WCLM

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WCLM (1450 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Varieyand Classic R&B format. Licensed to Highland Springs, Virginia, USA, it serves the Richmond area. The station is currently owned by World Media Broadcast Company.

[edit] History

1450 originally had been known as WENZ. Signing on in May of 1959. The station operated from a two room cinder block building tacked on to the side of a beauty shop in Highland Springs. But the transmiter was located a couple of miles farther south very close to several homes. It had a very short tower, and operated with only 250 watts of power. WENZ was the first station to play top 40 that operated 24 hours in the Greater Richmond market, which eventually forced the others to do so. Baron Radio Inc bought the station in 1965 and increased the power to 1000 watts. The station carried that Top 40 music format until 1966, when it became an R&B music station. Local legend Kirby Carmicheal's first job in Richmond radio was on WENZ. Other popular WENZ personalities included Jim Minor, and Willie "Meatball" Poe. Hardy Jay Lang, who later became a popular on air host at both WPLZ & WCDX, along with hosting a local TV music show, was also with WENZ. The station did well with R&B in the 1960s and 70s, but with the arrival of more powerful FM competitor WPLZ, the station's ratings plummeted and WENZ switched to an all news format in 1982.The station , in advance of the format change, ran commercials for FM competitor WPLZ .

In the mid eighties the station attempted a return to R&B Music, using automation and TM/Century's Alpha One package, which had been disregarded by Urban leader WPLZ for a live locally programmed format, but it was not successful. In the late 80s, the calls were changed to WRGF and the station tried doing Oldies, but that format also failed. In 1989, the calls were changed to WCLM and an R&B/Jazz hybrid was attempted. In the nineties the station adopted a satellite-delivered classic soul format, but eventually broke off the satellite occasionally for a variety of programming, mostly bartered, including religion, oldies, alternative rock, sports,southern soul, live local talk and even country. In the last rating Dec.2007 WCLM was the number 1 station listened to in the African American community on the AM dial.WCLM has remained in the top 25 stations in the market for the year 2007 including both FM & AM.In May 2007 WHAP/1340 in Hopewell was purchased making WCLM/WHAP the largest locally owned African American owned station in Richmond. ( See WHAP )( The legendary WENZ call letters now reside on a FM Urban station in Cleveland Ohio )

Kirby Carmicheal recently returned to the station to do afternoon drive . Also , legendary local R&B DJ "Chocolate" Chip Johnston is now middays on the station .

[edit] External links

• official website
• Query the FCC's AM station database for WCLM
• Radio Locator Information on WCLM