107.1 The Big Wazoo is no more!

[wazuvet]

Man, it must suck to be The Big Wazoo. This is the second time Active Rock under the WAZU calls has been dumped. I remember when WAZU was on the 102.9 signal here in Springfield(Now Radio One's Not-So-Hot 102.9)and then-owners Great Trails Broadcasting had bought the signal from Osbourn. On March 20, 1993, WAZU flipped from Active Rock to WZEP-All Led Zeppelin, All the Time. Of course, the calls reverted back to WAZU and the station kept adding Classic Rock artists alongside Zeppelin, such as Pink Floyd. Eventually, the station became Classic Rock 102.9 WAZU. The WAZU calls stuck for two more years, until GTB decided to switch to the heritage calls WING in May, 1995. Funny, I also remember when WAZU was AC before Osborn Communications bought it from Bob Yontz's Champion Broadcasting in January 1989. The early days of the original "Big WAZU" featured most of the jocks playing album sides, and later "24 songs in a row". Some of the original staff at the WAZU was Brian and Joe(Mornings), Sean Roberts, and Allen Rantz. Anyone else remember any others?

I worked with Wild Wally in the mornings before coming to Columbus from Dayton 16 years ago! After graduation OU, got a job doing mornings with Jeff and Smokey from the old Magic 99.7 days, then off to Springfield to do overnights at WAZU. Got that job through Rob Walker, OU classmate and doing nights at QFM at the time. Osbourne Communciations bought WAZU in 1989, and moved the studios to Dayton. I was the only staff member they kept. Worked under Michael Luczak and Lisa Lyons, before getting hired at Q by Tom Thon and former Q PD Bob Numan...Miss those days, and some of the people I worked with. Every now and then I get a call from someone who wants to know if I'm related to the girl that was on WAZU all those years ago.

 

[gabigley1]

Wilkes has already started airing commercials on T.V. for the new "Wink FM". Seems they didn't waste any time getting the spots on the air as soon as possible.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Then 102.5 will move in and stay AC to fight with Sunny and Lite. Noooooooooooo!

you kidding 102.5 will go "One Country -- Your one choice for country!" (no more having to listen to Wink to hear new country and listen to Hawk to hear old country!)

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Wilkes has already started airing commercials on T.V. for the new "Wink FM". Seems they didn't waste any time getting the spots on the air as soon as possible.

No big deal, but for the record it's spelled Wilks, not Wilkes.  Wilkes with an "e" is the middle name of one of American History's most famous assassins. John Wilkes Booth.  Hmmm...come to think of it maybe it's appropriate to misspell the radio group owner that way.  (Disclaimer:  No offense intended to any innocent reader out there who just happens to be named Wilkes.)

Why, oh why, can't Columbus attract an Entercom instead of a Wilks?  Or an Emmis instead of a Wilks?  Or Cox?  Or Greater Media...

 

[knowbetter]

Why, oh why, can't Columbus attract an Entercom instead of a Wilks? Or an Emmis instead of a Wilks? Or Cox? Or Greater Media...

the signals on those stations are poor, with the exception of QFM...so most intelligent broadcasters would not be in that much of a hurry to get those lame signals.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Why, oh why, can't Columbus attract an Entercom instead of a Wilks?  Or an Emmis instead of a Wilks?  Or Cox?  Or Greater Media...

the signals on those stations are poor, with the exception of QFM...so most intelligent broadcasters would not be in that much of a hurry to get those lame signals.

True, but then that begs the question of how CBS/Infinity ended up with the stations in the first place, before Wilks.  It's probably related to the fact that, this time around, CBS was resigned to selling its "small market" stations outright rather than swapping, as I *believe* they did with CC when they first acquired LVQ/HOK/AZU.  Selling lacks the favorable tax benefits of swapping, but I don't think that was an option for them this time around, as the company looking to divest the stations.

My lament was more of the "why don't things ever work out right for this market" variety.  Well, when you have CC plus a few locals who have no interest in selling...and couple that with the small number of full-power, city-grade signals for a market this size...you're at kind of a disadvantage trying to attract good groups.  I do have to say I'm kind of surprised Saga wasn't able to somehow get their hands on LVQ.  Columbus is their second largest market; they specialize in heritage Rock and classic Rock; and they still only have a single big signal (the Pickerington "upgrade" sure doesn't qualify).  You would think they'd have the wherewithal of a Wilks in getting a deal done.

 

[jtmichaels]

I worked at 107.1 in the early 90's when it was WLRO playing adult contemporary. I was only 19. This was my FIRST full-time job in radio and while I wasn't there long, I did enjoy getting my feet wet, gaining experience on the air, and using this station as a stepping stone.

