WSYN

WSYN
City Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Broadcast area Grand Strand
Branding Sunny 103.1
Slogan The Grand Strand's Greatest Hits
Frequency 103.1 MHz
First air date 1977 (as WYAK-FM)
Format Classic Hits
ERP 8,000 watts
HAAT 161 meters
Class C3
Facility ID 46964
Transmitter coordinates 33°47′6.00″N 78°52′44.00″W / 33.7850000°N 78.8788889°W / 33.7850000; -78.8788889
Callsign meaning "Sunny"
Former callsigns WYAK-FM (1977-2008)
Affiliations John Boy and Billy
Owner Cumulus Media
(Cumulus Licensing LLC)
Sister stations WJXY-FM, WDAI, WHSC, WSEA, WLFF
Webcast Listen Live
Listen Live via iHeart
Website sunny1031.com

WSYN (103.1 FM, "Sunny 103.1") is a classic hits music formatted radio station licensed to Surfside Beach, South Carolina and serves the Grand Strand area. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast at 103.1 MHz with an ERP of 8 kW. Its current slogans are "The Grand Strand's Greatest Hits". The Station airs the "John Boy & Billy Big Show" weekdays from 6-10 A.M..

History

For the history of the classic hits format prior to the move to 103.1, see WLFF.

103.1 signed on as WYAK-FM "Big Yak" with a country music format in 1977. In 1985 the name changed to Y-103 under new owners who wanted a different image.[1] An AM frequency was added at 1270. In 1985, WYAK DJs included John Dixon, Ralph Connor and Steve Mimms.[1] WYAK became a separate station around 1990, first calling itself WXMB and playing southern gospel music. The station became WYAK again later, the first Myrtle Beach area station to air Rush Limbaugh, and broadcast the FM programming part-time. Later the AM station played R & B oldies as WCKN, using the WCIN classic oldies format,[2] but signed off.

During the mid-90s WYAK-FM, owned by Multi-Market Radio Inc., was also heard on WVCO 94.9.[3][4] On October 1, 1996, Pinnacle Broadcasting Co., owner of WYAV, announced its purchase of WYAK, WMYB, and WRNN-FM. Pinnacle intended to continue managing WVCO,[5] though that station began separate programming in 1997.[6]

WYAK returned to the Big Yak name in 1999 and moved Rick Roberts to mornings with Tab Allen for "Big Yak Mornings with Rick and Tab". Allen's previous partner Michale Jeffries moved to middays and program director Frankie B was afternoon host.[1] After ten years, Allen was let go December 30, 1999, replaced by Holli Heart, formerly of WGTR. Dave Priest was program director for Pinnacle's stations.[7] In 2000, it reverted to the K-103 name.

WSYN and WYAK switched frequencies and were reborn as Sunny 103.1 WSYN and The Coyote 106.5 (WLFF).[8]

WSYN also switched to the "True Oldies" feed;[9] many 1950s and 1960s Oldies were once again heard. Later, with some programming also being done locally, the playlist included many 1960s oldies and also some 1950s ones as well blended in with the mostly early 1970s oldies along with some Carolina beach music classics like "Sixty Minute Man" by Billy Ward (1949).

In January 2010, Craig Russ, the Operations Manager of the Cumulus Cluster, became Program Director of the station. Personalities now include Kenzie (from 104.9 BOB-FM) and Craig Russ (also former Program Director of BOB-FM) is in afternoon drive.

In April 2016, WSYN added "Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 – The 80s". The station also had Awesome '80s Weekends.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Toby Eddings, "WYAK changes its lineup and image," The Sun News, Apr. 25, 1999.
  2. ↑ Greg Paeth, "WCIN 'Classic Oldies' format expanding into syndication," The Cincinnati Post, June 6, 1995.
  3. ↑ "Multi-Market Radio adds third Myrtle Beach station". Business Wire. 1996-08-29. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  4. ↑ "Issue 10". mbsc.com. 1996-07-19. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  5. ↑ Andrew Shain, "WYAV-FM Owner Buys WYAK-FM, WMYB-FM, The Sun News, October 2, 1996.
  6. ↑ Toby Eddings, "Catching Up on News in the Area," The Sun News, January 12, 1997.
  7. ↑ Toby Eddings, "Holli Heart replaces Tab Allen at WYAK," The Sun News, Jan. 16, 2000.
  8. ↑ Steve Palisin, "Radio Format and Station Changes in Progress," The Sun News, September 7, 2008.
  9. ↑ "WYAK Flips Frequencies With WSYN, Becomes 'The Wolf'". allaccess.com. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  10. ↑ Palisin, Steve (August 4, 2016). "1980s remain ageless in age of their own". The Sun News.
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