WSM (AM)
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WSM_(AM).gif
It first signed on in 1923 and is primarily associated with the popularization of country music through its weekly Saturday night program the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in history. Its unusual diamond-shaped antenna (called a Blaw-Knox Tower) is visible off Interstate 65 just south of Nashville and is one of the area's landmarks. It is the tallest of seven such towers that remain in use in North America. As a tribute to the station's centrality in country music history, the diamond Blaw-Knox antenna design was incorporated into the new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the 1990s.
WSM's companion station, WSM-FM, was the first to broadcast on the FM band in the United States.
Until 1982, the radio stations, an associated television station, and the Grand Ole Opry were owned by the former National Life and Accident Insurance Company and the call letters derived from the company's motto, "We Shield Millions". Since being sold to Gaylord Entertainment, the operations have been reorganized, with first the television division and recently WSM-FM having been sold, the latter to Cumulus Media. Through a joint sales agreement, Cumulus operates WSM's sales department and provides news, while Gaylord Entertainment operates all other departments, including programming, engineering, and promotions.
The Opry, WSM-AM, and its hotel division are now the company's core holdings. A rumor circulated in the press in 2001 indicating that WSM-AM might convert to a talk format, as has been done at many AM stations. This caused a serious outcry, including protests outside the station's offices. The company eventually reaffirmed its commitment to keeping the station devoted to country music. Most recently, the station has become a choice on Sirius Satellite Radio, and has experimented with making its programming available on the internet.
External links
- WSM online (http://www.wsmonline.com)
- WSM music player (http://66.250.84.150/Player.asp?STA=WSM&SPD=LO)
- WSM's train signal signature (http://www.tennessean.com/learn-nashville/archives/04/06/31346829.shtml)
- A visit to WSM (http://www.bostonradio.org/radio/digicam/atlanta2002/wsm/)
- Gaylord notes WSM's role in creating the Opry (http://www.gaylordentertainment.com/PC/press/OpryTrademarkName10-12-01.htm)
- Country Music Hall of Fame (http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/visitor.info)
- Traditional Country Hall of Fame (http://www.countryhall.com/)-particularly strong on early WSM history
- Information on WSM's unusual tower (http://www.oldradio.com/archives/stations/ccs/wsmtwr.htm)