WGBL

WGBL (96.7 FM, "G96-7"), is a radio station based in Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi broadcasting a Classic hip-hop format and new hip-hop. The station is managed by Alpha Media, owned by Telesouth Communications, Inc. and broadcasts their format with an ERP of 4.3 kW. WGBL broadcasts from the same transmitter tower as former sister station, WLGF, in Orange Grove.

WGBL
CityGulfport, Mississippi
Broadcast areaBiloxi-Gulfport, Mississippi
Frequency96.7 MHz
Brandingg 96.7
SloganThe Throwback Station
Programming
FormatClassic hip-hop
Ownership
OwnerStephen Davenport
(Telesouth Communications, Inc.)
Sister stationsWXYK, WOSM, WCPR-FM, WANG, WTNI
History
First air date1977
Former call signsWQFX (1985-1986)
WQFX-FM (1986-1993)
WXRG (1993-1997)
WLRK (1997-1999)
WUJM (1999-2014)
Call sign meaningW Gulfport Biloxi Long Beach
Technical information
Facility ID61305
ClassA
ERP4,300 watts
HAAT119 meters (390 ft)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websiteg967gulfcoast.com

History

Mix 96/Rock 96.7 WXRG

Not a whole lot is known about 96.7 FM until 1985, when the station flipped to an Adult Contemporary format as "Mix 96" and then later "Mix 96.7". This lasted until March 1993, when the station flipped to classic rock as "Rock 96.7 WXRG".

Lite Rock 96.7/Jammin Oldies 96-7

On February 14, 1997, WXRG dropped its Classic Rock format for its Soft Adult Contemporary as "Lite Rock 96.7" WLRK. The format proved to be unsuccessful and in September 1999, the station flipped to the popular Urban Oldies format as "Jammin Oldies 96.7".

Molly @ 96.7/Hank-FM

In 2001, the Urban Oldies format was dropped and the station flipped once again, this time to a Hot Adult Contemporary format as "Molly @ 96.7". The station proved to be quite successful for a few years until March 2005 when the station dropped the format for Classic Country as "96.7 Hank-FM" with the popular John Boy & Billy show in mornings.

96.7 The Champ

On August 27, 2011, WUJM dumped its classic country programming and began stunting with a loop of Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll, Part 2. On August 29, 2011, the station flipped to Sports Talk as "96-7 The Champ" with most of its programming coming from ESPN Radio.

Matt Segal was the first and only morning host from 7a-10a, while Johnny "Ballpark" Franks was the afternoon drive host from 3p-7p. Segal left the Biloxi/Gulfport market in February 2013.

In July 2014, station owner, Triad Broadcasting was sold to Alpha Media along with sister stations, WCPR, WXYK, WQBB and WTNI

Franks left in early August 2014 for an opportunity to be the afternoon drive host for a sports station in Nashville, Tennessee.

96-7 The Bull

When afternoon host Johnny "Ballpark" Franks left in early August 2014 to be the afternoon host for a Nashville sports station, "96.7 the Champ" lost its foundation to the local market along with loyal advertisers. So, on September 3, 2014, The Champ moved exclusively to former simulcasters WXBD and WTNI as 96.7 began stunting with a robotic voice similar to the one used by WQBB in 2011 counting down to September 5 at 5pm.

At that time, 96.7 flipped to Country as "96-7 The Bull". The station launched with 10,000 songs in a row commercial free with the first song being American Kids by Kenny Chesney. It was also announced that radio vet, Mark "Tic Tak" Allen would program the station. On September 10, 2014, the station changed its call letters to WGBL to match The Bull branding.

On January 5, 2015, The Bull added popular syndicated show Rick & Bubba for mornings.

G96-7

On February 13, 2016, at 9 p.m., WGBL unexpectedly dropped the Country format during the syndicated Buckwild Saturday Night show and began stunting with a simulcast of sister station, 107-1 The Monkey.

The following afternoon at 5, the station flipped to Classic hip-hop as G96-7 with the first song being "Nuthin' but a "G" Thang" by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. The station is being programmed by radio vet Mark "Tic Tak" Allen.[1]

In December 2018, Alpha Media announced that it would be selling its Gulf Coast cluster to local Mississippi broadcast company, Telesouth Communications Inc, who already owns WOSM, The Biloxi affiliate of its SuperTalk Mississippi network in the market. The FCC approved the sale on February 12, 2019, and closed on February 28, 2019.

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References
  1. Nuthin But A G Thang For The Bull In Biloxi

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