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It's 'Beautiful' In Birmingham

KilowattKat

KilowattKat

For those who enjoy the Beautiful music format, here's a terrestrial station that currently has the format (questionable how much longer it might last). So enjoy it while you can!

WENN 1320/92.3 Birmingham, AL

 
And it's on AM to boot!

Even back when the format was at its peak in the 70s, it was somewhat rare to find on AM (though AMs with the format certainly did exist. SF's KABL 960, for example), as it was a predominantly FM format by then.

c
 
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WRTH in St. Louis got respectable ratings with beautiful music on AM in the 1970s against FM competition KEZK and KCFM as did daytimer WAIT in Chicago.

Also some of your major full service AMs still programmed beautiful music or very close formats overnight in the 1970s, KMOX, WGN, WJR, WCCO etc
 
I "tuned in to" (or perhaps more aptly, "logged on to") WENN's stream, and I'm impressed!

Now hearing Green Onions (the definitive rendition by Booker T. and The M.G.'s) for some reason. It's decidedly off format, but it still works, albeit awkwardly.

c
 
cc333 said:
I "tuned in to" (or perhaps more aptly, "logged on to") WENN's stream, and I'm impressed!

Now hearing Green Onions (the definitive rendition by Booker T. and The M.G.'s) for some reason. It's decidedly off format, but it still works, albeit awkwardly.

c
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It's an interesting mix. They also throw in some Big Band tunes. Their thinking might be 'if it's instrumental, it fits'. I always like it when radio breaks out of the norm, and does something unique and different...like WENN!
 
I agree! I sure wish somebody in the SF Bay Area (or other adjacent areas) would try something like this!

I looked them up, and apparently they've only been airing this format since November 24 of last year. Talk about bucking trends!

Maybe we're on the cusp of something? ("Music so old, it's new!")

c
 
cc333 said:
I "tuned in to" (or perhaps more aptly, "logged on to") WENN's stream, and I'm impressed!
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Interesting mix of music they have there. btw, it's more than ok to say "tuned into" there. :)
 
cc333 said:
I agree! I sure wish somebody in the SF Bay Area (or other adjacent areas) would try something like this!

I looked them up, and apparently they've only been airing this format since November 24 of last year. Talk about bucking trends!

Maybe we're on the cusp of something? ("Music so old, it's new!")

c
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Here a fact: Many of us Gen-Xer's absolutely hated this music growing up. But these days, guess who's listening to it the most?

There's KQV 1410 too. They don't stream and the only place to hear it is on the Pittsburgh Kiwi SDR.
 
Bongwater said:
Here a fact: Many of us Gen-Xer's absolutely hated this music growing up. But these days, guess who's listening to it the most?
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I believe it. I think as people mature, some may grow tired of the grating noise of modern pop and gravitate for something a bit softer.

With the world as it is, I wouldn't be surprised if everyone gets so fed up with it that OTA radio (and ancient, virtually extinct formats such as beautiful music and smooth jazz) make a comeback. However, current trends strongly suggest that won't happen any time soon (radio wouldn't be in the sorry state it's in otherwise), but who knows what will happen?

Bongwater said:
There's KQV 1410 too. They don't stream and the only place to hear it is on the Pittsburgh Kiwi SDR.
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Yes. I've tuned in to that SDR a few times, and it's daytime signal is pretty solid (so is the oldies station under the same ownership as KQV, whose frequency and calls I don't remember at the moment). Thankfully that particular SDR happens to be one of the 20 kHz wideband ones, so it sounds better than average.

The segues could use some work, the IDs and weather forecasts are boring and mechanical sounding (though it at least seems to be a real voice, not AI-generated), and its signal seems to be a bit over modulated and over processed, but the music itself is good.

c
 
KRLD 1080 was Beautiful Music for at least a few years in the 1970s before going all news during the day keeping the beautiful music at night,

In the early 1970s, KRLD 1080 was top 40 days and progressive rock after 7pm
 
cc333 said:
I agree! I sure wish somebody in the SF Bay Area (or other adjacent areas) would try something like this!

I looked them up, and apparently they've only been airing this format since November 24 of last year. Talk about bucking trends!

Maybe we're on the cusp of something? ("Music so old, it's new!")

c
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I really like the station. But not one commercial since they signed on.
 
Sounds like to me they are not making it financially, having been unsuccessful in selling advertising thus far.

This is a harsh reality of formats that are very niche. They are the hardest to sell and have the smallest audiences. You might sell a local business once but more than likely they will not renew. If it was any other type of business, the owner would consider anything but this and likely opt for the easiest route to dollars and customers
 
cc333 said:
Interesting. I wonder where their funds are coming from?

Maybe it's being subsidized somehow?

c
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The last station to play standards in Charlotte NC asked listeners for donations but reminded them that these were gifts and not deductible. It was still technically a commercial station.

The stations met its goal for several years (the cost of music royalties, which weren't needed when the station was a Christian talk simulcast) but ended up returning to talk and then selling soon after deciding they were getting close to not reaching the goal.
 
vchimpanzee said:
The stations met its goal for several years (the cost of music royalties, which weren't needed when the station was a Christian talk simulcast)
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Talk stations pay, too. Generally at a lower rate but they have to cover music in advertisements, bumpers, etc.
 
It's not so beautiful in Birmingham anymore.....

Add WENN to the pile of defunct Beautiful Music stations. Figured it was too good to last.
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The beautiful music format at WENN-AM and its FM translator W222BK at 92.3 was moved to WBHM HD3 for a couple of months before the programming was pulled entirely from the HD channel. See post below on AL board:

 


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