WBZI

Last updated
WBZI
WBZI 1500RealRoots logo.png
Broadcast area Dayton metropolitan area
Frequency 1500 kHz
BrandingReal Roots Radio
Programming
Language(s) English
Format Classic country
Affiliations Fox News Radio
Ohio News Network
United Stations Radio Networks
Ohio Ag Net
Brownfield Network
Ownership
OwnerTown And Country Broadcasting, Inc.
WEDI, WKFI
History
First air date
1963;61 years ago (1963)
Former call signs
WGIC (1963–84)
WBZI (1984–85)
WLGY (1985–87)
Call sign meaning
BZI can be pronounced as Busy
Technical information
Facility ID 69992
Class D
Power 500 watts day
Transmitter coordinates
 39°42′48.00″N83°54′48.00″W / 39.7133333°N 83.9133333°W / 39.7133333; -83.9133333
Translator(s) see below
Repeater(s) see below
Links
Webcast Listen live
Listen live (via TuneIn)
Website realrootsradio.com

WBZI (1500 AM "Real Roots Radio") is a daytime-only radio station in Xenia, Ohio, United States, operating with 500 watts. Its current owner Town and Country Broadcasting operates it with a country oldies format serving Greene, Clark, eastern Montgomery and surrounding counties. Its downtown studios are located on West Second Street and transmitter on East Kinsey Road (the former studio location.) World news from Fox News Radio is aired at the top of the hour in addition to farm and agriculture news from the ABN throughout the day.

Contents

History

Began operation in November 1963 by founder Xenia Broadcasting Inc. as WGIC (for: "Greene Information Center.") It is Xenia and Greene County's first and oldest full service AM radio station. Crosstown competitor WHBM (now WZDA licensed to Beavercreek) was the first Xenia FM station being founded one year earlier. Several format changes took place on the station during the 1970s, most noted as contemporary hit-formatted "G-15" using an automation package called "Stereo Rock" produced by Dallas-based TM Productions being used successfully on FM stations at the time (notably the former WPTH-FM in Ft Wayne, WFBQ-FM in Indianapolis and WCIT in Lima). The format was switched over to 95.3 FM in 1978 as "I-95" (where the WBZI calls originated.) As a result, WGIC swapped contemporary hits for southern gospel competing with crosstown rival WELX (now WGNZ).

The former WGIC and its news department played a huge role in relaying information and desperately needed help between the listening public and the local residents in the aftermath of an F5 tornado which ravaged the city of Xenia and the neighboring communities of Beavercreek and Wilberforce on April 3, 1974. As such, WGIC operated on an emergency basis past its daytime hours-only license during this time.

WBZI-FM switched to country in 1980 competing with WONE (AM) in Dayton and the former WJAI-FM in Eaton (now WGTZ). Several other format and callsign changes took place quite frequently for the FM station throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It is currently classic hits WZLR.

WBZI moved to AM 1500 in 1984 for about a year, then reassigned later in 1988 and with it the country format (after a two-year stint as WLGY from 1985 to 1987.) It is currently managed by Joe Mullins, son of fiddler and Bluegrass personality Paul "Moon" Mullins (not to be confused with the radio Hall of Famer also known as "Moon" Mullins, who died in 2017, from WBKR) who retired from radio broadcasting in 2005 due to the impact of Parkinson's disease. Moon died in 2008. Like his father, Joe is also a bluegrass musician as well as a broadcaster. In addition to managing the station, Joe is also the current afternoon personality with two programs, Hymns from the Hills and The Banjo Show.

Their web-site features a listen live feature.

On March 23, 2018, WBZI rebranded as "Real Roots Radio". [1]

Real Roots Radio

Real Roots Radio is also heard on:

AM repeaters

WKFI 1090 in Wilmington, Ohio serving southwestern Ohio, metropolitan Cincinnati and portions of Northern Kentucky.

WEDI 1130 in Eaton, Ohio serving Preble, western Montgomery and surrounding counties in Western Ohio and Eastern Indiana.

FM translator

W262BG 100.3 in Xenia serving Xenia and nearby communities.

See also

Related Research Articles

WCTM were the call letters assigned to an FM radio station, and later an AM station, both licensed to Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, United States.

WTKD is a radio station licensed to Greenville, Ohio serving most of the Dayton metropolitan area with a rimshot signal. The station is owned by Truth Broadcasting, Inc. The current programming features Christian talk and teaching radio using the Truth Network. The transmitter is in Greenville, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZDA</span> Radio station in Beavercreek, Ohio

WZDA is a commercial radio station licensed to Beavercreek, Ohio, serving the Dayton metro area, owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. As of December 27, 2021, it broadcasts country music on its standard analog transmission, using the "New Country 103.9" moniker, after previously being an alternative rock station called "Alt 103.9." The WZDA studios are located in Dayton, while the station transmitter resides in the neighboring suburb of Moraine. Besides a standard analog transmission, WZDA broadcasts in HD Radio, and is available online via iHeartRadio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHIO-FM</span> News/talk radio station in Pleasant Hill–Dayton, Ohio

