Freedom 97.1 WSME

Freedom 97.1 WSME:

The Freedom 97.1 WSME is an Eastern North Carolina radio station broadcasting an oldies format. The station is licensed to the town of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, serving the Jacksonville area. The Freedom 97.1 WSME also simulcasts via an FM translator (W246CJ) at 97.1 FM and broadcasts from a tower near Maple Hill in Onslow County, NC.

The Freedom 97. WSME targets Jacksonville-area listeners aged 25–54, especially middle class and professionals with an average income of between $30,000-$75,000 per year. Freedom 97 is owned by B&M Broadcasting which runs the station through its Eastern North Carolina Radio Group division.

The Freedom 97’s format consists of adult contemporary music from artists like Elton John, Celine Dion & Whitney Houston, and news updates every hour provided by Fox News Radio or CNN Headline News via Westwood One Network (formerly Unistar). Weather comes from Accuweather & traffic reports are done hourly during morning drive time only on weekdays.

WSME also broadcasts sports programming, including “ACC Blitz,” an hour-long show dedicated to Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sports. Freedom 97 also broadcasts the “Andy Griffith Show” every weekday morning at 11:00 am and again in the evening from Monday through Friday at around midnight.

On July 31st, 2015, WSME changed its format from adult contemporary to oldies and rebranded as Freedom 97.
WSME can be heard throughout Onslow County, including Jacksonville, Richlands, Swansboro & Holly Ridge; parts of Jones Co.; all of Craven Co., Pamlico County & Carteret County; plus Currituck Co.

The station is owned by B&M Broadcasting which runs the station through its Eastern North Carolina Radio Group division. Freedom 97’s format consists of classic rock music. Freedom 97 also broadcasts the “Andy Griffith Show” every weekday morning at 11:00 am and again in the evening from Monday through Friday at around midnight.

WSM was initially assigned to Jacksonville on AM 920 but moved to WSMO 1070 kHz (now WCLY) for better Southwestern NC & Eastern SC coverage after sister station WCMC-AM began broadcasting full-time with 50 kW days/500 watts nights there.