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Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by Hunter <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Hunter' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 16, 2024, 6:07 pm

Radio stations are unique in the fact they can change their identity overnight.

A format change may include new call letters to reflect the format, music, talk, etc.

In some cases, a change is made before a competitor does. What comes to mind is 105.9 FM. WBBM-AM added their news format to the FM frequency and uses WCFS-FM. What pushed them was the threat of news on the 101.1 frequency if my memory serves me well.

Which Chicago station has gone through the most format changes? The 94.7 FM frequency comes to mind. We do have 100.3 which is a master of format tweaks/adjustments.

Finally, how about Chicago stations who have remained true to their format? WXRT-FM 93.1 is one. WFMT-FM 98.7 is another.

Music is so splintered these days, it's hard to serve a particular audience. Can you imagine back in the day, a mainstream AOR station playing Chicago and Hall & Oates next to AC/DC and Led Zeppelin? How much heavy metal is too much? The same for softer rock such as the Eagles for example?

Are radio consultants effective or is it a waste of money?

Speaking of conflicting music, how is WCHI-FM 95.5 doing these days? Is anyone listening?

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by Jeremy Andrews <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Jeremy+Andrews' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 16, 2024, 8:03 pm, in reply to "Radio Format Changes in History"

As far as ones that stuck around with a format for a long time:

WLIT. It had evolved to Soft AC in the 80s when it was still WLAK. It remained with Soft AC until 100.3 came around with Windy 100 and they tweaked to a more Mainstream AC format. That continued until a decade ago with a short Hot AC run, before going back to AC and Soft AC. Overall WLIT has not been away from AC since the 80s.

WXLC. Until this year, WXLC was CHR from 1980 until 1994 or 1995. Hot AC and Adult CHR variations until the end of last month.

WTMX. They went AC in the late 80s. Hot AC in the 90s. Modern AC in the Mid-late 90s and Adult CHR in the late 2000s. Overall they've been pretty close to Hot AC since the 90s.

US99 has been Country since 1982.

WGCI has been Urban since 1980

WVAZ (Or the 102.7 frequency) has been Urban since 1974

WBBM-AM has been News since 1968

B96 has been a variation of CHR since 1982.

105.1 has been Spanish since 1972

The most format flips would go to 94.7. In late 2000 they went 80s, in Spring 2001 Hot AC, Fall 2001 Alternative, Spring 2003 Active Rock, Fall 2005 Oldies. That was after runs of Classic Rock, Country, Talk, Rhythmic CHR, CHR. The flip to Oldies brought on stability. It tweaked to 70s-80s Classic Hits early last decade and has not changed much since.

100.3's tweaks were always subtle. But it never went too far from AC or Adult Hits, dating back to 1991 or so.

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 16, 2024, 8:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

WVAZ (Or the 102.7 frequency) has been Urban since 1974

Their transition in 88 marked a very major shift. While both formats were Urban the end of WBMX format was Urban/Top40 Dance (going after B96, WGCI) and the V103 launch was Urban AC, literally leaving the Contemporary Urban format younger demos to GCI and carving out a new older demo audience. Vastly different audiences!

94.7 was Progressive Rock from 1972 and evolved to AOR until it flipped New Years eve 1978 - New Years Day 1979. Disco DAI survived until Mid 1980. WRCK was short lived as an Adult 40/Oldies station. By early 1981 WLS-FM resurfaced again. Jan of 1985 WLS-FM separated from WLS-AM and Z95 was born. Nov 1991 saw the end of ABC or CapCities doing CHR in Chicago since 1960. The spinning wheel resulted. Simulcast of WLS-Am, then Younger Talk, then OJ Simpson radio coverage, then simulcasting WLS-AM again, to WKXK Kicks Country for a few years. WXCD settled in and didn't do bad for 3 years. CD 94-7 could have went on longer, but Bill Gamble was bent to recreate Q101, through 6 months of 80s rock, 6 months of 80s rock and beyond, 6 months of Alternative AC, 6 months of..... you remember, it is maddening.

Z

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by Rockola <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Rockola' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 18, 2024, 8:06 am, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

Wasn't the LS-FM to Z95 switch in January of '86? I seem to remember it being very close to the Bears SB20 win. My nerdy 13 year old self was airchecking a bunch on my Yorx triple (yes, triple!) cassette boombox at the time. Funny that I didn't know what "airchecking" was at the time. I cringe when I think about the tapes that I would record over, and/or remove commercials and station liners/jingles!

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 19, 2024, 4:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

January 20, 1986

Rockola, you are correct! Old age! lol

Z

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by Rockola <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Rockola' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 20, 2024, 9:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

I'm right there with ya on the old age. I can't believe how time's flying by in hyper speed since I hit 50!

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by PhilJSmith <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=PhilJSmith' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 16, 2024, 11:37 pm, in reply to "Radio Format Changes in History"

Back in the late 1970s you could hear Musicradio 89 WLS play Debbie Boone / You Light Up My Life, a 7-second weather spot and jingle, then Kiss / Calling Dr. Love, and a couple songs after that Dolly Parton / Here You Come Again. Top 40 a.k.a. Hit Parade was a pretty wide scope… And it worked.

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 16, 2024, 11:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

There will never be another WLS-AM ever again. It worked well back then with no competition. FM was not at its upswing yet, no cable, no satellite, cell phones, internet etc....

