WYSF
Encyclopedia
WJOX-FM is a radio station
licensed to Birmingham
. The station airs a sports radio
format. WJOX is owned by Cumulus Media
. The station was assigned the WJOX-FM call sign
by the Federal Communications Commission
on February 8, 2010.
, and is the Birmingham area flagship affiliate for University of Alabama sports. WJOX became the flagship station of the Paul Finebaum
Radio Network, which is syndicated throughout Alabama and adjoining states, in 2007. WJOX is an affiliate of the Tennessee Titans
football radio network.
1947 as WAFM on 93.3 FM. At least by 1949, the station was broadcasting on 99.5 FM, where it remained until 1963 when it moved to its current dial position. It was a sister station to WAPI-AM; WAFM-TV Channel 13 (now WVTM) was launched in 1949. WAFM changed its call sign in 1958 to WAPI-FM to match the call letters of its AM sister station. All three broadcast properties were owned by Advance Publications
, the parent company of The Birmingham News
. In the early 1970s, WAPI-FM played "solid gold" music (an early version of the adult contemporary format). In 1978, the station became an easy listening music station, calling itself "Beautiful 94", moving it in competition with WQEZ (now WMJJ
).
Federal Communications Commission
rules enacted in the late 1970s forced Advance Publications to sell its TV and radio properties in Birmingham. In 1980, Channel 13 and was sold to Times-Mirror Broadcasting, while the radio stations were sold to Dittman Broadcasting, owners of WABB
and WABB-FM
in Mobile
. In 1981, Beautiful 94 switched formats, and became Birmingham's second album rock station with the new name 95 Rock.
During the mid-1980s, the Top 40 format, which had disappeared from radio dials in many cities, regained popularity. Birmingham had one Top 40 station, WKXX (now WBPT
). In 1984, the album rock format was dropped in favor of Top 40, first calling itself 95 FM. By the end of the year, WAPI-FM was re-launched as I-95, calling itself "Birmingham's Hit Rock". Within a year, I-95 had replaced WKXX as the dominant Top 40 station in Birmingham. The most notable announcers on I-95 were Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps, who first teamed at I-95 before moving to KLOS
in Los Angeles
in 1987.
I-95 continued to enjoy dominant ratings throughout the remainder of the 1980s, using the slogan "Birmingham’s All-Hit I-95" for the remainder of that decade, and as "The Station in the 90's" into the 1990s. However, the nationwide decline in popularity of the Top 40 format affected I-95. In 1994, the station changed call letters to WMXQ ("Mix 94.5") and became a hot adult contemporary music station. Mix 94.5 was no more successful than I-95 had been in its latter stages, so in October 1996, the station once again changed formats and became a soft adult contemporary station with the new name "Soft Rock 94.5". The call letters were changed to WYSF in November of the same year. Television ads for the new station featured actress Teri Garr
.
In 1999, the morning drive team of Rick and Bubba
moved from crosstown station WQEN
to WYSF, where they remained until December 2006 when they departed for country music
station WZZK. In 2001, the station renamed itself Y-94.5, with no real change in its music. In reaction to a steep drop in ratings after the departure of Rick and Bubba, the station changed formats at 5:00 p.m. on May 25, 2007. The station dropped its soft adult contemporary format and replaced it with a hot adult contemporary format, changing the on-air name of the station to The New 94-5 FM.
On July 4, 2008, the station dropped its hot adult contemporary format and began stunting in anticipation of a new format. The station began playing country music at approximately 9:25 p.m. on the July 4 and continued doing so for the next two days. The station then began simulcasting co-owned sports radio
station WJOX as a temporary measure until the format change was completed.
WJOX made 94.5 its permanent home on July 22, 2008, moving from its former dial position of 100.5 FM. The station began being simulcast on the former WSPZ (690 AM) in February
, 2010. Ironically, 690 AM was the original home of the WJOX sports format when the format was introduced to the Birmingham market in 1992.
