WWON
Encyclopedia
WWON is a commercial AM
radio station
licensed to the city of Waynesboro, Tennessee
, the seat of Wayne County, Tennessee
. The station operates at the assigned frequency of 930 kHz, at a power output of 470 watt
s day, and 91 watts at night.
" was the first song played on what was then the new 1480 WAAN radio. That first record was played by beloved former announcer and singer Neal "Tywhop" Jones.
In the mid-1970s the station changed hands and Grand Ole Opry
members Ernie Ashworth
and Ralph Davis became the owners for a brief period, along with Carl Swafford. In between the call letters WAAN and WTNR was the call letters WNBG.
Aside from past owner Ernie Ashworth of Grand Ole Opry fame, country singer, actor, writer, and Waynesboro native Mark Collie
also got his start on AM 930. Mark became a popular country music
star. Also in the 1980s and early 1990s country singer Jacky Ward
was an announcer. "Wile Willie" as he was called on the air, had success on the country charts with his hit "Big Blue Diamond
". ("Wile" as in Wile E. Coyote of the "Roadrunner" cartoons.)
In July 1991, a new chapter in broadcasting began when WTNR-FM went on the air featuring hot new country music. AM 930 even simulcast the FM station until going all talk
with syndicated talk shows. In 1994 the stations were sold to Ohio Broadcasting, and in 1998 the FM license was moved to Florence, Alabama
. This left AM 930 in Waynesboro, as WTNR-FM became Froggy 94, and then The River 94.
Subsequently, all of Wayne County's other FM stations moved to Florence, leaving AM 930 as the only Wayne County radio station.
in August 2005.
, residents Chris and Karen Lash returned WWON to the air, purchasing the station in February 2006. The Lashes quickly returned AM 930 to its country roots when Legends 930 W-WON was born. The station featured classic country music, with local, national and statewide news every hour. An interactive, and updated website with local news headlines was re-started, and coverage of Wayne County Wildcat sports, and Tennessee Titans
football was added to the programming line-up.
Also new to the radio station and county was a monthly newspaper, direct-mailed to homes in Waynesboro. The Advisor, Waynesboro's Hometown News and Shopper began, giving Waynesboro and the county positive stories of the people, places and things relative to the local community.
's The True Oldies Channel
from ABC Radio.
On October 26, 2011 WWON was sold to Jukebox Media, LLC.
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
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 the city of Waynesboro, Tennessee
Waynesboro, Tennessee
Waynesboro is a city in and the county seat of Wayne County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,449 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Waynesboro is located at ....
, the seat of Wayne County, Tennessee
Wayne County, Tennessee
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,021 people, 5,822 households, and 4,321 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile . There were 6,701 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
. The station operates at the assigned frequency of 930 kHz, at a power output of 470 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 day, and 91 watts at night.
The birth of WAAN AM 1480
Wayne County's first radio station went on the air in January 1970, with studios located upstairs above Helton's Drug Store. "Orange Blossom SpecialOrange Blossom Special (song)
The fiddle tune "Orange Blossom Special", about the passenger train of the same name, was written by Ervin T. Rouse in 1938. The original recording was created by Ervin and Gordon Rouse in 1939. It is considered the best known fiddle tune of the twentieth century and is often called simply The...
" was the first song played on what was then the new 1480 WAAN radio. That first record was played by beloved former announcer and singer Neal "Tywhop" Jones.
In the mid-1970s the station changed hands and Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
members Ernie Ashworth
Ernie Ashworth
Ernest Bert Ashworth was an American country music singer and longtime Grand Ole Opry star. Signed to the Hickory label, he recorded two studio albums in his career and charted several singles on Billboard Hot Country Songs, including the number one "Talk Back Trembling Lips" and six other top ten...
and Ralph Davis became the owners for a brief period, along with Carl Swafford. In between the call letters WAAN and WTNR was the call letters WNBG.
