WENN-FM and WRAX The station signed on the air on September 15, 1969. Its call sign was WENN-FM, the sister station to the popular
WENN (1320 AM). The two stations simulcast most of their programming. WENN-FM was the first FM station in Birmingham to target
African-American listeners, playing what was then called “
soul music" a mix of
R&B and
Motown hits. The station had no FM competition until 1996. When the AM changed formats and call letters in 1983, WENN-FM was well established as Birmingham’s leading station for what is now called
urban contemporary music. In 1998, new owners of the 107.7 frequency moved the programming and call letters of WENN to 105.9 FM and moved the
alternative rock format and WRAX call letters to 107.7. Known on the air as "107.7 the X", WRAX became one of the highest rated alternative/
modern rock stations in the country. It was successful, even though its signal was limited. It broadcast from a tower atop Miles Mountain in
Palmerdale, Alabama, some northeast of downtown Birmingham. The majority of Birmingham’s other FM stations broadcast from Red Mountain, which overlooks the city.
WUHT In 2005,
Citadel Broadcasting purchased several stations in nearby
Tuscaloosa, including alternative music
WANZ, whose signal reached Birmingham. Not wanting to own two stations with the same format in the same market, the WRAX call letters were moved to 100.5 FM. On March 31, 2005, "The X" changed frequencies again, moving to 100.5 and becoming known on the air as "The X @ 100.5". On the same day, WUHT "Hot 107.7" debuted, branding itself as "Birmingham’s New #1 for R & B Hits". The station now broadcasts at slightly reduced power from an antenna atop Birmingham’s Red Mountain. Its musical presentation places it squarely between Summit Media's stations, urban contemporary
WBHJ (95.7 Jamz) and adult urban
WBHK (98.7 Kiss FM). Citadel merged with
Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011. In 2024, Cumulus Media made some company-wide cuts that included WUHT. Program Director and midday host Tasha Simone was let go. ==References==