The station's current line-up features former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback
Jay Barker
, former Auburn Tigers
and Tennessee Titans
place kicker Al Del Greco
, and former WZRR
air personality Tony Kurre in mornings as "The Opening Drive"; Jim Dunaway, Ryan Brown, and Lance Taylor in middays as "The JOX Roundtable", and Paul Finebaum
in afternoons with "The Paul Finebaum Radio Network". All of the shows orginate in Birmingham and are aired on multiple stations. Paul Finebaum's network consists of 38 stations as well as the Sirius/XM satellite radio network.
The WJOX call letters were previously assigned to 106.1 FM in Jackson, Michigan
from 1976 to 1981. This incarnation of WJOX programmed the automated "Stereo Rock" format from TM Programming, using the moniker "Rock 106". The WJOX call letters were dropped by 106.1 FM on March 11, 1981, when the station adopted its current call letters WJXQ
("Q106").
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 Birmingham
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...
. The station airs a sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
format. WJOX is owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
. The station was assigned the WJOX-FM call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
by the Federal Communications Commission
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...
on February 8, 2010.
Programming
The station is an affiliate of ESPN RadioESPN 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...
, and is the Birmingham area flagship affiliate for University of Alabama sports. WJOX became the flagship station of the Paul Finebaum
Paul Finebaum
Paul Finebaum is an American sports author, television and radio personality and former columnist based in Birmingham, Alabama. His primary focus is sports, particularly those in the Southeast. Finebaum was born in Memphis, Tennessee and attended the University of Tennessee, where he received a...
Radio Network, which is syndicated throughout Alabama and adjoining states, in 2007. WJOX is an affiliate of the 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 radio network.
History
The forerunner of WJOX debuted on New Year's DayNew Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
1947 as WAFM on 93.3 FM. At least by 1949, the station was broadcasting on 99.5 FM, where it remained until 1963 when it moved to its current dial position. It was a sister station to WAPI-AM; WAFM-TV Channel 13 (now WVTM) was launched in 1949. WAFM changed its call sign in 1958 to WAPI-FM to match the call letters of its AM sister station. All three broadcast properties were owned by Advance Publications
Advance Publications
Advance Publications, Inc., is an American media company owned by the descendants of S.I. Newhouse Sr., Donald Newhouse and S.I. Newhouse, Jr. It is named after the Staten Island Advance, the first newspaper owned by the Newhouse family...
, the parent company of The Birmingham News
The Birmingham News
The Birmingham News is the principal daily newspaper for Birmingham, Alabama, United States, and the largest newspaper in Alabama. The paper is owned by Advance Publications...
. In the early 1970s, WAPI-FM played "solid gold" music (an early version of the adult contemporary format). In 1978, the station became an easy listening music station, calling itself "Beautiful 94", moving it in competition with WQEZ (now 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...
).
Federal Communications Commission
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...
rules enacted in the late 1970s forced Advance Publications to sell its TV and radio properties in Birmingham. In 1980, Channel 13 and was sold to Times-Mirror Broadcasting, while the radio stations were sold to Dittman Broadcasting, owners of WABB
WABB (AM)
WABB is a radio station broadcasting a news and talk radio format serving the Mobile, Alabama, metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Dittman Broadcasting.-History:...
and WABB-FM
WABB-FM
WABB-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 format serving the Mobile, Alabama area, with coverage in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It first began broadcasting in 1973...
in Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. In 1981, Beautiful 94 switched formats, and became Birmingham's second album rock station with the new name 95 Rock.
During the mid-1980s, the Top 40 format, which had disappeared from radio dials in many cities, regained popularity. Birmingham had one Top 40 station, WKXX (now WBPT
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...
). In 1984, the album rock format was dropped in favor of Top 40, first calling itself 95 FM. By the end of the year, WAPI-FM was re-launched as I-95, calling itself "Birmingham's Hit Rock". Within a year, I-95 had replaced WKXX as the dominant Top 40 station in Birmingham. The most notable announcers on I-95 were Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps, who first teamed at I-95 before moving to KLOS
KLOS
KLOS is an FM rock music radio station based in Los Angeles, California, that debuted in 1969. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. It is home to the nationally broadcast Mark & Brian radio show, and Off The Record host Uncle Joe Benson.-History:...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1987.