Oh the memories...LOL I'll never forget arriving for my interview to meet the GM who came around the corner wearing a soiled shirt w/his gut hanging over his belt. Then there were the times the owner's wife would drop by unexpectedly to "check up" on things. She told me when it played hard rock, she came in to find the DJ stoned out of his mind, the smell of "weed" in the air, beer cans all over the floor, bunch of girls naked, etc. The only thing I was guilty of was drivin' down to Rax on an occassional Saturday night while an LP played.

I was suddenly back on the 107.1 frequency a few years later when it was HOK/LLD/HQK/WAZU. We were at the Continent on the north side of Columbus. Again, lots of great memories.

I started out at 98.9 WLLD working overnights. One evening, I arrived about 45 mins before my shift (12am-6am) to be greeted by my PD. It was NOT like him to show up so late at work, so I expected the worst. In the studio, he told me that there would be "changes" and that they would happen at the start of my shift...at exactly midnight.

These changes involved 105.7 and 107.1 dropping their formats and both simulcasting off of the 98.9 frequency. I could tell it was scrapped together quickly. I asked my PD what questions I could before he bolted out the door. One I distinctly remember was do I keep calling it "Country 98.9"? He looked down at the ground and thought for a moment, then replied "call it the Voice of America", as if he spitted out the first thing that came to mind. I said "huh??" bewildered. He walked over to the marker board in front of the DJ console, wrote it down, then walked out of the studio.

My phones rang off the hook and I had no answers. Believe it or not, even the receptionist at 105.7 and DJ's at 107.1 were calling in to ask what was going on. They had NO clue this was to happen. All their jobs gone...just like that.

I knew the simulcasting was only temporary. They were recently acquired stations that kept our engineers busy, that's for sure. I was asked to stay on board and ended up doing 7pm-12am both for K95, Country 98.9, and KICKS 105.7. When all those frequencies were sold, I stayed on with K95. They chose once again MY shift to make changes, bringing in Commercial Movers, Inc. to help us transition to the next location...Dublin Rd. (the former home of WCOL/WLVQ/WTVN). Yep, they were literally removing furniture from the studio while I was on the air...and by the time my shift ended, nearly everything was gone.

When 107.1 went to Rock again, the station ended up being nothing more than a little automated computer in a back room. And that folks, is a little Columbus radio history I thought I'd share with 'ya.

 

[jtmichaels]

I should probably add that I left K95 (WHOK) to work for Sunny 95 (WSNY) in Dec '97. I was & am still amazed by the decisions Saga/Franklin Communications makes. I won't bash Chuck Knight (PD), but he is very hard-headed and can be difficult to work for. I know many who felt the same way.

For instance, as some may know...Sunny 95 didn't even have a freakin' website in 1997. Not only did they not have one, Chuck didn't think they even needed one. I brought it up to him during a meeting one day and he brushed me off like I was crazy, saying our listeners don't care about if we have a website.

So it's not a surprise that Saga didn't pick up WLVQ. They never have been an aggressive broadcast group.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Thanks for that entertaining bit of Columbus radio history -- plus the interesting observations on Saga. I had completely forgotten about WLRO "Lady Radio." Did that station have the same owners as when it was WNRE? (I'll never forget those calls because "Nelson R. Embry" is a name that really sticks in my mind. I guess it's unique). Your description of WAZU as little more than a "back room computer" actually sounds generous compared to the "in a closet" description I've heard before.

BTW, did Voice of America ever show up on your resume?

 

[xmusicmatt]

Thanks for that entertaining bit of Columbus radio history -- plus the interesting observations on Saga. I had completely forgotten about WLRO "Lady Radio."

I remember lady radio, I forgot about that format, way back when, didn't they after lady radio WLRO go Christian AC as "107.1 The Light -- WTLT"?

I would say 107.1 WAZU "the big wazoo" was one of the longest formats in Columbus to stay on air and remain jockless, if I remember for years they ran jockless and I always heard that it was nothing more than a computer in a closet.

 

[xiradiodotcom]

I am confused about the story of drunk passed out DJs when 107.1 was rock. Was this a rock format before the CBS days? I moved to Columbus in '92, so WTLT was as far back as I can remember. Also, was the history as follows?

WNRE AC?(pre-1998)
WLRO AC?(1988)
WTLT Christian(1990)
WAHC Hot(1993)
Kiss(1994)
Arrow(1995)
WAZU Rock (Late 1996)

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

I am confused about the story of drunk passed out DJs when 107.1 was rock. Was this a rock format before the CBS days? I moved to Columbus in '92, so WTLT was as far back as I can remember. Also, was the history as follows?

