Radio is among the most influential media in the U.S., reaching approximately 82.5 percent of adults weekly. More than 15,445 radio stations are in the United States, all vying for a share of this enormous market.
WZGC (marketed as 92.9 The Game) continues to top the list as the most popular radio station in Atlanta, Georgia, with a score of 11.0, indicating that 11.0 % of radio listeners in Atlanta tune into the station for at least 5 minutes every 15 minutes.
There is contradictory data regarding the most prominent Atlanta radio stations regarding listenership, and the situation is continually shifting, but the following should provide a balanced picture.
1. WZGC FM
WZGC (92.9 FM) is an Atlanta, Georgia-licensed commercial sports radio station serving the Atlanta metro area. WZGC, which has approximately 3,095,832 total visits, is owned by Audacy, Inc. and serves as the broadcast studio for hosts Hugh Douglas and Randy McMichael.
The station transmitter is situated in the North Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, whereas the WZGC studios are in Midtown. Aside from its standard analog signals, WZGC also transmits over one HD Radio channel, which can be accessed via Audacy’s website.
2. WVEE-FM
WVEE (103.3 FM, “V-103”) is an Atlanta, Georgia, urban mainstream radio station. Nielsen Audio ranks it as one of Atlanta’s most popular radio stations, placing several reports at the top of the list. Entercom owns WVEE and has approximately 3,095,321 total visits.
3. WSTR FM
Licensed to Smyrna, Georgia, WSTR (94.1 FM) is a commercial rhythmic adult modern radio station. Entercom owns the station, which covers the Atlanta metro area. Colony Square in Midtown Atlanta houses the station’s studios, whereas Reynoldstown on Atlanta’s southwest side houses the station’s transmitter.
In addition to analog transmission, the station broadcasts on 3 HD Radio frequencies and can be accessed online via Radio.com.
4. WABE-FM
Atlanta’s WABE FM 90.1 radio station is associated with National public radio and Public Radio International. The station plays largely classical music but will regularly play Beatles songs and selections from films like Star Wars, as long as the piece is in a classically sounding arrangement. Other things that the radio station plays include:
- Show tunes
- Film suites
Short features like Atlanta Sounds which it broadcasts numerous times per day and weekly trailers of weekend events around the city have recently been added to the station’s lineup. WABE is the station to listen to if you enjoy public radio.
As a non-profit broadcaster, the station collaborates with NPR to bring Atlantans closer to their city and the rest of the world.
5. WSB-AM
Marketed as News 95.5 and AM750, WSB is an Atlanta, Georgia-licensed commercial radio station with a news and talk format. Before being assigned to a terrestrial broadcaster in Atlanta, the call sign “WSB” had a troubled past. In the earliest days of radio licensing, sea-based broadcasters were incorporated into the system for assigning call signs.
6. WUBL FM
Popularly known as “94-9 The Bull”, WUBL plays country music and serves the Atlanta metro area. Back when Fiddlin John Carson was in charge of country music, Atlanta was the epicenter of the genre United States. Since the 1950s, the genre has faded in prominence in the city, but 94.9 The Bull still plays it.
In addition to Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, and Gabby Barrett, you’ll find the best of contemporary country music here. Listeners can win free passes to Atlanta’s best concerts, food and wine festivals, and other events.
7. WHTA FM
WHTA FM, 107.9 FM, is an Atlanta, Georgia-based mainstream urban radio station that mainly focuses on hip-hop music. Renowned as “Hot 107.9” since the early fall of 2001, when the programming format and call sign were transferred by Radio One from “Hot 97.5”, the station has maintained its current name ever since.
8. WCLK FM
WCLK 91.9 FM is a Jazz station in Atlanta with a weekly audience of 200,000 people. The Clark Atlanta University-affiliated NPR station commemorates more than 40 years of excellent music and involvement in the local community. Jazz fans make up the majority of the station’s audience. The group tends to be older, more male, and well-educated.
The typical HHI ranges from $75K to $100K. The station’s listeners are leaders in their communities and peers, making up a powerful audience.
9. WSRV FM
WSRV (97.1 MHz, “97.1 The River”) is an Atlanta-area commercial FM radio station licensed to Gainesville, Georgia. It belongs to Cox Media Group.
The station broadcasts a classic rock format that is often referred to as classic hits because it is less aggressive than other classic rock stations. The Cox Television and Radio Facility is located on West Peachtree Street near the Brookwood neighborhood of Atlanta.
