WMDM is a classic hits formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Lexington Park, Maryland, serving Southern Maryland and the Northern Neck. WMDM is owned and operated by Somar Communications, Inc.

WMDM
Broadcast area
Frequency97.7 MHz
Branding97.7 The Bay
Programming
FormatClassic hits
Ownership
OwnerSomar Communications, Inc.
WKIK, WPTX, WSMD
History
First air date
1976 (1976)
Former call signs
  • WMDM-FM (1976–2006)
  • WYRX (2006–2007)
  • WRKZ (2007–2008)
  • WYRX (2008–2009)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID61314
ClassA
ERP6,000 watts
HAAT100 meters (330 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Website977thebay.com

History

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WMDM originally aired an adult contemporary/Top 40 mixed format in the 1980s as All Hit 98 WMDM.

WMDM aired an oldies music format from the 1990s until May 31, 2006.

On May 31, 2006, the station switched their callsign from WMDM-FM to WYRX and their format to Modern Rock under the branding "The Rocket".

On September 17, 2007, WYRX changed their call sign to WRKZ. The WRKZ calls had been attached to a Pittsburgh rock station until April 2007. The format had evolved into an active rock music format with the addition of artists like Aerosmith, Def Leppard, and Led Zeppelin to the playlist.

On January 22, 2008, WRKZ changed their call letters back to WYRX. Joe Sanchez was the Morning Show host and Program Director until February 2009.

On March 4, 2009, WYRX switched its call sign back to WMDM. On March 21, 2009, WMDM dropped its Active Rock format and return to its former adult contemporary and picked up the branding "Magic 97.7".

On April 21, 2009, WMDM brought back "The Rocket" branding and switched its format to Contemporary Hit Radio.

On November 30, 2009, WMDM switched formats to Easy Listening, branded as "Easy 97-7". The new format consists mainly of vocals (as opposed to the original instrumental-oriented Beautiful Music format).

On March 11, 2011, WMDM again changed their format to classic rock and again re-branded themselves as "97-7 The Rocket."

On the afternoon of April 18, 2017 WMDM changed their format to Active Rock, and continues to brand itself as "97-7 the Rocket". Disc Jockey "Blak Jak" announced the change on his 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. program.

The format and name changed in 2018. The station now plays "Classic Hits" and is now branded as "97-7 The Bay".

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38°16′59″N 76°33′40″W / 38.283°N 76.561°W / 38.283; -76.561


  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WMDM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.