WTMZ-FM (98.9 FM), known as "ESPN 98.9 FM – Charleston Sports Radio", is a

radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission 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 radi ...

broadcasting a syndicated

sports Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...

format. Licensed to

McClellanville, South Carolina McClellanville is a small fishing town in rural Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,040 at the 2010 census. It is situated on the Atlantic coast, on land surrounded by Francis Marion National Forest, and has tra ...

, and serving the

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoun ...

and

Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina, Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as Grand Strand, "The Grand Strand" i ...

areas, the station is currently owned by Guilford Kirkman, Jr., through licensee Kirkman Broadcasting, Inc. The station's studios are located in the

West Ashley West Ashley, or more formally, west of the Ashley, is one of the six distinct areas of the city proper of Charleston, South Carolina. As of July 2022, its estimated population was 83,996. Its name is derived from the fact that the land is west o ...

portion of Charleston and the transmitter site is in Awendaw.

History

98.9 was originally WZJQ, and signed on June 14, 1991 and later as WWSS. In November 1994, the station changed to WWBZ and aired a syndicated

beach music Beach music, also known as Carolina beach music, and to a lesser extent, Beach pop, is a regional genre of music in the United States which developed from rock/ R&B and pop music of the 1950s and 1960s. Beach music is most closely associate ...

format as "The Breeze" while part of an LMA with WHBZ. On September 15, 2000, Jabar Communications switched WWBZ to Hot 98.9, "Charleston's home for hip-hop and R&B." Vice-president of programming George Cook, known as George Hamilton, said the target audience would be 18–34 females, compared to 25–54 for his former station WWWZ "Z-93". At night, the Hot 98.9 leaned younger. Cook also did afternoons as Big G.O., and

Doug Banks Calvin Douglas Banks Jr. (June 9, 1958 – April 11, 2016) was an American radio personality and host of The Doug Banks Radio Show. Career highlights The Philadelphia-born, Detroit-raised Banks began his radio career broadcasting on his high sch ...

aired in the mornings. WWBZ later switched to the

rhythmic CHR Rhythmic may refer to: * Related to rhythm * Rhythmic contemporary, a radio format * Rhythmic adult contemporary, a radio format * Rhythmic gymnastics, a form of gymnastics * Rhythmic (chart) The Rhythmic chart (also called Rhythmic Airplay, and ...

format. In December 2004, the station became WAZS-FM, and switched to a

Regional Mexican Regional Mexican is a Latin music radio format encompassing the musical genres from the different parts of rural Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Genres include banda, country en español, Duranguense, grupero, mariachi, New Mex ...

format. In August 2009, the station switched to WWIK ("98.9 Chick FM"), with 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 present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet ...

format targeted at women. The station was anchored by its morning program, "Moms In The Morning." The Regional Mexican format is still heard on WZJY and WAZS. On April 18, 2011, WWIK changed its format to classic hits, branded as "Fun FM". In March 2013, WWIK changed its format and identity to ESPN 98.9 FM – Charleston Sports Radio. The format was simulcast on WTMZ until August 17, 2020. On February 27, 2020, the station changed its call sign to WTMZ-FM.

References

External links

* TMZ-FM Radio stations established in 1995 1995 establishments in South Carolina Sports radio stations in the United States ESPN Radio stations {{SouthCarolina-radio-station-stub