 | |
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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greater Springfield |
| Frequency | 1450kHz |
| Branding | Nueva 98.1 |
| Programming | |
| Language | Spanish |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio–Latin pop–reggaeton–tropical music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | September 1, 1932 (93 years ago) (1932-09-01) |
Former call signs | WMAS (1932–2009) |
Call sign meaning | in reference to the station's studios at theBasketball Hall of Fame |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 36545 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000 watts (unlimited) |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°6′33.34″N72°36′38.32″W / 42.1092611°N 72.6106444°W /42.1092611; -72.6106444 |
| Translator | 98.1 W251CT (Springfield) |
| Repeater | 94.7 WMAS-FM HD2 (Enfield, Connecticut) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (via Audacy) |
| Website | www |
WHLL (1450AM) – branded asNueva 98.1 – is a commercial radio station broadcasting a Spanish-languageLatin pop format licensed toSpringfield, Massachusetts. Owned byAudacy, Inc., the station serves theSpringfield metropolitan area; and thePioneer Valley ofWestern Massachusetts. The WHLL studios are located at theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, alongside sister stationsWMAS-FM andWWEI, while the station transmitter, shared with WMAS-FM, resides in Springfield's Brightwood neighborhood. In addition to a standardanalog transmission, WHLL simulcasts over low-power analog Springfieldtranslator W251CT (98.1 FM) and on the secondHD Radio channel of WMAS-FM, and streams online viaAudacy.
In May 1932, Albert S. Moffatt, a formernewsreel photographer, was granted aconstruction permit by theFederal Radio Commission to begin work on a new radio station, with the sequentialcall sign WHEU. When the station officiallysigned on, its call letters were changed to WMAS.[2] The letters stood forMassachusetts, and they also include the owner's initials, although not in the correct order. The station's studios were in the Hotel Stonehaven, and when it signed on for the first time, on September 1, 1932, it broadcast on 1420 kHz with 100 watts.
During the 1940s and 1950s, WMAS was a member of theYankee Network, a programming service originating inBoston forNew England radio stations. WMAS was also aCBS RadioNetwork affiliate. It carried the CBS line-up of dramas, comedies, news, sports, soap operas, game shows, children's shows andbig band broadcasts, during the "Golden Age of Radio".
In 1947, WMAS-FM signed on. At first, both stations mostly simulcast their programming.[3]
When network programming shifted from radio to television, WMAS-AM-FM switched to afull service,middle of the road music format. WMAS 1450 later had acountry music format as "The Country Leader". On-air personalities included Dave Thatcher (also the station's news director), Fred Stevens, and Mike Williamson.
WMAS was one of the original "Music Of Your Life"adult standards radio stations, as its previous owner for many years, Bob Lappin (Lappin Communications, Inc.) was friends with the format's originator and syndicator, Al Ham.
In June 2004, WMAS-AM-FM were sold toCitadel Broadcasting for $22 million.[4] Citadel switched AM 1450 to an unsuccessfultalk radio format, then triedoldies, playingScott Shannon'sThe True Oldies Channel fromABC Radio.[5]
On April 7, 2009, the format was changed tosports radio with programming fromESPN Radio. The call sign was changed to WHLL to represent the word "Hall". TheNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is located in Springfield and the station's studios were moved to the facility. Citadel merged withCumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[6] After the merger, WHLL switched networks toCBS Sports Radio, a network that Cumulus Media had a financial interest in.
On December 27, 2018, WHLL changed its format from sports to country, branded as "98.1Nash Icon", in line with the launch of an FM simulcast of WHLL on translator W251CT, which is licensed to Springfield.[7]
On February 13, 2019, Cumulus andEntercom announced an agreement in which WHLL and WMAS-FM, as well asWNSH in New York City, would be swapped to Entercom in exchange for Entercom's Indianapolis stations. Under the terms of the deal, Entercom began operating WHLL under alocal marketing agreement (LMA) on March 1, 2019.[8] The swap was completed on May 9, 2019.[9] On March 22, 2021, WHLL rebranded as "Hall of Fame Country 98.1".[10]
On September 1, 2023, WHLL flipped to Spanish CHR, branded as "Nueva 98.1".[11]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W251CT | 98.1 FM | Springfield, Massachusetts | 200871 | 250 | D | 42°6′33″N72°36′38″W / 42.10917°N 72.61056°W /42.10917; -72.61056 (W251CT) | LMS |