List of radio stations in Alabama

The list of radio stations in Alabama comprises the full-service AM and FM broadcast radio stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate within the state, providing a mix of commercial and non-commercial programming.^[1] These stations serve Alabama's population of approximately 5.2 million (2025 estimate) across urban centers and rural communities, delivering formats such as country, urban contemporary, news/talk, gospel, adult contemporary, and public radio, with many affiliated to national networks like iHeartMedia, Cumulus Media, and NPR affiliates including Alabama Public Radio.^[2][3] The state's radio landscape is shaped by its key metropolitan markets, led by Birmingham (Nielsen rank #61 nationally with a radio market population of 953,000 as of Fall 2025), followed by Mobile (#101, 563,100), Huntsville (#104, 547,500), and Montgomery (#154, 319,700), where stations compete for listeners through local content, sports coverage (e.g., University of Alabama football broadcasts), and emergency alerts.^[4] Typically organized by call sign, frequency, city of license, owner, and format, this list excludes low-power FM (LPFM) translators and boosters unless they hold primary licenses, focusing instead on full-service outlets that form the backbone of Alabama's over-the-air broadcasting infrastructure.^[5]

Overview

History of Broadcasting in Alabama

Radio broadcasting in Alabama began in the early 1920s, with experimental transmissions from Auburn University using a spark gap transmitter as early as 1913, followed by the state's first licensed station, WSY, launched by the Alabama Power Company in Birmingham on April 24, 1922.^[6] This station, initially used for utility communications and public broadcasts, marked Alabama's entry into voice broadcasting, soon joined by WMAV at Auburn University in November 1922, which evolved into WAPI by 1925 and focused on educational and agricultural programming for rural listeners.^[6] By the mid-1920s, additional stations like WBRC in Birmingham (1925) emerged, establishing a foundation for commercial and educational radio amid growing receiver sales across the state.^[7] The Great Depression strained Alabama's nascent radio industry in the 1930s, with funding cuts—such as Birmingham's withdrawal of $20,000 annual support for WAPI—leading to financial difficulties and the leasing of stations to private operators by 1932 to sustain operations.^[6] The formation of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1934 under the Communications Act provided regulatory stability, allocating frequencies and limiting interference to promote orderly growth, though expansion remained slow amid economic hardship.^[8] During World War II, radio served critical roles in news dissemination and civil defense, but material shortages limited new station development, with existing outlets like WAPI maintaining service through affiliations such as CBS by 1938.^[6] Post-war prosperity in the 1950s and 1960s fueled significant expansion, with AM stations like WAPI upgrading to 50,000-watt clear-channel status by 1958 for broader coverage, particularly in rural areas where country and religious formats gained traction as affordable entertainment.^[6] The introduction of FM broadcasting accelerated in the late 1940s, exemplified by WAFM's licensing in 1946 and separate programming by 1947, offering higher fidelity and reducing AM overcrowding.^[7] This era saw a proliferation of stations emphasizing local content, including agricultural reports and gospel music in rural communities.^[6] From the 1970s onward, public radio emerged with stations like WBHM in Birmingham launching in 1976 as the state's first full-service public outlet, evolving into the Alabama Public Radio network by the early 1980s to provide NPR-affiliated programming statewide.^[9] The Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated ownership limits, spurring consolidation as companies like iHeartMedia acquired clusters of stations, reducing independent operators from thousands nationally and homogenizing formats in Alabama markets. In recent decades, select stations have adopted HD Radio for digital multicasting, enhancing capacity for additional channels, as seen with experimental all-digital AM trials in 2023.^[10] Religious broadcasting expanded notably in rural areas, with networks like Faith Radio signing on in 1996 to serve southern Alabama.^[11]

