Georgia-Carolina Radiocasting Companies will end operations in Clayton GA on Friday, January 31 as its two stations are preparing to move to new locations out of town.
AC “Sky 96.3” WRBN Clayton holds a CP to move to 95.7 in Toccoa GA, while Classic Country “Real Country 100.3” W262CE Clayton fed by 101.7 WGOG-HD3 Walhalla SC has one to move to 96.1 in Clemson SC. The company will take both stations silent to utilize the one year window to build out the new facilities.
Georgia-Carolina Radiocasting President/CEO Art Sutton said that the stations had the largest listening audience in Rabun County, but advertising revenue has declined substantially. He shared, “We had a big drop during the housing crisis in 2008 but were able to adjust overhead to remain profitable. The Covid Pandemic, however, resulted in another major hit and, frankly, we never really recovered. While the local business community has reshaped itself into a more upscale tourism and second home destination, businesses which cater to local residents have consolidated or become chain stores which do no local advertising. Until a few months ago, we were breaking even but the writing was on the wall, so we filed with the FCC to relocate to larger communities where there is a larger pool of local advertising revenue.
The stations have two full-time employees affected by the closure. General Manager Gene Gihl has decided to retire, while News/Sports Director Chad Dorsett is moving to 630 WNEG/93.1 W226BY Toccoa. Sutton commented, “We are grateful to both and our listeners and advertisers for their support the past 24 years we’ve operated in Rabun County.” The company intends to sell its studio building in Clayton.
Georgia Carolina Radiocasting has owned WRBN since 2001. Caroll Lee launched 870 WGHC as Clayton’s first radio station in 1961 before his family sold it to Dr. Richard Turner in 1982. The FM would sign-on in 1991 on 104.1, take the WRBN call letters in 1996 and move to 96.3 in 2015. Turner sold the stations to Georgia-Carolina in 2001 with the AM relocated to Charlotte NC and sold in 2008, while a replacement 1400 WGHC was built in 2009 and surrendered in 2013.
Sutton notes that Clayton will continue to be served locally by Christian 91.7 WZTG, while Charisma Radio Corp Soft AC 104.5 WHLC Highlands NC has a CP to relocate a translator to 94.9 in Clayton and LPFM CP TS-HCX Inc.’s 97.5 WFJV-LP Clayton will both utilize the current tower site of WRBN and W262CE.
