Charlotte Radio: Land Location for Two AM Stations For Sale

Land owned by Beasley Media is up for sale and the existandce of  two Urban One AM stations could be in jeopardy.  A land sale a move that could silence both signals and lead to the surrender of their licenses.

The properties include the 50,000-watt clear-channel WBT-AM 1110 site on Nations Ford Road and WPZS-AM 610 (formerly WFNZ and Big WAYS) on Radio Road at 400 Radio Road. 

Both prime locations are being marketed for residential development, reflecting the reality that housing now generates more revenue than traditional AM radio.

WBT-AM Towers

WBT-AM, North Carolina’s only Class A clear-channel station, celebrated its 104th anniversary this year. Its iconic diamond-shaped Blaw-Knox towers southeast of Charlotte Douglas International Airport have long been local landmarks. 

Since January 8, 2026, the station has been airing a loop of instrumental jazz with hourly IDs, directing listeners to WBT-FM 107.9 for news, talk, traffic, weather, and sports. At night, its powerful signal still reaches from Maine to Cuba.

WPZS-AM 610 (formerly WFNZ and WAYS) carries Urban Gospel programming.  If the AM shuts down, the format would shrink to a 200-watt FM translator at 102.5 (W273DA), previously home to “The Block” hip-hop. That low-power signal would significantly reduce coverage compared to the full AM facility.

Both stations remain available on FM, but the land sales mark a major shift for Charlotte radio. Urban One has confirmed the listings but has released no further details on the stations’ futures. The transmitter sites, typical of older AM facilities, sit in high-value housing areas where real estate economics now outweigh broadcasting revenue.