WUHT
 | |
| Broadcast area | Birmingham metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 107.7 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Hot 107.7 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban Adult Contemporary |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks Westwood One University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WAPI, WJOX, WJOX-FM, WJQX, WZRR | |
| History | |
First air date | September 15, 1969 (as WENN-FM) |
Former call signs | WENN-FM (1969–1998) WRAX (1998–2005) |
Call sign meaning | W Urban (station's format) HoT (branding) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 6401 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 42,000 watts |
| HAAT | 409.9 meters (1,345 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live Listen Live via iHeart |
| Website | hot1077radio.com |
WUHT (107.7 FM, "Hot 107.7") is a commercial radio station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama, and owned by Cumulus Media. It airs an urban adult contemporary format. Hot 107.7 carries two nationally syndicated programs on weekdays: The Steve Harvey Morning Show and The D.L. Hughley Show in afternoon drive time. WUHT also serves as the flagship station of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers Radio Network.[1] WUHT's studios are on Goodwin Crest Drive in Homewood.
WUHT is a Class C1 station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 42,000 watts. Its transmitter is off Golden Crest Drive atop Red Mountain in Birmingham.[2]
History
[edit]WENN-FM and WRAX
[edit]The station signed on the air on September 15, 1969. Its call sign was WENN-FM, the sister station to the popular WENN 1320 AM. The two stations simulcast most of their programming. WENN-FM was the first FM station in Birmingham to target African-American listeners, playing what was then called “soul music" a mix of R&B and Motown hits. The station had no FM competition until 1996. When the AM changed formats and call letters in 1983, WENN-FM was well established as Birmingham’s leading station for what is now called urban contemporary music.
In 1998, new owners of the 107.7 frequency moved the programming and call letters of WENN to 105.9 FM and moved the alternative rock format and WRAX call letters to 107.7. Known on the air as "107.7 the X", WRAX became one of the highest rated alternative/modern rock stations in the country. It was successful, even though its signal was limited. It broadcast from a tower atop Miles Mountain in Palmerdale, Alabama, some 15 miles (24 km) northeast of downtown Birmingham. The majority of Birmingham’s other FM stations broadcast from Red Mountain, which overlooks the city.
WUHT
[edit]In 2005, Citadel Broadcasting purchased several stations in nearby Tuscaloosa, including alternative music WANZ, whose signal reached Birmingham. Not wanting to own two stations with the same format in the same market, the WRAX call letters were moved to 100.5 FM. On March 31, 2005, "The X" changed frequencies again, moving to 100.5 and becoming known on the air as "The X @ 100.5".[3] On the same day, WUHT "Hot 107.7" debuted, branding itself as "Birmingham’s New #1 for R & B Hits".[4] The station now broadcasts at slightly reduced power from an antenna atop Birmingham’s Red Mountain. Its musical presentation places it squarely between Summit Media's stations, urban contemporary WBHJ (95.7 Jamz) and adult urban WBHK (98.7 Kiss FM).
Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[5] In 2024, Cumulus Media made some company-wide cuts that included WUHT. Program Director and midday host Tasha Simone was let go.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Irvine, Steve (August 3, 2007). "Blazers sign on with Citadel Broadcasting". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
The Blazers ISP Sports Network has signed a three-year deal with Citadel Broadcasting to serve as the flagship radio stations for UAB football and men's basketball. UAB football and basketball games - as well as the pregame and postgame shows - can be heard on FM-107.7.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WUHT
- ^ Carlton, Bob (July 26, 2007). "Daniels steps down as Citadel manager". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
Among the changes Citadel made while [Dale] Daniels was in Birmingham was moving the once-popular alternative station The X (WRAX-FM) from the 107.7 frequency to the weaker 100.5 signal to start up Hot 107.7, an urban station. The X lost listeners after the switch, and in December, Citadel pulled the plug on the station altogether to make way for WJOX-FM, which moved from the AM dial to become Birmingham's first FM sports talk station.
- ^ "'Hot 107.7' Debuts As WiRAX/Birmingham Moves" (PDF). Radio & Records. p. 15. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
- ^ RadioInsight.com "Tasha Simone Exit Birmingham R&B Outlet" Nov. 22, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Hot 107.7 WUHT official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 6401 (WUHT) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WUHT in Nielsen Audio's FM station database