WNRE AC?(pre-1998)
WLRO AC?(1988)
WTLT Christian(1990)
WAHC Hot(1993)
Kiss(1994)
Arrow(1995)
WAZU Rock (Late 1996)

I should probably wait for jtmichaels to jump back in, but here's what I can fill in:

107.1 was actually the second Central Ohio home of Z-Rock until it became WLRO in the late 80's (I don't remember the calls as Z-Rock, other than the fact that they included a Z). I had forgotten about this part of the station's history when I wrote my previous post. Also, While I believe 107.1 had gone straight from NRE to Z-Rock, I'm not certain. NRE was very small-town, Circleville oriented and mono. I believe its most notable feature was the (noon?) trading show, though it probably played some AC.

Everything you have looks right to me except for your typo at the top (should say 1988, not 1998), although it would be good to have confirmation from others -- especially people involved with 107.1 or sibling stations at some point.

 

[Radioboy989]

XI-looks like you have it right.

I was at the old WNRJ, which was the Power Pig, then the Music Pig, then something else after the next c&d came through. We were literally separated from 107.1 by a glass entry into the building. At that time they were contemporay Christian WTLT at 107.1 and the Pig was on 105.7. Both frequencies were owned by Case/Litton as "Results Radio".

Funny thing, 105.7 was what we were coming to know as "churban" at that time. We would play Madonna and Billy Idol and Bel Biv Devoe and Louie Louie...a hybrid of CHR and urban artists. The station was sounding pretty decent, we were getting lots of talk on the street and we were all over the city doing remotes and spreading bumper stickers. It seemed like things were good, then all in one day,PD Bob Summers, part timer James Black, 7-midninght monster Eric "The Bear" Banks were all dismissed. All three were African-American. I'm just sayin'...

Tom Reynolds was the new PD (?!?!?!?!?!?!) and the stations morphed into the Hot 105/107 simulcast from there.

 

[Dirty_Harry]

XI-looks like you have it right.

I was at the old WNRJ, which was the Power Pig, then the Music Pig, then something else after the next c&d came through. We were literally separated from 107.1 by a glass entry into the building. At that time they were contemporay Christian WTLT at 107.1 and the Pig was on 105.7. Both frequencies were owned by Case/Litton as "Results Radio".

Funny thing, 105.7 was what we were coming to know as "churban" at that time. We would play Madonna and Billy Idol and Bel Biv Devoe and Louie Louie...a hybrid of CHR and urban artists. The station was sounding pretty decent, we were getting lots of talk on the street and we were all over the city doing remotes and spreading bumper stickers. It seemed like things were good, then all in one day,PD Bob Summers, part timer James Black, 7-midninght monster Eric "The Bear" Banks were all dismissed. All three were African-American. I'm just sayin'...

Tom Reynolds was the new PD (?!?!?!?!?!?!) and the stations morphed into the Hot 105/107 simulcast from there.

The Power Pig was a much better version than Hot 105/107. I remember the first time I heard the station up near Westerville. Mike Motley was the morning DJ and he sounded way too professional to be on a rimshot station. I figured I was DX-ing a station from a surrounding city. I know Motley used to be on the old WBLZ in Cincinnati .... and on 92X before that.

His sidekick was none other than "Paige Turner", more commonly known as Stacy McKay of WSNY! God I loved her voice.

 

[Radioboy989]

Motley! There's a name from the way-back machine. He had a great delivery on air. He was part of the 92x that made me want to be a jock. He and Chris Shebel and Tom Kelly and David Glen and Greg Jordan...and that tv commercial with the digital car driving through the digital city with "Come Sail Away" blasting...Oh those were the days!!!

 

[phatdaddy]

Years ago WNRE had a short tower on top of one of the downtown Circleville buildings. An acquaintance of mine used to service two way radio and electonics equipment in the downtown buildings and said the biggest problem they had was the RF from WNRE antenna blanketing the various pieces of electronic gear and messing them up. As you can imagine, this was many years before the Maximum Permissible Exposure regulations we have today.

 

[TheVibe]

The Power Pig was a much better version than Hot 105/107.

I guess it's a matter of preference but I thought Hot 105/107 was one of the best sounding radio stations I have ever heard. I still miss Hot 105/107 to this day.

 

[pbf1]

The Fresh New Sound of Hot 105 Hot 107

Columbus' Number One Hit Music Station!

Ditto. Had a blast working there (before the Hot 107 days).

 

[del_griffith]

Anyone know what became of Motley?

 

[radiokiller]

jtmichaels,

thanks for the information..I am just curious what you do now?
power pig was freakin' awesome in my humble opinion-I recall doing everything in my power to pick up the signal from my pitiful radio outside of town.

radiokiller