I was told that 1320 WENN is currently stunting with Beautiful Music. Anyone able to confirm?
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Birmingham 1320 WENN
- Thread starter lanceventa
- Start date
| 2:22 PM (0 minutes ago) | |||
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@lanceventa from the IRCA list
Since at least this morning, Birmingham's WENN 1320 is on air again. They play mostly cheerful instrumental ezl and the occasional oldtime favorite such as Chattanooga Choo Choo, also some Christmas songs.
IDs happen after every 2-3 songs and vary, but always include the slogan "Beautiful 13-20".
Right now at 4.18 pm cst for example "Birmingham is beautiful - Beautiful 13-20".
73
Eike
Birmingham, AL
Any idea if WENN is being rebroadcast on its FM translator W222BK at 92 3?
I listened to the station while I was out running errands today. TBH, it reminded me of listening to WAPI, WCRT or WBRC circa 1967 (yeah, I was 7 years old then. I'm still scarred by the memories of the music those stattions played). The music they were playing targeted that all-important 85-99 demographic.
I have been listening to WENN the last couple of days. Signal is pretty weak here in south Shelby county so my guess is they aren't broadcasting with the licensed 5000 watts daytime power.
I did hear a TOH ID but there was no mention of W222BK so my guess is the translator remains off the air.
Question is: Who made the format change if the sale is still pending? Is WENN being leased by Community Broadcasters of Alabama prior to the sale closing? Did the sale fall through? If so, has the station been leased to another party? Did Summit Media make the change as a stopgap measure until the sale is finalized?
I can't imagine the beautiful music format will stay in place as much as I'd like for it to be, bc I'm a realist. Believe it ot not, there are actually some of us out there who appreciate this kind of music and we're nowhere near the "85-99 demographic". Granted, there aren't many of us but the 85 to dead demographic many people quote for beautiful music listeners is highly exaggerated.
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I can't answer any of the sale questions but my guess is Summit put the temporary format on to keep the license in good standing. Their previous Silent STA over cooling issues expired on November 18th. Yesterday they filed an extension to that STA, but that means there were several days where the station technically needed to be on the air, so I guess they were just dotting their t's and crossing their i's to play it safe.
As far as I know (as I am but a peon) they can run at reduced power for up to 10 days without commission authorization so running low power to bridge the gap between STAs is perfectly acceptable.
The Silent STA extension was granted yesterday, so my bet is the station is back off soon for another 180 days or until the sale goes through.
As far as I know (as I am but a peon) they can run at reduced power for up to 10 days without commission authorization so running low power to bridge the gap between STAs is perfectly acceptable.
The Silent STA extension was granted yesterday, so my bet is the station is back off soon for another 180 days or until the sale goes through.
There's a new buyer who is working on repairing the facility. They're not willing to be named publicly until Summit files everything, but they're already operating it.
WENN files resumption of operations today and has been operating at reduced power of 1 kw.
Yup - I'm one of 'em and I'm 23. And before the usual comments about outliers and wanting to resurrect dead formats come in... Yes, I realize I'm an outlier and few people my age are hanging out with their girlfriend listening to Jackie Gleason and Ray Ellis LPs...
KQV in Pittsburgh is now beautiful music and it's a preset on my radio, and a station I listen to quite frequently. It's incredibly relaxing.
But yeah, this WENN being beautiful is likely short lived.
How old is she, 65?
Haha no, 21 and I'm 23. She enjoys a lot of different kinds of music. She absolutely loves the crooners (as do I), so there's a healthy helping of Nat, Dean, Johnny (Mathis), etc. on the turntable, too...
I have been doing an internet-based beautiful music radio station for thirteen years now and I regularly from my listeners who tell me they are in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s. I even had a 17 yo boy contact me one time who told me he listened to my station. Granted I do have older listeners contact me as well but I'd say half of them I hear from are 50 years of age and younger.
