WRGV
 |
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| City | Pensacola, Florida |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area |
Pensacola, Florida Mobile, Alabama |
| Branding | 107.3 KISS FM |
| Slogan | "#1 for hit music on the Gulf Coast" |
| Frequency | 107.3 MHz (also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | 1976 (as WAJB-FM) |
| Format |
Top 40 (CHR) HD2: Sports (ESPN Radio) |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 488 meters |
| Class | C0 |
| Facility ID | 63931 |
| Callsign meaning | W R GrooVe (previous branding) |
| Former callsigns | WAJB-FM (1976-1980) WOWW-FM (1980-1996) WYCL (1996-2010) |
| Owner |
iHeartMedia, Inc. (Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc.) |
| Sister stations | WKSJ-FM, WMXC, WNTM, WRKH, WTKX-FM |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 1073kissfm.com |
WRGV (107.3 FM) is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Pensacola, Florida, United States. The station is currently owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and the broadcast license is held by Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc. WRGV broadcasts a Top 40 (CHR) music format to the greater Pensacola, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama, area. Its studios are located in Pensacola, and the transmitter is near Robertsdale, Alabama.
In 1976, 107.3 FM belonged to WAJB-FM, which was a beautiful music station with studios at the Tiger Point Country Club in Gulf Breeze, until it was purchased by Colonial Broadcasting in 1979. The format was changed to country music along with new call letters, WOWW-FM to become known as "WOW 107", moving its studios to Davis Highway in Pensacola.
As the 1980s progressed, "WOW 107" would rise up to become a country music power house, overthrowing the heritage country station in the market, WXBM-FM, and winning several Billboard Magazine's Station of the Year (small market) awards. It was also known for its full-time News department, winner of multiple AP news awards.
As the 1980s ended, so did WOW 107's run of being a ratings king, now owned by Sun Media Group. The 1990s saw several re-imaging attempts, including "The New WOW 107.3" and "107 Thunder Country", until its demise as a country station in 1994 when it became "New Rock One Zero Seven", flipping to alternative rock. Riding the popularity wave of Mid '90's Alternative Music, WOWW debuted at #1 in Arbitron's Persons 18-34, where it remained until the purchase and format flip by Paxson. New Rock 107 staff included Steve Williams, OM/AM Drive, Program Director Joel Sampson, PM Drive, Music Director LaLaine and Suzy Boe among others.
In 1996, the station was purchased by Southern Broadcasting, which owned New Rock 107's only competition, WTKX, "TK101". Two months later, both were purchased by Paxson Communications. After the Paxson purchase, TK101, being a heritage rock station since the mid-1970s, brought over WOWW's air staff and re-imaged itself as "The Rock Station", dropping the moniker "The New Rock Alternative", leaving WOWW without an airstaff or a format.
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