WPJS
Encyclopedia
WPJS is a Urban Gospel formatted radio station
licensed to serve Conway, South Carolina
, which targets a primarily African-American audience and also airs community-oriented programming.
, in the late 1940s. An FM frequency was added in the 1960s. Formats for the AM station over the years included beautiful music
and, as of 1985, country music
.
In the late 1980s, the new owners of WLAT, which by this time was separate from the FM
, changed the format to urban contemporary
and called it "Hot 1330". The owners had changed the call letters of a station in Charlotte, North Carolina
, from WLIT, and just in case they wanted to use the letters again, they gave the letters to WLAT. Later, the same thing was done when the station's owners changed the call letters WBIG on a Greensboro, North Carolina
station
.
The current format and call letters were chosen in the early 1990s. The old studios on U. S. 501 stood empty until being demolished, and the WLAT call letters still stand next to the road.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to serve Conway, South Carolina
Conway, South Carolina
Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
, which targets a primarily African-American audience and also airs community-oriented programming.
History
WLAT was the first radio station in Horry County, South CarolinaHorry County, South Carolina
Horry County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. This name honored Revolutionary War Hero, Peter Horry. Brigadier General Horry was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743 and started his distinguished military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains the Provincial Congress...
, in the late 1940s. An FM frequency was added in the 1960s. Formats for the AM station over the years included beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
and, as of 1985, country music
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...
.
In the late 1980s, the new owners of WLAT, which by this time was separate from the FM
WYAV
WYAV is a Classic rock radio station licensed to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and serves the Grand Strand area. The NextMedia outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 104.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
, changed the format to urban contemporary
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...
and called it "Hot 1330". The owners had changed the call letters of a station in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, from WLIT, and just in case they wanted to use the letters again, they gave the letters to WLAT. Later, the same thing was done when the station's owners changed the call letters WBIG on a Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
station
WJMH
WJMH is an Entercom-owned mainstream urban FM radio station serving the Piedmont Triad region. It broadcasts at 102.1 MHz with 100,000 watts of power and is licensed to serve Reidsville, North Carolina.-Early history :...
.
The current format and call letters were chosen in the early 1990s. The old studios on U. S. 501 stood empty until being demolished, and the WLAT call letters still stand next to the road.