WBCT

Infobox Radio station
name = WBCT


city = Grand Rapids, Michigan
area = [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WBCT&service=FM&status=L&hours=U]
branding = "B-93"
slogan = "New Country and All-Time Favorites"
airdate = June 25, 1951
frequency = 93.7 MHz
format = Country
erp = 320,000 watts
haat =
class = C
callsign_meaning = World's Biggest Country Transmitter
former_callsigns = WJFM (7/24/63-7/21/92) WJEF-FM (6/25/51-7/24/63)
owner = Clear Channel Communications
sister_stations = WBCT, WBFX, WMAX-FM, WOOD, WOOD-FM, WSNX-FM, WTKG
webcast =
website = http://www.b93.com/
affiliations =

WBCT (93.7 FM, "B-93") is a radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a country music format.

The station has had a country music format since 1992. Prior to this, the station was known as WJFM and played classic rock.

History

The station began operations in 1951 as WJEF-FM, simulcasting the programming of WJEF-AM 1230 (now WTKG). In 1960, the station broke away from the simulcast and went to playing classical music. That same year, the station increased its power to 500,000 watts. This was under the ownership of John Fetzer, who also previously owned WKZO-TV (now WWMT), WWTV-FM (now WJZQ) in Cadillac, Michigan, and the Detroit Tigers. WJEF also owned and operated a Muzak franchise on a subcarrier.

In the mid-1960s, the station, now known as WJFM, switched to a MOR/news/talk/sports format, and in 1967 became more music-intensive, adopting the moniker "The Modern Sound," which Fetzer reportedly soon did away with because he felt the station played too much "rock and roll." From then on and through much of the 1970s, apart from an automated country format in 1971-1972, WJFM was primarily a Beautiful Music station. Despite its strong signal, the station usually hovered near the bottom of the ratings during this time.

WJFM changed to an automated Top 40 format in 1977 and then adult contemporary the following year as "Mellow 93", which lasted until the station attempted a CHR format in 1984. However, the Grand Rapids area was flooded with CHR stations at the time, with WGRD, WSNX and WKLQ all playing Top 40 music, and WJFM's CHR format lasted only two years before the station went back to Soft AC as "The New Joy FM." The "Joy" format also proved a failure, and in 1988 WJFM became a Classic Hits station. Ratings for the Classic Hits format were initially very good but soon dropped off, and in 1990 the station evolved to Classic rock. In 1992, John Fetzer finally sold the station, and 93.7 FM became WBCT, which it remains to this day. Despite recent competition in the format from Citadel's "Thunder Country" WTNR, B93 remains consistently one of the top-rated stations in West Michigan.

WBCT's transmitter is at the WWMT Tower in Gun Lake (Michigan). The antenna is approximately 800 feet up the 1100 foot structure. The station's signal has an estimated range of 90 miles, providing a coverage area of 25,000 square miles over 20 counties in Michigan. This makes the transmitter one of the most powerful in North America.

Birthday Bash

Every year, B93 hosts an annual "Birthday Bash", which is a free concert for fans. This concert is currently run by Clear Channel's Top Brass, Rich Berry. Under his leadership the Bash was moved from Allegan County Fairgrounds to Ionia County Fairgrounds.

Sources

* [http://www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-a/wbct.html Michiguide.com - WBCT History]

References

External links

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* [http://www.w9wi.com/articles/grand_fm.htm List of "grandfathered" FM radio stations in the U.S.]
* [http://www.myspace.com/b937fm B 93.7 on MySpace]