I began listening to B/EZ music at 14 yo (of course that was a long time ago as I am now an old guy of 56, lol). Granted, there aren't many of us in the younger age brackets who enjoy that kind of music but I suspect many of us learned to appreciate it from either parents or grandparents who listened to beautiful music radio (my interest in the music came from my dad). So the idea that those of us who listen to easy listening/beautiful music are 85+ years of age or already dead is unfactual and ridiculous. I imagine those who make those kinds of absurd assessments do so based solely on their dislike of the music rather than from actually researching the matter. Not all of us appreciate mainstream music genres and we shouldn't be denigrated if we choose to listen to music outside of what most individuals prefer.
As you know, there are only a handful of beautiful music stations remaining on AM/FM today in the US (maybe ten?). The format is able to survive on internet radio. I listen to beautiful music stations with my phone several hours every day as I drive or whenever I'm out and about. I stay connected to the cell signal 99.9% of the time and I'm not using anywhere near the excessive amounts of data people always claim/fear they'll use listening to internet radio and other audio online with their phones.
But back to WENN...barring a nonprofit buying the station with the sole intention of airing a beautiful music format (as in the case with KQV and WKGO in Pittsburgh), the new programming doesn't appear to be the permanent format.
The 'Listen Live' feature is disabled. If they are still on the air, is there a link to be able to stream WENN?
Also, there was a mention of Summit Media withdrawing the previous sale in today's Radio Insight list of station sales.
Also, there was a mention of Summit Media withdrawing the previous sale in today's Radio Insight list of station sales.
The streaming isn't disabled nor is the feature "disabled". It's currently working for me.
I was in Pelham yesterday afternoon. W222BK 92.3 was still rebroadcasting WENN's beautiful music format.
I'm confused. Are there two different buyers of WENN/W222BK we're talking about here (one no longer in play and a current buyer)? Back in May, the app was filed at the FCC to transfer the license for the two stations to Community Broadcasters of Alabama, LLC. But what about what is mentioned in the following post regarding Summit Media filing the paperwork at the FCC and the pending owners wanting to remain anonymous until that time?
The name of the buyer was already released back in May, so does that mean there is a new buyer "waiting in the wings" even though no other apps have been filed to transfer the station licenses as of yet?
On a lighter note...if there is a new buyer for WENN, I think I have come to the conclusion as to who the buyer is. Since WENN is referencing the phrase "Remember When" during their legal station ID for the "Remember WENN" TV series, I decided to research the period "Remember WENN" aired. Turns out the series was created and written by Rupert Holmes, famous for such pop hits as "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" and "Him". So there it is, folks. Obviously, the new owner of WENN and W222BK must be Rupert Holmes.
Of course, a heads up that the preceding is merely a joke...just for those in here who don't understand and appreciate humor.
The name of the buyer was already released back in May, so does that mean there is a new buyer "waiting in the wings" even though no other apps have been filed to transfer the station licenses as of yet?
On a lighter note...if there is a new buyer for WENN, I think I have come to the conclusion as to who the buyer is. Since WENN is referencing the phrase "Remember When" during their legal station ID for the "Remember WENN" TV series, I decided to research the period "Remember WENN" aired. Turns out the series was created and written by Rupert Holmes, famous for such pop hits as "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" and "Him". So there it is, folks. Obviously, the new owner of WENN and W222BK must be Rupert Holmes.
Of course, a heads up that the preceding is merely a joke...just for those in here who don't understand and appreciate humor.
Yes. The sale to Community Broadcasters of Alabama was the one withdrawn. The operator of "Beautiful 1320" took over after it became clear the deal would not close. There just was a lag in the filing of the sale withdrawal.
The website just added a listener survey. Asking if you're enjoying listening, how you listen (AM/FM/online), City you are in, and any suggestions and comments. Whoever is operating, is trying to gauge listener response.
The web address is beautifulmusic.us, with no copyright/owner info. Adding more mystery to the anonymity.
The web address is beautifulmusic.us, with no copyright/owner info. Adding more mystery to the anonymity.
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