Media Markets and Coverage

Radio markets in Alabama are primarily defined by Nielsen Audio's market rankings, which measure audience size and population reach for advertising and programming purposes. The state's largest market is Birmingham, ranked 61st nationally as of fall 2025, followed by Mobile at 101st, Huntsville at 104th, and Montgomery at 152nd. These rankings reflect the concentration of listeners in urban centers, where the majority of the state's radio consumption occurs, influencing content tailored to local demographics and interests.^[4][12] Alabama hosts approximately 300 AM and FM stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as of 2025, serving a population of about 5.2 million residents across 52,420 square miles. Signal propagation is significantly affected by the state's diverse terrain, including the Appalachian foothills in northern Alabama, where hilly landscapes create shadowing effects that limit FM signals to line-of-sight paths, often reducing coverage in valleys and remote areas. In contrast, AM signals, which follow ground waves, provide broader but less reliable reach in such environments due to potential interference from soil conductivity variations.^[13][14] Urban markets like Birmingham and Huntsville benefit from robust coverage with multiple overlapping signals, supporting diverse programming. However, rural disparities are pronounced, particularly in the Black Belt region of central and southern Alabama, where limited economic resources contribute to underreported local issues. FM translators and boosters are crucial here, rebroadcasting primary station signals to extend coverage to isolated communities, helping bridge gaps in service without requiring full-power licenses.^[15] The FCC regulates radio stations through city-of-license assignments, mandating primary service to designated communities while allowing secondary coverage elsewhere. This framework enables multi-state spillover, as Alabama's border proximity facilitates signal overlap; for instance, Mobile-market stations like those on 96.1 FM routinely serve listeners in northwest Florida's Pensacola area, while Dothan stations on frequencies such as 99.7 FM extend into southwest Georgia. Such spillover enhances regional connectivity but requires stations to balance local obligations with broader audience demands under FCC rules.^[16][17][18]

Active Stations

By Metropolitan Statistical Area

The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area, Alabama's largest radio market, features a diverse array of stations dominated by major owners like iHeartMedia, which operates several key outlets including news/talk and pop formats; unique local programming includes sports coverage affiliated with the Alabama Crimson Tide and professional teams via ESPN and VSiN networks.^[19] Note: WENN (1320 AM) is silent, and WZGX (1450 AM) holds a construction permit as of 2025.^[19] The Mobile Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses stations serving coastal communities, with iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media holding significant shares; local highlights include sports talk on WNSP and public radio from Alabama Public Radio.^[20] No silent or construction-permit stations were reported in this market as of 2025.^[20] In the Huntsville Metropolitan Statistical Area, iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media control many outlets, with distinctive programming such as NPR affiliates for news and classical, alongside country stations covering local events; the market includes Decatur signals.^[21] Silent stations include WWGC (1090 AM) and WFPA (1400 AM) as of 2025.^[21] The Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area, including Selma, offers a mix of public, religious, and urban formats, with stations like WVAS providing college jazz programming; ownership is spread among local and national groups like iHeartMedia.^[22] Silent stations include WJHO (89.7 FM), WYVC (102.3 FM), and WXVI (1600 AM) as of 2025.^[22] The Tuscaloosa Metropolitan Statistical Area, closely tied to the University of Alabama, includes Crimson Tide sports affiliates like WTBC; iHeartMedia holds a strong presence in country and urban formats.^[23] No silent or construction-permit stations noted as of 2025.^[23] The Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Area serves the Wiregrass region with a focus on country, urban, and sports formats; Troy Public Radio provides classical programming across affiliates.^[24] No silent or construction-permit stations reported as of 2025.^[24] Note: The lists above represent major metropolitan statistical areas; other areas such as Florence-Muscle Shoals and Gadsden also host active stations.^[25]

