WSBC

File:WCPT's studio building and daytime tower.jpg

WSBC was first licensed on June 26, 1925,[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=66932 FCC History Cards for WSBC], fcc.gov. Retrieved September 19, 2019.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Progress/Radio-Progress-1925-08-15.pdf#page=42 "Radio Programs"], Radio Progress. August 15, 1925. p. 40. Retrieved September 19, 2019.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433066451406&seq=648 "Corrected List of Broadcasting Stations"], Radio Age. August 1925. p. 102. Retrieved September 19, 2019. to the World Battery Company at 1219 South Wabash Avenue, transmitting on 1430 kHz.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763060&view=1up&seq=125 "New Stations"], Radio Servcice Bulletin, July 1, 1925, page 3. Its call sign stood for "World Storage Battery Company".[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Chicago-Trib-1979-Mar-About-Chi-Radio.pdf#num=16 "What those letters on the dial mean"], Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 16. Retrieved September 20, 2019.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/City-Magazines-Misc/Chicagoland-Radio-Waves-Two-Issues.pdf Chicagoland Radio Waves], MediaTies. Summer 1988. Retrieved September 20, 2019. In 1926, its frequency was changed to 1040 kHz and in 1927 it was changed to 1290 kHz.

Following the establishment of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), stations were initially issued a series of temporary authorizations starting on May 3, 1927.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=60 "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits"], Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, pages 6-14. In addition, they were informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=205 "Extension of Broadcasting Station Licenses"], Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1927, page 7. On May 25, 1928, the FRC issued General Order 32, which notified 164 stations, including WSBC, that "From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it."[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015011384305&view=1up&seq=182 "Appendix F (2): Letter to and list of stations included in General Order No. 32, issued May 25, 1928"], Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission for the Year Ended June 30, 1928, Together With Supplemental Report for the Period From July 1, 1928 to September 30, 1928, pages 146-149. However, the station successfully convinced the commission that it should remain licensed.

On November 11, 1928, the FRC implemented a major reallocation of station transmitting frequencies, as part of a reorganization resulting from its implementation of General Order 40. WSBC was assigned to 1210 kHz, sharing time with WCRW and WEDC.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015011384305&view=1up&seq=211 "Broadcasting Stations"], Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission (June 30, 1928), page 175. Its studios and transmitter were located at the New Southern Hotel (later known as the Hotel Crillon) at 13th and Michigan Avenue.

Since the station began broadcasting, it has featured a wide variety of ethnic programming.Knopper, Steve. [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-12-21.pdf#num=73 "Ethnic Radio's Potent, Growing Niche"], Billboard. December 21, 1996. pp. 77-78. Retrieved September 20, 2019. The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music holds the Frank Scheibenreif Slovak, Czech, and Romi Sound Recording Collection, ca. 1930-1950.{{cite web |url=http://www.library.illinois.edu/archives/archon/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=10656&q=scheibenreif |title = University of Illinois Archives}} This collection includes 1,001 recordings, including 753 78-R.P.M., 140 45-R.P.M., and 108 LPs; and one book documenting Eastern Europe music prior to World War II, principally from Czechoslovakia and used by Scheibenreif for the WSBC show, "Slovak American Radio Review."

WSBC hired the nation's first full-time African-American radio announcer, Jack Cooper, who on November 3, 1929, began hosting The All-Negro Hour, a vaudevillesque entertainment program.Sterling, Christopher H. (2003). [https://books.google.com/books?id=-UeveLMilioC&pg=PA639 Encyclopedia of Radio 3-Volume Set]. Routledge. p. 639. Retrieved September 20, 2019.Bracks, Lean'tin (2012). [https://books.google.com/books?id=TUIHbempHkUC&pg=PT436 African American Almanac: 400 Years of Triumph, Courage and Excellence]. Visible Ink Press. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

On April 1, 1933, Gene Dyer purchased WSBC from C.J. Gordon, who had operated it since August 1932.{{cite news|title=Dyer Buys WSBC|url=https://archive.org/details/broadcasting04unse/page/n255/mode/1up|access-date=June 9, 2024|magazine=Broadcasting|date=April 15, 1933|page=14}} At the time, Dyer also owned WGES in Chicago. In 1936, the station's studios and transmitter were moved to the West Town State Bank Building at 2400 W. Madison. Its frequency was changed to 1240 kHz in March 1941, as a result of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement.

In 1944, WSBC was sold to the J. Miller Advertising Agency for $100,000."[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting27unse/page/n1155/mode/1up FCC Approves Sale of WSBC Chicago to J. Miller Adv. Agency for $100,000]", Broadcasting. October 2, 1944. p. 66. Retrieved June 9, 2024. In 1954, the station was sold to Louis Lee for $180,000."[https://archive.org/details/broadcastingtele46unse/page/n577/mode/1up Ownership Changes]", Broadcasting. February 1, 1954. p. 88. Retrieved June 9, 2024. In 1976, control of the station was passed to Louis Lee's son, Danny Lee.Wyman, Bill. "[https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/wxrt-sold-down-the-river/Content?oid=886877 WXRT: Sold Down the River?]", Chicago Reader. March 9, 1995. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

In 1996, WSBC's owners purchased WCRW for $564,375, plus $160,000 for a non-compete agreement."[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-05-20.pdf#page=50 Changing Hands]", Broadcasting & Cable. May 20, 1996. p. 50. Retrieved September 21, 2019.[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=224152 Application Search Details – BAL-19960501EA], fcc.gov. Retrieved September 21, 2019. WEDC ceased broadcasting in 1997. WSBC began broadcasting from WEDC's transmitter site and it began full-time operations.[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=52006 History Cards for WEDC], fcc.gov. Retrieved September 20, 2019."[http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/241339.pdf Federal Communications Commission AM Broadcast License]", Federal Communications Commission. April 25, 1997. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

In 1998, the station was sold to Newsweb Corporation for $5,550,000.[https://web.archive.org/web/20190921052117/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl%3FApplication_id%3D257002 Application Search Details – BAL-19971118EA], fcc.gov. Retrieved September 20, 2019."[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1997/RR-1997-11-07.pdf#page=8 Transactions]", Radio & Records. November 7, 1997. p. 6. Retrieved September 21, 2019. Some of the station's programs were simulcast on 1470 WCFJ in Chicago Heights, Illinois."[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1998-08.pdf#page=2 Format Changes & Updates]", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 33. August 19, 1998. p. 2. Retrieved August 25, 2020.{{cite web|url=http://accessradiochicago.com:80/page1.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920232906/http://accessradiochicago.com:80/page1.htm|title=WCFJ 1470 AM Chicago Heights|publisher=Access Radio Chicago|access-date=January 5, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2014|url-status=dead}} In June 1998, WSBC began airing LesBiGay Radio weekday evenings.Feder, Robert. "Soap opera channel to get trial run here", Chicago Sun-Times. June 9, 1998. p. 37. The program was heard on WSBC until April 2001, and was simulcast on WCFJ.Feder, Robert. "Mancow might leave Windy City for Frisco", Chicago Sun-Times. July 17, 2001. p. 49.

In 2024, Newsweb transferred WSBC and WCPT to Heartland Signal for $1.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Heartland Signal Acquires WCPT/WSBC |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/264719/heartland-signal-acquires-wcpt-wsbc/ |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=RadioInsight |date=February 12, 2024}}

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{{AM station data|16847|WSBC}}

• [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=66932 FCC History Cards for WSBC] (covering 1925-1980)

{{Chicago Radio}}

SBC

Category:Radio stations established in 1925

Category:1925 establishments in Illinois

Category:Brokered programming