WYDE (AM)
Encyclopedia
WYDE is a radio station
currently acting as a simulcast partner of WYDE-FM
. It was formerly known as WLGD, an adult standards
/oldies
radio station
that served Birmingham, Alabama
, and nearly all of Jefferson County
. The station was previously known on the air as "Legends 1260". The station is owned by Crawford Broadcasting Company
. The transmitter for WYDE is located near the eastern edge of downtown Birmingham.
restrictions, WCRT broadcast only during the daytime and signed off at sunset. The owners of WCRT were also instrumental in the launch of WCFT-TV 33 in Tuscaloosa
; hence the similarity in the call signs. In 1961 WCRT-AM launched a companion FM station. Initially, WCRT-FM was a simulcast of its AM partner. In the 1970s the FM station relaunched as easy listening
WQEZ; today that station is heritage adult contemporary station WMJJ
.
During the 1970s, WCRT was an adult standards
station that used the syndicated Music of Your Life
format. In 1982, sister station WQEZ-FM was sold, and by 1983, the owners of WCRT were looking to get out of the radio business. Later that year, the station was sold to a group of Christian businessmen who planned to drop adult standards in favor of contemporary Christian music. Before the sales transaction could be completed, a fire destroyed the station’s studios and offices, and WCRT was forced off the air for several months.
In August 1983, WCRT returned to the air with the new on-air name "Love 1260" and the new contemporary Christian music format. A weak signal that did not reach the suburbs at night, the waning popularity of AM radio, and competition from WDJC-FM were among several reasons why Love 1260 was not particularly successful. Less than three years later, Love 1260 dropped contemporary Christian music in favor of an adult contemporary format.
In 1986, WCRT dropped adult contemporary music in favor of an all-oldies
format. It continued with this format until 1991, when it dropped music programming in favor of an all business news format and new call letters WCEO. The business news format continued until 1994, when Crawford Broadcasting Company, the owners of WDJC-FM, bought the station and launched a “Christian country’ music format on the station, which was relaunched as WDJC-AM. Later in the 1990s, the station changed formats again, this time to black gospel music, placing it in direct competition with format leader WAGG
and several other stations. In late 1997 this format was dropped and the on air moniker "Radio Bible University" was adopted. The station was brokered out to Christian preaching and teaching programs, along with some local talk shows. The "Dixie Gospel Caravan with Wayne Wallace" was rebroadcast from sister station WDJC-FM every evening on WDJC-AM due to its low power.
In 1999, 1260 AM in Birmingham returned to its roots. Christian programming was dropped, and the station once again became an adult standards
station with the call letters WLGS. Known on the air as “Legends 1260”, the station achieved moderate ratings success. By 2001, the station added some oldies
music to its playlist, and by 2002, it had segued into a full-fledged oldies station. In 2003, the station dropped the oldies format and became a full-time simulcast partner of WYDE-FM, rebroadcating the FM station's conservative talk radio
format. The simulcast continued for the next three years.
In October 2006, WYDE-AM changed its call letters to WLGD, and returned to the music format it had employed in the early 2000s. Once again, the station was known on the air as "Legends 1260" and was an adult standards station, focusing primarily on vocal music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Long-time Birmingham radio veterans Burt and Kurt, formerly of WSGN
, WMJJ-Magic 96.5
and WODL-Oldies 106.9
, headlined the new station's morning show.
In July 2007, the station changed it calls once again back to WYDE and began simulcasting the new Classic Hits station WYDE 101.1 FM with Burt and Kurt in the morning drive spot. The classic hits format was dropped in early 2009 for a return to talk radio
.
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...
currently acting as a simulcast partner of WYDE-FM
WYDE-FM
WYDE-FM is a radio station that serves Birmingham and nearly all of north-central Alabama. The station is licensed to Cullman, Alabama. Because of the location of the station's broadcast tower and its strong signal, WYDE serves the Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden and Florence markets as well. ...
. It was formerly known as WLGD, an adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
/oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
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...
that served Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, and nearly all of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
. The station was previously known on the air as "Legends 1260". The station is owned by Crawford Broadcasting Company
Crawford Broadcasting
Crawford Broadcasting is a family-owned media company based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Crawford Broadcasting primarily owns radio stations mostly with Christian and Oldies/Nostalgia formats.-History:...
. The transmitter for WYDE is located near the eastern edge of downtown Birmingham.
