WRNN-FM

WRNN-FM is a News/Talk radio station licensed to Socastee, South Carolina and serves the Grand Strand area. The station is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast at 99.5 MHz with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 21.5 kW. The station goes by the name Hot Talk WRNN and its current slogan is "The Grand Strand's News Talk Network." Its studios and transmitter are located separately in Myrtle Beach.

WRNN-FM
CitySocastee, South Carolina
Broadcast areaMyrtle Beach, South Carolina
BrandingHot Talk WRNN
SloganThe Grand Strand's News Talk Network
Frequency99.5 MHz
First air dateApril 7, 1991[1]
FormatNews/Talk
ERP21,500 watts
HAAT108 meters
ClassC3
Facility ID53949
Transmitter coordinates33°43′16.00″N 78°53′45.00″W
Former call signsWMYB (1991-2000)
AffiliationsABC Radio , CBS Radio, CNN Radio
OwnerDick Broadcasting
(Dick Broadcasting Company, Inc. of Tennessee)
Sister stationsWKZQ, WMYB, WWHK, WYAV
WebcastListen Live
Websitewrnn.net

The station airs Laura Ingraham, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Jim Bohannon, and Michael Savage. A daily morning talk show also airs. A portion of WRNN-FM's broadcast day is simulcast with 1450 WRNN.

History of 94.5 FM

In early 1991, 94.1 became WKOA-FM, "Coast 94.5". The station was all Oldies from the mid-1950s-Mid 1970s. They played many Oldies songs that weren't being heard on WSYN Oldies Sunny 106.5. WKOA aired commercials stating that they had run a poll ad in the Myrtle Beach Sun News asking readers what kind of new radio station that they would like on the Grand Strand. Coast 94.5 claimed that the overwhelming answer was an Oldies station that played a lot of 1950s' and early 1960s' Oldies with old commercials and Old T.V. Theme songs played also. So, Coast 94.5 was born. However, their playlist wasn't really very large with a lot of repeats. By September 1992, the station was all talk WRNN-FM and featured the Tom Snyder Show. Don Imus was airing on WRNN prior to the mid-90s.[2] In 1999, Kim Komando[3] and Stephanie Miller (who replaced Love Phones) joined WRNN's lineup.[4] WRNN also aired the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.[5] Rachel Roberts, promotions director for Pinnacle Broadcasting's Myrtle Beach stations (including WYAV, WYAK, and WMYB), joined Steve Porter in the mornings.[6]

History of 99.5 FM

WMYB

In 1995, WMYB signed on at 99.5 FM stunting with classic country. Later, WMYB switched to 1970s music. Multi-Market Radio Inc., which had programmed and sold advertising for the station, announced on August 29, 1996 that it had purchased WMYB for $1.1 million from Puritan Radiocasting Co.[7] Then on October 1, 1996, Pinnacle Broadcasting Co., owner of WYAV, announced its purchase of WMYB, WRNN and WYAK.[8]

In December 1996, WMYB switched from ‘70s music[2] to adult contemporary music.[9] By 2000, the name had changed from Beach 99.5 to Star 99.5 [10] When NextMedia Group bought WRNN and WMYB in 2000, they traded frequencies because 99.5 FM had a stronger signal, though WMYB moved to 92.1 soon after that.[9]

WRNN after the switch
Former logo

WRNN-FM had a highly rated early morning talk show with Porter, Priest and Debbie Harwell.[11][12] On September 21, 2011, NextMedia market manager Barry Brown announced that Porter would no longer be on the show, but would be replaced by Tara Servatius from WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina, who was new in the market.[13] The show started streaming from the website, www.wrnn.net, in 2007 and is drawing listeners from around the country that use Myrtle Beach as their vacation spot or second home area. National, state and local news is discussed on the conservative format with Fox News at the top and bottom of the hour.

On April 25, 2013 WRNN (AM) split from its simulcast of the FM.[14]

Liz Callaway replaced Kristine Ward on September 3, 2013 as co-host for Priest and Pat Taylor after Ward moved to a Charlotte station.[15]

NextMedia sold WRNN-FM and their 32 other radio stations to Digity, LLC for $85 million; the transaction was consummated on February 10, 2014.

Effective February 25, 2016, Digity, LLC and its 124 radio stations were acquired by Alpha Media for $264 million.

In September 2017, Dick Broadcasting announced the purchase of Alpha Media stations in three markets — 18 stations and two translators in total, at a purchase price of $19.5 million.[16] The acquisition of WRNN-FM by Dick Broadcasting was consummated on December 20, 2017.

Callaway left WRNN-FM in 2019 to work for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.[17]

References
  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook, 1995, p. B-369.
  2. Toby Eddings, "Survey Says...", The Sun News, February 9, 1997.
  3. Toby Eddings, "Snyder set to say his final 'good night,'," The Sun News, Mar. 21, 1999.
  4. Toby Eddings, "WBTW still No. 1; Monica draws crowd," The Sun News, Apr. 4, 1999.
  5. Toby Eddings, "ACC football on one less station," The Sun News, Apr. 18, 1999.
  6. Toby Eddings, "Why can't I see my shows on The WB?" The Sun News, Oct. 17, 1999.
  7. "Multi-Market Radio adds third Myrtle Beach station". Business Wire. 1996-08-29. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  8. Andrew Shain, "WYAV-FM Owner Buys WYAK-FM, WMYB-FM, The Sun News, October 2, 1996.
  9. Kathleen Dayton, "Radio Stations Playing Musical Chairs," The Sun News, August 18, 2000.
  10. Toby Eddings, "Holli Heart replaces Tab Allen at WYAK," The Sun News, Jan. 16, 2000.
  11. "Readers Choice - Entertainment," The Sun News, October 23, 2009.
  12. Bob Bestler, "An Election Luncheon for the Kids," The Sun News, November 5, 2003.
  13. Bryant, Dawn (2011-09-22). "Myrtle Beach radio show changes morning lineup". The Sun News. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
  14. "ESPN Returns To Myrtle Beach". 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  15. Palisin, Steve (September 27, 2013). "Changes afoot across Myrtle Beach area radio stations". The Sun News. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  16. Venta, Lance (2017-09-05). "Dick Broadcasting Acquires Three Markets From Alpha Media". radioinsight. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  17. Blondin, Alan (February 25, 2019). "Dropping the mic: Liz Callaway leaving morning radio show for 'best job on the planet'". The Sun News. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
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