Charlotte Radio: Radio One Plans Gospel Format For 1110 AM

Radio One (also known as Urban One) announced a major frequency realignment across its Charlotte cluster last week, effective December 11, 2025. The primary goal is to boost the reach of its flagship News/Talk station, WBT, by moving it to the stronger 100,000-watt 107.9 FM signal (currently WLNK-FM, "Mix 107.9"). 

This move displaces several other formats, including a shift for the Gospel programming currently on 100.9 FM (WPZS, "Praise 100.9") to the 610 AM/102.5 FM combo (WFNZ-AM and translator W273DA), which will replace the Hip Hop/R&B "102.5 The Block." 

The Hot AC "Mix 107.9" format relocates to a simulcast on 100.9 FM (new calls WMXG) and 99.3 FM (formerly WBT-FM).

Specific Plans for 1110 AM WBT's News/Talk programming—featuring local hosts like Bo Thompson, Beth Troutman, and sports director Jim Szoke—will no longer air on 1110 AM after the switch. Instead, the AM signal will carry the Gospel "Praise 100.9" format, including its current lineup with midday host Melanie Pratt. 

Radio One Charlotte VP/GM Marsha Landess confirmed the company will "continue to proudly own and operate AM 1110 WBT," but emphasized the historic AM frequency's stewardship now shifts away from News/Talk to support the Gospel service. 

This ends nearly a century of WBT's News/Talk presence on 1110 AM (dating back to 1922), though the brand fully migrates to FM for broader coverage.

The change aims to optimize the cluster's signals: WBT gains a full-market FM powerhouse, while Gospel gets dedicated AM bandwidth to maintain its inspirational focus without competing on weaker rimshot FMs. No further details on potential future uses for 1110 AM beyond the Gospel simulcast have been announced.