WBZY (FM)
Encyclopedia
WBZY FM
105.3, ("105-3 El Patrón") is a radio station that plays regional Mexican
music. The station's transmitter is located in Newnan, Georgia
and targets metro Atlanta
, also covering its city of license
of Bowdon, Georgia
. It is broadcast from radio studios at the Clear Channel Communications
station group in Atlanta
.
"Y 105.5" WYAI FM, a class-A serving Carrollton
to the west-southwest of metro Atlanta. Having co-channel RF interference with station WCHK-FM 105.5 in Canton, Georgia
(north-northwest of Atlanta), both stations changed radio frequencies (the other station now being WWVA-FM
105.7) and moved closer to Atlanta. In late February 2002, the station upgraded to a class C1 as an Atlanta move-in. To create hype, the station stunted with classical music
and comedy bits. 105.3 officially debuted as WMAX-FM "105.3 Max FM", playing all 80s music
. In February 2004, it became a hot talk station known as "Real Radio 105.3" that aired talk
on weekday
s and '80s music on weekends. The WMAX-FM
callsign now resides on another Clear Channel station in Holland, Michigan
, which is currently branded as 9-6-1 ESPN.
In September 2004, the station changed to Spanish top 40 WWVA-FM "Viva 105.3", as part of efforts by owner Clear Channel Communications to expand into Hispanic
radio markets. During the last quarter of 2004, it was the second-top-rated radio station in Atlanta. In early May 2005, that station and callsign switched to 105.7, the previous WLCL-FM "Cool 105.7".
Meanwhile, Clear Channel started "96.7 the Buzz" on the 96.7 frequency. On May 5, 2005, WVWA
and WBZY switched frequencies, turning WBZY into "105.3 the Buzz". For two weeks, the calls of 105.3 were changed to WLCL, so the local media wouldn't be able to predict the move. After the switch, the calls were changed to WBZY.
On November 17, 2006, at 9 AM, The Buzz ceased operations. Some of the on-air staff were fired, and others moved down the dial to sister station
WKLS
FM 96.1, which was changed from "96 Rock" to "Project 9-6-1". For several days, WBZY-FM simulcast
ed the new station until it began a loop telling listeners to tune into the new station, as well as advertising the new format
of the station. The 105.3 frequency debuted a new regional Mexican format under the name El Patrón on November 26, at 9 AM.
On October 19, 2009, sister station WWVA-FM
(then known as Viva 105.7), who had been broadcasting a Spanish AC format, flipped to Rhythmic AC as "Groove 105.7", thus leaving WBZY as Atlanta's only FM Spanish station. This move prompted Clear Channel to merge 105.7's Spanish adult contemporary format with 105.3 (El Patron)'s regional Mexican format. The "Viva" format has moved to El Patron's HD-2 channel.
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
105.3, ("105-3 El Patrón") is a radio station that plays regional Mexican
Regional Mexican
Regional Mexican is a radio format for music radio, typically defined to include Banda, Ranchera, Mariachi and Norteña. It is the most popular radio format targeting Hispanic Americans in the United States....
music. The station's transmitter is located in Newnan, Georgia
Newnan, Georgia
Newnan is a city in Coweta County, Georgia, about 30 miles southwest of Atlanta. The population was 16,242 at the 2000 Census. Newnan is one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia, with an estimated population of 27,097 in 2006 and 33,293 in July 2008...
and targets metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
, also covering its city of license
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
of Bowdon, Georgia
Bowdon, Georgia
Bowdon is a city in Carroll County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,959. Bowdon is known as "The Friendly City."It is also the city of license for radio station WBZY.- Geography :...
. It is broadcast from radio studios at the Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
station group in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
History
The station began in May 1994 as country-musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
"Y 105.5" WYAI FM, a class-A serving Carrollton
Carrollton, Georgia
Carrollton is a city in West Georgia, United States, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,388...
to the west-southwest of metro Atlanta. Having co-channel RF interference with station WCHK-FM 105.5 in Canton, Georgia
Canton, Georgia
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 22,958.-Geography:Canton is located at ....
