History
Following in the footsteps of pioneer WSB-AM, WSB-FM was one of the first FM stations in the Southeast, debuting originally on 104.5 FM in 1948. After Cox acquired the Atlanta Constitution, WSB-FM went silent in 1952, and returned a few years later on 98.5 FM. The station has been an adult contemporary music station since 1980.
In 1985, WSB-FM, at the time known as "99FM", sued AC competitor WLTA-FM 99.7 "Warm 99", claiming copyright infringement. Arbitron was docking both stations in the ratings because of the common use of "99". In the landmark case, Cox v. Susquehanna Broadcasting, the judge was handed a digital radio and asked to tune to 100.0 MHz. There was no signal. To find the nearest station, he pressed the Scan button, and it stopped on 101.5 MHz (WKHX-FM). Next, he entered 99.0 MHz, which, again, contained no signal. Scanning from there, the radio hit 99.7, WLTA's frequency. In his precedent-setting decision, the Federal district judge stated that on a radio dial "a radio station's frequency is its address" and one cannot copyright an address. He ruled in favor of Warm 99. Soon thereafter, WSB-FM became known as "B98.5FM".
The station plays over 90 minutes of commercial-free music each weekday at 9 am known as The 98 at 9. Until 2006, WSB-FM's primary "listen at work" competitor was 94.9 FM, under the names "95 WPCH", "Peach 94.9", and "94.9 Lite FM" with the WLTM callsign. On December 18, 2006, 94.9 flipped to country as "The Bull". WLTM moved to the weak 96.7 station until December 26, 2007, when the station flipped to classic country WWLG "96.7 the Legend". After 94.9 switched to a country format and WLTM switched to classic country, B98.5 became the only adult contemporary music station in Atlanta.
On December 29, 2006, WSB-FM became the Atlanta affiliate for the nationally syndicated Delilah show (which was previously broadcast on 94.9 Lite FM/Peach 94.9).
WSB-FM's current HD-2 service is a throwback to their 'beautiful music' days.
In the past, WSB-FM produced an annual "Family Fun Fest" event, where companies that provide products for kids and families showcase what products and services they offer. The show featured live events and appearances from local sports stars. The station conducted a live broadcast both days of the event. The event has not been held since 2009 due to the economic crisis.
WSB-FM shares a tower with WPBA TV 30, and in fact shares the same antenna with WSTR FM 94.1 and WVEE FM 103.3. The three stations' transmitters are diplexed together, so that they all feed to the antenna instead of into each other.
A planned merger of GE and Cox in the late 1970s almost caused WSB-FM to be spun off to Ragan Henry with plans to take the WEZA calls.
On July 1, 2008, Steve McCoy and Vikki Locke joined WSB-FM as the morning show after 17 years at top 40 WSTR "Star 94". Steve McCoy was let go on February 25, 2010. Vikki Locke does remain as morning show host. In March 2011, Kelly Stevens from the old "Kelly and Alpha" show rejoined the station and joined Vikki. In August 2012, Stevens' SUV was totaled by a wrong-way vehicle at around 4am while he was driving to work on the Georgia 400 freeway, killing the other driver. His left leg was broken and left elbow shattered, but he was in good spirits later in the morning at Grady Hospital, when he called in to the show.
During the spring of 2011, the station made dramatic on-air changes due to declining ratings as a result of changes at hot AC WSTR and the success of top 40 WWWQ. All music before 1980 was dropped, more songs from the 2000s were added, and the station abandoned the longtime "Atlanta's Best Variety of Soft Rock" tagline in favor of "Your Favorites From the 80's, 90's, and Now".
On September 16, 2011, the station changed their "all-80's weekend" format to an "80's and 90's weekend" format to compete with Journey 97.9. As of January 2012, 80s and 90s weekends no longer air.
WSB-FM airs public affairs programming on Sunday mornings at 7 a.m. starting February 21, 2010, when Dr. Joe Esposito began hosting Health Talk Atlanta.
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