The station’s effective radiated power (ERP) is 100,000 watts. The transmitter tower is located in Braselton, northeast of the Atlanta metropolitan area, off Eagle Ranch Road.
The station uses HD Radio technology. The alternative rock format “The Other Side of the River” is broadcast on the HD2 digital sub channel.
10. WRDG FM
WRDG FM (105.3 The Beat) is a radio station in Atlanta that broadcasts a mainstream urban radio format. The station’s transmitter is in Newnan, Georgia, and it serves metro Atlanta and its licensed city of Bowdon, Georgia.
IHeartMedia and broadcasts own it from the Peachtree Palisades building in Atlanta’s Brookwood Hills neighborhood.
11. WWPW FM
WWPW FM 96.1, marketed as Power 96-1, is an Atlanta, Georgia-licensed commercial top-40 (CHR) radio station. The station, part of iHeartMedia’s Atlanta network, broadcasts to the city’s residents and visitors.
Additionally, WWPW broadcasts on three HD Radio channels and is accessible online via iHeartRadio. The Peachtree Palisades building in Atlanta’s Brookwood Hills district houses the station’s studios.
12. WPZE FM
WPZE FM (Praise 97.5) broadcasts gospel music in Atlanta. Until the fall of 2001, “Hot 97.5” played hip-hop and R&B songs. The radio format and WHTA call sign were later moved by owner Radio One to 107.9, which was purchased and relocated from former WPEZ FM, “EZ108” in Macon as “Hot 107.9” while 97.5 became gospel-oriented “Praise 97.5.”
Initially, the move was intended to be to the new 107.5 (WAMJ FM “Magic 107.5”), but the FCC approved the transfer and reallocation of WPEZ FM, which is located closer to Atlanta’s south metro area.
13. WALR-FM
WALR-FM is an Atlanta-based urban adult modern radio station. Cox Media Group operates the station and goes by the name “Kiss FM” (officially “Kiss 104”). It is the premier urban modern station for the company.
The station is licensed to Greenville and sends a 100-kilowatt class C0 signal on 104.1 megahertz (MHz). However, its radio transmitter was formerly in LaGrange, where it was issued with construction approval for a broadcast translator of sister station WSB-TV.
The station started broadcasting in IBOC digital radio using the HD Radio system from iBiquity at the end of 2004, shortly after relocating to the new tower. The station shares midtown studios with its radio partners and WSB-TV. Hip-hop music is broadcast on the station’s digital sub channel or HD-2.
14. WAMJ-FM
WAMJ (107.5 FM, “Majic 107.5/97.5”) is an Atlanta-area commercial radio station licensed to Roswell, Georgia. It’s a simulcast of sister station 97.5 WUMJ in Fayetteville, broadcasting urban adult modern music. Radio One, through its licensee Radio One Licenses, LLC, currently owns the station.
The Centennial Tower building in downtown Atlanta houses the station’s studios and offices. It broadcasts from a tower 185 meters above the average terrain with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 18,000 watts horizontally and 33,000 watts vertically. This gives the station a strong signal in Atlanta and its northern suburbs but may not be as strong in the city’s southern suburbs.
The station uses Tyrone-based WUMJ as a relay station to broaden its broadcast radius. It transmits in hybrid HD Radio format. Its channel, popularly known as Classix, rebroadcasts urban oldies music on the 125-watt FM.
15. WFOM-AM
WFOM (1230 kHz, “Xtra 106.3”) broadcasts 1230 kHz in Atlanta. The broadcast studios are located in The Battery Atlanta. The Georgia city of Marietta is the radio station’s licensing jurisdiction.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the station was well-known for its Top 40 programming. Despite a relatively weak signal, the station consistently ranked among the top five Atlanta-area stations metro-wide.
Before the Beach Boys’ 1963 breakthrough into the national spotlight, the station was renowned for introducing many new artists to the Atlanta-area audience over a long period, including essential surf acts from California.
In 2018, the station changed its name to “The Sports X.” Later, in 2021, the station shifted from sports to news and talk.
Top Atlanta Radio Stations, Final Thoughts
A top-notch radio station is exceptional and a way to find some joy in your day. Fortunately, Atlanta is home to many excellent radio stations that broadcast news, music, and conversation on the Main Street Connector.
According to our performance measures, these are the best Atlanta radio stations, but which is your favorite? Would you have placed them in a different order? Do the best stations truly represent your favorites? Tell us in the comments.