On August 4th, 1964, Selma station WBZB signed on at 1090 with a daytime signal. The former WBZB has aired Southern gospel music as the "Busy Bee", broadcast recorded information for motorists on nearby Interstate 95 and even aired a Christian-based country format before going dark around 1995. The station was once briefly co-located with Smithfield TV station WARZ-LP 34. WBZB didn't return to the airwaves until 2002, but it came back in a unique way. Steve Bass, the owner of Raleigh's Bass Music Store, bought the long-dormant 800-watt daytimer from long-time owner Jim Massengill for only $1,000, moved the studios to Wake County and initiated a format featuring only local bands and musicians. This very different approach to radio won attention from media both near and far; even CNN broadcast a story on the new WBZB. WBZB was sold in June 2004 to Triangle Sports Broadcasters, LLC for $1.5 million, and the new owners changed the call letters to WTSB, built out a construction permit that increased their power from 800 to 9,000 watts and signed on July 12th, 2004 with a new sports talk format, going up against WRBZ "850 The Buzz". On May 2nd, 2005, WTSB expanded their reach by simulcasting on the signal of Clear Channel-owned WDUR, 1490 AM in Durham, which also allowed the station to program 24 hours. Shortly thereafter, Triangle Sports Broadcasters purchased WDUR from Clear Channel for $1.13 million. In 2006, financial problems forced the station to cut its local programming and go all-ESPN radio. In the fall of that year, it was announced that the ESPN Radio programming would move to WDNC. WTSB/WDUR continued airing ESPN programming until December when they began stunting with Christmas music. The two stations stunted throughout 2007, shifting to an eclectic mix of music as Christmas 2006 became Christmas past. On August 24th, 2007, it was announced that WTSB was being purchased by Lamm Media Group for $400,000 (WDURwasn't included in the deal). These Lamm's are the same ones long associated with Smithfield's WMPM, 1270 AM. On November 1st, 2007, the classic country, Southern gospel and local news programming of WMPM began airing on the more-powerful WTSB.
