WCOS-FM
Encyclopedia
WCOS-FM is a Country music
radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina
and serves the Columbia, South Carolina
market. The Clear Channel Communications
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to broadcast at 97.5 MHz with an effective radiated power
(ERP) of 100 kW. The station goes by the name 97.5 WCOS and its current slogan is "Today's Best Country and Your All-Time Favorites."
The station airs a variety of country music, mainly from the 1970s to present (unlike competitor WWNU
), with current and recent hits in heavy rotation.
-AM 1400 kHz and as Columbia's second FM station. Prior to 1963, it broadcast only during the evening hours. The programming featured Broadway, opera, and classical music, some or all of which came from the ABC Radio Network. In the fall of 1963, the station began broadcasting in stereo and the hours were extended to the daytime. The morning show was a simulcast of WCOS-AM, which was hosted by Bob Fulton, the long-time announcer for University of South Carolina
football. After 9:00 a.m., the format was easy listening. The music was broadcast in mono until 6:00 p.m., converting to stereo for the evening hours. In the late 1960s, WCOS-FM converted to a Progressive rock
format. Prior to the change, the station promoted the new format by announcing frequently that WCOS-FM was "going underground." By 1973, the station changed to country, adopting its longtime slogan "The Great 98." The format has remained since.
In 1991, the station upgraded its signal by changing the frequency from 97.9 MHz to 97.5 MHz and increasing its power to 100 kW, making it one of the strongest FM signals in the Columbia radio market.
The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
, which also owns CHR
WNOK
, Urban
WXBT
, Variety Hits WLTY
, News/Talk WVOC, and Sports/Talk
WCOS
in the Columbia radio market.
Country 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...
radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
and serves the Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
market. 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...
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) to broadcast at 97.5 MHz with an effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
(ERP) of 100 kW. The station goes by the name 97.5 WCOS and its current slogan is "Today's Best Country and Your All-Time Favorites."
The station airs a variety of country music, mainly from the 1970s to present (unlike competitor WWNU
WWNU
WWNU is a soft adult contemporary radio station licensed to Irmo, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Double O Radio outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 92.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 15 kW...
), with current and recent hits in heavy rotation.
History
WCOS-FM signed on in March 1951 on 97.9 FM MHz as the sister station of WCOSWCOS (AM)
WCOS is a sports talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 1400 kHz with an ERP of 1 kW...
-AM 1400 kHz and as Columbia's second FM station. Prior to 1963, it broadcast only during the evening hours. The programming featured Broadway, opera, and classical music, some or all of which came from the ABC Radio Network. In the fall of 1963, the station began broadcasting in stereo and the hours were extended to the daytime. The morning show was a simulcast of WCOS-AM, which was hosted by Bob Fulton, the long-time announcer for University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
football. After 9:00 a.m., the format was easy listening. The music was broadcast in mono until 6:00 p.m., converting to stereo for the evening hours. In the late 1960s, WCOS-FM converted to a Progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
format. Prior to the change, the station promoted the new format by announcing frequently that WCOS-FM was "going underground." By 1973, the station changed to country, adopting its longtime slogan "The Great 98." The format has remained since.
In 1991, the station upgraded its signal by changing the frequency from 97.9 MHz to 97.5 MHz and increasing its power to 100 kW, making it one of the strongest FM signals in the Columbia radio market.
The station is owned by 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...
, which also owns CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
WNOK
WNOK
WNOK is a CHR radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 104.7 MHz with an ERP of 90 kW...
, Urban
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
WXBT
WXBT
WVOC-FM is a news/talk station licensed to West Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 100.1 MHz with an ERP of 5.9 kW...
, Variety Hits WLTY
WLTY
WLTY is a variety hits radio station licensed to Cayce, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 96.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 9 kW...
, News/Talk WVOC, and Sports/Talk
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
WCOS
WCOS (AM)
WCOS is a sports talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 1400 kHz with an ERP of 1 kW...
in the Columbia radio market.