WABD FM 97.5

A contemporary hit radio station broadcasting at 97.5 MHz, owned and operated by Cumulus Media. The station traces its origins to WABB (1480 AM), which began broadcasting on June 19, 1948, under ownership of the Mobile Register with call letters standing for "We Are Alabama's Best Broadcasters." An FM counterpart launched on February 5, 1973, on 97.5 MHz, notably opening with Bob Dylan's "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again." After years as a top 40 station, it transitioned through several formats and ownership arrangements before adopting a contemporary hit radio format on July 15, 2012. The legal call sign was changed from WLVM to WABD by the FCC on July 16, 2012, as part of a multi-station format swap involving WDLT-FM and WLVM. The station's studios are located on Dauphin Street in Midtown Mobile, with the transmitter situated near Spanish Fort, Alabama. Notable alumni from the station's earlier WABB era include radio personalities Michael Scott Shannon and Leslie Fram. The station was long associated with owner Bernie Dittman, who died in October 2006, with management subsequently passing to his daughter Betsey.