WBEC-FM

WBEC-FM
Pittsfield, Massachusetts; United States;
Broadcast area	Berkshire Mountains
Frequency	95.9 MHz
Branding	Live 95-9
Programming
Format	Hot adult contemporary
Affiliations	Compass Media Networks; United Stations Radio Networks;
Ownership
Owner	Townsquare Media; (Townsquare License, LLC);
Sister stations	WBEC, WNAW, WSBS, WUPE, WUPE-FM
History
First air date	1975; 49 years ago
Former call signs	WGRG-FM (1975–77); WUPE-FM (1977–79); WUPE (1979–2006); WUPE-FM (April 7–14, 2006); WMNB (April 14–May 2, 2006);
Call sign meaning	taken from sister station WBEC (AM), originally owned by the Berkshire Eagle Company
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	71437
Class	A
ERP	1,000 watts
HAAT	170 meters (560 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	42.412°N 73.284°W
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live
Website	live959.com

WBEC-FM (95.9 MHz) is a commercial radio station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format.

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WBEC-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,000 watts. The transmitter is off Alpine Trail in Pittsfield, near South Street (U.S. Route 20).^[2]

In 1975, the station signed on as WGRG-FM, airing a free form progressive rock sound. At that time, it was not associated with WBEC (1420 AM). WBEC had an FM station on 94.3 MHz dating back to the late 1940s, but gave it up in an era when few people owned FM receivers. It later put another FM station on the air on 105.5 MHz; that station moved to Easthampton, Massachusetts, becoming WVEI-FM, in 2006.

From 1977 to 2006, the station was known as WUPE-FM. WUPE began operations in 1977 simulcasting the top 40 sound heard on WUPE (1110 AM). WUPE-AM-FM later switched to soft adult contemporary and then oldies. After oldies, the WUPE-FM call sign and format were moved to 100.1 FM.

In August 2013, Gamma Broadcasting reached a deal to sell its Berkshire County radio stations, including WBEC-FM, to Reed Miami Holdings.^[3] The sale was canceled on December 30, 2013.^[4] In October 2016, Gamma agreed to sell its stations to Galaxy Communications.^[5] That sale also fell through, and in 2017 the stations were acquired by Townsquare Media.^[6]