WSB (AM)
| Company type | Commercial radio station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia , United States |
Area served | Atlanta metropolitan area and Southeastern United States (nighttime) |
| Products | News/talk radio programming |
| Owner | Cox Media Group (majority ownership sold to Apollo Global Management in 2019) |
WSB (750 kHz) is a commercial AM broadcaster based in Atlanta, Georgia, delivering a news/talk format simulcast alongside 95.5 WSBB-FM. Both stations function as flagship outlets for Cox Media Group, which also owns three additional radio stations in Atlanta as well as WSB-TV. WSB consistently ranks among the top revenue-generating radio stations in the United States. Its production facilities are housed within the WSB Television and Radio Group Building on West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta.
Operating at the maximum allowable power of 50,000 watts for commercial AM stations, WSB is classified as a clear-channel class A station utilizing a non-directional antenna system. The transmission site and antenna tower are located approximately seven miles northeast of Atlanta in Tucker, Georgia. Due to the region’s suboptimal ground conductivity, WSB’s daytime broadcast reach is somewhat limited compared to other 50,000-watt AM stations, with some outlying suburbs receiving only a grade B signal. At nighttime, however, the station’s signal extends broadly across much of the Southeastern United States, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Although authorized to broadcast in HD Radio, WSB discontinued this service because of RF interference issues, limited listener interest in AM HD broadcasts, and the availability of higher-fidelity audio via WSBB-FM.
Atlanta Journal
WSB was among the earliest radio stations established in the Southern United States. In early 1922, radio gained significant public attention, culminating in over 500 licensed stations nationwide by the end of that year. Within Atlanta, two primary competitors—the Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution—vied to launch broadcasting services. The Journal set up its studio at 7 Forsyth Street and, while awaiting transmitter installation, temporarily utilized equipment borrowed from amateur operator Gordon Heidt. On March 15, 1922, the Department of Commerce issued a telegraphed provisional authorization permitting WSB’s inaugural broadcast that same evening. The station initially transmitted with a modest 100-watt transmitter cooled by ice.
The call sign WSB was randomly assigned to the Journal’s station; however, management promoted it with the slogan "Welcome South, Brother." Two days later, on March 17, the rival Constitution launched its own station, WGM. Because both stations operated on the same 360-meter wavelength, they established a time-sharing arrangement to avoid interference. Competition between them was fierce; notably, WSB’s management prohibited performers who had appeared on WGM from performing on WSB.
In September 1922, the Department of Commerce introduced an additional entertainment wavelength designated for "Class B" stations equipped with superior technology and programming quality. Both WSB and WGM transitioned to this new frequency. By May 1923, further frequency reassignments designated Atlanta’s Class B stations to 700 kHz—a frequency shared by both broadcasters once again. However, after WGM ceased operations in July 1923, WSB gained sole occupancy of this frequency.
NBC Red Network
In 1927, WSB affiliated with the NBC Red Network, airing NBC’s slate of dramas, comedies, news programs, and sports broadcasts during what became known as the "Golden Age of Radio". The famous three-tone NBC chimes were first sounded within WSB’s studios.
That summer marked WSB’s move to broadcasting on 630 kHz. On November 11, 1928, pursuant to the Federal Radio Commission’s General Order 40, WSB was reassigned to a clear channel frequency at 740 kHz where it served as a dominant national broadcaster. Following implementation of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) in March 1941, WSB shifted its frequency to 750 kHz—the station’s current allocation.
Programming on WSB featured southern gospel music that resonated regionally with audiences and included notable personalities such as Charles Davis Tillman. After the stock market crash of 1929, Dan Hornsby became WSB’s first morning show host and played a key role in nurturing local talent development.
Cox Enterprises
In 1939, James Middleton Cox, the founder of what evolved into Cox Enterprises, acquired the Journal newspaper along with WSB radio. Wright Bryan, who served as a WSB news reporter and managing editor of the Atlanta Journal, became NBC’s inaugural war correspondent to deliver live eyewitness reports from London during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. During the 1950s and 1960s, WSB programmer Elmo Ellis gained recognition for his on-air editorials and unwavering advocacy for civil rights.
WSB was honored with a 1946 Special Citation of Honor Peabody Award for its production titled "The Harbor We Seek".
Between 1925 and 1956, WSB radio along with co-owned stations WSB-FM and WSB-TV were housed on the top floor of the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel located in Midtown Atlanta. The operations later moved to a Colonial-style residence known as "White Columns," situated near Peachtree Street and West Peachtree Street. In 1998, Cox merged its Atlanta radio outlets and WSB-TV into a new "Digital White Columns" facility built on the same property; the original mansion was subsequently torn down.
FM and TV stations
WSB introduced an FM counterpart in 1948, originally broadcasting as WSB-FM on 104.5 MHz. The Atlanta Constitution had launched WCON-FM a year earlier. After the newspapers merged under Cox’s ownership in 1952, both FM stations ceased operations temporarily. WSB-FM resumed transmissions in 1955 at 98.5 FM, adopting WCON-FM's frequency and inheriting its heritage.
