| Broadcast area | Memphis metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 103.5MHz |
| Branding | 103.5 WRBO |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban adult contemporary |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WGKX,WKIM,WXMX | |
| History | |
First air date | 1966 (1966) (as WNAU) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "R&B Oldies" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 7075 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 179 meters (587 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (iHeart) |
| Website | 1035wrbo.com |
WRBO (103.5FM) is aradio station licensed toComo, Mississippi, and serving theMemphis metropolitan area. Owned byCumulus Media, WRBO has anurban adult contemporaryformat playing both current and classic R&B music.[2] The station's studios are located at the Memphis Radio Group building in East Memphis, and the transmitter site is inOlive Branch, Mississippi.
From 1966 to 1998, the 103.5 frequency was licensed toNew Albany, Mississippi, serving theTupelo area. The station's call letters were WNAU from 1966 to 1979.[3] In 1979, WNAU's call letters changed to WOKM (later WOKM-FM in 1982). In 1984, the call letters changed to WWKZ, and the station had aTop 40 format branded "KZ-103".[4][5] WWKZ became among the first FM radio stations with studios in Tupelo when it moved there in 1986.[5]
In 1997, Massachusetts-based Barnstable Broadcasting purchased WWKZ from Radio South inMeridian, Mississippi, and started plans to move the station to the largerMemphis, Tennessee, market.[6] Effective May 1, 1998, WWKZ was re-licensed toComo, Mississippi, serving the Memphis area, with call letters WRBO and broadcasting from a transmitter in nearbyOlive Branch, Mississippi. Its R&B format branded "Soul Classics" began in June 1998.[4][7][6]
In 2004,Citadel Broadcasting purchased WRBO from Barnstable.[8]Cumulus Media bought Citadel and all its stations in 2011.[9][10]
In 2011, WRBO began phasing in adult R&B currents while continuing to play classic R&B.
The station currently airs thesyndicatedSteve Harvey Morning Show andTheD.L. Hughley Show. Its main competitor isKJMS, whose Urban AC direction reflects more currents. Because of this shift to Urban AC,Mediabase added WRBO to its Urban AC reporting panel in March 2012.[11]
WRBO was the radio flagship station forMemphis Grizzlies (National Basketball Association) games until the 2010–11 season, after whichEntercom-ownedWMFS AM and FM picked up the Grizzlies' broadcast rights.[12]
34°51′43″N89°52′41″W / 34.862°N 89.878°W /34.862; -89.878