WOBM-FM
Radio station in Toms River, New Jersey
39°52′31.40″N 74°9′55.80″W / 39.8753889°N 74.1655000°W / 39.8753889; -74.1655000Public license information
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WOBM-FM (92.7 MHz) is a commercial radio station known as "92.7 WOBM", licensed to Toms River and serving Ocean County, New Jersey. It airs an adult contemporary radio format.
The station is owned by Townsquare Media, as part of its Shore Group, along with WJLK (1160 AM), WJLK-FM (94.3), WCHR-FM (105.7) and WOBM (1310 AM). Shore Group studios are in Toms River, and WOBM-FM's transmitter is in Bayville, New Jersey. Its programming is also simulcast on WOBM, along with FM translator W244EE (96.7), in Asbury Park.
History
WOBM-FM signed on the air on March 1, 1968, with studios and transmitter on U.S. Route 9 in the Bayville section Berkeley Township.[2] The station celebrated its 50th anniversary on March 1, 2018. For nearly all its time on the air, it has broadcast some form of middle of the road or adult contemporary music format, as well as Ocean County news.
On the station's 50th anniversary, long-time talk show host and former WOBM advertising salesman Bob Levy died at the age of 86.[3]
The slogan "Ocean County's Soft Rock" was changed to "Ocean County's Best Variety" in January 2015.
The outbreak of COVID-19 had an impact on the number of personalities on the station with full-time personalities being tasked with hosting various weekend shows in place of live part-time weekend hosts.
The longtime "Jersey Shore Flashback Weekend" was renamed to "Feel Good '80s Weekend" in May 2020. The new weekend format launched on Memorial Day weekend and consists of fast, upbeat and feel-good music of the 1980s.
In November 2020, Diana Tyler was repositioned to the evening time slot temporarily hosted by Mark Anthony after the departure of 18-year station veteran Brian Moore in July. "JB" Wilde, was later repositioned to the afternoon time slot formerly hosted by Justin Louis for almost 15 years.
In November 2020, 92.7 WOBM's parent company, Townsquare Media, received significant backlash after firing multiple prominent personalities including Justin Louis. Andy Chase, Chris Varacchi, and Liz Jeressi of sister stations 105.7 The Hawk and 94.3 The Point were also fired.[4]
With the exception of one ratings period, the station was a ratings powerhouse for almost ten years. In January 2021, 92.7 WOBM was rated one of the least listened to radio stations in Monmouth and Ocean Counties with a market share of just 2.1.[5]
WOBM-FM began simulcasting on WADB (1310 AM) and its FM translator on 96.7 on July 10, 2023, expanding the station's coverage of Monmouth County.[6]
Topic A with Bob Levy
Topic A was a freeform talk program that aired every Sunday on 92.7 WOBM from 7:00 am until 10:00 am and eventually until 11:00 am for almost 40 years by local radio icon Bob Levy. The overall premise of the show was for callers to tell Levy what was on their mind. Often, the callers had a political agenda. Levy was never really political himself, although he identified as a Republican on-air, he was very much socially moderate.
In 2017, local philanthropist Jeremy Grunin joined the program as Levy's cohost.
Grunin took over the program in 2018 when Levy died and somewhat revamped the show to occasionally include guests.[7]
The show was cancelled in May 2019 after Grunin announced he was stepping down. On his final show, he described a disagreement with station management as his primary reason for leaving the show.[8]
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WOBM-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Michaels, Shawn. "WOBM Is Moving – Join Us For A Look Back At Nearly 45 Years", WOBM-FM, January 20, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2023. "Townsquare Media has designed and constructed a new state of the art facility in Downtown Toms River (8 Robbins Street) and we are very excited to begin the new chapter for your 'Hometown' Station 92.7 WOBM. WOBM went on the air March 1, 1968 in these Bayville studios ....in the middle of a snowstorm!"
- ^ "Radio legend Bob Levy, the Voice of Ocean County on WOBM, has died".
- ^ "4 local N.J. radio personalities fired from their stations". The Star-Ledger. December 2020.
- ^ "Radio Industry News, Radio Show Prep, Radio Promotions, Radio Station Data, Podcast News". RADIO ONLINE.
- ^ Venta, Lance (July 10, 2023). "WOBM-FM & WJLK Expand Coverage On The Jersey Shore". RadioInsight. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ^ "Beloved Radio Personality Passes Away". Patch.com. March 2018.
- ^ "WOBM's Topic A Radio Show Ends After Almost 40 Years". Patch.com. May 19, 2019.
External links
- Official website
- WOBM in the FCC FM station database
- WOBM in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- v
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- 1160
- 1310
- 1410
| LPFM | |
|---|---|
| Translators |
by frequency & subchannel
- WBGD (91.9 FM)
- WJRZ (1550 AM)
- Radio stations in the New York metropolitan area
- New York City
- Long Island
- Lower Hudson Valley
- Middlesex-Somerset-Union
- Monmouth-Ocean
- Morristown
- Sussex
- Other nearby regions
- Atlantic City-Cape May
- Trenton
- Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton
- See also
- List of radio stations in New Jersey
39°52′30″N 74°09′54″W / 39.875°N 74.165°W / 39.875; -74.165
