WBEC-FM

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WBEC-FM

| logo = WBEC (AM) logo.jpg

| logo_size = 150px

| city = Pittsfield, Massachusetts

| country = US

| area = Berkshire Mountains

| branding = Live 95-9

| frequency = {{frequency|95.9|MHz}} {{HD Radio}}

| translator = {{Radio Relay|103.3|W277CJ|Pittsfield|HD2}}

| airdate = 1975 in radio

| format = Top 40

| subchannels = HD2: Classic hits (simulcast of WUPE-FM)
HD3: Talk/sports (simulcast of WBEC (AM))

| erp = 1,000 watts

| haat = {{convert|170|m|ft|sp=us}}

| class = A

| facility_id = 71437

| licensing_authority = FCC

| coordinates = {{coord|42.412|N|73.284|W|type:landmark_region:US-MA_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}

| callsign_meaning = taken from sister station WBEC (AM), originally owned by the Berkshire Eagle Company

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WGRG-FM (1975–77)|WUPE-FM (1977–79)|WUPE (1979–2006)|WUPE-FM (April 7–14, 2006)|WMNB (April 14–May 2, 2006)}}

| owner = Townsquare Media

| licensee = Townsquare License, LLC

| sister_stations = {{hlist|WBEC|WNAW|WSBS|WUPE-FM}}

| webcast = {{listenlive|http://live959.com/listen-live/}}

| website = {{URL|http://live959.com/}}

| affiliations = {{ubl|Compass Media Networks|United Stations Radio Networks}}

}}

WBEC-FM (95.9 MHz) is a commercial radio station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts a Top 40 format.

WBEC-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,000 watts. The transmitter is off Alpine Trail in Pittsfield, near South Street (U.S. Route 20).[https://radio-locator.com/info/WBEC-FM Radio-Locator.com/WBEC-FM]

History

In 1975, the station signed on as WGRG-FM, airing a free form progressive rock sound. At that time, it was not associated with WBEC (1420 AM). WBEC had an FM station on 94.3 MHz dating back to the late 1940s, but gave it up in an era when few people owned FM receivers. It later put another FM station on the air on 105.5 MHz; that station moved to Easthampton, Massachusetts, becoming WVEI-FM, in 2006.

From 1977 to 2006, the station was known as WUPE-FM. WUPE began operations in 1977 simulcasting the top 40 sound heard on WUPE (1110 AM). WUPE-AM-FM later switched to soft adult contemporary and then oldies. After oldies, the WUPE-FM call sign and format were moved to 100.1 FM.

In August 2013, Gamma Broadcasting reached a deal to sell its Berkshire County radio stations, including WBEC-FM, to Reed Miami Holdings.{{cite news|title=Western Massachusetts Cluster Sold|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/121608/western-massachusetts-cluster-sold|access-date=August 29, 2013|newspaper=All Access|date=August 23, 2013}} The sale was canceled on December 30, 2013.{{cite news|last=Venta|first=Lance|title=Pittsfield Cluster Sale Withdrawn|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/87396/pittsfield-cluster-sale-dismissed/|access-date=March 30, 2014|newspaper=RadioInsight|date=January 14, 2014}} In October 2016, Gamma agreed to sell its stations to Galaxy Communications.{{cite news|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=Galaxy Communications Acquires Pittsfield Cluster|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/108748/galaxy-communications-acquires-pittsfield-cluster/|access-date=April 19, 2017|work=RadioInsight|date=October 17, 2016}} That sale also fell through, and in 2017 the stations were acquired by Townsquare Media.{{cite news|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=Townsquare Media Acquires Six In Massachusetts|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/118736/townsquare-media-acquires-six-massachusetts/|access-date=November 14, 2017|work=RadioInsight|date=July 18, 2017}}

HD Radio

In March 2025, WBEC-FM added a second HD Radio channel to simulcast WUPE-FM; the subchannel is in turn relayed on translator station W277CJ (103.3 FM). The subchannel serves as a replacement for WUPE (1110 AM), which surrendered its license on March 25 and had previously served as W277CJ's primary station.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Townsquare Media Surrenders Texas FM & Massachusetts AM |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/297349/townsquare-media-surrenders-texas-fm-massachusetts-am/ |access-date=March 25, 2025 |work=RadioInsight |date=March 25, 2025}}

{{RadioTranslators

| callsign = WBEC-FM HD2

| call1 = W277CJ

| watts1 = 100

| class1 = D

| freq1 = 103.3

| city1 = Pittsfield, Massachusetts

| fid1 = 145171

| coord1 = {{coord|42|26|52.2|N|73|15|17.7|W|type:landmark_region:US-MA|name=W277CJ}}

}}