Due to limited FM radio adoption initially, WSB-FM mostly duplicated WSB’s content, including NBC Red Network programs and local shows. As network radio programming transitioned to television in the 1950s, both WSB-AM and FM adopted a full-service middle-of-the-road format featuring popular music, news, sports, and informational segments. By the late 1960s, WSB-FM shifted to a beautiful music format.
Also in 1948, WSB-TV commenced broadcasts on Channel 8, becoming the second oldest television station south of Washington, D.C. It primarily affiliated with NBC-TV but also aired some ABC programming. Channel 8 was designated for The Atlanta Journal, while Channel 2 was allocated to The Atlanta Constitution, which never launched a station. Following Cox’s consolidation of ownership, WSB-TV moved to Channel 2 and exchanged network affiliations with WXIA-TV in 1980 to become an ABC affiliate.
Throughout the 1980s, WSB transmitted in AM stereo using Motorola's C-QUAM system while continuing music programming. Prominent on-air personalities included morning hosts Russ Spooner and Dick Hemby along with Atlanta Braves announcer Skip Caray. By 1987, as WSB transitioned fully to a news-talk format, AM stereo broadcasting was discontinued.
During the 1980s, WSB ended its NBC affiliation and relied on its own news team supplemented by AP Radio sound bites and actualities. In 2018, it aligned with ABC News Radio for national news coverage; meanwhile, co-owned WSB-TV has maintained its ABC television affiliation since 1980. In 2020, WSB switched its radio news affiliation to CBS News Radio.
95.5 FM simulcast
On August 16, 2010, WSB began simulcasting full-time on co-owned WBTS at 95.5 FM, which had previously featured rhythmic contemporary music branded as "95.5 The Beat." On October 1 of that year, WBTS changed its call sign to WSBB-FM; the additional "B" was added because Cox already owned WSB-FM at 98.5 FM. On July 31, 2019, both WSB and WSBB-FM rebranded under the name "95.5 WSB." Although the AM station has extensive coverage, both call signs—750 AM and WSBB-FM—are announced during hourly FCC-required station identifications in an abbreviated form.
On December 17, 2019, majority ownership of Cox Media Group was sold by Cox Enterprises to Apollo Global Management. Cox retained a minority interest in the company; however, this transaction separated the WSB stations from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which remains wholly owned by Cox Enterprises.
Scott Slade hosted Atlanta's Morning News on WSB until February 2023 when he reduced his hosting duties; evening anchor Chris Chandler took over as full-time host while Slade continues as a substitute host. In April 2023, veteran morning host Marcy Williams retired after three decades on air, having authored more than 300,000 radio news stories during her tenure.
News and Talk
WSB and WSBB-FM focus mainly on delivering local news and talk programming. The weekday schedule begins at 5 a.m. with Atlanta's Morning News, hosted by Chris Chandler, Judd Hickinbotham, and Cheryl Castro, which includes traffic and weather updates every six minutes. From 1965 until the expiration of its contract in 2024, the WSB Skycopter provided aerial traffic reports. After retiring in 2020, Clark Howard continues to offer consumer advice segments. Midday through early evening features local talk personalities such as Erick Erickson, Mark Arum, Eric Von Haessler, and Shelley Wynter. At 9 p.m., WSB broadcasts a pre-recorded episode of The Sean Hannity Show, while overnight programming consists of reruns of local talk shows.
Weekend content encompasses topics like gardening, home improvement, automotive issues, real estate, health, and financial advice, including brokered segments. Syndicated weekend shows include Bill Handel on the Law, The Kim Komando Show, Eye on Travel with Peter Greenberg, and Face The Nation. As affiliates of CBS News Radio, WSB and WSBB-FM provide news updates twice every hour during overnight hours and maintain a news-sharing partnership with WSB-TV.
Sports
WSB serves as the flagship station for the University of Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network, airing football and basketball contests. In the past, it was also the primary broadcaster for Atlanta Braves baseball, as well as Atlanta Falcons football and Atlanta Hawks basketball. From 1966—when the Braves moved to Atlanta—until 1991, WSB covered Braves games before broadcasts shifted to 640 WGST from 1992 through 1994.
The station resumed Braves coverage in 1995—the year Atlanta won the World Series—and simultaneously added Hawks basketball broadcasts. Between 1995 and 2004, WSB promoted itself as the "Sports Voice of the South," providing live play-by-play for Braves baseball, Hawks basketball, and Bulldogs football and basketball. In 2019, Braves games transitioned to 680 WCNN, while Falcons and Hawks broadcasts migrated to 92.9 WZGC.
See also
- List of radio stations in Georgia (U.S. state)
- List of initial AM-band station grants in the United States
Bibliography
- "Special Collections and Archives: WSB Radio History" Georgia State University Library Research Guide