I-95 continued to enjoy dominant ratings throughout the remainder of the 1980s, using the slogan "Birmingham’s All-Hit I-95" for the remainder of that decade, and as "The Station in the 90's" into the 1990s. However, the nationwide decline in popularity of the Top 40 format affected I-95. In 1994, the station changed call letters to WMXQ ("Mix 94.5") and became a hot adult contemporary music station. Mix 94.5 was no more successful than I-95 had been in its latter stages, so in October 1996, the station once again changed formats and became a soft adult contemporary station with the new name "Soft Rock 94.5". The call letters were changed to WYSF in November of the same year. Television ads for the new station featured actress Teri Garr
Teri Garr
-Early life:Garr was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1947. Her father, Eddie Garr , was a vaudeville performer, comedian and actor whose career peaked when he briefly took over the lead role in the Broadway drama Tobacco Road...
.
In 1999, the morning drive team of Rick and Bubba
Rick and Bubba
Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey are cohosts of The Rick & Bubba Show—a syndicated comedic radio program based in Birmingham, Alabama...
moved from crosstown station WQEN
WQEN
WQEN is a radio station licensed to serve Trussville, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications...
to WYSF, where they remained until December 2006 when they departed for 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...
station WZZK. In 2001, the station renamed itself Y-94.5, with no real change in its music. In reaction to a steep drop in ratings after the departure of Rick and Bubba, the station changed formats at 5:00 p.m. on May 25, 2007. The station dropped its soft adult contemporary format and replaced it with a hot adult contemporary format, changing the on-air name of the station to The New 94-5 FM.
On July 4, 2008, the station dropped its hot adult contemporary format and began stunting in anticipation of a new format. The station began playing country music at approximately 9:25 p.m. on the July 4 and continued doing so for the next two days. The station then began simulcasting co-owned sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
station WJOX as a temporary measure until the format change was completed.
WJOX made 94.5 its permanent home on July 22, 2008, moving from its former dial position of 100.5 FM. The station began being simulcast on the former WSPZ (690 AM) in February
February
February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the shortest month and the only month with fewer than 30 days. The month has 28 days in common years and 29 days in leap years...
, 2010. Ironically, 690 AM was the original home of the WJOX sports format when the format was introduced to the Birmingham market in 1992.
The station's current line-up features former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Jay Barker
Jay Barker
Jay Barker is a former professional American football quarterback, and a current Birmingham radio personality.- Football career :...
, former Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The University is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 19 varsity teams in 13 sports:* Men's sports** Baseball** Basketball...
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...
place kicker Al Del Greco
Al Del Greco
Albert Louis Del Greco is a former American football placekicker and a current sports radio personality and high school coach in Birmingham, Alabama.-Biography:...
, and former WZRR
WZRR
WZRR is a classic rock FM radio station licensed to Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its on-air name is "Rock 99". The station is owned by Cumulus Media. Other stations in the market that Cumulus owns include WJOX-FM , WAPI-FM , WUHT-FM , WJOX-AM and WAPI-AM...
air personality Tony Kurre in mornings as "The Opening Drive"; Jim Dunaway, Ryan Brown, and Lance Taylor in middays as "The JOX Roundtable", and Paul Finebaum
Paul Finebaum
Paul Finebaum is an American sports author, television and radio personality and former columnist based in Birmingham, Alabama. His primary focus is sports, particularly those in the Southeast. Finebaum was born in Memphis, Tennessee and attended the University of Tennessee, where he received a...
in afternoons with "The Paul Finebaum Radio Network". All of the shows orginate in Birmingham and are aired on multiple stations. Paul Finebaum's network consists of 38 stations as well as the Sirius/XM satellite radio network.
The WJOX call letters were previously assigned to 106.1 FM in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
from 1976 to 1981. This incarnation of WJOX programmed the automated "Stereo Rock" format from TM Programming, using the moniker "Rock 106". The WJOX call letters were dropped by 106.1 FM on March 11, 1981, when the station adopted its current call letters WJXQ
WJXQ
WJXQ is a radio station broadcasting a mainstream rock format. Licensed to Charlotte, Michigan, it first began broadcasting under the WKHM-FM call sign. Its studios are located on Cedar St...
("Q106").