WBBM-FM
WBBM-FM (96.3 MHz, "B96") is a rhythmic/gold-leaning Top 40 radio station in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. The station has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 3,300 watts, broadcasting from a transmitter atop the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower).[8] The studios and offices are located at Two Prudential Plaza in the Loop. WBBM-FM's main competition is 103.5 WKSC-FM, owned by iHeartMedia.
Not to be confused with WCFS-FM, WBBM-FM's sister radio station in Elmwood Park, Illinois, that simulcasts WBBM (AM).B96
Gold-leaning/Rhythmic Top 40
HD2: Channel Q
- Audacy, Inc.
- (Audacy License, LLC, as Debtor-in-Possession)
November 1941[2]
W67C (1941–43)[3]
9613
B
3,300 watts
474 meters (1,555 ft)
Listen live (via Audacy)
History[edit]
Early years[edit]
The station began experimental broadcasts in November 1941, as W67C, broadcasting on 46.7 MHz.[2][3] The station's transmitter was located atop the American National Bank Building, at 33 N. LaSalle Street.[3] It simulcast co-owned WBBM (780 AM), carrying its CBS Radio Network schedule of dramas, comedies, news, sports, game shows, soap operas and big band broadcasts during the "Golden Age of Radio".
In 1943, the station's call sign was changed to WBBM-FM.[3] In 1946, the station began broadcasting on 99.3 MHz.[3] In 1947, the station's frequency was changed to 97.1 MHz, and in 1953, WBBM-FM moved to its current frequency of 96.3 MHz.[3] In the 1950s, as network programming moved from radio to television, WBBM-AM-FM carried a full service middle of the road format of popular music, news and talk. After 1964, most of the music was eliminated, in favor of talk and news.
The Young Sound[edit]
In 1966, WBBM-FM split from simulcasting the AM and flipped to "The Young Sound", a format pioneered by John DeWitt for co-owned WCBS-FM in New York City.[9][10][11] Bud Kelly was the announcer for "The Young Sound" on WBBM-FM.[9]
"The Young Sound" aired instrumental cover versions of recent hits, contemporary pop instrumentals from artists like Herb Alpert, and contemporary vocal hits from artists like Petula Clark.[9][11] Every hour's playlist was designed so that each song would complement the titles that preceded and followed it.[9][10] Initially, the station had a three to one instrumental to vocal ratio.[10] However, its playlist was skewed towards a young audience, which distinguished it from most easy listening and beautiful music stations of the era.[9][10]
Chicago's Favorite Rock[edit]
By the early 1970s, the station was airing a format consisting of top 40, album cuts, and past hits.[12] The station was branded as "Stereo 96 WBBM-FM, Chicago's Favorite Rock!"[13] Bob Johnston served as program director.[14]
In 1971, the station's transmitter was moved to the John Hancock Center.[3]
Mellow sound[edit]
By 1977, WBBM-FM and several other FM stations owned by CBS had adopted an adult contemporary format defined as the "mellow sound", playing contemporary music but without the harder-edged titles.[15][16][17] During this era, the station was branded as "The Mellow Sound of Chicago"[18] and "Soft Rock 96".[19] Initially, all of CBS's "mellow sound" stations were automated.[15]
Dick Bartley, who later became a popular syndicated radio personality, spent time at WBBM-FM as program director and morning disc jockey in the late 1970s.[20][21] WBBM-FM briefly carried American Top 40 with Casey Kasem during the soft rock years.[22]
B96[edit]
In May 1982, WBBM-FM began airing a Top 40/CHR format known as "Hot Hits", which was created by consultant Mike Joseph.[23] Concurrent with the format change was the phase-out of all automation.[23] Hot Hits was a high-energy format, playing only current hits, and featured numerous jingles to reinforce the station's identity.[23] The station was branded B96 the following year.[24]
When late 1986 rolled along, B96's format began to tweak slowly towards a rhythmic top 40 direction, and a couple of years later during the late 1980s began to embrace dance products. Despite those moves at the time, the station retained a selection of mainstream titles during both of their runs.[25][26] In May 1990, the station became known as "The Killer Bee: B96".[26] In 1995, the station began to add more R&B and hip hop as the dance scene diminished.[27]
In October 2008, the station's slogan was changed from "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" to "Chicago's #1 Hit Music Station", as its format shifted back to mainstream Top 40.[28][29]
On April 21, 2023, WBBM-FM shifted to a rhythmic-oriented gold-leaning Top 40 format, combining many Top 40/CHR currents and re-currents with a larger and older gold library. This follows the trend of other struggling Top 40/CHRs flipping to the format, such as WFLC in Miami and KLIF-FM in Dallas-Fort Worth to attract a wider listener base. The station also reverted to its heritage logo used throughout the 2000s and 2010s.[30]
Since 1992, the station has presented the B96 SummerBash concert.[31]
HD Radio[edit]
WBBM-FM broadcasts in the HD Radio format. The HD2 subchannel carries a national LGBTQ talk and EDM radio format called "Channel Q".[48]
In January 2006, the station officially launched its HD2 FM subcarrier, airing a Dance Top 40 format as "B96 Dance".[49] That format moved to a subchannel on co-owned 105.9 WCFS-FM in February 2019 and rebranded as "Energy".[48] WBBM-FM's HD2 subchannel then switched to an Entercom format known as "Channel Q", a talk and EDM format, aimed at the LGBTQ community and heard in many radio markets served by Entercom FM stations.[48][50]