WUSL

'WUSL', known as '''"Power 99 FM"''', is a mainstream urban radio station, owned by Clear Channel Communications and licensed to Philadelphia. WUSL broadcasts from a class B signal with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 27,000 watts (27 kilowatts (kW)) on the 98.9 megahertz(MHz) frequency from a tower located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. The station features the syndicated ''The Wendy Williams Experience''.

Contents

History

External links

History

In 1961 the 98.9 frequency was signed on as 'WPBS' ''"Philadelphia's Bulletin Station"'', under common ownership with the city's largest daily newspaper at the time, The Evening Bulletin. The station was cross-promoted with the newspaper and featured an easy listening format. At one point, WPBS was called ''"Velvet Stereo"''.
In 1976, the newspaper sold the station to LIN Broadcasting which also owned 'WFIL' 560 at the time. Calls changed to 'WUSL' ''"US-1"'' and Program Director Jim Nettleton instituted a Soft Adult Contemporary format mixed with standards which had crossed over to the 1960's/1970's pop charts (i.e Engelbert Humperdinck, Barbra Streisand, etc.). The morning man at this time was Jim Gearhart, who is now on NJ 101.5.
On July 3, 1981, the station switched to a "3-in-a-row" country format as "Continuous Country 99 FM". Two months later, co-owned 'WFIL-AM' switched to a more personality and information-leaning country station. Realizing that they were splitting their own audience, WUSL signed off the country format in the early hours of October 9, 1982. The last country song played was "Get Into Reggae, Cowboy" by The Bellamy Brothers.
The next day, at 6AM, the station became Urban Contemporary as ''"Kiss 99"'' (copying New York's WRKS ''"Kiss FM"''). The station even applied for new calls 'WPKS' ''"Philadelphia's Kiss"'', however the owners of 100.3 in Media PA, 'WKSZ' (see below), who at the time hadn't put their station on the air yet, said they were signing on as ''"Kiss 100"'' and had already copyrighted the name, and had even started legal action against WUSL.

So, 'WUSL' backed off, dropped the ''"Kiss"'' name and was simply ''"99 FM"'' for a few weeks, until they began using the name ''"Power 99FM"''. Within months, they had surpassed 'WDAS-FM' in the ratings, and other stations around the country began using the ''"Power"'' brandname. WUSL continues to be the dominant Urban leader in Philadelphia today.

External links

★ Official Website of Power 99

★ "The Wendy Williams Experience" Website

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