WHIO-FM – branded AM 1290 and News 95.7 WHIO – is a commercial talk radio station licensed to serve Pleasant Hill, Ohio, covering Dayton, Ohio and the Dayton metropolitan area. Owned by Cox Media Group, WHIO-FM acts as a full-time simulcast of WHIO. The WHIO-FM studios are located at Cox Media Center building in Dayton, while the transmitter is located in nearby Piqua. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WHIO-FM streams online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFGF</span> Radio station in Wapakoneta, Ohio

WFGF is a commercial radio station based in Wapakoneta, Ohio, broadcasting a country music format. Its studios are located in Lima, Ohio, with their transmitter located in Cridersville, Ohio, between Wapakoneta and Lima.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WING</span> Radio station in Dayton, Ohio

WING is a commercial radio station in Dayton, Ohio operating with 5,000 watts along with studios, offices and transmitter located on David Road in Kettering. It is the first full-time commercial radio station in Dayton. It is currently a local affiliate for ESPN Radio and the Ohio State Sports Network, but is best known and remembered as Dayton's first Top 40-formatted station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGTZ</span> Radio station in Eaton, Ohio

WGTZ is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Eaton, Ohio and serving the Dayton and Springfield radio market. It airs an adult hits format, using the national Jack FM music service and is branded as "92-9 Jack FM." The station operates without DJs. It is owned by Portland-based Alpha Media with studios in Kettering, Ohio.

WEDI is a daytime-only commercial AM radio station, licensed to Eaton, Ohio.

WPTW is a commercial AM radio station in Piqua, Ohio, United States, with a power output of 250 watts. It is owned by Muzzy Broadcasting Group. ABC News Radio and local news from hall of famer Terry Lafferty. Its music format is a mix of 1970s', 1980s' plus some 60s and 90s for flavor ' classic hits. Local high school sports coverage remains a tradition at the station in addition to Ohio State Buckeyes football.

WGNZ is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Fairborn, Ohio, with radio studios in Dayton and its transmitter in Xenia. It airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format with Southern Gospel music. The owner is L & D Broadcasters, Inc.

WPFB is a radio station broadcasting Catholic programming after a switch from an adult album alternative format as a simulcast of WNKU. It is licensed to Middletown, Ohio, United States, and serves the Dayton area. The station is owned by Sacred Heart Radio, Inc. and is now simulcasting WNOP 740 AM licensed in Newport, Kentucky. In April 2016, WPFB was sold to Sacred Heart Radio, a religious talk radio station based in Norwood, Ohio. On June 3, 2016 WPFB began simulcasting WNOP (AM) alongside WHSS.

WNKN is a commercial radio station licensed to Middletown, Ohio, and serving parts of the Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. It broadcasts a Catholic radio format and is owned by Relevant Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHKO</span> Radio station in Dayton, Ohio

WHKO is a commercial radio station in Dayton, Ohio. The station is owned by Cox Media Group and carries a country music radio format. Its studios and offices are co-located with the Dayton Daily News, WHIO-AM-FM-TV, and two more radio stations in the Cox Media Center building near downtown Dayton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCLI-FM</span> Radio station in Enon, Ohio

WCLI-FM is a classic country radio station, licensed to Enon, Ohio, and serving the Dayton area. The station is owned by Alpha Media. Its studios are located in Kettering, Ohio and its transmitter is in New Carlisle, Ohio, northeast of Dayton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFCJ</span> Christian radio station in Miamisburg, Ohio

WFCJ is a radio station licensed to Miamisburg, Ohio, serving the Dayton metropolitan area. Owned by Strong Tower Christian Media, it broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. The station is funded by both advertising and listener donations. Some of the national religious leaders heard on WFCJ include Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah, Chuck Swindoll, Jim Daly and Rick Warren. Strong Tower Christian Media operates two 50,000 watt Christian radio stations in Ohio. WFCJ and 100.7 WEEC in Springfield serve the cities of Dayton, Middletown, Cincinnati and parts of Northern Kentucky and eastern Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZLR</span> 1980s classic hits radio station in Xenia, Ohio, United States

WZLR, known as "95.3 and 101.1 The Eagle," is a radio station broadcasting a 1980s classic hits format currently owned by Cox Media Group. Licensed to Xenia, Ohio, United States, it serves the Dayton area. According to the Federal Communications Commission's website, the station has transmitted at 6,000 watts since 1998. Its studios are co-located with other Cox Media properties in the Cox Media Center building near downtown Dayton. WZLR's transmitter is located in Xenia and translator on the WHIO-TV tower in Germantown, Ohio.

WKFI is a commercial radio station licensed to Wilmington, Ohio, and serving the eastern suburbs of the Dayton metropolitan area. The station is owned by Town And Country Broadcasting, Inc. It is simulcast with co-owned WBZI 1500 AM in Xenia, broadcasting a classic country radio format, known as "Real Roots Radio." News updates are provided by Fox News Radio and the Ohio News Network.

WTGR is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Union City, Ohio, United States; the station is currently owned by Positive Radio Group of Ohio and features programming from CNN Radio.

The following is a list of media in Dayton, Ohio, United States.

Joe Mullins is an American banjo player, vocalist, band leader, and radio broadcaster. He plays bluegrass and gospel music.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.