WYFM
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| City | Sharon, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Youngstown, Ohio |
| Branding | Y-103 |
| Slogan | The Classic Rock Station |
| Frequency | 102.9 MHz (also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | 1947 (as WPIC-FM) |
| Format | Classic rock |
| ERP | 33,000 watts |
| HAAT | 184 meters |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 60006 |
| Callsign meaning | W Youngstown FM |
| Former callsigns | WPIC-FM (1947-1973) |
| Affiliations | Cleveland Browns Radio Network |
| Owner |
Cumulus Broadcasting (Cumulus Licensing LLC) |
| Webcast |
Listen Live Listen Live via iHeart |
| Website | y-103.com |
WYFM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States, serving the Youngstown, Ohio market broadcasting at 102.9 MHz with a classic rock format. It is one of eight radio stations in the Youngstown market owned by Cumulus Broadcasting with studios and transmitter at "The Radio Center" in Youngstown. The station has a surprisingly large coverage area and can be picked up fairly well even in Akron. Within the large coverage area, WYFM competes with WNCD in Niles, WONE in Akron, WRQK in Canton, WNCX in Cleveland and WDVE in Pittsburgh.
WYFM originally signed on the air as WPIC-FM in 1947, simulcasting sister AM 790 WPIC until the early 1970s. The call letters were changed to WYFM in 1973.
From the early 1970s until November 1973, the station was known as "The Alternative at 102.9", following a music format that at the time was called "progressive" or "underground"; in effect, playing music that was not widely known and/or not readily available on the more popular AM radio stations. Typical playlists would include artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Cream and lesser-known rock and roll performers. Programmed by Ralph Caldwell with the consultancy of Edward John "Bo" Volz, it was the first station in the area to feature album-length selections and introduce new artists not heard on other stations. The announcers, including Holly, Dan, Vince, Jimmy, Ralph and others, followed the practice of the day by using only their first name in identifying themselves.
Following the regular broadcast of a local high school basketball game on November 30, 1973, the reformatted and newly named "Y-103" (with program director Dan Messersmith and consultant Ron White) took to the air, using a format known as "Top 40", and eschewing the traditional banter of disk jockeys in favor of continuous music (with the requisite commercial announcements). While "Y-103" sounded like what later was considered an "automated" station (i.e., computer driven), it was actually operated by "announcers" who spoke rarely if ever, following a strict format of preselected songs from a master playlist.
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