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WBDX (102.7
MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...
) and WJLJ (103.1 MHz) are
non-commercial A non-commercial (also spelled noncommercial) activity is an activity that is not carried out in the interest of Profit (economics), profit. The opposite is Commerce, commercial, something that primarily serves profit interests and is focused on bu ...
, listener-supported FM
radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...
s. They are owned by Partners for Christian Media and they
simulcast Simulcast (a portmanteau of "simultaneous broadcast") is the broadcasting of programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time (that is, simultaneously) ...
a Christian Contemporary
radio format A radio format or programming format (not to be confused with broadcast programming) describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. The radio format emerged mainly in the United States in the 1950s, at a time when Radio broadcasting, ...
branded as "J103." WBDX is licensed to
Trenton, Georgia Trenton () is a city and the only incorporated municipality in Dade County, Georgia, United States—and as such, it serves as the county seat. The population was 2,195 at the 2020 census. Trenton is part of the Chattanooga, Tennessee–GA Me ...
, and WJLJ is licensed to Etowah, Tennessee. They serve the Chattanooga metropolitan area and are the Tennessee Valley's only local Contemporary Christian stations. J103 asks for donations on the air and on its website. The station says it seeks "to encourage Christians, evangelize non-Christians, and minister to our listeners." The
studio A studio is a space set aside for creative work of any kind, including art, dance, music and theater. The word ''studio'' is derived from the , from , from ''studere'', meaning to study or zeal. Types Art The studio of any artist, esp ...
s are on Hickory Valley Road in Chattanooga.


History of WBDX

WBDX signed on the air on October 31, 1989. It was a
Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...
/ CHR station known as "The New B103, The Outrageous FM!" owned by local car dealer Herb Adcox. The station competed with Chattanooga's Top 40/CHR FM powerhouse 106.5 WSKZ. WBDX's operations were in a glass enclosed studio in the middle of Eastgate Mall. Throughout its early years, the station was also known as "Magic 103 FM, The All-New WBDX" when it aired an
Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...
format in the early 1990s. In January 1994 the station became "The New Talk 102.7" and took on a locally-driven
talk radio Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, Interview (jo ...
format, featuring mostly local personalities, with an afternoon
drive time Drive time is the daypart in which radio broadcasters can reach the most people who listen to car radios while driving, usually to and from work, or on public transportation. Drive-time periods are when the number of radio listeners in this c ...
show "Sport Talk". This format lasted until mid-1994 when Talk 102.7 moved to 102.3. In mid-1994, WBDX flipped to a
classic rock Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...
sound known as "The New Fox 103", which had previously aired on 102.3. In early 1995, Partners For Christian Media bought WBDX. On March 4, 1995, WBDX started playing
Contemporary Christian Music Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christianity, Chri ...
, originally under the name "102.7 The Light." Eventually the name changed to "J103". The original J103 studio was located in a small 10x10 room within Eastgate. In 1998, J103 moved into what was the former home of WJRX (RX 107) which had also played Christian Contemporary music. In October 2015, the station moved near the Hamilton Place Mall, using a building on Hickory Valley Road. This move enabled J103 to begin broadcasting with state-of-the-art digital equipment. On February 4, 1998, the station changed its call sign to WJLL, and on February 5, 1998, it changed back to WBDX. The station was originally affiliated with
Salem Communications Salem Media Group, Inc. (formerly Salem Communications Corporation) is an American radio broadcaster, internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher based in Irving, Texas, targeting audiences interested in Christian values and wha ...
to provide a large part of its programming. This included music from 7 p.m. – 6 a.m. and Talk and Teaching shows during the day. In 2005, the station dropped all Salem Communications programming and went fully local.


History of WJLJ

The station went on the air as WVKS on . On August 4, 1989 the station changed its
call sign In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...
to WDRZ, and its format to
Contemporary Christian Music Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christianity, Chri ...
. The station was known as "SuperPower 103 FM". In mid 1994, management fired the husband and wife station managers Bobby and Debbie Lubell, who now operate J103, and installed a new staff and
country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
format. The station did not do well and soon flipped to
modern rock Modern rock is an umbrella term used to describe rock music that is found on college and commercial rock radio stations. Some radio stations use this term to distinguish themselves from classic rock, which is based in 1960s–1980s rock music. ...
. This format was also short lived, and in 1997 the station started simulcasting "97 Kicks FM" WUUQ. On January 20, 1998, the call sign was changed to WLLJ, and then to the current WJLJ on August 13, 2015. WJLJ operates with an
effective radiated power Effective radiated power (ERP), synonymous with equivalent radiated power, is an IEEE standardized definition of directional radio frequency (RF) power, such as that emitted by a radio transmitter. It is the total power in watts that would ha ...
(ERP) of 50,000
watt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of Power (physics), power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantification (science), quantify the rate of Work ...
s. Its
tower A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...
is near
Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...
, enabling the station's signal to reach into the
Knoxville Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...
area. In 1997, "97/103 Kicks FM" was a
Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...
/ CHR station. it was simulcasting on 97.3 FM and 103.1 FM. The station was co-purchased by Partners For Christian Media, with the help of Friendship Broadcasting in late 1997. It began simulcasting WBDX in February 1998.


References


External links

* * {{Religious Radio Stations in Georgia Radio stations established in 1998 BDX