Station history
The station broadcasting at 1260 AM in Birmingham signed on in the 1950s as WCRT, a "middle of the road" easy listening station. Due to FCCFederal 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...
restrictions, WCRT broadcast only during the daytime and signed off at sunset. The owners of WCRT were also instrumental in the launch of WCFT-TV 33 in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
; hence the similarity in the call signs. In 1961 WCRT-AM launched a companion FM station. Initially, WCRT-FM was a simulcast of its AM partner. In the 1970s the FM station relaunched as easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
WQEZ; today that station is heritage adult contemporary station WMJJ
WMJJ
WMJJ , "Magic 96.5") is a Clear Channel-owned Adult contemporary radio station that broadcasts from Birmingham, Alabama. Other stations in the Birmingham market owned by Clear Channel include WDXB-FM , WQEN-FM , WERC-FM , and WERC...
.
During the 1970s, WCRT was an adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
station that used the syndicated Music of Your Life
Music of Your Life
Music of Your Life is a satellite-delivered radio network featuring the Adult Standards music format. Created by record executive and jingle writer Al Ham, and now under the direction of Marc Angell, Music of Your Life has more than 50 AM, FM and HD-2 radio station affiliates, and has been in...
format. In 1982, sister station WQEZ-FM was sold, and by 1983, the owners of WCRT were looking to get out of the radio business. Later that year, the station was sold to a group of Christian businessmen who planned to drop adult standards in favor of contemporary Christian music. Before the sales transaction could be completed, a fire destroyed the station’s studios and offices, and WCRT was forced off the air for several months.
In August 1983, WCRT returned to the air with the new on-air name "Love 1260" and the new contemporary Christian music format. A weak signal that did not reach the suburbs at night, the waning popularity of AM radio, and competition from WDJC-FM were among several reasons why Love 1260 was not particularly successful. Less than three years later, Love 1260 dropped contemporary Christian music in favor of an adult contemporary format.
In 1986, WCRT dropped adult contemporary music in favor of an all-oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format. It continued with this format until 1991, when it dropped music programming in favor of an all business news format and new call letters WCEO. The business news format continued until 1994, when Crawford Broadcasting Company, the owners of WDJC-FM, bought the station and launched a “Christian country’ music format on the station, which was relaunched as WDJC-AM. Later in the 1990s, the station changed formats again, this time to black gospel music, placing it in direct competition with format leader WAGG
WAGG
WAGG is a radio station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama. It broadcasts at a daytime power 5,000 watts, and at nighttime, it broadcasts at 1,000 watts. WAGG is a gospel music station that targets Birmingham's African-American population. It is owned by Cox Radio, which also owns six other...
and several other stations. In late 1997 this format was dropped and the on air moniker "Radio Bible University" was adopted. The station was brokered out to Christian preaching and teaching programs, along with some local talk shows. The "Dixie Gospel Caravan with Wayne Wallace" was rebroadcast from sister station WDJC-FM every evening on WDJC-AM due to its low power.
In 1999, 1260 AM in Birmingham returned to its roots. Christian programming was dropped, and the station once again became an adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
station with the call letters WLGS. Known on the air as “Legends 1260”, the station achieved moderate ratings success. By 2001, the station added some oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
music to its playlist, and by 2002, it had segued into a full-fledged oldies station. In 2003, the station dropped the oldies format and became a full-time simulcast partner of WYDE-FM, rebroadcating the FM station's conservative talk radio
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...
format. The simulcast continued for the next three years.
In October 2006, WYDE-AM changed its call letters to WLGD, and returned to the music format it had employed in the early 2000s. Once again, the station was known on the air as "Legends 1260" and was an adult standards station, focusing primarily on vocal music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Long-time Birmingham radio veterans Burt and Kurt, formerly of WSGN
WAGG
WAGG is a radio station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama. It broadcasts at a daytime power 5,000 watts, and at nighttime, it broadcasts at 1,000 watts. WAGG is a gospel music station that targets Birmingham's African-American population. It is owned by Cox Radio, which also owns six other...
, WMJJ-Magic 96.5
WMJJ
WMJJ , "Magic 96.5") is a Clear Channel-owned Adult contemporary radio station that broadcasts from Birmingham, Alabama. Other stations in the Birmingham market owned by Clear Channel include WDXB-FM , WQEN-FM , WERC-FM , and WERC...
and WODL-Oldies 106.9
WBPT
WBPT is a classic hits music-formatted radio station licensed to Homewood, Alabama, that serves the Birmingham and central Alabama area. The station was assigned the WBPT call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on October 17, 2001. Since October 2005, it has used the branding "106.9...
, headlined the new station's morning show.
In July 2007, the station changed it calls once again back to WYDE and began simulcasting the new Classic Hits station WYDE 101.1 FM with Burt and Kurt in the morning drive spot. The classic hits format was dropped in early 2009 for a return to talk radio
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...
.