Frequency move and call letter change
In the late 1980s, the station was moved to its present location in the old bank building on the Public Square in downtown Waynesboro. After years of paperwork the station changed frequency and call letters, and AM 930 WTNR was born. The call letters stood for Waynesboro TN Radio.Aside from past owner Ernie Ashworth of Grand Ole Opry fame, country singer, actor, writer, and Waynesboro native Mark Collie
Mark Collie
George Mark Collie is an American country music artist and occasional actor. He has released eight albums, and has charted 16 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His highest peaking singles are "Even the Man in the Moon Is Cryin'" at #5, and "Born to Love You" at #6, from 1992 and...
also got his start on AM 930. Mark became a popular 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...
star. Also in the 1980s and early 1990s country singer Jacky Ward
Jacky Ward
Jacky Ward is an American country music artist. Between 1972 and 1982, he recorded four albums for Mercury Records, and charted more than fifteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Jacky Ward (born November 18, 1946 in Groveton, Texas) is an American country music artist. Between 1972...
was an announcer. "Wile Willie" as he was called on the air, had success on the country charts with his hit "Big Blue Diamond
Big Blue Diamonds
"Big Blue Diamonds" is a song written by Earl J. Carson in 1950 and published by Lois Music, BMI. It was first recorded by Red Perkins and originally issued as a 78rpm single on King Records #903 b/w "Rag Man Boogie" in 1950...
". ("Wile" as in Wile E. Coyote of the "Roadrunner" cartoons.)
In July 1991, a new chapter in broadcasting began when WTNR-FM went on the air featuring hot new country music. AM 930 even simulcast the FM station until going all 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...
with syndicated talk shows. In 1994 the stations were sold to Ohio Broadcasting, and in 1998 the FM license was moved to Florence, Alabama
Florence, Alabama
Florence is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state.According to the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 36,721....
. This left AM 930 in Waynesboro, as WTNR-FM became Froggy 94, and then The River 94.
Subsequently, all of Wayne County's other FM stations moved to Florence, leaving AM 930 as the only Wayne County radio station.
As WWON: the first time around
WTNR-AM 930 continued as a talk station until August 3, 2000 when the station was sold again and changed its call letters and format to AM 930 WWON (W1) "Familiar Favorites." The station continued a great tradition of "Hometown Radio" providing Wayne County with local news, weather, and sports broadcasts. Due to these circumstances beyond their control, the owners were forced out of business. AM 930 WWON went darkDark (broadcasting)
In the broadcasting industry, dark is a term used to describe a radio station or television station that has gone off-the-air for an indefinite period of time, or as defined by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission , a "silent" station...
in August 2005.
Legends 930
Six months after WWON went silent, Huntingdon, TennesseeHuntingdon, Tennessee
Huntingdon is a town in Carroll County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 4,349 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carroll County.-Geography:Huntingdon is located at ....
, residents Chris and Karen Lash returned WWON to the air, purchasing the station in February 2006. The Lashes quickly returned AM 930 to its country roots when Legends 930 W-WON was born. The station featured classic country music, with local, national and statewide news every hour. An interactive, and updated website with local news headlines was re-started, and coverage of Wayne County Wildcat sports, and Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
football was added to the programming line-up.
Also new to the radio station and county was a monthly newspaper, direct-mailed to homes in Waynesboro. The Advisor, Waynesboro's Hometown News and Shopper began, giving Waynesboro and the county positive stories of the people, places and things relative to the local community.
AM 930 The Farm
On January 8, 2007, the station changed its name and added current country songs to its rotation, in response to a web-based poll of its listeners. The station was then known as "AM 930 The Farm". The station was an affiliate of the Tennessee Titans radio network.Kickin Country
On April 20, 2008 WWON was sold to Small Potatoes Broadcasting, LLC based in Nashville, TN. The new owners kept a country format and changed to a new name: Kickin Country, KICKN.Big Oldies 930
In the summer of 2008 Small Potatoes Broadcasting, LLC. flipped the format to true oldies, calling the station "Big Oldies 930". The station derives a portion of its programming from Scott ShannonScott Shannon
Michael Scott Shannon is a radio disc jockey, current co-host of the "Scott and Todd in the Morning" show on WPLJ, host of The True Oldies Channel, and the official voice of The Sean Hannity Show.-Early Radio Career:...
's The True Oldies Channel
The True Oldies Channel
The True Oldies Channel is a syndicated radio programming stream begun in the spring of 2004, hosted by American radio personality Scott Shannon...
from ABC Radio.
On October 26, 2011 WWON was sold to Jukebox Media, LLC.