| City of license | Mobile, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Mobile, Alabama Pensacola, Florida |
| Branding | 97.5 WABB |
| Slogan | "The Gulf Coast's Hit Music Station" |
| Frequency | 97.5 MHz (FM) |
| First air date | February 5, 1973 |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 473 meters (1552 feet) |
| Class | C |
| Facility ID | 70657 |
| Callsign meaning | "Alabama's Best Broadcasters" |
| Owner | Dittman Broadcasting (WABB-FM, Inc.) |
| Sister stations | WABB (AM) |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wabb.com |
WABB-FM (97.5 FM, "97.5 WABB") is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR) format serving the Mobile, Alabama area, with coverage in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It first began broadcasting in 1973. The station is currently owned by Dittman Broadcasting.
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WABB began broadcasting at 1480 kHz on June 19, 1948, when it was owned by the Mobile Register under call letters meaning "Alabama's Best Broadcasters" and had a country music format.
WABB had an FM simulcast from the very beginning, starting with 107.9 MHz and later 102.1 MHz until it was discontinued in the 1950s.
Shortly after owner Bernie Dittman moved to Mobile from his native Ohio to join his father J.W. at the station, Top-40 music became the new format.[1]
WABB 97.5 FM signed on for the first time on February 5, 1973 with the song Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again by Bob Dylan.[2] WABB-FM was originally a simulcast of its sister station before moving toward the format of album oriented rock.
Notable alumni of WABB include radio personality Scott Shannon and Craig Andrews.[3]
When WABB-FM made the move to its current contemporary hit radio format in 1984, the AM station continued to play Top-40 music. Eventually, the economics of AM radio in the United States meant a move away from music and the station adopted a talk radio format.
WABB's longtime owner, president, and general manager Bernie Dittman died on October 25, 2006 after suffering from a stroke the previous week.[4] Dittman's daughter Betsey succeeded him after relocating to Mobile from Chicago, Illinois.[5]
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