WYLS (AM)

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WYLS
Broadcast areaLivingston, Alabama
Frequency670 kHz
BrandingRejoice WYLS
Programming
FormatDefunct (was Black gospel)
Ownership
Owner
  • Sarah Grant and William Grant
  • (Grantell Broadcasting, LLC)
WSLY
History
First air date
November 1970 (1970-11)
Last air date
February 15, 2025 (2025-02-15)
Former call signs
  • WYLS (1970–2025)
  • WSLY (2025)
Former frequencies
1350 kHz (1970–1988)
Call sign meaning
York, Livingston, Sumter
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID24819
ClassD
Power4,800 watts (day only)
Transmitter coordinates
32°31′24.5″N 88°15′28.1″W / 32.523472°N 88.257806°W / 32.523472; -88.257806
Translator(s)102.3 W272EL (York)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
WebsiteOfficial website

WYLS (670 AM, "Rejoice 670") was a radio station licensed to serve York, Alabama, United States. The station, which operated from 1970 to 2025, was owned by Sarah and William Grant, through licensee Grantell Broadcasting, LLC. WYLS was a Class D station broadcasting on the clear-channel frequency of 670 kHz. WYLS broadcast a black gospel music format.[2][3] Its license was canceled in 2025 as WSLY.

History

[edit]

This station began licensed operation on 1350 kHz with 5,000 watts of power in November 1970.[4] Owned by William P. Grant d/b/a Grantell Broadcasting Company, the new station was assigned the WYLS call letters by the Federal Communications Commission.[5]

WYLS made national headlines when the Associated Press reported that the station's soft drink machine still dispensed bottles of soda for just a nickel.[6] The article made humorous reference to the commodity price ceilings and wage controls in the United States imposed by President Richard Nixon from 1971 to late 1973.

In July 1987, the station applied for a construction permit that would allow a change in broadcast frequency to 670 kHz.[7] The permit was granted on October 20, 1987,[7] and the station began licensed operation on the new frequency on January 28, 1988.[8]

In 2003, William P. Grant died and, per the terms of his will, control of the station and the broadcast license passed to his wife, current owner Sarah P. Grant.[9]

On February 15, 2025, severe weather in York caused the WYLS tower to collapse. The station continued to stream online.[10] The call sign was changed to WSLY on April 22, 2025,[11] in a swap with its FM sister station.[12] The license was cancelled on September 18, 2025.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WYLS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. ^ "Alabama AM History Profile: WYLS". Alabama Broadcast Media Page.
  4. ^ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S.". Broadcasting Yearbook 1972. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1972. p. B-9.
  5. ^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  6. ^ "Radio station at york still offers nickel pop". The Anniston Star. August 30, 1973. p. 5B. Radio station WYLS has had no price ceiling trouble over its soft drink machine. "It's probably the only nickel machine in the Southeast," news director Charlie Ezell said today.
  7. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BP-19870202AB)". FCC Media Bureau. October 20, 1987.
  8. ^ "Application Search Details (BL-19871214AC)". FCC Media Bureau. January 28, 1988.
  9. ^ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License (BAL - 20031008ACU)". FCC Media Bureau. October 8, 2003.
  10. ^ "Photo of WYLS tower collapse". Facebook. February 17, 2025.
  11. ^ "Call Sign History". FCCInfo.com. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  12. ^ Grant, Wayne (April 16, 2025). "Form 380 - Exchange Request". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  13. ^ "License Cancelled". Federal Communications Commission Licensing and Management System. September 18, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
[edit]

Facility details for Facility ID 202769 (W272EL) in the FCC Licensing and Management System W272EL at FCCdata.org

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