WPZS
 | |
| Broadcast area | Metrolina |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 100.9 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Praise 100.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban gospel |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBT, WBT-FM, WFNZ, WFNZ-FM, WOSF, WLNK | |
| History | |
First air date | 1958 |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Praise" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 52553 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 5,200 watts |
| HAAT | 107 meters (351 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | praisecharlotte |
WPZS (100.9 FM) is an urban gospel music station located in Charlotte, North Carolina[2] but licensed to Indian Trail. The station is currently owned & operated by Urban One. It carries the syndicated Yolanda Adams Morning Show.[3] The station's studios are located in Southwest Charlotte near Carowinds, and the transmitter site is in Matthews near the intersection of NC 51 and Monroe Road.
History
The station was located in Albemarle, North Carolina for many years, where it was called WABZ-FM.
Ted Bell hosted "Saturday Night Music Machine" while at WABZ-FM, interviewing Neil Sedaka, Debbie Reynolds, Freddie Cannon, George Burns,[4] Phil Everly, Teresa Brewer, Tiny Tim, and Gene McDaniels. The show, which Bell hosted until 1982, featured stars such as Bobby Rydell and Chubby Checker. Bell also asked Johnny Olson of The Price Is Right to do station IDs.[citation needed]
Bill and Susi Norman, owners of WZKY and WXLX, bought WABZ December 28, 1993 (Jenni Communications Inc. was named for their 10-year-old daughter) from Piedmont Crescent Communications.[5]
"Inspiration 100.9" played "Southern Gospel Music of today, yesterday and all the favorites", along with the Trading Post, local sports and ministry programs. Johnny Caudle hosted the morning show from 1995 until 2000.[6]
In 2004, WABZ moved to its current city of license and changed its letters and format, giving grade A signal quality to the Charlotte area.[citation needed] Radio One, Inc. announced on November 16 that it had purchased WPZS for $11.5 million and moved it to the company's Charlotte facilities. The company already operated WPZS under an LMA earlier in the month, changing the format to Urban contemporary gospel.[7]
On August 31, 2011, Radio One announced its intention to sell off their Charlotte stations to Davis Broadcasting,[8] but in April 2012 the deal fell through and Radio One decided to keep the stations.[9]
On September 13, 2012, at Midnight, WPZS began simulcasting sister WQNC. WQNC and WPZS also swapped call letters on the same day.[10] [11][12] The two stations provide a strong combined signal with 60 percent overlap. The simulcast ended on August 14, 2015, with 100.9 reverting to the callsign WPZS.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WPZS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "About Us: PraiseCharlotte". Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- ^ "Praise Charlotte Takes over 92.7". September 13, 2012.
- ^ Bendin, Dariel (March 12, 2009). "Talking With Ted Bell". Alternatives News Magazine. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- ^ Jo Anne B. Efird, "All in the Radio Family", Stanly News and Press, January 23, 1994.
- ^ "Radio Station WABZ-FM no longer exists as WABZ, 100.9FM in Albemarle". wspc.com. Retrieved April 29, 2010..
- ^ "Radio One Completes Acquisition of WPZS-FM -- Formerly Known as WABZ-FM; Station Serves the Charlotte, NC Market". Business Wire. November 16, 2004. Retrieved August 20, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Davis Broadcasting to Purchase WQNC and WPZS".
- ^ "Battle on way for urban radio" from The Charlotte Observer (August 17, 2012)
- ^ "Praise Charlotte Takes Over 92.7". September 13, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ "Call Sign History (WQNC)". Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ "Call Sign History (WPZS)". Retrieved October 30, 2012.
External links
- Official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 736480 (WPZS) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WPZS in Nielsen Audio's FM station database