WBTU

Infobox Radio Station
name = WBTU-FM


area = Fort Wayne, Indiana
branding = "U.S. 93.3"
slogan = "Your Country"
airdate = December 16, 1964-June 1984 (WAWK-FM)
June 1984-present (WBTU-FM)
frequency = 93.3 (MHz)
format = Country
erp = 18,500 watts
class = B1
owner = Artistic Media Partners, Inc. (Indianapolis)
website = [http://www.us933.us US 93.3]

WBTU is an 18,500-watt FM radio station licensed to Kendallville, Indiana located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 93.3 MHz. WBTU is owned by Indianapolis-based Artistic Media Partners, Inc.

WBTU originally operated as WAWK-FM, a sister station to WAWK AM in Kendallville, from 1964 to 1984. In June 1984, WAWK-FM was sold, renamed to WBTU-FM, and relocated to Fort Wayne.

WBTU is the oldest country station in the Fort Wayne market. Counting the station's WAWK lineage makes the station even older.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, WBTU used the moniker, "Hot Country". In the mid-1990s, the moniker was changed to "B93". In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the station was known as "Hoosier Country". In 2005, the station simply went by its call letters and frequency (93.3 FM). On May 25, 2007, WBTU changed its branding again, becoming "U.S. 93.3". A few weeks later, U.S. 93.3 went "commercial-free" but only continued to operate without playing commercials until December 31, 2007.

In 2000, Artistic Media Partners, Inc. bought WBTU and WSHY-FM from 62nd Street, Inc. WBTU and WSHY were moved to a studio inside the Bowen Center on Goshen Road in Fort Wayne.

In January 2007, Artistic Media Partners agreed to sell WBTU and WSHY to Russ Oasis for $3.8 million. Oasis owns HOT 107.9 (WJFX-FM) in Fort Wayne, also.

On March 6, 2007, a local management agreement was enacted between Artistic Media and Russell Oasis for WBTU and WSHY (which was changed to WVBB). While Artistic Media owns the two stations, Oasis, using management from Fort Wayne Radio Group, LLC operates the stations.

Programming

Currently, it broadcasts country.

Community

Since the LMA took effect, U.S. 93.3 (WBTU) has remained active in the Greater Fort Wayne area. They have used a 45' tour bus wrapped with their logo to help promote community events and fundraisers. In late September 2007, U.S. 93.3 erected a billboard on Goshen Road at Interstate 69, commemorating Corporal Ryan Woodward, a local soldier killed in Iraq. The station collected more than 2,000 signatures that were displayed on the billboard, and then presented to Corporal Woodward's family.

In the past, WBTU had regularly helped St. Jude's Research Hospital, MDA, and other organizations. WBTU also served as the radio station sponsor for country night at the Meijer Event Tent during Fort Wayne's Three Rivers Festival in 2006.

WBTU features a Pet of the Week segment in conjunction with Allen County Animal Care & Control on Monday mornings.

Notable Alumni
* DirkRowley
* Jeanette Rinard
* Mitch Mahan
* Chevy Smith
* Chris "Coyote" Underwood
* Stephanie Decker
* Scott Dugan
* Collins
* Kenny Edwards
* Don Moore
* Gary Mack
* Mack and Moore in the morning

External links

* [http://www.us933.us WBTU's official website] fmq|WBTU
* [http://www.artisticradio.com/wbtu.htm Artistic Media's WBTU Webpage]
* [http://www.myspace.com/wbtufm WBTU's Official MySpace Page]