WMLB (Cumming, Georgia)

Last updated
WMLB
Frequency 1170kHz
Ownership
OwnerCorey Broadcast Group, Inc.
History
First air date
October 13, 1961;63 years ago (1961-10-13)
Last air date
July 2003;21 years ago (2003-07)
Former call signs
WSNE (1961–1980)
WHNE (1980–1993)
WMLB (1993–2002)
WMLE (2002–2003)
Former frequencies
1410 kHz (1961–1970)
Call sign meaning
Mountains Lake Broadcasting [1]
Technical information
Facility ID 36530
Power 5,000 watts day
2,500 watts critical hours
Transmitter coordinates
 34°10′41.14″N84°9′21.31″W / 34.1780944°N 84.1559194°W / 34.1780944; -84.1559194

WMLB was a radio station broadcasting on 1170 kHz in Cumming, Georgia, United States, from 1961 to 2003. It was last owned by Corey Broadcast Group, Inc.

Contents

History

On May 10, 1961, Sawnee Broadcasting Company, a corporation owned by John T. Pittard, received a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission to build a new radio station in Cumming, to broadcast with 1,000 watts during the day on 1410 kHz. [2] The station began broadcasting as WSNE, or West, South, North n' East per the original owner on October 13, 1961. [3] In 1968, Pittard sold WSNE to Howard Rowe and Associates, Inc. [2] That same year, the station filed to move to 1170 kHz; the change, approved two years later, kept the station daytime-only, but it was able to switch from a directional to a nondirectional antenna pattern on the new frequency. [2]

Howard Rowe, who owned WSNE and WDGL in Douglasville, died in 1978. [4] Two years later, the call letters were changed from WSNE to WHNE to honor Howard and his wife Evelyn ("Howard 'n' Evelyn"). [5] Airing a primarily Southern Gospel format, [6] [7] WHNE was approved to increase its power to 5,000 watts in December 1987. [3]

When I first got it, it was just very unprofessional. They were having screaming preachers on at 8 o'clock in the morning, during morning drive time. It was bizarre.

Amy Rives McCollum [8]

In 1989, Howard Rowe and Associates sold WHNE to Lanier Broadcasting, Inc., run by Amy Rives McCollum, in a $225,000 transaction. [9] McCollum shifted the station's programming from gospel to country. [8] Two years later, a controversy erupted at WHNE. In October 1991, two employees of the station called a news conference to go public with allegations that they had been pressured to favor the Cumming city council and mayor in their reporting, [10] prompting the resignation of the news director and public service director [11] and leading the mayor to reveal that he had business dealings with owner Rives McCollum as part of a real estate company. [12]

The call letters were changed to WMLB in 1993. By this time, the station was known as "Mountains Lake Radio", airing a primarily news/talk format with an evening block of gospel music, as well as other typical features including a tradio program and Sunday church services. [13]

Americana years

In 1994, Chris Marino, a man who had never been inside a radio studio until he stopped by to ask to host a talk show on WMLB, became the program director and morning host. Under Marino's stewardship, WMLB changed to an Americana music format, retaining the longstanding local features that had been associated with the station; the new format made the station profitable for the first time since McCollum bought it in 1989. [8] The change in direction was not only earning money but also national prestige: the Gavin Report crowned WMLB Americana station of the year in 1997. [14]

Marino left in late 1997, but that did not slow WMLB down. [15] Led by Station Managers Dave Stone, then Jim Dean and Music Director Nancy Foster Johnson, the station was rated four times as Atlanta's best country radio station by Creative Loafing magazine, an achievement considering that it was going up against the five Atlanta-area stations in the actual country format. [16]

"The Twins"

On April 2, 2001, the Americana music abruptly stopped—to the surprise of even WMLB's program director—after Corey Broadcast Group, who also owned WKGE (1160 AM), acquired the station and dropped both stations' existing formats, as well as all of the Cumming station's local service features, for a simulcast as oldies stations "The Twins". While the new oldies format had a deep 9,000-song library, the loss of the Americana format brought disappointment from loyal listeners as well as questions of why the simulcast did not adopt WMLB's prior programming. [17] Corey had paid $750,000 for the station, though he did not acquire the transmitter site land. [18]

Corey's acquisition of WMLB also came with another motivating factor. His station at 1160 kHz, licensed to East Point, held a construction permit to increase daytime power from 10,000 to 50,000 watts, but it could not make the move without shutting down or reducing the power of the Cumming transmitter. [19] The WMLB call letters moved from 1170 to 1160 in February 2002 (with 1170 becoming WMLE), and the power increase took effect in July 2003. [20] As a direct result, WMLE signed off the air for good. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forsyth County, Georgia</span> County in Georgia, United States

