Class B Owner Saga Communications Branding 103.7 WDBR | First air date 1948 (as WTAX-FM) HAAT 91 meters (299 feet) City of license Springfield Area Springfield | |
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Translator(s) 101.1 W266BZ (Springfield, relays HD2)107.5 W298AP (Springfield, relays HD3) Format Contemporary hit radio, Adult hits Slogan Springfield's #1 Hit Music Station | ||
Wdbr springfield il from june of 1976
WDBR is a Top 40/CHR radio station licensed to and serving the Springfield, Illinois market.
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Wdbr 1976 1003
History
103.7 FM was Springfield's second FM station and the oldest continuously operating FM station in the market. The station originally played beautiful music as WTAX-FM. In January 1972 WTAX-FM became WDBR and switched to Drake-Chenault's "Solid Gold" format, a mix of adult-appeal Top 40 hits and rock oldies. WDBR dropped "Solid Gold" in late 1973 and went to a locally programmed, voicetracked Top 40 sound, which proved successful in the ratings. During the 1970s and 1980s, WDBR was known by the moniker Music 104. WDBR remained largely voicetracked until the early 1990s, when increased competition and faltering ratings forced the station, by then owned by Sentry Insurance, to go fully live, after which the station regained its position as a dominant force in Springfield radio. The new live team included: Greg Lawley and Lisa Crocker with Patrick Gordon mornings, Bobby T middays, Jim Moore Afternoons, Rick Elliott nights with the original "Hot 9 at 9" Rick also hosted the "Dance Machine on the local Fox TV affiliate.
WDBR's tower (shared with sister station WTAX), in operation since 1949, was destroyed by a tornado during the severe weather outbreak of March 2006. The stations soon resumed broadcasting from a new tower at a new location.
On October 2nd, 2013, ABE FM was moved from 93.9 FM to WDBR-HD2 and also transmitted on 101.1 FM (W266BZ-FM) to create 101.1 ABE FM. On January 29, 2016, 101.1 ABE FM was replaced with classic country "101.1 The Outlaw".