WRYS

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WRYS
Simulcasting WRBS-FM Baltimore
Broadcast area
Frequency104.7 MHz
BrandingBright-FM
Programming
FormatChristian adult contemporary
Ownership
OwnerPeter & John Radio Fellowship, Inc.
History
First air date
January 1947 (1947-01)
Former call signs
  • WJEJ-FM (1947–1977)
  • WWMD (1977–2000)[1]
  • WAYZ-FM (2000–2005)
  • WAYZ (2005–2025)
Former frequencies
95.7 MHz (1947)
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID25827
ClassB
ERP8,300 watts
HAAT420 meters (1,380 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
39°41′47.3″N 77°30′45.9″W / 39.696472°N 77.512750°W / 39.696472; -77.512750
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.brightfm.com

WRYS (104.7 FM) is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station licensed to Hagerstown, Maryland. It simulcasts a Christian adult contemporary format with WRBS-FM 95.1 in Baltimore and WRHS (103.1 FM) in Grasonville. They are known as "Bright FM" and are owned and operated by Peter & John Radio Fellowship, Inc. The studios and offices are off Commerce Drive near Interstate 95 in Halethorpe, Maryland, using a Baltimore address.[3]

WRYS has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 8,300 watts. The transmitter is near High Rock in Fort Ritchie.[4]

History

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FM 104.7 signed on the air in January 1947. The original call sign was WJEJ-FM, the sister station to WJEJ (1240 AM).[5] The stations were owned by the Hagerstown Broadcasting Company and were network affiliates of the Mutual Broadcasting System. At first, the two stations simulcast their programming.

In the late 1970s, the FM station began airing its own beautiful music programming as WWMD.[6] The station was mostly automated and played quarter-hour sweeps of instrumental music, with some Broadway and Hollywood show tunes and a few soft vocals each hour. Over time, the number of vocals increased.

On August 28, 2000, WWMD was traded to Verstandig for WAYZ-FM 101.5 for $2.5 million.[7] For most of the 2000s, the station was WAYZ, airing a country music format.[8]

In July 2025, the 104.7 FM facility was sold to Peter and John Radio Fellowship for $3.1 million. The buyer is a non-profit organization that also owns WRBS-FM 95.1 in Baltimore. WAYZ changed its call sign to WRYS upon the sale's closure, while Verstanding retained the WAYZ branding and call sign for use on another of its stations;[9] the call sign and country format would return to 101.5. Once the sale was completed, WRYS began simulcasting the Christian AC format of WRBS-FM, known as "Bright FM".[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Call letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 21, 1977. p. 84.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WRYS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ BrightFM.com/about/station-info
  4. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WRYS
  5. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 164. Retrieved Oct. 18, 2025.
  6. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1980 page C-104. Retrieved Oct. 18, 2025.
  7. ^ "Changing hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. April 17, 2000. p. 52.
  8. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2003 page 220. Retrieved Oct. 18, 2025.
  9. ^ Venta, Lance (July 11, 2025). "Brighter Media Group Expands Across Maryland With WAYZ Purchase". RadioInsight.
  10. ^ Venta, Lance (August 5, 2025). "Verstandig Sets Programming Plans For Hagerstown Shuffle". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
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