WBAM-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = WBAM-FM


city = Montgomery, Alabama
area =
branding = "Bama Country 98.9"
slogan = "Today's Best Country and All the Country Legends"
airdate = 1978
frequency = 98.9 MHz
format = Country
erp = 100,000 watts
haat = 299 meters (982 feet)
class = C1
facility_id = 16379
coordinates = coord|31|58|28|N|86|11|31|W
callsign_meaning = AlaBAMa
former_callsigns =
owner = Bluewater Broadcasting
licensee = Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC
sister_stations =
webcast = [http://streamer2.webstream.net/wbam Listen Live]
website = [http://www.bamacountry989.com bamacountry989.com]
affiliations =

WBAM-FM (98.9 FM, "Bama Country 98.9") is a country music formatted radio station in the Montgomery, Alabama, United States.

The defunct WBAM AM 740

WBAM signed on in 1953 as AM 740. WBAM was a powerhouse at 50,000 watts, covering much of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. From its earliest days, WBAM put on concerts for the Montgomery area. One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff.

The Big BAM, as WBAM became known, is legendary in Montgomery. Disc jockeys associated with WBAM's Top 40 heyday include Bill J. Moody, now the sales manager for WDJR-FM in Dothan. Big BAM Shows of the late 1960s and early 1970s featured all the biggest artists of the day, including Paul Revere and the Raiders, Lou Christie, Iron Butterfly, The Carpenters, The Monkees, and many more. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00.

Mornings were dedicated to farm and gospel music programming, with country and popular music played during the day. When 740 AM powered down at night, one would hear "Dixie" as a sign-off.

In 1973, WBAM-AM 740 adopted a country music format. In 1978, WBAM-FM 98.9 signed on with a Top 40 format. AM 740 was sold to Colonial Broadcasting in 1985, and an era ended when the call letters changed to WMSP for sports radio programming.

WBAM-FM

WBAM-FM has survived, and has held on to its heritage call letters. After several years as Star 98.9 and a few as Oldies 98, "Bama Country 98.9" signed on in April, 2004. And, in the grand tradition of the Big BAM Shows, each year the radio station hosts a Bama Country Birthday Bash with many of today's top country music artists. Ticket prices remain a modest $9.89.

Notable local programming on WBAM-FM includes Mike Alan and JR "Bubba" Culpepper. Other programs include "Legends Saturday Night", "The Jeff Foxworthy Countdown", "American Country Countdown" with Kix Brooks, Bob Kingsley's "Country Top 40" and "Rise up Country".

Ownership

The radio station was owned by the Brennan family until 2004. WBAM is currently owned by Bluewater Broadcasting.

References

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