| Broadcast area | Birmingham metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1480kHz |
| Branding | "Radio For Your Soul" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Catholictalk and teaching |
| Affiliations | EWTN |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | La Promesa Foundation |
| WJUV,WQOH-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | December 5, 1960; 64 years ago (1960-12-05) |
Former call signs | WIXI (1960–1965) WLPH (1965–2006) WRLM (2006–2008) WQOH (2008–2016) ([1] |
Call sign meaning | Mother Mary Angelica (founder) |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 726 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 5,000watts day 28 watts night |
| Translator | 97.9 W262AR (Irondale) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | [1] |
WMMA (1480AM) is anon-commercialradio stationlicensed toIrondale, Alabama, and servingGreater Birmingham. It is owned by La Promesa Foundation and airs aCatholictalk and teachingradio format including some programming provided byEWTN.[3]
WMMA is aClass D radio station. By day, it is powered at 5,000watts. But at night, to avoid interfering with other stations on1480 AM, it greatly reduces power to 28 watts. Programming is also heard onFM translatorW262AR at 97.9MHz.
The stationsigned on the air in December 5, 1960; 64 years ago (1960-12-05).[4] Its originalcall sign was WIXI and it was adaytimer. It ran 5,000watts but had to go off the air at night. It was ownered by the Jefferson Radio Company.[5] The station's initial format included 45 hours per week ofcountry & western music and 20 hours per week of what was then called"Negro" music.[5]
The station was sold to the Birmingham Broadcasting Company in a transaction consummated on September 8, 1964.[6] In 1965, the new owners had the station's call sign changed to WLPH.[6] The station playedcountry music through the late 1960s.
In 1971, WLPH transitioned to areligious radio format featuring preaching shows andSouthern Gospel music.[7] The license holding company changed its name to the Alabama Religious Broadcasting Company to reflect the new direction for the station.[7]
In March 1997, Alabama Religious Broadcasting Company reached an agreement to sell this station to Willis Broadcasting ofNorfolk, Virginia, through its Birmingham Christian Radio, Inc., subsidiary. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 13, 1997, and the transaction was consummated on August 22, 1997.[8] The new owners shifted the music played on WLPH toBlack Gospel.[9]
In July 2006, Birmingham Christian Radio, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Davidson Broadcasting through the company's Davidson Media Station WLPH Licensee, LLC, subsidiary. The deal was approved by the FCC on September 8, 2006, and the transaction was consummated on November 3, 2006.[10] The new owners had the station's call sign changed to WRLM on November 7, 2006.[1] As WRLM, this station broadcast aSpanish language music format branded as "Latino Mix".[11]
In March 2008, Davidson Media Group LLC sold the station to Queen of Heaven Catholic Radio Inc. for a reported $575,000.[12] The deal was approved by the FCC on May 29, 2008, and the transaction was consummated on June 12, 2008.[13]
The station was assigned the WQOH call letters by theFederal Communications Commission on June 27, 2008.[1] The station began broadcasting Catholic radio programming on July 21, 2008.[9] The station honored theBlessed Virgin Mary with its call letters standing for "Queen of Heaven." The new owner obtained aconstruction permit for nighttime operation with the station power reduced to 28 watts.
On December 30, 2014, Queen of Heaven Radio donated WQOH to Divine Word Communications, another Catholicnon-profit organization. WQOH, six other stations, and four translators were sold by Divine Word Communications to La Promesa Foundation, effective January 8, 2016. The purchase price was $1,073,907.59. In 2016, the call sign changed to WMMA. The call letters represent the name of the founder of the EWTN Catholic cable service,Mother Mary Angelica. An FM translator was added to allow listeners to tune in on the FM dial. It broadcasts at 97.9 MHz and covers Irondale along with adjacent communities.
33°32′54″N86°39′56″W / 33.5483°N 86.6656°W /33.5483; -86.6656