94.7 WLS-FM

[FightingIrish]

Since nobody else has started a thread yet, here goes.

Great idea, IMO. I think they could really establish an identity with that heritage, as opposed to building around the canned Scott Shannon stuff.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/feder/1013560,CST-FIN-feder19.article

 

[smashedcd]

Well I for 1 will listen I wouldnt listen if it became the New Rock of Chicago. as in Pearl Jam..etc..

 

[DToTheJ]

NOTE: Post Removed

I am of the opinion that the rebranding of the WLS-FM call letters to 94.7 FM is nothing more than a precursor to when the news/talk format on AM 890 eventually replaces the oldies format on 94.7, and 890 goes all-brokered.

 

[smashedcd]

NOTE: Post Removed

I am of the opinion that the rebranding of the WLS-FM call letters to 94.7 FM is nothing more than a precursor to when the news/talk format on AM 890 eventually replaces the oldies format on 94.7, and 890 goes all-brokered.

;D

 

[Gale Tulare]

I think Bob and Tom would be a great fit in the morning.

 

[oaktree]

... or Imus In The Morning.

ABC / Citadel needs Chicago.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Hasn't this been done before? I don't think it worked then, why would it work now?

Going younger? I take that to mean play all the oldies that stations have burned out for years instead of playing some hits that haven't been heard in awhile. Wow what a great idea! ;D

 

[KlunkLetter]

I think Bob and Tom would be a great fit in the morning.

You're kidding right? Bob and Tom on the legendary WLS calls. I think not. Same goes for Imus. It will be a strong Chicago connection--maybe Lujack shows up again and LS gets their act together and hires back Landecker.

Lujack and Edwards AM Drive
Fred Winston middays
Landecker PM Drive
Biondi Evenings
Whoever You Want to Plug in Overnights

 

[AnimatronicAbeLincoln]

I love that they're doing this, as a radio geek I think it's so cool... but, from a practical point of view, will there be diary confusion?

If someone just writes down WLS, what station gets credit, the AM or the FM?

Would call letter confusion possibly potentially hurt the AM?

 

[radioman148]

I'll second Klunkletter's lineup. Adding Lujack & Edwards in the morning along with Fred Winston to a lineup already featuring Dick Biondi would be fantastic!

 

[smashedcd]

Whoever You Want to Plug in Overnights

Jeff Davis....

 

[Ultimajock]

I'll second Klunkletter's lineup. Adding Lujack & Edwards in the morning along with Fred Winston to a lineup already featuring Dick Biondi would be fantastic!

...providing Biondi doesn't mind it. He quit WCFL when they hired Lujack in '72, saying something about the station not being "big enough for two legends." Whether it was a personal beef or his professional ego was bruised, I dunno...

 

[JustinT]

I am of the opinion that the rebranding of the WLS-FM call letters to 94.7 FM is nothing more than a precursor to when the news/talk format on AM 890 eventually replaces the oldies format on 94.7, and 890 goes all-brokered.

94.7 was WLS-FM for many years, it's really just the return of those letters in an attempt to invoke memories of Musicradio 89. The talk format on WLS will probably make its way to the FM dial eventually, but I can't see that having any connection to this re-imaging of 94.7's oldies/classic hits format.

And the biggest AM signal in the Midwest going brokered? Yes, AM radio isn't as popular as it used to be, but times are not THAT tough.

 

[newsperson]

The Sun-Times reports:

Citadel Broadcasting plans to ask the Federal Communications Commission next week to turn WZZN-FM (94.7), the "True Oldies" station, into WLS-FM. If approved, the change is expected to take effect June 26.

The application is considered a formality since Citadel also owns news/talk WLS-AM 890
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Newsperson responds:

But is it just a formality?

As most know 3-letter call letters are no longer available for application. Even if the call letters once belonged to the same station, then Citadel must ask for a waiver to go back to the old call letters of WLS-FM. If this is a different FM station it cannot be approved. It must be the station that was WLS-FM.

In San Franciso there is a similar problem with KYA and the only station that could revive the call letters is the original one on 1260 Khz.

The question is: Is this the original WLS-FM. If so they should be able to receive FCC approval except it may take more than just a week.

I will look for your replies.

Newsperson

 

[gr8oldies]

They can start calling themselves WLS-FM tommorrow as long as there's a whispered "wzzn chicago" somewhere near the top of the hour. Interesting concepts but will anyone but radio geeks care?

 

[checker758]

The question is: Is this the original WLS-FM.

The answer is: yes.

 

[checker758]

I love that they're doing this, as a radio geek I think it's so cool... but, from a practical point of view, will there be diary confusion?

If someone just writes down WLS, what station gets credit, the AM or the FM?

Would call letter confusion possibly potentially hurt the AM?

No, there won't be any diary confusion, because there won't be any diaries. Welcome to PPM!

 

[jh]

But is it just a formality?

As most know 3-letter call letters are no longer available for application. Even if the call letters once belonged to the same station, then Citadel must ask for a waiver to go back to the old call letters of WLS-FM. If this is a different FM station it cannot be approved. It must be the station that was WLS-FM.

In San Franciso there is a similar problem with KYA and the only station that could revive the call letters is the original one on 1260 Khz.

The question is: Is this the original WLS-FM. If so they should be able to receive FCC approval except it may take more than just a week.

I will look for your replies.

Newsperson

No, it's OK to add a -FM to a three-letter call. It recently happened in Salt Lake City, where KSL-FM was approved for some FM that was never KSL-FM in the past. But you are right that it would have to be WLS asking for the WLS-FM call in Chicago. Citidel couldn't put it on an FM in New York for example.

 

[Tom Wells]

Same as back in the 70's, I will still feel sorry for the people in 30-odd states who will not hear this, as when AM and FM simulcasted.
It was great, you could hear Animal Stories in any building on FM, and the people who heard the repeat at 6:45 AM next day could hear it
in many states. Regional listeners could hear the same thing that was on both AM and FM well over 4-5 states in daytime.

They'd be wise to can some of the bird-fare in the evenings and overnights to run the FM music feed on the AM, then it becomes very easy to
ID as WLS AM and FM. They did run partial-simulcasting before, I think.

As long as they are going to do something original, it makes sense to cut loose much of the syndication.

 

[ccuphl]

If someone just writes down WLS, what station gets credit, the AM or the FM?

In the PPM world, there is no writing. In fact, you could play 15 or 20 songs in a row without ever saying the name of the station.

Cold segues are becoming more and more common here in Philadelphia. In fact, driving home this evening, a jock did a talk break on the alt. rock station and never said the name of the station.