WNOW-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = WNOW-FM


city = Bessemer City, North Carolina
area = Charlotte/Metrolina
(as well as Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina)
branding = "Poder 105.3"
slogan = La atraccion de las Carolinas
airdate = 1959
frequency = 105.3 MHz
format = Regional Mexican
power =
erp = 100,000 watts
class = C0
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = Davidson Media Group
sister_stations =
webcast =
website = http://www.wnow-am.com/wnow-am.html
affiliations =

WNOW-FM, also known as "Poder 105.3", is a Regional Mexican radio station currently located in Gaffney, South Carolina, but licensed to Bessemer City, North Carolina (part of the Charlotte, North Carolina market). The station is licensed by the FCC to transmit on 105.3 FM with a ERP of 100 kW. The current transmitter is located about 10 miles northeast of Forest City, North Carolina. However, a construction permit has been granted to this station in order to move its transmitter location to the Kings Mountain/Gastonia area, atop Crowder's Mountain (the same location of 101.9 WBAV-FM, with similar coverage).

Station history

105.3 signed on as WAGY-FM in 1959, as the FM sister to WAGY AM 1320 in Forest City, North Carolina. The station at the time was partially owned by Raymond Parker. WAGY-FM was sold entirely to Parker, who with his wife, Bright G. Parker, formed "Gaffney Broadcasting" in the early 70's moved WAGY-FM into Gaffney pairing it with their AM, now known as 1500 WEAC, and changing the call letters to WAGI-FM, increasing the power to 100 kW in the process.

WAGI's longtime slogan was "The Upstate Power Station" and was nicknamed for many years by the locals as "Waggie".
The station had featured a mixture of Country and Southern Gospel music for many years.

WAGI broadcasted local as well as national news from the NBC Radio Network as well as local sporting events from Gaffney High School, namely Gaffney Indians football. Also, the station had a morning show called "Carolina in the Morning" and a popular show called "Swap & Shop" (heard at 6:35am, 12:15pm, & 5:15pm Monday to Saturday) where listeners could call in to buy, sell, or trade items.

WAGI sold

After Raymond Parker died in 2005, his will stipulated that the station be sold upon the death of his wife, Bright G. Parker. Parker's will stated that the station was to remain in Gaffney, though this was ignored by the executors of his will. When Bright died in 2006, the station was sold to Davidson Media under a lease/purchase agreement.

In late April 2007, it was announced that the station was sold to local interests in order to insure that the station remains in the community. WEAC transmits from the original WAGI studio on Providence Road in Gaffney and broadcasts in the daytime only.

Shortly after midnight on April 21, 2007, WAGI ceased operations and then began broadcasting a Regional Mexican format as WNOW-FM. Many people woke up to find their station was gone. Some of those people didn't know about the simulcast on WEAC. So when they called the station, they were told to tune to 1500 WEAC. Unless the listener was in Cherokee County, it was nearly impossible to receive the AM broadcast, due to its low power 1,000 watt daytime only transmitter.

The Gaffney Ledger described the change as "heartless" and "torn from us in the name of the almighty dollar."

Gaffney Programming

WAGI's former programming still exists on its former sister station, 1500 WEAC.
Also, WAGI still streams their programming online. [http://www.internetradioweb.com/weac-64.m3u high speed link] [http://www.internetradioweb.com/weac-32.m3u dial-up link]

Gaffney Indian Football can now be heard on 103.3 WOLT, broadcasting from Greer. The current Cherokee County coroner, Dennis Fowler (who is a well-known WAGI personality) is still the announcer for the games. During the games, former commercials featured on WAGI can be heard. These commercials are primarilly for the Gaffney area.

External links

* [http://www.wnow-am.com/wnow-am.html WNOW's website]
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* [http://www.gaffneyledger.com/news/2007/0425/columns/014.html Gaffney Ledger Editorial on the WAGI format change]