WDAI was on top of its ratings during majority of its run. Much more successful than Dahl and the WDAI AOR format. Disco had run its course which is roughly 1974 to well, it never really died. It has been evolving ever since. The original Disco movement might have ended in the US but continued in Europe past the early 80s (Stars on 45 is one example). There was a very racially motivated push on disco being viewed as black and gay music in the US. Being in the mainstream through the roof by 1979, that was a fallacy. Also another reason for the "death" of disco in the US, was that everyone and their pets were creating Disco music and it had become a joke. Ethel Merman (???), Kiss, Cher, The Rolling Stones..... the uniqueness had faded and was turning into a joke, everyone trying to cash in on it. Dahl and his unhinged antics on air had a very small part in the death of Disco. Sorry this will be tender for a lot of people reading it, but you look at the Disco Demolition that night, how many darker people do you see there? You see an overwhelmingly majority White younger crowd desecrating the playfield, destroy the place and cancel the 2nd show. How can anyone be proud of this and want to say they were a reason they ended Disco? Also Disco and Dance music is still on the airwaves, where is Dahl? 'Nuff said.
When they flipped to Adult Top 40/Oldies "FM 95 you are listening to the ROCK, W-ROCK" (which was essentially the same format as sister station WLS-AM) that was a such a great success (sarcasm) and lasted a matter of months after "extensive research" and keep the same on air staff. Bring in, WLS-AM 890 & FM95, with the same air staff except simulcasting AM Drive and nights.
Top40 was essentially dead from 1980 - 1982. What we see on the Hot100 charts was a miss mosh of many formats on the radio. There really was no 1 station that played the Top40 or most of it in one week during that time. From experience, I can tell you, we would scan the dial to get a full plate of current music. The AC and Country slant was because most of the Top40s transitioned to AC (similar to the early 90s) which was a "safe" place to be and get adult demos. Also the DIsco's morphed to Urban, keeping up the evolving Disco music and "Hot Mix" concept. Top40 re-emerged when Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson hit the scene (the irony is they ALL are fixtures of rhythmic/dance music fused with rock).
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