WEZB

On September 1, 1945, 97.1 signed on the air as WRCM, the FM simulcast of WJMR (990 AM; WGSO) and sister station to WJMR-TV (now WVUE), all owned by George J.

[4] It became WEZB, part of a chain of beautiful music stations such as WEZC Charlotte, WEZR Washington and others owned by EZ.

"We had a big party in the Atrium at the Hyatt Regency Hotel", says Jimmy Roberts, B97 FM's first "BJ", the station's version of a DJ.

"[5] According to Jackson "Jack Da Wack" Tally, who was also one of B97 FM's first Bee Jocks, in early November 1979, the station slowly started to work more Top 40 music into the playlist and scaled back the rhythmic titles.

Kent Burkhart, consultant to EZ Communications at the time, states on his website[6] that Dan Vallie was hired on by the company to change the ailing format of WEZB from disco and dance music to Top 40.

On June 7, 1996, the station stunted by playing Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart" repeatedly for seven hours.

WEZB was also a member of the United Radio Broadcasters of New Orleans, an alliance of broadcast stations formed by the joint ventures of WEZB's parent company, Entercom Communications with Clear Channel Communications, during Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. Notable former programs include The Howard Stern Show.

Notable former on-air personalities include program director Elvis Duran and sports reporter Bernard "Buddy" Diliberto.