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102.5  WAMJ-WPZE

WPZE 102.5 logo.png

History (Edited from Wikipedia)

New Mableton Broadcasting Corp.

The station is the result of Docket 80-90, the FCC plan to allow more stations on the air by reducing the required spacings. Several contenders applied in 1988, and had a lengthy battle in court. In 1997, after many years of legal wrangling over the frequency, the new station on 102.5 was awarded to The New Mableton Broadcasting Corporation and assigned the preliminary call sign WAWE.

WAMJ

On June 27, 2001, the station was then assigned the call letters WAMJ just before it went on the air, moving that call sign from 107.5 FM, which had just been upgraded to a Class C3 station and had adopted a Smooth Jazz format as WJZZ. The Urban AC format from then-"Majic 107.5" moved also,  although the "Majic" nickname was never used throughout WAMJ's tenure on 102.5. The format became more of an oldies approach to Urban AC/R&B.

Radio One had operated 102.5 FM under a local marketing agreement (LMA) beginning in August 2001, and in April 2004,  acquired the New Mableton Broadcast Corporation for approximately $35 million. Under the name ROA Licenses (Radio One Atlanta Licenses), they now owned WJZZ-FM, WPZE, and WHTA.

In October 2005, the station changed format to Urban Adult Contemporary with the addition of current R&B and soul songs, but moved back to an older playlist several months later. The station was branded as "Grown Folks Radio." When attempts to secure broadcasting rights to the popular syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show failed, WAMJ began carrying The Steve Harvey Show in the mornings. It also carried syndicated talk programming including Al Sharpton program and Michael Baisden during the midday and afternoon hours. Evenings and weekends remained dedicated to music.

WPZE "Praise 102.5"

WPZE originated its current format in 2001 on 97.5 FM. On February 16, 2009, "Praise 97.5" and the WPZE call letters moved to 102.5 FM; in turn, the urban AC format moved to 107.5 FM. On the same date, 97.5 FM changed to a simulcast of 107.5 FM, using the call sign WUMJ. At this time, the WAMJ call sign was returned to 107.5 FM (formerly WJZZ-FM) to reunite with the "Majic" branding.

On May 8, 2018, Radio One changed its name to Urban One, to reflect its involvement in many forms of media including radio.

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