WSM (AM)
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| City | Nashville, Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nashville metropolitan area |
| Branding | 650 AM WSM |
| Slogan | The Legend |
| Frequency | 650 kHz |
| First air date | October 5, 1925 |
| Format | Country |
| Power | 50,000 watts |
| Class | A |
| Facility ID | 74066 |
| Transmitter coordinates |
35°59′53.5″N 86°47′27″W / 35.998194°N 86.79083°W (main antenna) 35°59′55.5″N 86°47′33″W / 35.998750°N 86.79250°W (auxiliary antenna) |
| Callsign meaning | We Shield Millions (slogan of former owner, National Life & Accident Insurance Company) |
| Affiliations | Grand Ole Opry |
| Owner | Ryman Hospitality Properties |
| Webcast |
Listen Live and Listen Live |
| Website | www |
WSM (branded The Legend) is a 50,000-watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. It broadcasts a full-time country music format at 650 kHz and is known primarily as the home of The Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest running radio program. The station's clear channel signal can reach much of North America and nearby countries, especially late at night. It is one of two clear-channel stations in North America, along with CFZM/740-Toronto, that still primarily broadcast music. Nicknamed "The Air Castle of the South," it shares its callsign with WSM-FM, also in Nashville, and formerly with television Channel 4, now WSMV.
WSM first signed on in 1925. It is primarily associated with the popularization of country music through its weekly Saturday night program, the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in history. The Opry began as the WSM Barn Dance in 1925, but on December 10, 1927, the program's host, "Judge" George D. Hay, referred to the programming as being "Grand Ole Opry" in contrast to the preceding grand opera program on NBC. In 1932, WSM boosted its power to 50,000 watts, becoming Tennessee's first clear-channel station. In addition to its vast nighttime coverage area, the station boasts one of the largest daytime coverage areas in the country. It provides at least grade B coverage as far east as Chattanooga, as far north as Evansville, Indiana, as far west as Jackson, Tennessee and as far south as Huntsville, Alabama. Under the right conditions, it can be heard in nearly all of Tennessee and much of Kentucky, and can be picked up as far away as the fringes of the St. Louis area.
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Wikipedia