Isn't it ironic that no one will play Debbie Bonne EVER? It is like it never existed. The #1 song of the 70s and of the Rock N Roll history during its run. Hell the 70s were en mass ignored by radio. (any idea why people are tuning out?) Same with Physical by Olivia Newton John in the 80s.

Z

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by ChiTownGal <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ChiTownGal' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 17, 2024, 1:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

Debbie's hit occasionally surfaces on some "adult oldies" formsts, but its reputation had been tainted by the child-molesting charges against the writer, and his subsequent suicide.

"Physical" seemed to get some airplay along with Olivia's other hits in the wake of her death, but it seems now that her only songs that get regular airplay are the hits from "Grease. "

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by Jeremy Andrews <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Jeremy+Andrews' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 17, 2024, 2:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

It's not on the radio unlike their 90s and 2000s feeds, but K-LOVE 80s plays the Debby Boone cut, among others.

https://www.klove.com/music/artists/debby-boone

All of the music anywhere goes through testing. I'm guessing these songs simply don't test well in the market research they are using.

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 17, 2024, 2:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

I'm guessing these songs simply don't test well in the market research they are using.

That is the issue with radio. Its was #1 for 10 weeks, a movie was made for it. One of the biggest songs of the rock history. It doesn't test well. Were people abducted by aliens when it was a huge hit as a current?

It lines up with Dance music is for Trans and Gay people only. Hard rock is for drunk unemployed me sitting in front of their trailer homes smoking all day. Disco is poison. The 90s test bad. This is why terrestrial radio is majorly ******!

Z

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by Jeremy Andrews <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Jeremy+Andrews' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 17, 2024, 2:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

WLIT went heavy on the Disco and Classic R&B for a period of time in the Mid 2000s as did 100.3. I think they had a few years with it.

Speaking of 100.3, they used You Light Up My Life as a punchline in a liner against WLIT "Sleeping with the light on" in the final days of WNND before shifting to Love FM. It's kind of like Nickelback and Creed. People just suddenly started hating it and using it as a punchline.

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by Hunter <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Hunter' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 17, 2024, 7:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

When a station ran American Top 40, it was a glaring
example of how programmers ignored smash hits for either not testing well or simply the usual "the song doesn't fit our station's sound."

Here's one example. A New York City FM station was running American Top 40. Madonna's "Into the Groove" was a smash hit and the Djs wanted to play it.

The song was only heard when AT40 aired it. Someone inside the station decided the song didn't fit the station's sound as I mentioned before.

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 17, 2024, 8:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

Hi Hunter,

During that time period, songs had to be released on 45rpm singles to chart the Hot100.

Into the Groove never hit the Hot 100 as it was never released as a 7' single. It was the flip side to the 12" "Angel" reaching #1 on the Dance charts. It is not disputed that it is one of the biggest airplay and sales hits of the decade, even if not charting.

Z100 put Madonna on the map. Hot97/103.5 played every one of her tunes and more. Sure it wasn't "Justify My Love"?

Z

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by 45RPM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=45RPM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 17, 2024, 8:52 pm, in reply to "Radio Format Changes in History"

The closest thing to the old WLS format is MeTVFM that everyone seems to bash here. Less research, more variety and now back in the top 10. Yes it's older but there are a lot of older people.. and in may they had great young demos like 18-34, etc.

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by PhilJSmith <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=PhilJSmith' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 17, 2024, 10:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

Perhaps you mean “playlist” because MeTV FM in no way resembles the format of The Big 89 WLS.

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 18, 2024, 12:48 am, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

Took the words out of my mouth. I never remember WLS-AM sounding like METV-FM, even during their Rock40 days in the early 80s. Jingles, slick production and jocks abounded.

I still do not understand why people listen to a commercial laden outlet with no personalities when they can get the same thing w/o commercials online?

Z

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by Hunter <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Hunter' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 18, 2024, 1:17 am, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

The audience for METV-FM is 65 and up. Many are not tech savvy and would not know how to use apps like Audacy, iHeart, Spotify, etc.

Hell, many still play CDs they bought for a penny from Columbia House.

I think for those cars which go down to 87.7 FM, most of that listening is in those cars. I'm not sure if anyone who still uses a clock radio can tune that far down. Hey, remember those Bose radios?

As I said in an earlier post, I prefer to program my own music from my vast library. One great song will segue into the next and it's true; no personalities, but I've come to accept the tradeoff.

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by PhilJSmith <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=PhilJSmith' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 19, 2024, 3:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

I listen once in a while, typically when another station decides it’s a great time to run a 13-minute commercial set (f.ng absurd) and I happen to be in my car that can tune 87.7.

FWIW the commercial breaks on 87.7 are getting longer lately too. I wonder how long before even the Baby Boomers notice it and just yell, “Alexa, play Sixties and Seventies music.”

Re: Radio Format Changes in History

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 20, 2024, 1:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Radio Format Changes in History"

Bob Stroud, whose current midday show at 97.1 FM The Drive sounds voice tracked now, did an audio essay about 3 years ago when WDRV celebrated its 20th Anniversary.

In this essay, he discussed basically how the sausage is made. He went inside baseball regarding when a radio station decides to change formats...And not tip the hand in the process.

Check this out.

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