
Morning Show, though it did at one time carry Doug Banks
Doug Banks
Doug Banks is an American radio personality and host of The Doug Banks Radio Show.-Career highlights:The Philadelphia-born, Detroit raised Banks began his radio career broadcasting on the high school radio station. Local station WDRQ took notice of his talent and offered him a spot as a temporary...
until the station was purchased by Radio One. In 2007, Main Line Broadcasting purchased Radio One's Louisville properties, which included WGZB-FM.