WGSP (AM)

WGSP
City Charlotte, North Carolina
Branding Pepe 1310/1060 AM
Frequency 1310 kHz
First air date September 26, 1958 (license granted)[1]
Format Regional Mexican
Power 5000 watts (day)
240 watts (night)
Class D
Facility ID 10631
Transmitter coordinates 35°15′23″N 80°51′52″W / 35.25639°N 80.86444°W / 35.25639; -80.86444
Affiliations CNN Radio
Owner Norsan Broadcasting
(Norsan Media Group of South Carolina, LLC)
Sister stations WXNC
Website http://pepecharlotte.com/

WGSP (1310 AM) is a Spanish language radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, known as Pepe Charlotte. The programming is also aired on WXNC, at 1060 AM,[2] along with other frequencies in various locations as of 2008.

History

WKTC played country music in the 60s. During that time, DJ Johnny Jacobs demonstrated that a person could live in a fallout shelter for a long period of time (which people during the Cold War feared they would have to do), spending a week there and contacting the station by phone.[3]

1310 AM became Charlotte's first full-time Christian station, WHVN, in the 70s. When the 1240 frequency became available early in the 80s, allowing 24-hour broadcasts, WHVN moved from 1310, which only allowed a daytime signal.

WGSP ("Great Sounds of the Past") returned to the air as one of Charlotte's first oldies stations playing a wide variety of standard pop hits and "beach music." In 1985, with no other area stations playing classic rock this small AM station became one of the first in the country to shape a format around vintage rock and roll from the 1960s and 1970s. WGSP became the second most listened to AM station in the market. At its peak, the WGSP air staff included Program Director Paul Ingles, Rick Ballew, Fielding Spicer, David Appleford, Phil England and Darby James. After a couple of years of growth by WGSP, other FM stations in the region adopted the "Classic Rock" format and, with their better signals, WGSP lost audience and was sold to religious broadcasters.

WGSP became a gospel station[4][5] and this format continued until 2004, when the switch was made to the current format.[6] During 2006 and 2007, WGSP's programming aired on WGSP-FM, at 102.3 FM.[7][8] Programs included "La Voz del Immigrante" ("The Voice of the Immigrant").[9] WGSP has simulcast the La Tremenda Network with WXNC.

former logo

References

  1. ↑ https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=10631
  2. ↑ Mark Washburn, "WXNC to Return Old Format - Atlanta-Based Group's Purchase Would Solidify Spot in Latino Market," The Charlotte Observer, April 30, 2005.
  3. ↑ Washburn, Mark (2010-09-18). "Johnny Jacobs turned up volume on local radio". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
  4. ↑ Jeff Borden, "Religious Group to Buy WGSP," The Charlotte Observer, March 6, 1986.
  5. ↑ Deborah Hales, "'Last Waltz' to Be WGSP's Swan Song," The Charlotte Observer, May 30, 1986.
  6. ↑ Cristina Breen Bolling, "Spanish-Language Media Are Multiplying in Region - Radio, Newspapers Target Powerful Market," The Charlotte Observer, June 19, 2004.
  7. ↑ Franco Ordoñez, "City's Top Spanish-Language Radio Station Leaping to FM - WGSP-AM Will Begin Simulcasting Today on WRML 102.3," The Charlotte Observer, March 1, 2006.
  8. ↑ Mark Washburn, "106.1 FM Will Shift to All-Spanish," The Charlotte Observer, November 20, 2008.
  9. ↑ Franco Ordoñez, "The Local News en Español - Spanish-Language Media Growing to Meet Needs of Charlotte's Burgeoning Latino Community, The Charlotte Observer, December 29, 2005.
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