WSB-FM

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WSB-FM
Broadcast area	Atlanta, Georgia
Branding	B98.5FM
Slogan	"Atlanta's best Variety of Soft Rock, and voted #1 for the most music while you work"
Frequency	98.5 MHz 98.5 HD-2 for Soft Standards
Format	Adult Contemporary
ERP	100,000 watts (100 kW)
Class	C0
Callsign meaning	Welcome South Brother the B is used in the branding "B 98.5 FM"
Owner	Cox Radio
Website	b985.com

WSB-FM ("B98.5FM") is an Atlanta radio station that plays adult contemporary music (AC). Along with several other Atlanta radio stations, WSB-FM is owned by Cox Enterprises' publicly-traded subsidiary Cox Radio, and is the group's flagship FM station. It is the only Atlanta FM radio station to continue to share a callsign with local TV and AM radio stations (WSB AM and WSB-TV), and one of the few such triopolies (under the same ownership) left in the entire U.S.

Following in the footsteps of pioneer WSB-AM, WSB-FM was the first FM station in the Southeast, debuting originally on 104.5 FM in 1948. After Cox acquired the Atlanta Constitution, WSB-FM went silent in 1952, and returned a few years later on 98.5 FM.

The station has been an adult contemporary music station since 1980. However, from late 2000 until the fall of 2003, the station played AC on weekdays and 1980s music on weekends. This ended when WMAX-FM (now WBZY) became an all-80s station. During the holiday seasons from 2004 forward, the station played all-Christmas music from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

When WSB-FM changed to AC from beautiful music in 1980, the station initially broadcast under the branding "WSB 99 FM", shifting to "WSB 98.5" due to an Arbitron ratings clash with WARM (now WNNX) 99.7 in the mid-1980s. Later in the 1980s, the station adopted its present branding, "B98.5FM".

The station plays over 90 minutes of commercial-free music each weekday at 9AM known as The 98 at 9. From 2002 to 2006, 98.5's primary "listen at work" competitor was WLTM, "94.9 Lite FM".

On December 29, 2006, WSB-FM became the Atlanta affiliate for the nationally syndicated Delilah show.

WSB-FM's current HD-2 service is a throwback to their 'beautiful music' days.

On the second or third weekend in February, WSB-FM produces an annual "Family Fun Fest" event, where companies that provide products for kids and familes showcase what products and services they offer. The show features live events and appearances from local sports stars. The station conducts a live broadcast both days of the event.

Along with WUBL, WSB-FM is the primary entry point (PEP) for Emergency Alert System messages for the state of Georgia. In an emergency, the two stations receive alerts via secure networks directly from the U.S. president, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, and the National Weather Service. All other broadcast stations and cable TV systems in metro Atlanta must monitor these two stations at all times with their EAS equipment. Alerts are then relayed across the state by other stations.

WSB-FM shares a tower with WPBA TV 30, and in fact shares the same antenna with WSTR FM 94.1 and WVEE FM 103.3. The three stations' transmitters are diplexed together, so that they all feed to the antenna instead of into each other.

A planned merger of GE and Cox in the late 70s almost caused WSB-FM to be spun off to Ragan Henry with plans to take the WEZA calls.

[edit] Station line-up

Monday-Friday only...

• 5:30-10am - Kelly and Alpha
  • Hosted by Kelly Stevens and Alpha Trivette, featuring Will Gara (producer), Christy Henry (news and weather), and Jason Durden (traffic).
• 10am-3pm - Jordan Graye
• 3-7pm - Kelly McCoy
• 7pm-Midnight - Delilah
• Midnight-5:30am - Larry Lane

Weekends are voicetracked with Kelly and Alpha, Jordan Graye, and Kelly McCoy taking turns from 8am - 7pm, Delilah from 7pm-Midnight.

Past personalities...

• Denise Alexander, midday personality (?)
• Eddie Bauer, morning personality (?-1999)
• Brenda Bissett, midday personality (1999-2001) Currently in Syracuse, NY.
• Brian Buzby, morning personality (?)
• Mike Calhoun, morning personality (?-1999)
• Sabrina Gibbons, morning personality (?) Currently at sister station WSB-AM, and hosts Georgia Lottery drawings.
• Trevor Johns, morning personality (?)
• Jeff Lawrence, Saturday Night Dance Party host (?-2001)
• Bobi Marks, fill-in/weekend personality (?-1999)
• Gary McKee, morning personality (?) Worked at WQXI 94 Q (now WSTR Star 94) before 98.5... after 98.5, later surfaced at WZGC Z 93 (now 92.9 Dave FM).
• Charles McPhee, Dream Doctor Show host (2002-2004) Retired
• Michael Mitchell, Atlanta's Love Songs host (2001-2002)
• Dale O'Brien, morning personality (?) Later surfaced at WPCH Peach 94.9 (then WLTM 94.9 Lite FM, now WUBL 94.9 The Bull).
• Nancy Richards, morning personality (1999-2003)
• Chandler Steele, fill-in/weekend personality (?)
• Rebecca Stevens, Atlanta's Love Songs host (1985-2001) Later surfaced at WPCH Peach 94.9 (then WLTM 94.9 Lite FM, now WUBL 94.9 The Bull).
• Kristy Tanner, morning personality (?-1999)

[edit] External link

• B98.5FM homepage
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WSB-FM

Atlanta metro area FM radio stations (Arbitron #9) By frequency: 88.1 | 88.5 | 89.1 | 89.3 | 90.1 | 90.7 | 91.1 | 91.5 | 91.9 | 92.9 | 93.3 | 94.1 | 94.9 | 95.5 | 96.1 | 96.7 | 97.1 | 97.5 | 97.7 | 98.5 | 99.7 | 100.1 | 100.5 | 101.5 | 101.9 | 102.3 | 102.5 | 102.7 | 102.9 | 103.3 | 103.7 | 104.1 | 104.7 | 105.3 | 105.7 | 106.1 | 106.3 | 106.7 | 107.1 | 107.5 | 107.9 | 107.9 By callsign: WABE | WALR | WAMJ | WAZX | WBCX | WBTS | WBZY | WCKS | WCLK | WFSH | WGPB | WHLE | WHTA | WJSP | WJZZ | WKHX | WKLS | WLKQ | WMJE | WNGC | WNNX | WNSY | WPCG | WPUP | WPZE | WRAS | WREK | WRFG | WSB | WSRV | WSTR | WTSH | WUBL | WUWG | WVEE | WVFJ | WVWA | WWEV | WWVA | WWWQ | WYAY | WZGC Satellite Radio Local Traffic/Weather: XM Channel 227 | Sirius Channel 153 See also: Atlanta (FM) (AM) Georgia Radio Markets Atlanta (FM) (AM) | Augusta | Macon | Savannah (FM) (AM) | Columbus | Valdosta | Albany | Brunswick See also: List of radio stations in Georgia and List of United States radio markets