What struck me was that FM 100 (and for that matter, Rock 103, as well) were among the last stations out there still identifying themselves by just their analog frequencies! That worked great back when all that we had were the analog dials, and the red stick that approximated the dial position. Sometimes we would think that we were tuned to one station, when in reality, we were listening to another! That tells me that both stations have been relatively successful just by identifying by their "approximate" rounded up or down frequencies, with very little change over the years. (It was my understanding that Rock 103 experimented with calling themselves "Rock 102.7," but not sure how far that they got with that.)
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All-Access : WLFP (94.1 The Wolf)/Memphis To Move To 99.7, 'Sunsetting' Hot AC WMC (FM 100)
- Thread starter sjs1959
- Start date
I noticed one of the hosts said she had a married daughter.
It was great hearing from a lot of the old jocks such as Steve Conley, Tom Prestigacimo, Toni St James who is now a judge in Hawaii and many others. It was great that they honored those who passed away such as Melody Meadows and Garner Miller. I think a lot of you said it well that we all somewhat grow out of Fm100s format over time but Fm100 is something that seemed to be passed down from generation to generation. When one group aged out another aged in. It is sad that will no longer be the case. It is sad to what radio has become with the large corporations that have no grasp on who and what their local markets are. I think if Fm100 was struggling this move would have been easier to understand and take. The fact that it was still successful makes this move a huge head scratcher. Nothing against the Wolf but I do not see them replicating Fm100s success or even coming close. Just my take.
@FeralFox, check your DM.
Does anyone in Memphis play the good kind of country music?
Sadly most of “us” weren’t still in the demo for FM100. Remember when all those easy listening stations changed in the 80s? Back then, “we” didn’t listen to elevator music and were glad to see sleepy muzak disappear and something better and semi-contemporary take over the radio station for old people. Firepoint, as Donnie Iris would say on Hippie in the song “Ah Leah,” “here we go again...”. This time “we” weren’t intended to be on the ride. I still believe the flip has had corporate flaws, but I am sure Audacy will be happy with a 4.7-5.3 share. And it will be a format that will get agency interest, which is all this is about. Definitely a big crack the the radio sidewalk of Memphis and radio in general. No chance of looking back.
We not only aged out of the demographic, but we (at least I) also moved out of the geographic, as well! I listened to similar stations (like Y-107) for a while after moving here to Nashville, but eventually aged out of that, as well.
I don't see numbers like that happening, at least over the long-term, with 99.7 The Wolf. No evidence country has enough shares in Memphis for ratings like that. Kix would have to become a three share station for that to happen, and I can't imagine that happening, even with Cumulus running it. This change might mean increased interest in the format in the short-term, but that rarely lasts.
FM 100, at least as a Hot AC, is most likely gone forever. With two other stations after that audience now, 99.7 would have a hard time going back. I suppose Audacy could try to bring it back as a classic hits station, but a second-rate country station is probably still going to perform better. Despite its reputation as the birthplace of rock n'roll, classic pop formats have never done well in Memphis. Audacy was obviously already content to play second-fiddle in country over having classic hits to itself. That was the motivation for launching The Wolf in the first place.
Is this a similar situation to when WCBS was flipped in NYC to Jack from Oldies and after a short period flipped back because of the outrage and lack of interest? I think that due to FM100 heritage, if they ever did flip back they would be welcomed with open arms by their listeners regardless of 102.7 or 107.5. I could also see Fm100 coming back as a classic hits style 80s 90s 2000s mix or the Jack style format like they did about 15 years ago where they had the whatever weekends constantly. Jack is very successful in Nashville. I guess time will tell. I do think that they could reverse course at anytime they want and still get back what they had. But this is audacy and that prob won’t happen. Lol
I'm listening via the Audacy player right now and right underneath the station logo and the "live" button it says "Memphis' New Country. WLFP-FM is spinning the best Country music, live from Memphis." So there you go. It's not only playing good country music; it's playing the best!
Seeing as how they already had that format on 94.1, this might actually be more about reaching listeners out there in the ACTUAL "country," although I don't know if that has ever been said. If so, they might want to actually look at some sort of promotion (billboards, whatever) out there in the boonies. I don't know if this has actually ever been said by anyone.
With that signal, this is about reaching the surrounding counties, which are far more rural and reaching areas that might not get KIX 106. Seems like a lot of effort to me, but we will see what happens. Also, it will be interesting to see how many folks go to WRVR now, especially after 10 AM.
You only have to cross the river from Memphis to instantly be "out there in the boonies," you know. It's called "Arkansas."
I always noticed when driving to and from Memphis to and from other cities that the WMC-FM signal would come in and die out about the same time as the other 100kw radio stations in Memphis. I would think the 300kw signal would stretch farther but I guess power is more for building penetration and height is more for distance.
In fairness, I never lived over there.
I don’t think WMC signal reaches anywhere that Kix does not. Maybe north and in Arkansas. That seems to be where I have picked up WMC a little further than the other 100kw. Most of the other heavily populated areas outside of Memphis that can pick up the Memphis stations such as Jackson Jonesboro and Dyersburg already have another country station that serves that area along with Kix 106.
I suppose that could be, but few diaries ever end up in the rural areas. Even fewer PPM's do. If Audacy thinks the rural areas will make up a huge difference, it’s going to be disappointed.
WMC-FM does better on clock radios and handhelds, but, if you have a decent car radio or home stereo, it's going to do as well as anyone else with a Class C1 or better signal. The laws of physics and the curvature of the Earth will ultimately win out over power on FM. It might do better in an airplane, but you shouldn’t be listening on an airplane anyway. Driving between Memphis and Tulsa, I always found WEGR 102.7 did the best in terms of distance on the I-40 run. I even got it as far away as Russellville once, but KLSZ 102.7 from Ft. Smith quickly overpowered it. Most Memphis stations were comfortably listenable in the car until about Brinkley. That was about when Little Rock was easiest to enjoy, too. On the 8th floor of Richardson Towers, I could get KKYK 103.7 and KOLL 94.9 on my stereo, but that was due to the height. I couldn't have accomplished that on the second floor.
It’s funny you mentioned Little Rock Koll Cool 95. That signal is one of the furthest reaching I think in this area. I believe it is KHKN now. I believe their tower is almost 1900 ft. Before K love in Memphis Cool 95 was easy to listen to here. I can remember even with K love on the air there were days that you could still hear Cool 95 during the summer. I know you used to regularly hear Fm100 pretty clear up to almost Union City before it started to fade out. I believe they have a local translator on 99.7 now that prob affects the signal in that area. If Audacy is wanting listeners outside of Memphis they were better off with Fm100 and the Hot AC format than a format that there is an abundance of in the areas outside of the Memphis area.
It must be the curvature then. I typically drive most going east on I-22 towards Atlanta and there aren’t really any 99.7FMs to interfere with it and it typically dies out near Fulton/Amory, MS. Being sandwiched between WWTN to the north and WOOF to the south but nothing in the immediate areas until you get to Atlanta with WWWQ. I remember getting WMC much further north into the Ozark mountains.
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