WNMB

For the FM radio station, see WEZV.
WNMB
City North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Broadcast area Grand Strand
Frequency 900 kHz
First air date April 1, 1983 (as WGSN)
Format Silent
Power 500 watts unlimited
Class B
Facility ID 49985
Transmitter coordinates 33°49′26″N 78°45′59″W / 33.82389°N 78.76639°W / 33.82389; -78.76639
Callsign meaning Wonderful North Myrtle Beach
Former callsigns WGSN (1983-2000)
Owner Gary Beatty and Sharlene Beatty
(Beatty Broadcasting Company, LLC)
Sister stations WVCO

WNMB (900 AM) is a radio station licensed to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, and serves the greater Myrtle Beach area. The Beatty Broadcasting Company, LLC, outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast at 900 kHz with a power of 500 watts. WNMB airs an oldies/Beach format. The station goes by the name "AM Stereo 900" and its current slogan is "The Sound of North Myrtle Beach." They broadcast in high fidelity C-QUAM AM Stereo. Until August 1, 2015, WNMB was owned and operated by the family of Bill and Suzy Norman who were original employees of the original WNMB when it signed on in 1972. WNMB FM existed from 1972-2000 when it was sold and the call letters changed to WEZV. Soon after, Bill Norman leased the AM station and changed the call letters to WNMB. Norman later purchased WNMB outright and continued the WNMB radio tradition on the Grand Strand.

History

WGSN signed on with a news radio format in the early 1980s. Later, the station aired the same programming as co-owned WNMB, and at one point the station was EWTN Radio.[1]

In 2000, Fidelity Broadcasting moved the WNMB letters to WGSN when the FM became WEZV. At first, WNMB aired the same easy listening music as WEZV.[2] Starting in 2001, WNMB was leased by Bill Norman, who managed WNMB FM in the 1970s and returned to the area after 20 years in Albemarle, North Carolina. Norman also became the morning host, while his wife Susi Norman, also a WNMB FM employee in the early days, took the midday shift. Larry Schropp, another member of the WNMB FM team, was the afternoon DJ.[3]

On January 19, 2011, Ted Bell's "All Request Beach Cafe" lunch hour show moved to WNMB from WVCO.[4] In late April 2011, WNMB owner Bill Norman resurrected WVCO. Ted Bell moved mainly back over to The Surf (where he had been previously for about 11 years). However, Bell can still be heard on WNMB as well. Both radio stations are now located together in the WNMB building on Pine Avenue in North Myrtle Beach.

In 2014, WNMB changed from playing 1950s' and '60s' music to playing music from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Previously,under Mr. Norman's tenure, the station had played a wide range of true golden oldies and had a considerable audience. Also, Mr. Norman was active in the community and had many advertising clients on his air. After the shift in music, the station's identity changed dramatically. The station did continue serving the community. The North Myrtle Beach High School "Coaches Show" aired Wednesdays and Thursdays during the evening. Many of WNMB's former listeners greatly miss Mr. Norman and the wonderful oldies format.

On May 15, 2015, it was reported that an agreement had been reached to sell WNMB to Beatty Broadcasting Company for $25,000 with an option to buy the tower site for $150,000.[5] The sale was consummated on August 1, 2015. WNMB was reported in the North Myrtle Beach Times as silent on November 12, 2015, with general manager Gary Beatty citing factors such as "FCC restrictions on the station's signal and the status of AM radio in general" as well as the death of former owner Bill Norman contributing to the decision.[6] The station is listed as "licensed and silent" as of November 12, 2015 in the FCC's CDBS station search. [7]

Death of WNMB owner Bill Norman and subsequent investigation

Owner Bill Norman suffered a serious stroke[8] on September 29, 2012, and died at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center on October 14, 2012,[9] from what initially was labelled a "cerebral vascular accident" on the death certificate. On October 19, 2012, the Myrtle Beach Police Department launched an investigation into Norman's death. WMBF-TV reported on December 6–7, 2012, that a 53-year-old nurse, Janet Kupka, had given Norman 20 milligrams of morphine instead of the prescribed 4 milligrams. Kupka allegedly admitted to a witness that she gave Norman the drug Diprivan. Norman was brain dead due to the stroke. Norman's body had been cremated and was not available to be autopsied. The cause of death may be changed to an overdose.[8] In a filing with the FCC, Norman's widow is listed as his personal representative and owns 50% of WNMB in that capacity, in addition to the 50% stake she already held.

References

  1. ↑ Toby Eddings, "Time to get back on the 'Soul Train'," The Sun News, May 30, 1999.
  2. ↑ Kathleen Vereen Dayton, "NMB to Get AM Radio Station All Its Own," The Sun News, December 16, 2000.
  3. ↑ Dayton, Kathleen Vereen (February 28, 2001). "New Pine Drive, S.C., Radio Station Uses Old Call Letters". The Sun News.
  4. ↑ Palisin, Steve (January 20, 2011). "Beach music lives on in Myrtle Beach area". The Sun News. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  5. ↑ Radio Insight's station sales for the week of May 15, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  6. ↑ North Myrtle Beach Times, Current Events; November 12, 2015 "WNMB Radio Is Going Silent". Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ Sttaion information from the FCC's CDBS for WNMB. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Staff; Maginnis, Sean (December 6, 2012). "Patient dies from possible drug overdose, nurse charged". WMBF-TV. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  9. ↑ "The year in review". North Myrtle Beach Times. December 27, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  • "The Facilities of Radio". 1992 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1992. p. A-312. 

External links

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