WDBR

Infobox Radio Station
name = WDBR


area = Springfield, Illinois
branding = "103.7 WDBR"
slogan = "Springfield's #1 Hit Music Station"
airdate =
frequency = 103.7 MHz
format = Contemporary Hit Radio
erp = 50,000 Watts
haat = 91 Meters / 299 Feet [1]
class = B
owner = Saga Communications
website = http://www.wdbr.com
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = |

WDBR is a Top 40 radio station licensed to and serving the Springfield, Illinois Arbitron market.

103.7 FM was Springfield's second FM station and the oldest continuously operating FM station in the market. The station originally played beautiful music as WTAX-FM. In January of 1972 WTAX-FM became WDBR and switched to Drake-Chenault's "Solid Gold" format, a mix of adult-appeal Top 40 hits and rock oldies. WDBR dropped "Solid Gold" in late 1973 and went to a locally programmed, voicetracked Top 40 sound, which proved successful in the ratings. During the 1970s and 1980s, WDBR was known by the moniker "Music 104". WDBR remained largely voicetracked until the early 1990s, when increased competition and faltering ratings forced the station, by then owned by Sentry Insurance, to go fully live, after which the station regained its position as a dominant force in Springfield radio.

WDBR's tower (shared with sister station WTAX), in operation since 1949, was destroyed by a tornado during the severe weather outbreak of March 2006. The stations soon resumed broadcasting from a new tower at a new location.

References

*cite web
title = 1
url=http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/info?call=WDBR&service=FM
accessdate = 2008-02-25

External links

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* [http://www.dougquick.com/areachrradiohistory2.html Doug Quick's site] with extensive history of Top 40 radio in central Iliinois, including WDBR