WBTF

WBTF, also known as 107.9 The Beat, is an Urban Contemporary outlet serving the Lexington radio market. It is owned by L.M. Communications.

WBTF signed on its current format in 2000, playing Hip Hop and R&B music, making it the first time in six years an Urban-formatted station returned to Lexington since WCKU flipped the format in 1994 to rock (Today, that station is now its Rhythmic competitor, WLTO). Until recently, WBTF was the only such station in the market, therefore playing Old School music, Soul, Slow Jams and Gospel occasionally to cater to both the Mainstream and Adult audiences in the African American community. It was the home of the Doug Banks Morning Show until the end of 2007 when he was replaced by Steve Harvey.

On July 21, 2011, WBTF got a second competitor, WiLD 103.9 (WLKT-HD2), owned by Clear Channel. The station launched on a former K-Love translator, and is currently the HD-2 channel for crosstown station, 104.5 The Cat, a Mainstream Top 40 station. Both The Cat and WiLD use Clear Channel's Premium Choice programming. Clear Channel hopes to siphon off WBTF's younger demos by playing more current-based Hip-Hop and R&B hits as a way to counter WBTF's traditional presentation.

External links

• 107.9 The Beat website
• L.M. Communications
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WBTF
• Radio-Locator information on WBTF
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WBTF
• Real-time WBTF station playlist with charts

Coordinates: 38°11′41″N 84°38′25″W / 38.1948°N 84.6402°W / 38.1948; -84.6402