WMC (AM)
WMC is a radio station in the Memphis, Tennessee market, broadcasting at 790 AM.
It is one of the city's oldest radio stations and presently programs a Classic Country format. Its current logo is similar to the official shield for U.S. Highway 79; that is an actual highway that runs through Memphis, albeit concurrently with U.S. Highway 70 and paralleling Interstate 40. WMC uses the branding for many things, including a sponsored concert series called "Highway 79".
The station currently runs a direct satellite feed of Jones Radio Networks's "Classic Hit Country" format. In addition to musical fare consisting largely of pre-1990 country music, WMC-AM features longtime Memphis disc jockey George Klein's weekly tribute program to Elvis Presley. Klein and Presley were close friends and confidantes during the latter's lifetime and the former's long stint on WHBQ-AM.
The station's license is currently held by Entercom Communications, which it purchased from CBS in September 2006; WMC-AM and sister WMC-FM were for many years owned and operated by Scripps Howard Broadcasting, along with then-TV sister WMC-TV, before SHB sold the latter property in 1993. It is one of six radio properties in the Memphis market held by Entercom; the others are WMC-FM, WRVR-FM, WMFS, WKQK-FM, and WMFS-FM.[citation needed]
Entercom purchased WMC-AM, WMC-FM and WMFS in 2006.[1]
WMC-AM maintains studios in the Entercom complex in eastern Memphis.
History
WMC is one of the few surviving radio stations in the United States to use its original call letters; the station first broadcast on January 19, 1923. Among its unique features was late night concerts from blues singers. Although Memphis was segregated, Bessie Smith performed at WMC on October 5, 1923 ("Hit On Radio," Chicago Defender, October 6, 1923, p. 8)
It was reported that explorers from Great Britain heard WMC in the Arctic.[2][3]
In the 1930s, WMC was still owned by The Commercial Appeal and carried the NBC Radio Red Network, while WMPS, owned by the Press-Scimitar, aired the Blue Network.[4]
During the 1960s, WMC had a MOR format. In 1973, WMC became the first 24 hour full time country station in Memphis and was often #1 in the ratings. KIX 106 went country in 1983 and was the first full signal FM country competition. By 1989, WMC switched to News/Talk.
In 1997, "News/Talk 790" gave up Rush Limbaugh to WREC as well as its morning news show.[5]
In July 2001, WMC-AM was called "SPORTSPLUS 790," with a sports radio format. The GoodTimes Show, with news about casino gambling in Tunica, Mississippi, made its debut on the station at that time.[6]
In December 2005, CBS radio changed WMC to its current format, since there were so many sports stations.[3]
References
- ^ Hicks, Ed (2006-08-21). "Entercom Buys 3 CBS Radio Stations in Memphis". Memphis Business Journal.
- ^ http://www.historyorb.com/day/january/19, Retrieved on 2009-02-26.
- ^ a b Tucker, Ken (2005-12-30). "Legendary Station Brings 'Country Legends' to Memphis". Radio Monitor.
- ^ http://www.radiocenterflats.com/RCF_history.pdf, Retrieved on 2009-02-27.
- ^ http://www.memphisflyer.com/backissues/issue466/media466.htm, Retrieved on 2009-02-26.
- ^ Robison, John (2001-07-01). "GoodTimes Radio Moves to SportsPlus 790 WMC". Casino City Times.
External links
- WMC official website
- Entercom Memphis stations
- Facility details for Facility ID WMC ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
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