WBKR
 | |
| Broadcast area | Owensboro, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Branding | 92.5 WBKR |
| Slogan | The Country Station |
| Frequency | 92.5 MHz |
| Format | Country |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 320 meters (1,050 ft) |
| Class | C |
| Owner |
Townsquare Media (Townsquare Media of Evansville/Owensboro, Inc.) |
| Website | www.wbkr.com |
WBKR is an American radio station broadcasting a country music format on the FM dial at 92.5 MHz. The station is licensed to Owensboro, Kentucky. It serves northwest Kentucky and southwest Indiana. The station is owned by Townsquare Media. The station transmits from a tower located near Utica, Kentucky on Kentucky Route 140. The studios are located at 3301 Freederica Street in Owensboro.[1]
History
WBKR was founded and operated by the Hager Family, who were also the owners of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer daily newspaper. The station's original call letters were WOMI, standing for the name of the family's newsletter. Its current sister AM station, WOMI AM, was also founded in the late 1930s by the Hager Family. The stations remained in the hands of the heirs of the original owners until 1993 when both were sold to Evansville, Indiana-based Brill Media.
Brill Media operated WOMI AM and WBKR FM and also bought the cross-town competition and longtime rival stations, WVJS AM and WSTO FM. Brill Media declared bankruptcy in 2002, and the stations were placed in the hands of a chapter 11 bankruptcy trustee who sold them. WOMI AM and WBKR FM were acquired by Regent Broadcasting Corporation (now Townsquare Media) based in Covington, Kentucky (Cincinnati). WSTO FM was purchased by South Central Communications Corporation of Evansville, Indiana, which also operates WIKY-FM 104.1 MHz. WVJS AM 1420 kHz was purchased by the Cromwell Group, Inc., of Nashville, Tennessee, which also operates WBIO-FM 94.7 in Owensboro.
WBKR is known for its annual Telephone Pioneers Christmas Wish. This program involves monetary donations to needy families (who might not otherwise have much of a Christmas), and listeners can participate in a program where they pick a family to buy Christmas presents for.
The WBKR morning team is known as The CB Radio Show AKA the Chad Benefield Show. One of the former presenter's Moon Mullins, died in 2017, and was an inductee of the Country Radio Hall of Fame[2]
The WBKR Midday Show is hosted by Jaclyn Graves, who is a local country singer. The WBKR Afternoon Show is hosted by Music Director Dave Spencer. At other times, listeners can hear on-air personalities Barb Birgy, Erin Grant, Jordan Winders and Brandon Stein.
References
External links
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WBKR
- Radio-Locator information on WBKR
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WBKR
Coordinates: 37°36′29″N 87°03′14″W / 37.608°N 87.054°W