WJXB-FM

WJXB-FM (97.5 MHz, "B97.5") is a commercial radio station in Knoxville, Tennessee, airing an adult contemporary radio format.^[3] It is owned by Midwest Communications, through licensee Midwest Communications, Inc. B97.5 carries the nationally syndicated call-in and dedication show Delilah in evenings.^[4] The studios, offices and transmitter are on Sharp's Ridge Memorial Park Drive in North Knoxville.^[5]

WJXB-FM

Knoxville, Tennessee
Broadcast area	Knoxville Metropolitan Area
Frequency	97.5 MHz
Branding	B97.5
Programming
Format	Adult Contemporary
Affiliations	Premiere Networks United Stations Radio Networks
Ownership
Owner	Midwest Communications (Midwest Communications, Inc.)
Sister stations	WIMZ-FM, WDKW, WNFZ
History
First air date	April 10, 1967; 58 years ago (1967-04-10)
Former call signs	WEZK (1967–1993) WEZJ-FM (1993–1994) WJXB (1994–2002)[1]
Call sign meaning	Sister station of Nashville's WJXA in both name and format, along with station's bee mascot
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	61040
Class	C
ERP	100,000 watts
HAAT	395 meters (1,296 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	36°0′36.2″N 83°55′56.6″W
Translator	107.3 W297AX (Knoxville)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live
Website	www.b975.com

WJXB-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for most U.S. radio stations. Programming is also heard on 250-watt FM translator W297AX at 107.3 FM, which helps improve reception in some parts of Knoxville.^[6]

History

The station signed on the air on April 10, 1967 (1967-04-10).^[7] It had a beautiful music format. The original call sign was WEZK, which stood for "Easy Listening in Knoxville." WEZK played quarter-hour sweeps of mostly instrumental soft music, especially cover versions of popular adult songs along with Broadway and Hollywood show tunes, with limited commercials and chatter.

The station was assigned the WJXB-FM call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on January 21, 2002.^[1] This was to tie into the success of its long-time sister station in Nashville, WJXA (92.9). WJXA was a similar easy listening station in its early years switching to adult contemporary, and like WJXB, has long lead the market in listenership and is similarly-operated. They both use a bee as their mascot.

Management announced on May 28, 2014, that Midwest Communications would purchase nine of the ten radio stations owned by South Central Communications, including WJXB-FM. With this purchase, Midwest Communications expanded its portfolio of stations to Evansville, Knoxville and Nashville.^[8] The sale was finalized on September 2, 2014, at a price of $72 million.^[9]

Translator

WJXB-FM programming is also carried on an additional broadcast translator station, which due to the area's topography, is used to provide a better signal to listeners and tourists in Sevier County at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Broadcast translator for WJXB-FM

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP (W)	Class	Transmitter coordinates	FCC info
W297AX	107.3 FM	Knoxville, Tennessee	17782	250	D	35°48′41.3″N 83°40′7.6″W	LMS