WLAY (AM) facts for kids

WLAY (1450 kHz) is an AM radio station that serves the Florence and Muscle Shoals, Alabama area. You can also hear it on an FM translator at 104.7. The station is officially licensed to Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

WLAY is owned by Mike Self and Parker Griffith, through their company Singing River Media Group, LLC. It is one of the oldest radio stations in Alabama and the Southern United States. Today, WLAY plays only music that was written and recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The station also broadcasts live concerts and highlights local charity events. Brian Rickman is the program and music director. WLAY stopped broadcasting for a short time in December 2014.

History of WLAY Radio

The radio station first started broadcasting in 1933 under the name WNRA. Since then, it has become a big part of American music history. This is thanks to its role in creating what is known as the "Muscle Shoals Sound."

When it first began, WLAY played a "variety format" of music. It was special because it played Southern Gospel, Country music, and music by African American artists. This was very unusual for the American Deep South at that time. Many famous bluegrass and delta blues musicians even performed live on the station. These artists included Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Son House.

How WLAY Influenced Music

In the 1950s, WLAY played a mix of both country music and Rock and Roll. Sam Phillips, who later started the famous Sun Records, worked as a disc jockey at WLAY when he was younger. He often said that the station's "open playlist" inspired him. This idea of mixing country and blues music helped him create Rock and Roll at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.

In the early 1960s, Muscle Shoals started to become a major music center in the United States. WLAY played a key role in this growth. After local artist Arthur Alexander had a hit song called "You Better Move On," many recording studios opened in the area. WLAY became a place where Muscle Shoals musicians and songwriters would meet and share their new recordings.

For example, the famous song "When A Man Loves A Woman" by Percy Sledge was recorded at Norala Sound Studio. This studio was built by WLAY disc jockey Quin Ivy, co-producer Marlin Greene, and WLAY Chief Engineer Paul Kelley. Kelley even used equipment borrowed from WLAY's studios to build Norala.

When Rick Hall's FAME Studios opened, WLAY often played the songs as soon as they were finished. The WLAY audience would listen to the full recordings by artists like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Clarence Carter. Their feedback often helped decide which songs would become national hits.

Changes in Ownership and Format

An old WLAY logo

Over the years, WLAY's original owners sold the station, and it changed hands many times. After WLAY-FM was developed, the AM station changed its music style several times. It has been a sports station, an Oldies station, and a country music station.

When URBan Radio Broadcasting bought the station, they changed the music back to reflect its history. Now, it plays only local music recorded or written in Muscle Shoals.

Honoring WLAY's Legacy

The old Altec mixer from WLAY's production room in the 1960s is now kept at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The radio station is also recognized as a Historic Landmark by the Alabama Historical Society. WLAY was nominated for Radio Station of the Year by the Alabama Broadcasters Association in 2007, 2010, and 2012.

FM Translator for Wider Reach

In October 2007, WLAY received permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to also broadcast its programs on the FM band at 92.3. This rebroadcast started on October 31, 2007. This change greatly increased how far the radio station's signal could reach.

To celebrate the 92.3 FM launch, the station held a two-day event. They broadcast live from two of Muscle Shoals' most famous recording studios. On the first day, they were at FAME Studios, where legends like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and the Allman Brothers Band recorded. On the second day, they broadcast from Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. This studio has hosted artists such as Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, and The Rolling Stones.

During this launch event, many important people from the Muscle Shoals music scene visited 92.3 FM. They conducted rare on-air interviews with FAME Studios owner Rick Hall and members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. These members included David Hood and Jimmy Johnson. The station also shared stories with famous songwriters like Donnie Fritts and Gary Baker. Many local musicians also joined, including John Paul White and Jason Isbell.

After adding the FM translator, WLAY started calling itself "1450 and 92.3 The Sound." This name referred to the famous "Muscle Shoals Sound." The station also began playing more new local music, alongside the classic Muscle Shoals songs. This made WLAY one of the few commercial radio stations in the U.S. that regularly played music by unsigned, local artists.

In late June 2010, WLAY and another local station, WVNA, lost the lease for their shared transmitter site. The stations were off the air while new locations were found. WLAY returned to the air around June 24, 2011, but with very low power.

In 2012, the license for the 92.3 translator and another one at 101.1 FM expired. These licenses were later removed from the FCC database. A new FM station, WSHF 92.3 FM, began broadcasting in June 2015. It continued the Muscle Shoals Music and Oldies format. In 2019, this station changed its frequency to 94.5 FM. In July 2022, it reclaimed the WNRA call letters, bringing the station's history full circle.

On December 7, 2015, URBan Radio asked the FCC to keep WLAY's license active, saying they had found a buyer. This was approved on December 15. The stations had been off the air for almost a year. URBan planned to bring WLAY back with 60 watts of power. This authorization was granted, and the station continued to operate under special temporary permits until 2017. They then applied to move the transmitter to the WVNA-FM tower.

A permit for this move and a power decrease to 930 watts was approved on April 18, 2017. On April 1, 2019, URBan Radio sold WLAY and five other stations to Singing River Media Group, LLC. This group is owned by Mike Self and Parker Griffith, a former U.S. Representative.

Images for kids

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  An old WLAY logo