WTSB
Encyclopedia
WTSB is a radio station
licensed by the FCC
to serve the community of Selma, North Carolina
. The station is owned by Lamm Media Group. The station is daytime only, and is a "full service" AM station, providing local news, traffic reports and typical small town full service programming along with country
, bluegrass
and gospel music
.
, was majority stockholder. Levi E. Willis Sr., president and owner of Willis Broadcasting of Norfolk, Virginia
, bought WTSB in 1997 from Beasley Broadcast Group
which had bought WTSB and WKML
. Both stations aired country music
for a year when they were co-owned, but WTSB ended up going off the air for a while. Willis played traditional black gospel
until WTSB went off the air in 2000. Though Willis believed the station could returnit did not.
along with conservative
talk
. The former owner walked into Bass Music Enterprises, owned by Steve Bass, and asked, "Wanna buy a radio station?"
In 2002, about two years after Bass became the primary owner of WBZB, the station was located in Garner
and playing anything and everything by North Carolina musicians, or musicians from nearby states who were well-known in the state. The playlist included about 1700 songs. Artists included Arrogance
, Nancy Middleton, Blue Dust Box, Jam Pain Society, John Saylor, and Tift Merritt
In 2003, Shane Gentry, a nudist and member of Nekkid Monday (a band similar to ZZ Top
) began hosting the "Naked Monday Show" celebrating the nudist lifestyle.
WBZB received approval for a power increase from 800 to 1600 watts, but after a year, even though Bass claimed the station was close to making money, his investors were unable to stay with him. He sold the station on eBay
.
Triangle Sports Broadcasters bought WBZB and changed the letters to WTSB, also increasing the signal to 9000 watts, and switched to sports talk July 12, 2004, calling the station "Your Triangle Sports Ticket". The programming included local hosts as well as ESPN radio
.
On November 1, 2007, WTSB was sold to Carolina Broadcasting System, owner of WMPM
1270 AM in Smithfield.
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 by the FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to serve the community of Selma, North Carolina
Selma, North Carolina
Selma is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. In 2007, the estimated population was 7,008. Selma is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region.-Geography:Selma is located at ....
. The station is owned by Lamm Media Group. The station is daytime only, and is a "full service" AM station, providing local news, traffic reports and typical small town full service programming along with 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...
, bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
and gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
.
History of WTSB, Lumberton
WTSB was located at 580 AM, and broadcast at 500 watts during the day and 50 watts at night in 2000. The station signed on in 1947, owned by Robeson Broadcasting Corp. Jack Pait, who had a furniture business in LumbertonLumberton, North Carolina
Lumberton is a city in Robeson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 20,795 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Robeson County. Lumberton, located in southern North Carolina's Inner Banks region, is located on the Lumber River...
, was majority stockholder. Levi E. Willis Sr., president and owner of Willis Broadcasting of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, bought WTSB in 1997 from Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. , based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. As of January 2011, the company owned 17 AM stations and 28 FM stations. -History:...
which had bought WTSB and WKML
WKML
WKML is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Lumberton, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Fayetteville area. The station is currently owned by Beasley Broadcast Group.-External links:*...
. Both stations aired country music
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...
for a year when they were co-owned, but WTSB ended up going off the air for a while. Willis played traditional black gospel
Urban contemporary gospel
Traditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
until WTSB went off the air in 2000. Though Willis believed the station could returnit did not.
History of WBZB, Selma/Garner
Prior to 1999, WBZB aired country musicCountry 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...
along with conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
. The former owner walked into Bass Music Enterprises, owned by Steve Bass, and asked, "Wanna buy a radio station?"
In 2002, about two years after Bass became the primary owner of WBZB, the station was located in Garner
Garner, North Carolina
Garner is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 17,757 at the 2000 census and was 27,533 in 2009.-Geography:Garner is located at ....
and playing anything and everything by North Carolina musicians, or musicians from nearby states who were well-known in the state. The playlist included about 1700 songs. Artists included Arrogance
Arrogance (band)
Arrogance is a rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In the 1970s and early 1980s it was one of the most popular local bands in the state . The group has released six full length albums in its history and an early non-LP single...
, Nancy Middleton, Blue Dust Box, Jam Pain Society, John Saylor, and Tift Merritt
Tift Merritt
Catherine Tift Merritt is an American singer-songwriter, musician and North Carolina native. With her longtime band, she has built what has been called a "unique" and critically acclaimed body of work of "sonic short stories and poignant performances." She has been compared to songwriters like...
In 2003, Shane Gentry, a nudist and member of Nekkid Monday (a band similar to ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
) began hosting the "Naked Monday Show" celebrating the nudist lifestyle.
WBZB received approval for a power increase from 800 to 1600 watts, but after a year, even though Bass claimed the station was close to making money, his investors were unable to stay with him. He sold the station on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
.
Triangle Sports Broadcasters bought WBZB and changed the letters to WTSB, also increasing the signal to 9000 watts, and switched to sports talk July 12, 2004, calling the station "Your Triangle Sports Ticket". The programming included local hosts as well as ESPN radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
.
On November 1, 2007, WTSB was sold to Carolina Broadcasting System, owner of WMPM
WMPM
WMPM is an AM station in Smithfield, North Carolina broadcasting at 1270. The station is heavily focused on Johnston County and originally had a traditional country format, with an occasional gospel song thrown in every now and then...
1270 AM in Smithfield.