By Broadcast Format

Radio stations in Alabama exhibit a wide array of broadcast formats, reflecting the state's cultural diversity, from rural traditions to urban influences and growing multicultural communities. These formats determine the primary programming genre, such as music, talk, or news, and help listeners identify stations by content type statewide. Major formats include country, which dominates in rural and southern regions due to Alabama's agricultural heritage and love for traditional music; news/talk, prevalent in urban markets for local and national discourse; religious, encompassing Christian and gospel programming that serves faith-based audiences across the state; urban contemporary, popular in cities with significant African American populations; and public radio, providing non-commercial news and educational content through networks like Alabama Public Radio. As of 2025, trends include the rise of Spanish-language stations catering to expanding Hispanic communities in areas like Tuscaloosa and Montgomery, driven by demographic growth.^[26][27] Additionally, some markets are shifting toward all-digital enhancements, including HD Radio and streaming integrations, to complement traditional over-the-air broadcasts.^[28] Country
Country music enjoys widespread popularity in Alabama, particularly in rural southern counties where it aligns with local culture and events like fairs and rodeos, boasting numerous stations that feature contemporary hits and classic tracks.^[29] Representative stations include: News/Talk
News/talk formats are prominent in Alabama's larger cities, offering syndicated shows, local commentary, and conservative-leaning discussions that resonate with political engagement in the state.^[30] Representative stations include: Religious
Religious broadcasting, including contemporary Christian, Southern gospel, and teaching programs, holds strong appeal in Alabama's Bible Belt communities, with non-commercial and commercial outlets providing inspirational content.^[37] Representative stations include: Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary stations thrive in Alabama's metropolitan areas like Birmingham and Mobile, delivering R&B, hip-hop, and gospel-infused programming targeted at diverse urban listeners.^[29] Representative stations include: Public/NPR
Public radio in Alabama, often affiliated with NPR, emphasizes in-depth news, classical music, and educational programming, serving statewide through interconnected networks despite some 2025 shifts toward local content.^[41] Representative stations include: Spanish-Language
Emerging as a key format in 2025, Spanish-language stations address the needs of Alabama's growing Hispanic population, offering regional Mexican, tropical, and variety programming in urbanizing areas.^[26] Representative stations include:

Defunct Stations

Notable Former Stations

Several notable radio stations in Alabama have ceased operations over the decades, leaving behind legacies in local broadcasting, community service, and innovation. These stations, ranging from early experimental broadcasters to later community outlets, often succumbed to economic challenges, technological shifts, or license cancellations as documented by the FCC. Below is a selection of significant defunct stations, highlighting their contributions to Alabama's radio history.

• WSY (experimental 500-watt AM, Birmingham, 1922–1923): Alabama's first licensed radio station, launched by Alabama Power Company for internal communications but expanded to public entertainment including music, religious services, and news broadcasts during emergencies like the 1923 ice storm. It ceased operations on November 6, 1923, due to overwhelming public demand beyond its corporate purpose, with equipment donated to Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University).^[47]
• WJBY (AM, frequency transferred in 1954, Gadsden, 1926–1954): An early commercial station owned by Erwin Electric Co., it provided local programming to northeast Alabama during the formative years of broadcasting. The station remained on air for nearly three decades before its frequency was reassigned to Jasper in 1954, marking the end of its operations in Gadsden.^[48]
• WBRC-FM (102.5 FM, Birmingham, 1947–1948): One of Birmingham's pioneering FM outlets, it simulcast the AM sister station's programming with a powerful 500,000-watt signal. Operations ceased in 1948 to repurpose resources for the launch of WBRC-TV, reflecting the era's shift toward television.^[49]
• WAFM (99.5 FM, Birmingham, late 1940s–1948): An early FM experiment in the region, it broadcast variety content but was taken off the air in 1948 amid the post-war FM band reconfiguration by the FCC. This short-lived station exemplified the challenges of establishing FM broadcasting in the South.^[49]
• WREN (590 AM, Carrollton, 1951–2010): Originally launched as WRAG, this daytime-only station served rural west Alabama with country and R&B formats, providing local news and community events. It fell permanently silent in 2010 due to economic difficulties and was deleted from the FCC database in 2011.^[50]
• WMFC (1360 AM, Monroeville, 1952–2010): A key voice for south Alabama, it offered music, news, and sports coverage, including local high school games, under Monroe Broadcasting Company ownership. The station went dark in 2010 amid financial pressures and its license was surrendered to the FCC.^[51][50]
• WCMA (1560 AM, Daleville, 1962–2011): Focused on country music and local agriculture reports in the Wiregrass region, it supported community ties until economic shifts led to closure. The FCC deleted the license in 2011 after prolonged silence.^[50]
• WPPT (1230 AM, Talladega, 1953–2012): This station delivered Top 40 hits and talk programming to east-central Alabama during its peak, later shifting to gospel. It ceased broadcasting in 2012 due to ownership changes and financial viability issues, with the license canceled by the FCC.^[50]
• WDLK (1450 AM, Dadeville, ~1980–2013): Serving the Tallapoosa County area with hot adult contemporary and local news, it was a vital outlet for Lake Martin communities. Operations ended around 2013, leading to FCC deletion amid broader rural station consolidations.^[50]
• WBYE (1370 AM, Calera, 1958–2012): Known for gospel and news/talk formats targeting the Birmingham metro, it changed hands multiple times before financial woes forced silence. The station's license was deleted by the FCC in 2012.^[52][50]
• WJLX (1240 AM, Jasper, 1995–2024): A community-focused station serving west Alabama with urban contemporary and talk formats, it provided local news and high school sports. The station went silent in February 2024 after its 200-foot tower was stolen, leading to financial unviability and license cancellation.^[53][50]
• WAPI (1070 AM, Birmingham, 1922–2025): Historic station with news/talk and sports formats, affiliated with ABC and ESPN at various times. It simulcast sister station WZRR until going permanently silent in March 2025 as part of Cumulus Media's divestment of underperforming AM assets.^[54]
• WMCJ (1460 AM, Cullman, 1953–2024): Long-serving north Alabama outlet with country, gospel, and talk programming, emphasizing local events and agriculture. It ceased operations due to economic challenges and was deleted from the FCC database in October 2024.^[50]