Forsyth County is a county in the Northeast region of the U.S. state of Georgia. Suburban and exurban in character, Forsyth County lies within the Atlanta metropolitan area. The county's only incorporated city and county seat is Cumming. At the 2020 census, the population was 251,283. Forsyth was the fastest-growing county in Georgia and the 15th fastest-growing county in the United States between 2010 and 2019. Forsyth County's rapid population growth can be attributed to its proximity to high-income employment opportunities in nearby Alpharetta and northern Fulton County, its equidistant location between the big-city amenities of bustling Atlanta and the recreation offerings of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, its plentiful supply of large, relatively affordable new-construction homes, and its highly ranked public school system. The influx of high-income professionals and their families has increased the county's median annual household income dramatically in recent years; at $104,687, Forsyth County was the wealthiest in Georgia and the 19th-wealthiest in the United States as of 2018 estimates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumming, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Cumming is a city in and the county seat of Forsyth County, Georgia, United States, and the sole incorporated area in the county. It is a suburban city, and part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. In the 2020 census, the population is 7,318, up from 5,430 in 2010. Surrounding unincorporated areas with a Cumming mailing address have a population of approximately 100,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WALR-FM</span> Radio station in Palmetto–Atlanta, Georgia

WALR-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Palmetto, Georgia and serving Metro Atlanta. It is owned by the Cox Media Group and airs an urban adult contemporary radio format. The studios are co-located with other Cox-owned radio stations and WSB-TV in Midtown Atlanta on West Peachtree Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNNX</span> Classic alternative station in College Park, Georgia

WNNX is a commercial radio station licensed to College Park, Georgia, featuring a classic alternative format as "99X". Owned by Cumulus Media, the station serves the Atlanta metropolitan area. WNNX's studios are located in Sandy Springs, while the transmitter resides atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Downtown Atlanta. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WNNX is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFSH-FM</span> Radio station in Athens, Georgia, United States

WFSH-FM is a radio station licensed to Athens, Georgia, and serving Metro Atlanta. The station is owned by Salem Media Group and it airs a Christian contemporary radio format. It is branded as The Fish 104.7 and describes itself as "Safe For The Whole Family". Between Thanksgiving and the weekend after Christmas, the station plays all Christmas music, both religious and secular.

WQXI is an AM radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia. The station has a power of 28,000 watts in the daytime, and 1,000 watts at night. WQXI's signal is non-directional during the daytime, and directional at night. As of 2009, the station broadcast in the IBiquity HD Radio AM hybrid digital mode during daytime hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWVA (AM)</span> Radio station in West Virginia, United States

WWVA is an American AM radio station in Wheeling, West Virginia. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and uses the moniker "The Big One".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSNE-FM</span> Radio station in Massachusetts, United States

WSNE-FM is a commercial radio station, licensed to Taunton, Massachusetts, serving Southeastern Massachusetts and the Providence metropolitan area. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format branded Now 93.3. Its studios and offices are on Oxford Street in Providence. The station carries the syndicated On Air with Ryan Seacrest in afternoons. Several of the other shifts are voicetracked by DJs working at other iHeart stations.

WCFO is a listener-supported AM radio station, licensed to East Point, Georgia, and serving the Atlanta metropolitan area. It airs a Catholic radio format and is owned by Atlanta Catholic Radio. Most of the programming comes from the EWTN Radio Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSDK</span> Radio station in Connecticut, United States

WSDK is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Bloomfield, Connecticut, and serving the Hartford metropolitan area. It is owned by Blount Communications and broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. National religious leaders heard on WSDK include Chuck Swindoll, John Daly, June Hunt, David Jeremiah and John MacArthur. WSDK uses a brokered programming plan, where hosts pay for time on the station and they may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLBY</span> Radio station in Saline, Michigan

WLBY is a broadcast radio station in the United States. Licensed to Saline, Michigan, with offices in nearby Ann Arbor, the station has a talk format and serves surrounding Washtenaw County. WLBY is owned by Cumulus Media along with three other stations based in Ann Arbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGKA</span> Talk radio station in Atlanta

WGKA branded AM 920 The Answer is a commercial conservative talk radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia, serving primarily the Atlanta metropolitan area. Currently owned by Salem Media Group, WGKA serves as the Atlanta affiliate for the Salem Radio Network and the Clemson Tigers football radio network. WGKA's studios are located on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, while its transmitter is located near the Morningside Nature Preserve.

WWSZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Decatur, Georgia, and serving the Atlanta metropolitan area. It is owned by JDJ Communications, LLC, and airs a mainstream urban radio format. The station calls itself "Streetz 94.5, Atlanta's New Hip Hop Station." WWSZ is simulcast on FM translator station 94.5 W233BF in Atlanta, which forms the middle leg of a three-transmitter simulcast of Streetz on 94.5 MHz. The station competes along with WHTA and WVEE-FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDUN (AM)</span> Radio station in Gainesville, Georgia

WDUN, known as "North Georgia's Newstalk", is a news/talk formatted AM radio station licensed to the city Gainesville, Georgia, in the Atlanta, Georgia radio market. WDUN is licensed as a Class B AM broadcast facility by the Federal Communications Commission operating with 10,000 watts of power during the daytime using a non-directional antenna signal pattern, and 2,500 watts during nighttime using a directional antenna pattern. The station is currently owned by JWJ Properties, Inc., doing business as Jacobs Media Corporation, which also operates WDUN-FM in Clarkesville, Georgia.

WYZE is a gospel AM radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting with 10,000 watts of power during daytime hours, and 44 watts of power during nighttime hours with a non-directional antenna pattern. The station is owned by Ray Neal, through licensee New Ground Broadcasting, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMAC</span> Radio station in Georgia, United States

WMAC is a commercial Class B radio station in Macon, Georgia. It is owned by Cumulus Media and airs a news/talk format. The studios and offices are on Mulberry Street in Macon. It is one of the oldest radio stations in Georgia. WMAC is a primary entry point for the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

WIGO is an urban adult contemporary radio station with some paid brokered programming. Licensed to Morrow, Georgia, it serves the Atlanta metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by MCL/MCM Georgia, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXIC</span> Radio station in Iowa City, Iowa

KXIC is a commercial radio station licensed to Iowa City, Iowa, and serving the Cedar Rapids area as well as Johnson County. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and licensed to iHM Licenses, LLC. It airs a sports radio format, with some news and talk shows. Most programming comes from Fox Sports Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 racial conflict in Forsyth County, Georgia</span> Racially motivated violence and subsequent racial cleansing in Forysth County in 1912

In Forsyth County, Georgia, in September 1912, two separate alleged attacks on white women in the Cumming area resulted in black men being accused as suspects. First, a white woman reportedly awoke to find a black man in her bedroom; then days later, a white teenage girl was beaten and raped, later dying of her injuries.

WMGA was a radio station broadcasting on 580 kHz in Moultrie, Georgia, United States. Last licensed to Radio Moultrie, Inc., it operated between 1939 and 2003 from a site on the town's northern edge.

References

  1. 1 2 Truelove, Todd (July 31, 2003). "Off the air: Local radio station closes". The Forsyth County News. pp. 1A, 2A . Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "History Cards for WMLE". Federal Communications Commission. (Guide to reading History Cards)
  3. 1 2 "WHNE, Soon to Be Serving You With 5000 Watts". The Forsyth County News. March 2, 1988. p. 2E. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Radio Station Owner Howard Rowe Rites Set". Atlanta Journal and Constitution. December 23, 1978. p. 6B. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  5. ↑ "WSNE Changes Call Letters". The Forsyth County News. September 24, 1980. p. 10A. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Radio Station WSNE Adds Two Newscasts". The Forsyth County News. September 17, 1980. p. 9A. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  7. ↑ McCullough, Laura (December 7, 1986). "WHNE...on the AM dial: Station celebrating 25th year". The Forsyth County News. pp. 1A, 2A . Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 Townsend, Bob (June 30, 1996). "Roots radio: WMLB brings Americana to airwaves". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L3. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. March 3, 1989. p. 11. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  10. ↑ Sproles, Kara (October 20, 1991). "WHNE reporters hold press conference to air their views". The Forsyth County News. pp. 1A, 2A . Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  11. ↑ Sproles, Kara (October 27, 1991). "Second WHNE employee submits resignation". The Forsyth County News. pp. 1A, 2A . Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  12. ↑ Sproles, Kara (October 23, 1991). "WHNE news director resigns: Mayor admits business tie". The Forsyth County News. pp. 1A, 2A . Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  13. ↑ Jeffries, Kristin (July 11, 1993). "Local radio station working to broaden appeal". The Forsyth County News. p. 3A. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  14. ↑ Longino, Miriam (February 19, 1997). "Atlanta upstarts capture top national awards". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. B2. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  15. ↑ Longino, Miriam (October 22, 1997). "Noncommercialism rampant at Tech's WREK". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. D2. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Americana" (PDF). The Gavin Report. October 25, 1999. p. 61. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  17. ↑ Longino, Miriam (April 8, 2001). "Americana fans feeling so blue". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L2. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Asset Purchase Agreement". March 9, 2001. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  19. ↑ Rhodes, Cheryl (April 29, 2001). "Format change has listeners 'shopping' for a new station". The Forsyth County News. pp. 1B, 2B . Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  20. ↑ Gumbrecht, Jamie (June 14, 2003). "Watts up: Station gets a power boost". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. C2. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
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.