AM Technical Profile: WAGG

Frequency:

610

Format:

Religious: Black Gospel

Transmitter Location:

Twin towers are located on the property of the Alabama State Fairgrounds in Five Points West.

Power (ERP):

5,000 watts day / 1,000 watts night

Antenna:

1 tower days / 2 towers nights.

Other Information:

Owned by Cox Radio Inc.

History:

Put on the air as WKBC in 1925 by the R. B. Broyles Furniture Company, this station may have orignially been on 1310 kHz. In 1941, where The Birmingham News bought it and changed the calls to WSGN (South's Greatest Newspaper), sort of a take off on WGN and Chicago Tribune with "World's Greatest Newspaper". In 1954 the station was sold as part of a massive change resulting from Newhouse buying The Birmingham News -- Newhouse owned WAPI!  The new owners brought in a strong staff, and about that time it became a Top 40 station, going more rock and roll around 1957 when WYDE headed that way as well.  WYDE was the leader until about 1963 when "The Good Guys" presentation debuted (along with a new PD) and WSGN took over. WSGN ruled the format's market until the 70's when WKXX-FM took that away from them. WSGN moved to AC and some oldies but that didn't help their ratings. They tried big band in 1984 before being gobbled up by WZZK-FM, which it began simulcasting, in 1985.

 In 1999 the station switched to a nostalgia format (calls then WEZN) where it enjoyed a small revival in the ratings (the format has been missed since WAPI went talk) but was recently switched with WAGG 1320 AM, enabling WAGG to take perhaps the best day and night AM signal in town. The nostalgia and WEZN calls went briefly to 1320 AM.

The WSGN calls have found their way back to Alabama with Gadsden State's FM outlet in Gadsden.

Rick Dees was once a jock at WSGN in its top 40 heyday!

There's a good site on WSGN history here.

Transmitter location: