Category: Broadcaster's Lounge
Rhythmic AC Mix 102.7 - New Yorks Classic Dance mix is no longer. The Struggling AC station switched to Fresh to chalinge Mainstream AC WLTW 106.7-FM. If this is going to work the same way it did here in Philly when WSNI tried to beat WBEB in the desireable demmo of women aged 25-54, then WLTW will win in NYC. WLTW, like WBEB here in philly is an Established AC station that people know. Perhaps I am wrong, but WNEW-FM would have been better just sticking to the rock format it had long ago. Thoughts?
You know, between this and viacom's admitance that Jack failed yet their reluctance to admit failure and bring back CBSFM, if I were a stockholder I'd be really really pissed, so would my father.
Hey! I read about this the other day on radio-info. (another excelent radio-oriented site I visit to catch up on all the "Radio News") and I didn't actually listen to "The Mix" when I frequented NY, but from what I've heard it wasn't doing well. I actually like WLTW, (not that I didn't before) but I like it even more now because Delilah has taken over evenings!! (okay back to the topic). From What I've read, it doesn't sceem like Jim Ryan the Program director of WLTW isn't to happy with it, and thinks its a "Boaring Station" or it "Sounds boaring". I can't comment as I haven't heard it. But "Fresh?" okay? lol. Next we'll have "Clean 102". lol. I think it's a shame that WNEW's call letters were sold to some station in TampaBay, FL. (Dad use to love WNEW back when it was the "Rock" format) I never listened to it because it was a rock station, but I've heard it when we would travel back and forth from NJ to NY. But he use to listen to it all the time as a kid. It's a shame that they didn't just keep it WNEW. But oh well. Hopefully, next time I visit the NY area, I will get to hear it. I can't comment on the station, as I haven't heard it yet. But once I do, I will. Thanks for sharing this with us though.
Amber
Nick,
WCBS-FM might switch to another format, as from what I have heard jack-FM isn't doing well. However, I, like you doubt it'll be the Oldies format (Which isn't really oldies, but that's another topic for another day.) They would rather promote In-Band, On-Channel (IBOC); also refered to as HD (High Definition) Radio. At least there isn't a fedral mandate to turn off anolog broadcasting for good.
Amber, WNEW-FM and Scott Muni and Allison Steal, excelent progressive rock station back in the day. I have heard airchecks, and it sounded good.
WNEW is starting to become the New York Version of Philly's 106.1 in the 80's. LOL. 106.1 before the smooz Jaz format had the most name/format changes in the shortest amount of time in Philly. Maybe CBS is trying to beat that record. LOL. Let's look at 102.7 in a rough timeline, shall we?
1996, WNEW starts dropping its herritage AOR format and adds in lots of Classic Rock
1997, WNEW-FM drops its herritage AOR format all together, to become Classic Rock
2000 or so, WNEW-FM becomes Hot Talk
2002, WNEW becomes "Blink" trying to do an entertainment format on radio, mixing in Hot AC/Rhythmic tracks.
2003, WNEW-FM retains the blink name, drops the entertainment, and becomes Bright AC.
2004, WNEW-FM launches as "mix" with a feeling of HotAC/ModernAC/Jack-fm type format.
2004-present, WNEW adds in more rhythmic tracks, trying to become Rhythmic AC and to beat KTU. It didn't work.
Now here is an idea that might've worked.
if WKTU stuck to current dance,and WNEW remained Rhythmic AC with the Classic Dance format, would New Yorkers have been able to support both?
Is there enough room for both the Classic Dance and current stuff? We'll never know. Instead of trying the current dance approach, KTU decided to stick to its Rhythmic AC lean and well this leads us to today with WNEW once again, trying a format it'll probably fail.
John