WRAX-FM
WRAX (called The X at 100.5) was an alternative rock format radio station broadcasting most recently at 100.5 MHz FM. The station was licensed to Helena and broadcast from an 800-foot non-directional tower at 93 kW. The station's coverage area included Tuscaloosa, Brent, Bessemer and most of the western and central Birmingham area. The station's studios were located in Citadel's local headquarters at 244 Goodwin Crest Drive on Red Mountain. The station's general manager was Dale Daniels. The program director since May 2006 was Steve Robison.
History
The call letters "WRAX" (meaning "rock alternative, the X") originated in 1996 when Dick Broadcasting bought a 6 KW station in Trussville called WWBR (105.9 FM, "The Bear"). Dick changed format from album-oriented rock/active rock to modern rock/alternative rock, and called the new format "106 the X".
In 1998, WRAX switched frequencies with another Dick station, the 100 KW WENN (107.7 FM "107-7 the X"). Morning radio team Beaner and Ken debuted on the X that year and became one of the most popular morning teams in the Birmingham market. When the station was sold in 2003, they moved the show to Syracuse, New York and were replaced by Tuttle and Kline.
During the height of its popularity, the X was the second-highest rated station in Birmingham and one of the highest-rated alternative stations in the United States. DJ Scott Register's "Reg's Coffeehouse" program on Sundays introduced Birmingham listeners to hundreds of new artists, many of which then made program director [{Dave Rossi]]'s regular rotation. Several regional and national bands, such as Matchbox Twenty, Train, Creed, Sister Hazel, Vertical Horizon and John Mayer were boosted by the X's promotional efforts.
From 1998 to 2004 the station released a series of seven albums featuring live performances under the name Live in the X Lounge. Profits from the hot-selling CDs benefited United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham.
In March 2005, Citadel changed the station's frequency again, moving to 100.5, the former home of WANZ, which had been competing as an alternative rock station until it was acquired from Apex Broadcasting by Citadel. Among the changes were the hiring of Ken Wall as program director. He made clear in a now-infamous memo to the staff that "We are not in the business of breaking new music." (Geiss - 2006)
Citadel also reintroduced the Beaner and Ken show, which WANZ had syndicated from a Citadel-owned station in Syracuse from April 2003 until December 2004. The power and range of the 100.5 signal was much less than 107.7 and the X's ratings took an immediate hit from which it never recovered.
In early 2006 program director Dave Rossi, who had been with the X since it was at 107.7 left the station. Various format tweaks were tried before Citadel brought in Robison, most recently from Houston's KTBZ-FM. On Tuesday November 28, station employees were informed that the X was ceasing operations and that WJOX, an AM sports talk station, would be using the 100.5 frequency.
Programming
- Weekday/Saturday mornings: Beaner and Ken
- Weekday mid-days: Mark A. D.
- Weekday afternoons: Steve Robison
- Weekday/Saturday evenings: Amber
- Sunday late-mornings: Reg's Coffeehouse
- Saturday mid-day: Geno
- Sunday evenings: Coyote J.
- Weekends: Michael Vance
Regular live remotes for "Beer, Bands and Bingo" and "On-Airaoke" with Matt Shaw were broadcast from Café Firenze.
References
- "WRAX." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 Nov 2006, 05:10 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 29 Nov 2006 [1].
- Carlton, Bob (March 18, 2005) "Beaner and Ken are coming back to The X." Birmingham News.
- Geiss, Chuck (February 9, 2006) "Naked Birmingham" Publishers Notebook. Black & White.
- Carlton, Bob (May 21, 2006) "Program director hopes to revive the X at 100.5". Birmingham News.
- Carlton, Bob (November 29, 2006) "Alternative to sign off at 100.5 FM". Birmingham News.
External links
- WRAX website
- The X at 100.5 on MySpace.com