WVBB

Infobox Radio Station
name = WVBB


area = Fort Wayne, Indiana
branding = 106.3 Joe FM
slogan = "80's, 90's & Whatever"
airdate = October 13, 1968
frequency = 106.3 (MHz)
format = Adult Hits
erp =
class = A
owner = Russ Oasis
Website = [http://www.1063thevibe.com/ 106.3 The Vibe's website]

WVBB (formerly WSHY) is an FM radio station licensed to Columbia City, Indiana located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 106.3 MHz. and offers a Variety Hits format using the moniker "106.3 Joe FM."

History and Programming

The station signed on in October of 1968 as WFDT, featuring a MOR music format, then changed to CHR/Top 40 in the late 1980s as WZRQ. From September 1990 to April 1997, 106.3 FM was known as WDJB ("B-106"), competing strongly with WMEE for hit-music listeners in Fort Wayne. At its peak, B-106 was one of the market's most popular radio stations.

In April of 1997, WDJB flipped to Adult Standards as WSHI ("Sunny 106.3"), featuring Westwood One's standards format. Sunny 106.3 was a ratings success, and featured a local morning show hosted by Fort Wayne radio mainstay Ron Gregory. In 2003, however, owner Shine Broadcasting Services, LLC, announced it was looking to sell WSHI, and in January 2004 dropped the standards format in favor of mainstream adult contemporary. The station was sold to Artistic Media Partners, Inc., that summer. Artistic Media tried to capitalize on the station's Top 40 heritage by changing the calls to WDDB and reviving the "B-106" moniker. Once this proved unsuccessful, the station made another try as "Sunny 106.3" but with new calls WSHY and an updating of the "Sunny" standards format to a mix of '60s and '70s oldies and soft rock, which then evolved into straightforward oldies.

In January 2007, Artistic Media Partners, Inc. agreed to sell Sunny and sister station WBTU (93.3 FM) to entrepreneur Russ Oasis, for $3.8 million. When the deal was made it flipped formats to Regional Mexican as "106.3 "El Sol" (Sol is Spanish for "sun") under a local marketing agreement that was approved and took effect on March 6, 2007. Oasis then flipped the station to Rhythmic Oldies, with an emphasis on Disco and Classic Dance from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

On September 27, 2008 the station dropped its gold-based Rhythmic AC format in favor of Variety Hits as 106.3 Joe FM.

External links

*fmq|WVBB
* [http://www.vibe1063.com/ Website]