WAPI-FM

WAPI-FM (NewsTalk 100) is a talk-radio format radio station operated by Citadel Communications at FM 100.5. When the station launched in February 2010 it replaced the adult album alternative (AAA) format WWMM-FM Live 100.5 and began simulcasting programming from WAPI-AM (AM 1070).

94.5 FM

The station debuted in the 1950s as WAFM (FM 94.5), a sister station to WAPI-TV and WAPI-AM. The three stations were owned by Advance Publications, which was the parent company of The Birmingham News.

In 1969 the station began broadcasting in stereo full time from a newly-installed transmitter and added the weekly Cleveland Symphony Orchestra broadcast to its schedule, which already featured the Boston Pops Orchestra alongside its regular rotation of standards and adult contemporary music.

In the early 1970s, WAFM's call letters were changed to WAPI (for "Advance Publications, Inc.") and the format was switched to "solid gold". It switched to easy listening, as Beautiful 94 in 1978.

Around the same time, FCC rules forced Advance Publications to sell off some of its Birmingham media properties. WAPI-TV was sold to Times-Mirror Broadcasting while WAPI-AM and FM were sold to Dittman Broadcasting of Mobile. In 1981 Dittman switched the WAPI-FM broadcast to an album rock format under the name 95 Rock.

In 1984, the album rock format was switched to Top 40, first as 95 FM, then as I-95 Birmingham's Hit Rock. It soon surpassed WKXX-FM "Kicks 106" in the ratings, partly on the strength of Mark and Brian in the mornings.

An overall decline in the popularity of the Top-40 format brought another switch in 1994, this time changing call letters to WMXQ "Mix 94.5" along with the "hot adult contemporary" format.

100.5 FM

The WAPI-FM call letters were revived for a news-talk station. At its launch the station simulcast programming from WAPI-AM, including the Matt Murphy local call-in show on weekday mornings and syndicated talk shows hosted by Sean Hannity and Neal Boortz in afternoons and evenings.

References

• "WYSF." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Jan 2007, 01:28 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 6 Jan 2007 [1].
• "Carlton, Bob (February 14, 2010) "Update: Live 100.5 to switch to news-talk format." Birmingham News