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WVEE (103.3 FM broadcasting) – branded as V-103 – is a commercial American radio station in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs an urban contemporary radio format. WVEE is one of the highest-rated stations in the Atlanta radio market according to Nielsen Audio, reaching number one on many reports. Its radio studio and offices are located in Colony Square on Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta, along with its sister stations WAOK, WSTR and WZGC. V103.com/about/contact-us
WVEE has an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts. It shares a tower off New Street NE, with WABE-TV, as well as with WSB-FM, which is owned by Cox Radio. Radio-Locator.com/WVEE The two radio stations' transmitters are diplexed together, so that they feed to the same antenna.
The following year, television station WAGA-TV was added as a CBS network affiliate and is now a Fox Television owned and operated station.
In the late 1960s, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began requiring AM stations in larger cities to end full-time simulcasts, promoting new programming on FM stations. WPLO had Georgia State University students program and host a free form "underground" format, giving the students academic credit instead of pay. The arrangement allowed Plough to have an inexpensive FM presence in the years before FM came to dominate the radio spectrum. It created enough interest among the student body that the Georgia Board of Regents obtained a construction permit and license for its own station at the university, WRAS-FM.
Plough management believed the music programmed by the Georgia State students could become a profitable commercial format if presented professionally. By 1969, WPLO-FM was billing itself as "Atlanta's Alternative High", and described its 103.3 frequency as "103-and-a-third". Program directors in this progressive rock era included Ed Shane, Steve Hosford, and Chris Morgan.
In October 1976, Schering-Plough recognized Atlanta's growing middle-class African-American market by changing WPLO-FM to urban contemporary under the "V-103" moniker and new call sign WVEE. It briefly aired a disco music format in 1976.
When disco fever cooled, WVEE-FM returned to the urban contemporary, and became one of the Atlanta radio market's top stations under the leadership of program director Scotty Andrews. As the first urban station on the FM dial in Metro Atlanta, the "V-103" brand eventually saw other stations around the U.S. follow its formula, including Baltimore sister station WQSR, also known as "V-103", and a Chicago "V-103" (WVAZ, now owned by iHeartMedia).
In March 1996, Granum Communications sold both stations to Infinity Broadcasting, which was later folded into CBS Radio. Infinity already owned WZGC, which it owned since 1992, that made the three stations a trio-poly.
In 2003, V-103 changed its longtime station slogan from The People's Station to Atlanta's BIG Station to signify its dominance of Atlanta urban radio. WVEE-FM was often #1 or #2 in the Arbitron ratings, along with WSB. In 2008, WVEE-FM reverted to the previous slogan The People's Station to signify its commitment to the African-American community.
Since autumn 2006, WVEE had aired an HD Radio digital subchannel for playing urban adult contemporary (specifically neo-soul) music, with no moniker other than "V-103 HD-2". On February 28, 2020, WVEE-HD2 changed their format to international hits, branded as "V-103 International". WVEE Launches V103 International Radioinsight - February 28, 2020 The HD3 channel is a simulcast of sister station WAOK.
On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom. The merger was approved on November 9, and was consummated on the 17th.
WVEE-FM has maintained a strict balance of serving both younger adults and middle-aged listeners since its inception in 1976. This is rare among larger-market urban stations which serve either the mainstream urban or urban adult contemporary audience. Its programming puts it in direct competition with Urban AC stations WALR-FM and the simulcast of WAMJ/WUMJ, as well as mainstream urban stations WHTA-FM, W233BF, and WBZW. In recent years, the station occasionally spins hit crossover pop songs when they are hot on the Top 40 charts.
WVEE was the largest urban station under CBS Radio ownership, and the only CBS Radio urban outlet in the top 10 American media market. As of December 2014, WVEE was the only CBS Radio Urban property remaining. Two former CBS urban stations had shifted to Rhythmic Contemporary: WPGC-FM in Washington, D.C., an Urban-leaning Rhythmic, and WJHM in Orlando, which switched formats from Urban to Rhythmic Contemporary in February 2012 (and to top 40 as of February 2014). A third CBS urban station, WPEG Charlotte, was sold to the Beasley Broadcasting Group via a multi-market swap on December 1, 2014. Under Audacy ownership, WVEE is still considered the co-flagship urban station (along with WPGC-FM), but now the largest urban station as WPGC-FM Washington has shifted back to the urban format as of 2018.
In 2008, WVEE entered a partnership with WUPA to broadcast the Frank and Wanda Television Show, recapping highlights from Frank and Wanda in the Morning for television viewers each night. The theme song for both programs is performed by singer and Atlanta native Monica.
On December 13, 2012, Ski and Smith announced that they both would be leaving WVEE after 14 years.http://v103.cbslocal.com/2012/12/13/frank-and-wanda-announce-the-end/ Frank and Wanda announce the End Both said they wanted to concentrate on other ventures. Ski wanted to focus more on family and continue to run his restaurant, while Smith wanted to return to stand up comedy. There were talks with CBS Radio on syndicating the show to other cities but WVEE wanted it to stay focused on Atlanta. Radio & TV Talk Frank Ski and Wanda Smith leaving V-103; Ryan Cameron takes over in January, December 13, 2012, Atlanta Journal-Constitution The last Frank and Wanda in the Morning show aired on December 20, 2012.
On January 2, 2013, former afternoon host Ryan Cameron was chosen to replace them and assume duties as host of The Ryan Cameron Morning Show. In January 2014, Wanda Smith returned to the station to co-host the morning drive alongside Cameron.http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/09/is-wanda-smith-coming-back-to-v-103/ Radio & TV Talk Wanda Smith Coming Back to V-103, January 9, 2014, Atlanta Journal-Constitution As for Frank Ski, he continues to reside in the Atlanta region although he returned to radio as afternoon host for Washington, D.C. station
Ryan Cameron leaves V-103, joining branding company Rakanter, January 26, 2018, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On February 13, 2018, Frank Ski returned to host mornings alongside Wanda Smith and comedian Joe "Miss Sophia"
EXCLUSIVE: Frank Ski on his return to mornings at V-103, February 7, 2018, Atlanta Journal-Constitution In January 2019, Smith and McIntosh exited, and the morning drive show was renamed The Morning Culture, hosted by Frank Ski, Jade Novah, and J.R. in February 2019. V103.com/shows/show-schedule/morning-culture In July 2020, Ski once again exited WVEE to return to hosting the afternoon drive on WHUR in Washington, D.C. On August 17, 2020, Big Tigger took over hosting the morning drive with the show titled The Big Tigger Morning Show.
WVEE won the award on its own again in 2010 and in 2013.
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