WHMA-FM
WHMA-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Alexandria, Alabama, United States, it serves the Anniston-Oxford metropolitan area. The station is owned by Williams Communications, Inc.
History
The station was originally applied-for by Perry Communications in 1979, with Ashland, Alabama, as its city of license. After being approved in 1980, it was granted two extensions to the original 18 months before its construction permit expired in 1981. After later being granted a new CP in 1983, it finally went on the air and was given a license to cover in 1984. During this process, the city of license was changed from Ashland-Lineville, Alabama, to Hobson City. The station was WASZ until mid-December 2004.The WHMA-FM callsign and radio format were previously on 100.5, which moved from Anniston to metro Atlanta to become WWWQ in January 2001. The present WHMA-FM signed on the air January 2005, replacing WASZ on 95.5; as with the original WHMA-FM, it is the FM sister station to WHMA. WHMA-FM on 100.5 played a country music format from March 1985 to January 2001; the current WHMA-FM also plays a country format.
WHMA-FM filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to change its frequency down by one channel, from 95.5 to 95.3 FM. The station changed its city of license again to Alexandria, Alabama, in conjunction with this change. The station would have the same transmitter location and height, but dropped its power in the maximum direction from 530 watts to 400. A different directional antenna would also be used, shifting the southern end of its coverage area further west. A license to cover with the new facilities was granted in April 2019.