 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(April 2020) |
| Broadcast area | Auburn, Alabama Columbus, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1520kHz |
| Branding | Hallelujah 1520 AM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban gospel |
| Affiliations | Citadel Media |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WCJM-FM,WKKR,WMXA,WPCH,WZMG | |
| History | |
First air date | August 12, 1968; 56 years ago (1968-08-12)[1] |
Former call signs | WAOA (1968–1985) WZMG (1985–1997)[2] |
| Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 22876 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 1,000watts day 650 wattscritical hours |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°39′26″N85°25′27″W / 32.65722°N 85.42417°W /32.65722; -85.42417 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | hallelujah1520am |
WTLM (1520AM) is anurban gospelradio stationlicensed inOpelika, Alabama, United States. The station is owned bySan Antonio–basediHeartMedia, through licensee iHM Licenses, LLC.1520 AM is a United Statesclear-channel frequency, on whichWWKB andKOKC shareClass A status.
WTLM broadcasts anurban gospel music format to theAuburn Metropolitan Area which once featured programming fromCitadel Media.[4] WTLM broadcastsAuburn Tigers football games.[5]The entire lineup is made up of voice-tracked personalities which include Kim Harper-Johnson (M-F, 12-6am and Weekends, 12-6am and 12-6pm), Richard LaGrand (M-F, 6-10am), Tracy Bethea (M-F, 10am-3pm), Sonya Blakey (M-F, 3-7pm and ), Victor Sosa (M-F, 7pm-12am and Saturdays, 6am-12pm, and 6pm-12am )
Licensed to Faulkner Radio, Inc.,WAOA signed on the air August 12, 1968, as a daytime-only station with 5,000watts of power at 1520kHz.[1] Owner James H. Faulkner Sr. also owned several other Alabama radio stations as well as the newspapersBaldwin Times andFoley Onlooker inBaldwin County, Alabama.[6] WAOA signed on with a Middle-Of-The-Road music format which changed to Country/Western in summer 1969.[7] This was maintained until the completion of the 1985 sale to Faulkner Radio.[1]
In November 1984, Fuller Broadcasting Company, Inc., made a deal to purchase WAOA and FM sister station WFRI (nowWKKR) from Faulkner Radio, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on January 7, 1985, and the transaction was consummated on March 17, 1985.[8] In February 1985, the AM station's format was flipped fromcountry music to "solid gold"oldies.[9][10] To match the new direction for the station, the callsign was changed toWZMG on March 1, 1985.[2] On March 21, 1997, the station swapped callsigns with 910 kHzsister station WTLM (nowWZMG) and was assigned the currentWTLM call letters by the FCC.[2]
In August 1998, Fuller Broadcasting Company, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Root Communications License Company, L.P., as part of a five-station deal.[11] The deal was approved by the FCC on October 5, 1998, and the transaction was consummated in December 1998.[12] Gary Fuller, president and CEO of Fuller Broadcasting Company from 1985 until he sold the company in December 1998, was elected mayor ofOpelika, Alabama, in August 2004.[13]
In March 2003, Root Communications Group LP (Daniel C. Savadove, CEO) subsidiary Root Communications License Company, L.P., reached an agreement to sell this station to Qantum Communications, Inc. (Frank Osborn, partner) subsidiary Qantum of Auburn License Company, LLC, as part of a 26 station deal valued at $82.2 million.[14] The deal was approved by the FCC on April 30, 2003, and the transaction was consummated on July 2, 2003.[15] At the time of the sale, WTLM aired anostalgia music format branded as "Timeless 1520".[14]
Later, the format was switched again, this time to asports radio format serving the greaterAuburn Metropolitan Area.[10] In June 2009, the format reverted to the "Timeless 1520" nostalgia music format.
On May 15, 2014, Qantum Communications announced that it would sell its 29 stations, including WTLM, to Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia), in a transaction connected to Clear Channel's sale ofWALK AM-FM inPatchogue, New York toConnoisseur Media via Qantum.[16] The transaction was consummated on September 9, 2014.
On June 30, 2014 WTLM changed their format from oldies to classic country, branded as "Classic Kicker Country 1520".[17]
On June 12, 2020 WTLM changed their format from classic country to urban gospel, branded as "Hallelujah 1520 AM".[18]
In 1988, then-WZMG and sister stationWKKR became the first stations in Alabama to earn theNational Association of BroadcastersCrystal Radio Award for excellence in community service.[19] Established in 1987, the NAB Crystal Radio Awards recognize broadcasters for outstanding commitment tocommunity service.[20]
