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'''WENN-FM''', '''''"105.5 The Vulcan"''''', is a Clear Channel-owned modern rock radio station that broadcasts on the [[FM 105.5]] frequency at an effective radiated power of 29.5 kilowatts. It is licensed to [[Hoover]] and serves the [[Birmingham]] market.
'''WENN-FM''', '''''"105.5 The Vulcan"''''', is a Clear Channel-owned modern rock radio station that broadcasts on the [[FM 105.5]] frequency at an effective radiated power of 29.5 kilowatts. It is licensed to [[Hoover]] and serves the [[Birmingham]] market from studios at 530 [[Beacon Parkway West]].


== History ==
== History ==
WENN-FM came on the air at [[FM 107.7 FM in [[1969]] as the sister station of [[WENN-AM]]. The station began as FM simulcast of its AM urban contemporary sister station primarily playing R&B, soul, and gospel, but by the end of the 1970s its sister station migrated to a primarily gospel-oriented playlist. Both WENN-FM and AM were purchased in [[1976]] by [[A.G. Gaston]]. Throughout its time as an urban station, WENN created strong local ties to the community through on-air personalities such as [[Tall Paul]], [[Shelly Stewart]], and [[Dave Donell]].
WENN-FM came on the air at [[FM 107.7 FM in [[1969]] as the sister station of [[WENN-AM]] and one of the first FM stations marketed to African Americans (called "Negro radio" or "Ebony radio" at the time). Both were owned by Jackson, Mississippi-based McClendon Broadcasting, Radio engineers [[Carl Martens]] and [[Joe Dentici]] got the station up and running. The station took over the soul, rhythm & blues, and gospel format while its AM sister station evolved toward more spiritual programming.
 
The two WENN stations were sold to an Atlanta investor after John McClendon's death. They remained successful and station manager [[Joe Lackey]] came up with a plan for the mostly-black employees to join together to buy the station. After being turned down by several banks for a loan, Lackey approached [[A.G. Gaston]], owner of the [[Citizen's Federal Savings Bank]] and many other businesses. Gaston sent [[Louis J. Willie]] to evaluate the operation and ended up buying the station themselves.
 
The staff joined Lackey in walking out in protest. The broadcast signal was shut down and the employees remained out of work for a few months, eking by on Lackey's own funds. Another investment group which had purchased [[WATC-AM|WATV]] [[AM 900]] offered the management of that station to Lackey on the condition that he not play "black music." He countered with a proposal to demonstrate the economic power of the black audience by operating the station for 90 days as a trial. The new station premiered as the top station in the market.
 
Gaston, adopting the [[BTW Broadcasting Service]] moniker to operate the stations, gradually brought back WENN's audience and the station remained a top contender in the Birmingham market.


The late 1980s and early 1990s brought major changes to the on-air presentation of the station. WENN began to shift from a R&B/soul-based urban contemporary to a more "mainstream urban" with the introduction of hip-hop and rap to its playlist, and moved the slower R&B and soul songs to its "quiet storm" program at night. It also adopted the station moniker and slogan ''107.7 WENN, The People's Station''. The station maintained a strong position in the Birmingham radio market in the top 5 in ratings throughout this time.   
The late 1980s and early 1990s brought major changes to the on-air presentation of the station. WENN began to shift from a R&B/soul-based urban contemporary to a more "mainstream urban" with the introduction of hip-hop and rap to its playlist, and moved the slower R&B and soul songs to its "quiet storm" program at night. It also adopted the station moniker and slogan ''107.7 WENN, The People's Station''. The station maintained a strong position in the Birmingham radio market in the top 5 in ratings throughout this time.   
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In the wake of the passing of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, WENN-FM was sold to Dick Broadcasting, which already owned and operated five other stations in Birmingham: [[WYSF-FM]], [[WZRR-FM]], [[WRAX-FM]], [[WJOX-AM]], and [[WAPI-AM]]. In December 1997, Dick Broadcasting swapped WENN's stronger broadcast frequencies with the their alternative rock station, WRAX,"106 the X". At [[FM 105.9]], WENN became known as "Rhythm 105.9". By the end of 1998, rating had withered to the point that the station was briefly off the air.  
In the wake of the passing of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, WENN-FM was sold to Dick Broadcasting, which already owned and operated five other stations in Birmingham: [[WYSF-FM]], [[WZRR-FM]], [[WRAX-FM]], [[WJOX-AM]], and [[WAPI-AM]]. In December 1997, Dick Broadcasting swapped WENN's stronger broadcast frequencies with the their alternative rock station, WRAX,"106 the X". At [[FM 105.9]], WENN became known as "Rhythm 105.9". By the end of 1998, rating had withered to the point that the station was briefly off the air.  


In [[1999]], WENN was purchased by Clear Channel and came back on the air as an urban oldies station with the nickname, "Jammin' Oldies 105.9". In January [[2000]], WENN switched to an urban adult contemporary format with a new name, "V-105.9". In September [[2002]], it again changed its name, this time to "Power 105.9", focusing even more on hip hop, rap and R&B.  None of these formats worked, so it switched to gospel, "Hallelujah 105.9 FM" on February 1, [[2003]], copying a format Clear Channel had introduced in Memphis the previous year.  Since the format change, WENN has consistently ranked in the Top 10 stations in Birmingham's Arbitron ratings.
In [[1999]], WENN was purchased by Capstar Broadcasting and came back on the air as an urban oldies station with the nickname, "Jammin' Oldies 105.9".
 