(north-northwest of Atlanta), both stations changed radio frequencies (the other station now being WWVA-FM
WWVA-FM
WWVA-FM is an Atlanta radio station broadcasting a Rhythmic contemporary radio format which features R&B, Pop and Dance hits. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is licensed to serve Canton, Georgia...
105.7) and moved closer to Atlanta. In late February 2002, the station upgraded to a class C1 as an Atlanta move-in. To create hype, the station stunted with classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and comedy bits. 105.3 officially debuted as WMAX-FM "105.3 Max FM", playing all 80s music
1980s in music
For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89For a history of music in all times, see Timeline of musical events....
. In February 2004, it became a hot talk station known as "Real Radio 105.3" that aired talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
on weekday
Weekday
Weekday may either refer to only a day of the week which is part of the workweek thus not part of the weekend or to any of the days of the week.-Weekday as a day of the workweek:In most countries the days of the workweek are:# Monday# Tuesday# Wednesday...
s and '80s music on weekends. The WMAX-FM
WMAX-FM
WMAX-FM are the call letters of a radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, transmitting on a frequency of 96.1 MHz....
callsign now resides on another Clear Channel station in Holland, Michigan
Holland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
, which is currently branded as 9-6-1 ESPN.
In September 2004, the station changed to Spanish top 40 WWVA-FM "Viva 105.3", as part of efforts by owner Clear Channel Communications to expand into Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
radio markets. During the last quarter of 2004, it was the second-top-rated radio station in Atlanta. In early May 2005, that station and callsign switched to 105.7, the previous WLCL-FM "Cool 105.7".
Meanwhile, Clear Channel started "96.7 the Buzz" on the 96.7 frequency. On May 5, 2005, WVWA
WWLG
WWLG FM 96.7 is an Atlanta radio station broadcasting a rhythmic contemporary radio format which features R&B, pop music and dance hits. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is licensed to serve Peachtree City, Georgia...
and WBZY switched frequencies, turning WBZY into "105.3 the Buzz". For two weeks, the calls of 105.3 were changed to WLCL, so the local media wouldn't be able to predict the move. After the switch, the calls were changed to WBZY.
On November 17, 2006, at 9 AM, The Buzz ceased operations. Some of the on-air staff were fired, and others moved down the dial to sister station
Sister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio and/or television stations operated by the same ownership....
WKLS
WKLS (FM)
WKLS FM 96.1 is a radio station in Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting an Active Rock format.-History:The 96.1 frequency was originally WGAA-FM in Cedartown, Georgia, the FM counterpart to WGAA AM 1340. WKLS' callsign stands for the initials of the founding owners: Don Kennedy, James Lathom, and Arthur...
FM 96.1, which was changed from "96 Rock" to "Project 9-6-1". For several days, WBZY-FM simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
ed the new station until it began a loop telling listeners to tune into the new station, as well as advertising the new format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
of the station. The 105.3 frequency debuted a new regional Mexican format under the name El Patrón on November 26, at 9 AM.
On October 19, 2009, sister station WWVA-FM
WWVA-FM
WWVA-FM is an Atlanta radio station broadcasting a Rhythmic contemporary radio format which features R&B, Pop and Dance hits. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is licensed to serve Canton, Georgia...
(then known as Viva 105.7), who had been broadcasting a Spanish AC format, flipped to Rhythmic AC as "Groove 105.7", thus leaving WBZY as Atlanta's only FM Spanish station. This move prompted Clear Channel to merge 105.7's Spanish adult contemporary format with 105.3 (El Patron)'s regional Mexican format. The "Viva" format has moved to El Patron's HD-2 channel.
WBZY-HD
- WBZY-HD "EL PATRON 105.3" (Regional Mexican/Tejano)
- WBZY-HD2 "VIVA ATLANTA" (Spanish Top-40)
See also
- list of radio stations in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Georgia (U.S. state)Georgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
- lists of radio stations in North and Central America