These stations illustrate the evolution and vulnerabilities of Alabama's radio landscape, particularly in rural areas where recent closures post-2023 have been influenced by economic pressures and media mergers, as reflected in FCC records.

Reasons for Closure and Transitions

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 facilitated significant consolidation in the radio industry by eliminating national ownership caps, resulting in a sharp decline in the number of station owners nationwide from approximately 5,100 to 3,800 within five years, which pressured smaller markets including those in Alabama to close or merge operations.^[55] In Alabama's rural and small markets, this consolidation contributed to ongoing challenges, with economic pressures leading to reduced local programming and eventual shutdowns of underperforming stations as larger conglomerates prioritized profitability over community service.^[56] Competition from digital streaming services has further eroded traditional radio's financial base, with U.S. broadcast advertising revenue projected to decrease by 9.4% to $32.97 billion in 2025, partly due to streaming platforms capturing a growing share of audio listening time—rising to 15% for ad-supported streaming music, while radio's share fell by 5% year-over-year.^[57][58] In Alabama, this trend has intensified since 2020, as local stations face diminished ad dollars amid the shift to on-demand audio, exacerbating viability issues in low-population areas.^[59] Regulatory changes, such as the FCC's AM Revitalization efforts, have influenced station operations in rural Alabama by permitting all-digital AM broadcasting since October 2020 and expanding access to FM translators, though spectrum policies like the rural radio protection rule have restricted relocations of struggling stations to larger markets.^[60][61] Natural disasters have also played a role; for instance, Hurricane Sally in September 2020 caused widespread power outages and infrastructure damage across southern Alabama, temporarily silencing several coastal stations and contributing to long-term operational disruptions.^[62][63] Transitions among Alabama stations often involve going silent, sales, or format shifts to FM, driven by these pressures; for example, Cumulus Media took Birmingham's WAPI (1070 AM) off the air in March 2025 after simulcasting another signal, reflecting broader efforts to divest underperforming AM assets.^[54] Between 2023 and 2025, federal funding cuts to public broadcasting threatened smaller stations with potential permanent silence, while AM Revitalization incentives led to several rural AM outlets acquiring FM translators for rebroadcasting to sustain coverage.^[64][60] Demographic shifts, including population declines in rural regions like Alabama's Black Belt, have reduced listener bases and ad potential, prompting sales or conversions in areas with shrinking viability.^[65]

