W241AI on the move to downtown Birmingham

A long speculated move appears to be coming to fruition for the Gorgas-licensed W241AI (currently 10 watts, relaying WGIB in Birmingham).  The translator just received a permit for a 43-watt facility located atop Red Mountain overlooking downtown Birmingham.  Although it's lower powered than other translators it will be picking up a rumored HD3 subchannel for WERC.  It's not known yet what format this station will pick up.  The HD2 of WERC currently has gospel, and WMJJ's HD2 is urban and also being heard on an area translator.  Clear Channel also appears to be in the works to bring a translator to Tuscaloosa.  Someone unknown is working on bringing one from Calera to the Birmingham area as well.

The times, for translators around Birmingham, are interesting indeed.

File under "T" for "Too Soon": Magic 96 first station in state to flip to Christmas music.

No, just… no.  It's too soon. Call me old fashioned, but the Christmas season officially kicks off the day after Thanksgiving and not a moment sooner.

So, who will be next?

Birmingham News interview with Gary Richardson, owner of WJLD

On the Record: Gary Richardson, owner of WJLD-1400 AM Radio

Published: Sunday, August 07, 2011, 11:30 AM
By Roy L. Williams -- The Birmingham News

Birmingham's Gary Richardson is part of a dying breed -- black radio station owners.

 For the past 25 years, Richardson has operated WJLD-1400 AM, which is known for its classic soul and blues music. Last month, Richardson added WAYE-1220 AM to his holdings, buying the station from the Willis family, another black operator that has stations across the country. 

And with Clear Channel of Birmingham, Richardson entered into a five-year programming and sales agreement two weeks ago to lease the 104.1 FM spot for an urban hip-hop station now called 104.1 FM The Beat. Richardson previously simulcast his WJLD-AM on the spot and said Clear Channel is using 104.1 FM to counter Cox Radio's 95.7 Jamz on the FM dial. 

The whole article is worth a read.  Thanks to a contributor for sending it in.