Some Exciting News!
This month, allow me to take a pause from southern gospel history and share with you two exciting ‘happenings’ at WBTX…
The Return of WNLR
After going silent towards the end of September last year, WNLR (1150AM), located in Churchvile, is now back-on-the air! We are now broadcasting all WBTX programming on this frequency, thanks to a lease agreement with WNLR’s owner, New Life Ministries. This ultimately means that WBTX can now be heard across a large portion of Augusta County.
Perhaps you live in Augusta County and have had difficulty acquiring WBTX on 1470AM or 102.1FM. Try 1150AM, you may find a stronger signal. And, of course, we are thrilled to welcome former WNLR insteners into our WBTX “family”.
The Return of Light 96
Light 96 is coming back…but only online! Let me explain…
As you may remember, for many years WBTX had a ‘sister’ station, WLTK. It came on-the-air in December of 1989, branded as “Light 96 FM”. This was the first station in our area to program contemporary Christian music (CCM). In later years, the station became “X 103 – The Cross”. In 2010, WLTK ceased all local programming and began carrying the K-LOVE satellite feed. WLTK is no longer owned by WBTX, and continues to broadcast K-LOVE throughout the valley.
As you can imagine, we have cleaned out our offices and studios over the years. Virtually all of the WLTK music library was distributed to former employees and some listeners not too long after the station ended local programming. However, despite these ‘cleanouts’, a few ‘key pieces’ were saved – either intentionally (?) or accidentally. This included a printout of the “Light 96 Music Directory”, essentially a list of songs that were being played on the station as of 1992. We also happed to keep a series of tapes (we’re talking reels of tape, mind you), that included many of the original Light 96 “sweepers” and “bumpers”.
I began to digitize and archive both of these items, and very soon became immersed in the ‘classic’ CCM of the 1980s and 1990s. In the coming months, I was able to build a music library of my own through numerous trips to thrift stores and antique malls. Pretty soon, I realized that I had amassed enough music to ‘rebuild’ Light 96.
Like I said, you will only be able to listen to Light 96 online. There are no plans to bring the station back on the FM airways. The station will program classic CCM (1977 to 1997) 24/7, with very short commercial breaks. You will literally be able to ‘step back in time’, as you’ll even hear the original Light 96 “sweepers” that were in use throughout much of the 1990s. There will be no live DJs on Light 96, but the music ‘rotation’ will ensure a wonderful variety of music (you will not necessarily be hearing the exact same songs each and every day).
Of course, I need to take this opportunity to thank the two individuals who practically ‘made’ the original Light 96: Brian Charrette and Brad Huddleston. You may recall Brad being on-the-air for many years (and you will still hear him on Light 96 with his short “Techwise” feature). Brad worked alongside Brian to carefully, and prayerfully, select songs for Light 96. Thanks to the documentation that was left, I have been able to rebuild this ‘mix’ that was exclusive to Light 96 (as, often times, songs progammed on Light 96 were not being heard on other CCM stations). Brian has also been kind enough to answer some of my questions in recent months.
While we may never be able to bring back all of Light 96 (as, often times, it was the on-air personalities that made the station what it was), my only hope is that we’re able to bring back the essence of Light 96.
Perhaps you grew up with this music? Well, Light 96 is for you. Or, maybe you’d like to introduce someone to a ‘new’ style of Christian music, a style that is perhaps not as commonplace as it once was. Try Light 96.
It’s simple: go online to wbtxradio.com, and click on ‘Listen Live – Light 96’!
Note: As of “press time”, Light 96 was not quite ready. Be listening to WBTX and/or check our website, wbtxradio.com for updates.