Supplementary Services

FM Translators and Boosters

FM translators and boosters serve as auxiliary services to extend and enhance the reach of primary radio stations in Alabama, particularly in areas affected by terrain, distance, or signal interference. FM translators are low-power relay stations operating on the FM band (88-108 MHz) that rebroadcast the signal of an AM or FM primary station to fill coverage gaps, while FM boosters, owned and operated by the primary station licensee, amplify the primary signal on the same frequency within its protected service contour to improve reception in shadowed areas. According to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, FM translators are limited to a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 250 watts, enabling them to operate as secondary services without originating local programming except in limited cases such as brief fundraising announcements or emergency alerts. Boosters, by contrast, are restricted to no more than 20% of the primary station's maximum class power and must cease operation if they cause interference to the primary signal at its community of license.^[66] Alabama hosts a substantial network of these facilities, with 135 active FM translators licensed across the state as of the latest available records, supporting diverse formats from public radio to commercial broadcasts. These translators are particularly vital in bridging rural and urban divides, allowing primary stations to reach isolated communities without the need for high-power infrastructure. For example, in Birmingham, translator W291DC at 106.1 MHz rebroadcasts the HD2 channel of public radio station WBHM (90.3 FM) as "The Hub," launched in November 2025, extending NPR programming, local arts, culture, and community content to additional listeners in the metropolitan area. Another instance is W220DS at 91.9 MHz in Montgomery, which relays content from out-of-state stations to supplement local options. Boosters, though less prevalent than translators due to their stricter operational ties to primaries, are deployed selectively; for rural Montgomery County, facilities like low-power relays help counteract signal attenuation in underserved pockets, though specific booster deployments remain limited in FCC documentation.^[67][68][69] A significant portion of Alabama's FM translators support religious programming, aligning with the state's broader broadcasting landscape where approximately 25% of all radio stations focused on Christian formats as of 2018, often using translators to expand reach in non-contiguous areas. This usage underscores translators' role in disseminating faith-based content to rural and minority communities, including the Black Belt region, where signal extension addresses coverage disparities. Recent FCC actions, including the November 2024 adoption of rules (effective January 2025) permitting FM boosters to originate up to 3 minutes per hour of hyper-local programming such as weather or ads without a specified limit on the number of boosters per station, have facilitated approvals for enhanced services in underserved counties, promoting equitable access without full station builds.^[70][71][72]

Low-Power and Community Stations

Low-power FM (LPFM) stations in Alabama operate under the service created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2000 through the Local Community Radio Act, enabling non-commercial entities to broadcast with effective radiated power limits of 1 to 100 watts, typically covering a local radius of about 3.5 miles.^[5] These stations emphasize community-driven content, filling gaps left by larger commercial broadcasters by serving niche audiences in rural, urban, and underserved areas. As of 2025, Alabama hosts approximately 57 licensed LPFM stations, contributing to diverse local media landscapes across the state.^[73] LPFM growth in Alabama accelerated following the FCC's 2013 filing window, which issued construction permits to numerous applicants, resulting in many stations launching operations in subsequent years, including post-2023 activations amid ongoing regulatory expansions.^[74] This expansion has enabled greater access to hyper-local programming, such as religious broadcasts, educational content, and cultural programming tailored to specific demographics. For instance, WFYN-LP (93.3 MHz) in Birmingham delivers faith-based messages and community nourishment through gospel and inspirational shows.^[75] Similarly, WAUF-LP (97.3 MHz) in Auburn provides contemporary Christian music, supporting local college and family-oriented listeners.^[76] Community-oriented stations, including non-LPFM non-commercial outlets, further enhance Alabama's public radio ecosystem by focusing on cultural preservation and education. WLRH (89.3 MHz) in Huntsville, a public station affiliated with Alabama Public Radio, offers jazz and classical music to foster artistic engagement in North Alabama. In Montgomery, WVAS (90.7 MHz), operated by Alabama State University—an HBCU—airs jazz programming that highlights African American heritage and community events. These efforts underscore LPFM and community stations' roles in addressing underserved groups, such as through past initiatives like WGYJ-LP (93.5 MHz) in Atmore, owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which provided gospel and family-oriented content to the Native American reservation until its closure in 2023.^[77]