KWAM

KWAM was founded in 1947 in West Memphis, Arkansas, as KWEM, helping "break" artists such as Elvis Presley, B.B.

But because 990 AM is a Canadian clear channel frequency, KWAM must reduce power at night to only 450 watts to avoid interference.

[7] After delays, KWEM (990 AM) began operating on February 9, 1947, utilizing studios in the Merchants and Planters Bank Building.

[10] West Memphis was described as the "Las Vegas of the South" in this era, and its programming drew from musicians playing in clubs.

[6] Howlin' Wolf had a show on the station from 1949 to 1952, and Sam Phillips heard him and signed him to a contract with Sun Records;[11] his program aired after music by rockabilly guitarist Paul Burlison;[12] B.B.

King was first heard over the station, getting his break on a show helmed by Sonny Boy Williamson II;[13] Stax Records founder Jim Stewart started at KWEM, as did James Cotton and Hubert Sumlin;[14] Johnny Cash's first radio broadcast was on KWEM in 1953.

[7] The transmitter, however, failed and was destroyed in a fire the next year; competitor WLOK loaned equipment to help KWAM return to the air.

In 1983, the call letters were changed to KRNB, with the station switching to a rhythmic contemporary and disco format, while KWAM continued its gospel sound.

[28] Concord switched KWAM to a talk radio format competing directly against WREC, which Clear Channel (renamed iHeartMedia in 2014) retained.

Several years later, KWAM changed hands again, this time bought by Legacy Media, which also owns WEKS, an FM country music station in Zebulon, Georgia, just outside Atlanta.

[31] Other syndicated hosts include Armstrong & Getty, Lars Larson, Sebastian Gorka, Rita Cosby, Bill O'Reilly, Charlie Kirk and "Red Eye Radio."