With 94.9 going country, the war between 94.9 and WSB-FM (B98.5), started in the 70's during the beautiful music days, is over. WSB-FM emerges as the victor.
What is amazing is that whatever one party did, the other tried to emulate. When WSB-FM switched to AC in 1980, 94.9 (then WPCH) flips as well.
One thing that was different was the playlists. I can't vouch for anything before the mid 90's, but in the past few years, B98.5 took an upbeat approach to things. What AC plays a song that says "Doin' crystal meth will lift you up" (Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life"). Pink's "Get The Party Started" and Shaggy's "Angel" are others. In actuallity, B98.5 is lying when they say they play soft rock.
On the other hand, 94.9 almost put the NyQuil people out of business. Until 2002, the playlist was super soft. You would hear 94.9 more in dentist offices and banks because the playlist was calm and relaxing.
In 2002, this wasn't working, so they copied B98.5's upbeat approach, and called it "Lite FM". This didn't work, so they made changes in 2005. That apparently didn't work. So on December 18, 2006, Clear Channel management went to the WSB studios waving white flags, and told Paul Ciliano and Chris Weiggman that they surrender. (OK, I made that last bit up).
Other parties were involved in this war at one point or another, including 94.1, 96.1, 97.1, 99.7, and a couple of others
In the end, people will tolerate smaller playlists and other things, as long as you have a better product all around. B98.5 has that, being a hometown owned station and a true heritage station (WSB-FM is one of only two AC stations with their three letter callsign still intact. The other AC is KXO-FM in El Centro, CA.).
Congratulations to Cox and B98.5. They pulled off the imposible without even having to try.
What is amazing is that whatever one party did, the other tried to emulate. When WSB-FM switched to AC in 1980, 94.9 (then WPCH) flips as well.
One thing that was different was the playlists. I can't vouch for anything before the mid 90's, but in the past few years, B98.5 took an upbeat approach to things. What AC plays a song that says "Doin' crystal meth will lift you up" (Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life"). Pink's "Get The Party Started" and Shaggy's "Angel" are others. In actuallity, B98.5 is lying when they say they play soft rock.
On the other hand, 94.9 almost put the NyQuil people out of business. Until 2002, the playlist was super soft. You would hear 94.9 more in dentist offices and banks because the playlist was calm and relaxing.
In 2002, this wasn't working, so they copied B98.5's upbeat approach, and called it "Lite FM". This didn't work, so they made changes in 2005. That apparently didn't work. So on December 18, 2006, Clear Channel management went to the WSB studios waving white flags, and told Paul Ciliano and Chris Weiggman that they surrender. (OK, I made that last bit up).
Other parties were involved in this war at one point or another, including 94.1, 96.1, 97.1, 99.7, and a couple of others
In the end, people will tolerate smaller playlists and other things, as long as you have a better product all around. B98.5 has that, being a hometown owned station and a true heritage station (WSB-FM is one of only two AC stations with their three letter callsign still intact. The other AC is KXO-FM in El Centro, CA.).
Congratulations to Cox and B98.5. They pulled off the imposible without even having to try.