Throwback Thursday – The Comeback of WBGN’s Throwback Radio
A Bowling Green radio station recently changed formats. Making a return in 2020 for the first time in decades, listeners can once again tune in to WBGN radio. Playing pop, rock and soul hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s, WBGN is the home of good times and great oldies.
First commissioned in 1959, the station signed on with a country format and was officially licensed to the Bowling Green Broadcasting Company in 1960. It then changed to a Top 40 format and was the most popular station with WKU students and Bowling Green area until the 1980s.
WBGN has called many spots in Bowling Green home over the past 60 years, the most well known being the house at 837 Fairview from the 1960’s and 1970’s. WBGN was also home to WKU football and basketball as the Hilltopper Sports Network from 1965 to 1982.
Those were days before social media when everyone tuned in to hear their favorite trusted local disc jockeys tell the news and bring the entertainment. Some of Bowling Green’s most famous personalities from years past and now were rooted in WBGN, like Tim England, Larry Bailey, Scooter Davis, Barry Williams and Bud Tyler.
The WBGN Bowling Green Brother and Sisterhood Facebook group is full of former disc jockeys, program directors and employees over the years. It’s filled with stories, photos, gold records, newspaper ads, concert flyers, music surveys and more.
WBGN is now under the umbrella of Forever Communications and its frequency is 1340 on the AM radio dial. The popular comeback of WBGN’s throwback format is a testament to why audiences continue to love great history.