In January [[2000]], WENN switched to an urban adult contemporary format with a new name, "V-105.9". In September [[2002]], it again changed its name, this time to "Power 105.9", focusing even more on hip hop, rap and R&B.  None of these formats worked, so it switched to gospel, "Hallelujah 105.9 FM" on February 1, [[2003]], copying a format Clear Channel had introduced in Memphis the previous year.  Since the format change, WENN has consistently ranked in the Top 10 stations in Birmingham's Arbitron ratings.


[[Image:Hallelujah 105.5 logo.png|right|150px]]
[[Image:Hallelujah 105.5 logo.png|right|150px]]
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}}
}}
{{end box}}
{{end box}}
==Personalities==
(before 1976)
* [[Dudley White|Tall Paul]], 1969 - 1976
* [[Erskine Faush]], 1969 - 1976
* [[Shelly Stewart]], 1969 - 1976
* [[Maurice King]], 1969 - 1976
* [[Pat Williams]], 1969 - 1976
* [[Weldon Clark]], 1969 - 1976
(after 1976)
[[Dave Donell]]
[[Tony Scott]], 2000
===Managers===
* [[Joe Lackey]] 1969-1976
* [[Kirkwood Balton]], 1992-2001
* [[Bill Thomas]], 1999
==References==
* Dentici, Joe (February 18, 2005) "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/wenn_dentici.htm Columbus Took a Chance: Joe Dentici on 'the WENN incident']." ''Birmingham Rewound'' - accessed December 4, 2006


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 22:30, 4 December 2006

WENN-FM, "105.5 The Vulcan", is a Clear Channel-owned modern rock radio station that broadcasts on the FM 105.5 frequency at an effective radiated power of 29.5 kilowatts. It is licensed to Hoover and serves the Birmingham market from studios at 530 Beacon Parkway West.

History

WENN-FM came on the air at [[FM 107.7 FM in 1969 as the sister station of WENN-AM and one of the first FM stations marketed to African Americans (called "Negro radio" or "Ebony radio" at the time). Both were owned by Jackson, Mississippi-based McClendon Broadcasting, Radio engineers Carl Martens and Joe Dentici got the station up and running. The station took over the soul, rhythm & blues, and gospel format while its AM sister station evolved toward more spiritual programming.

The two WENN stations were sold to an Atlanta investor after John McClendon's death. They remained successful and station manager Joe Lackey came up with a plan for the mostly-black employees to join together to buy the station. After being turned down by several banks for a loan, Lackey approached A.G. Gaston, owner of the Citizen's Federal Savings Bank and many other businesses. Gaston sent Louis J. Willie to evaluate the operation and ended up buying the station themselves.

The staff joined Lackey in walking out in protest. The broadcast signal was shut down and the employees remained out of work for a few months, eking by on Lackey's own funds. Another investment group which had purchased WATV AM 900 offered the management of that station to Lackey on the condition that he not play "black music." He countered with a proposal to demonstrate the economic power of the black audience by operating the station for 90 days as a trial. The new station premiered as the top station in the market.

Gaston, adopting the BTW Broadcasting Service moniker to operate the stations, gradually brought back WENN's audience and the station remained a top contender in the Birmingham market.

The late 1980s and early 1990s brought major changes to the on-air presentation of the station. WENN began to shift from a R&B/soul-based urban contemporary to a more "mainstream urban" with the introduction of hip-hop and rap to its playlist, and moved the slower R&B and soul songs to its "quiet storm" program at night. It also adopted the station moniker and slogan 107.7 WENN, The People's Station. The station maintained a strong position in the Birmingham radio market in the top 5 in ratings throughout this time.

In 1997, Gaston's death brought a sense of uncertainty. WENN faced direct competition on FM for the first time, as both WBHJ and WBHK adopted formats that challenged WENN for listeners. The ratings for WENN faltered.

In the wake of the passing of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, WENN-FM was sold to Dick Broadcasting, which already owned and operated five other stations in Birmingham: WYSF-FM, WZRR-FM, WRAX-FM, WJOX-AM, and WAPI-AM. In December 1997, Dick Broadcasting swapped WENN's stronger broadcast frequencies with the their alternative rock station, WRAX,"106 the X". At FM 105.9, WENN became known as "Rhythm 105.9". By the end of 1998, rating had withered to the point that the station was briefly off the air.

In 1999, WENN was purchased by Capstar Broadcasting and came back on the air as an urban oldies station with the nickname, "Jammin' Oldies 105.9".

In January 2000, WENN switched to an urban adult contemporary format with a new name, "V-105.9". In September 2002, it again changed its name, this time to "Power 105.9", focusing even more on hip hop, rap and R&B. None of these formats worked, so it switched to gospel, "Hallelujah 105.9 FM" on February 1, 2003, copying a format Clear Channel had introduced in Memphis the previous year. Since the format change, WENN has consistently ranked in the Top 10 stations in Birmingham's Arbitron ratings.

Hallelujah 105.5 logo.png

In order to increase the station's broadcast power and improve its coverage area, WENN swapped dial positions with WRTR in Tuscaloosa, becoming "Hallelujah 105.5 FM" on September 1, 2005, .

In December 2006, a few days after the demise of WRAX, WENN abruptly dropped the gospel format and became a new modern rock station, known as "105.5 The Vulcan" (after Birmingham's Vulcan statue).

Preceded by:
none 		FM 107.7
1969 - 1997 		Succeeded by:
WRAX (alternative)
Preceded by:
WRAX (alternative) 		FM 105.9
1997 - 2005 		Succeeded by:
WRTR (classic rock)
Preceded by:
WRTR (classic rock) 		FM 105.5
2005 - 		Succeeded by:
current

Personalities

(before 1976)

(after 1976) Dave Donell Tony Scott, 2000

Managers

References

External links

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