WYCL

Infobox Radio station

| name = WYCL
frequency = 107.3 MHz
city = Pensacola, Florida
area = Pensacola
format = classic hits
owner = Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc.
erp = 100,000 watts
branding = "My 107.3"
slogan =
class = C
callsign_meaning = Way Cool
website = http://www.my1073.com/

WYCL (107.3 FM) is a radio station serving northwest Florida. The main studio is located on Pensacola Boulevard in Pensacola, Florida, and caters to the Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Pace and Milton markets, although the station can be heard well into Alabama and even into southern Mississippi.

In the 70s, 107.3 FM belonged to WAJB-FM, which was a Beautiful Music station with studios at the Tiger Point Country Club in Gulf Breeze, until it was purchased by Colonial Broadcasting in 1979. The format was changed to Country along with new call letters, WOWW-FM to become known as WOW 107, moving its studios to Davis Highway in Pensacola.

As the 80s progressed, WOW 107 would rise up to become a Country Music power house, overthrowing the heritage Country in the market, WXBM-FM, and winning several Billboard Magazine's Station of the Year (small market) awards. It was also known for its full-time News department, winner of countless AP news awards.

As the 80s ended, so did WOW 107's run of being a ratings king, now owned by Sun Media Group. The 90s saw several re-imaging attempts, including The New WOW 107.3 and 107 Thunder Country, until its demise as a Country station in 1994 when it became New Rock One Zero Seven, flipping to Alternative rock.

In 1996, the station was purchased by Southern Broadcasting, which owned New Rock 107's only competition, WTKX, TK101. Two months later, both were purchased by Paxson Communications. After the Paxson purchase, TK101, being a heritage Rock station since the mid-70s, brought over WOWW's air staff and re-imaged itself as The Rock Station, dropping the moniker The New Rock Alternative, leaving WOWW without an airstaff and a format.

After stunting for two days playing non-stop Macarena, WOWW changed formats to fill a void in the market, playing Oldies from the 1950s and 1960s, and change its call letters to WYCL-FM (think "Way Cool"). As time went on, they phased out the 50's music to include more 1970s songs.

Then in late 2004, the station's owner, now Clear Channel Communications, switched the music format. Today, WYCL is My 107.3 and plays mostly '70s and '80s music. However, more recently use of the "My 70s, My 80s" positioner has been discontinued and the station now uses "My Variety" as its main positioner, in order to include a slightly wider variety of music. The playlist remains mostly 70s and 80s, with an occasional 60s song added.

Proving the dominance of the station, and its morning show, are the recent ratings. Fall, 2005 Arbitron ratings show the station in just one year became a major power with West Florida listeners. The morning show is a strong second with its target audience, and outside or mornings, the station remains strong. Its main competitor was significantly down from its earlier rating periods.

For three years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the station played breaking news bulletins every hour on top of the hour (first provided by ABC News, then by Clear Channel Worldwide News), as well as "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the start and close of each workday.

External links

* [http://www.my1073.com/ WYCL website]