“Live, local and responsive.” That’s the plan for WAMD when the Aberdeen radio station comes back on the air, pending FCC approval of a purchase by Radio Broadcast Communications Inc., according to company owner Bill Parris.
WAMD 970 AM was silenced under the ownership of Salem Communications, which powered down the station under FCC rules to allow another of its stations to go to maximum power in the New York City market. Parris told The Dagger that Radio Broadcast Communications bought WAMD from Salem for a dollar and plans to bring it back with a broadcast mix of music and talk.
The format will include a live morning show and DJ’s discussing community news and issues that are “as local as local gets”, Parris said, including high school sports. The music will be Top 40, up-tempo oldies, with “oldies” defined as hits from 1965 to the present. Specialized programming will be added on the weekend.
The purchase of WAMD by Radio Broadcast Communications happened about a month ago, according to Parris. He said he expects word from the FCC in January and the new format could be on the air by late February.
In the meantime, Parris said the aging Aberdeen studio is being gussied up for a comeback – offices are being refurbished, some new broadcasting equipment is being brought in, and DJ’s are being interviewed.
Parris said his Maryland-based Radio Broadcast Communications also owns WKHZ in Easton and is purchasing WYRE in Annapolis, in addition to operating a Pasadena TV and music production studio, and the entertainment website KHZTV.com.
The purchase of WAMD is part of a larger effort to revive local full service radio, Parris said, describing his plan further via email:
“We are attempting to develop a new business model for radio stations by combining old and new media. The radio network will be the filler programming when WAMD is not doing its local programming but the net is Maryland, so all will be local.”
This is good news for all of the area, a good, locally involved and community driven radio station is vital to the integrity of rural America…it’s a way of maintaining the community spirit of a rapidly growing landscape while at the same time, keeping the ‘networking’ of communities within communities to be better informed by AM radio, much like WBAL does at the present time
Good “News”, and good luck to Bill Parris and Radio Broadcast Communications Inc. Before its demise (if my memory serves me correct), WAMD had been relegated to syndication of religious programing from afar. Glad to hear that WAMD will resume broadcasting with LOCAL programing and live “disc jockeys” in the studio! That being said, it’s great to hear that the old studio is being “gussied up”. Now, if they could only do something about Hiob Lane…….
hooray for local am stations, good luck
Glad to hear it! I’m hoping that we will also be able to hear songs from local musicians from MD or perhaps even musicians traveling thru the area. I used to be a DJ and strongly support a local station. Hope it works out!
not sure if it’s the new owners broadcasting, but this a/m 970 AM was alive and well on the radio. This is all good.