95.9 WSPO now country

[carolinaradio]

Um, a classic hits station would be more popular than a 3rd country station. This is not going to be as successful as their other stations. WEZL will always be tops.
Why didn't they put country on 101.7? 959-IOP had not had time to grow enough to deem it success or failure.

Are Bill Shannon and Kain Cameron out or maybe they're going to use them somehow? If either of them are reading here...I am so sorry this happened..

 

[radiolives]

96.9 is doing nothing as it is, how can they grow any further with a third one wanting a piece of the pie? The market can't support 3 country stations. Very few can. It was barely supporting 2. Insanity. Maybe Citadel should try classic hits on 96.9 if not talk.

How come you believe 96.9 should flip? Who says Kickin 95.9 will make it in Charleston.

 

[Silkie]

Resort areas usually do better with oldies or classic hits, as long as you have personalities who know what they are doing and keep the public interested. Smart money gently pulls out when it sees a company flushing itself down the toilet or getting ready to shoot itself in the foot.

 

[Radio-X]

96.9 sounds like a prime candidate for a flip...

Don't know how well Citadel does rock, but that's a format that could be picked up. Both of the LM stations are well programmed, but audio-wise are barely above a whisper.

...or WTMA-FM. I could see that.

I don't know of too many markets where 3 country stations have survived for longer than a couple of years. Roanoke/Lynchburg VA did it for a long time...now gone...and that market has serious terrain issues.

Goes down to "two's a company, three's a crowd"

Radio-X

 

[charlestondxman]

WTMA-FM on one of Citadel's poor FM signals, especially 96.9, would make good sense. WTMA could run a full simulcast of their AM, or run separate shows. They would blow 94.3 out of the water if they were on 96.9, because it reaches the rural areas that 94.3 doesn't.

WTMA's two local talk shows would get a big boost, and Carolina football would get more listeners on 96.9, as people either can't find 1250 or can't pick it up at night inland.

South Carolina football used to be on 107.5 before they moved to Columbia, and they had a monster signal.

98X and 105.5 both are horribly-sounding stations. I don't know who made it, but those signals have always sounded like that.

 

[carolinaradio]

Citadel is in bad financial shape. I would think if anything happens to 96.9, a WTMA simulcast is where my money is. They could cut staff, promotions, etc and save music fees. It's only a matter of time with AM, if they want to keep WTMA they should go ahead and move it.

I just do not see Citadel sticking with country much longer. It hasn't done well for 107.5 and definitely not 96.9. Even if 95.9 doesn't do well, it is probably going to still hurt The Wolf, not help it. I think the main reason they kept Wolf around was to keep WEZL down...now they don't have to do that, WIOP is handling that.

 

[Silkie]

Last songs as 959IOP:

Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run
15.09.2010 11:26am

The Temptations - My Girl
15.09.2010 11:32am

The Electric Light Orchestra - Evil Woman
15.09.2010 11:35am

The Box Tops - The Letter
15.09.2010 11:38am

The Hollies - The Air That I Breathe
15.09.2010 11:40am

The Guess Who - American Woman
15.09.2010 11:44am

Don McLean - American Pie
15.09.2010 11:52am

First songs as Kickin':

Alan Jackson - Gone Country
15.09.2010 12:01pm

Zac Brown Band - Free
15.09.2010 12:05pm

Lila McCann - I Wanna Fall In Love
15.09.2010 12:09pm

Billy Currington - Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer
15.09.2010 12:12pm

Tim McGraw - Grown Men Don't Cry
15.09.2010 12:16pm

I just can't believe this has happened.  The country station isn't even anything decent/exciting.

The Program Director programmed some great stuff for the last 35 minutes of the oldies station.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Since 950 went sports maybe 95.9 should try classic country mix.

Yeah, this is what I was hoping for too.

Does NO ONE care about GOOD music?

 

[RobH]

I'm new to the Charleston area and loved 959IOP when it was an oldies station. I had finally thought I found my absolute favorite station. Was listening on Saturday afternoon Sept 9/11 when the dj had his sons on the radio. It was a nice moment. I really feel sad for him now. I don't remember his name because the station was so new to me. I really hope that he finds work soon. Losing this station really bums me out because there is NOTHING even close to it now in the area. Another country station? Come on now... I won't give it a minutes listen.

 

[Gatekeeper007]

It's funny that when things started changing in the music world about 15 years back and country music started sliding down from the top to where it is now. I remember when almost everybody wanted to wear cowboy boots, bluejeans and a cowboy hat or anything that was country. I agree 95.9 had a really good oldies format and was never given a chance grow into the Charleston market. Since IOP went country they should really think classic country mix, being a copy cat of two other stations isn't going to due abything for them plus it would be nice to have a station that plays real country music in the low country again not the mix country crap that we get on so many stations now a days. Ok all you new found country music dislikers and the ones that have come back out of the woodwork in the last 15 years can jump on me now but remember what country we live in, the USA and a lot of us still like our country music. Charleston doesn't need 3 country stations for sure playing the same music, yes it might be a ratings ploy which I think is over rated anyway but I do believe they could set themselves apart with classic country since they have already made the change any way.

 

[Lhsh]

I am not really sure why Apex felt the need to change. The times I was down there or listened on line, it had a great sound and nothing else in the market like it. If Columiba cannot support two country stations and even three at one time, then how does Charleston figure it can?

 

[carolinaradio]

Isn't classic country a tough sell? Aren't the demos usually undesirable? Seems more like a rimshot/AM format, to me, unless maybe mixing some older ones in with currents.

Besides, I think they're still trying to go right after WEZL with 95.9. I will be interested to see how 96.9 responds to this three-way battle as they have been going after WEZL on two frequencies for years and haven't really been successful. If Apex does anything with this station (and doesn't do something stupid like they did with 959IOP, hiring then flipping) I think they can outdo Citadel and take The Wolf out. Best idea for Citadel then would be to put WTMA on 96.9. 1250 will eventually need an FM as AM continues to fade and it's best to go ahead and do it.

 

[radiolives]

If 96.9 The Wolf does poorly now with this new country station which I hope they don't. Could we see Citadel move z93 Jamz to 96.9 (96.9 Jamz) as its a better signal in Charleston? No one has said that yet. Then WTMA could be place on 93.3. Or another idea make 96.9 a Hot AC Mix 96.9 Best Mix 80s, 90s, Today.

 

[ShawtyBlack_ATL]

If 96.9 The Wolf does poorly now with this new country station which I hope they don't. Could we see Citadel move z93 Jamz to 96.9 (96.9 Jamz) as its a better signal in Charleston? No one has said that yet. Then WTMA could be place on 93.3. Or another idea make 96.9 a Hot AC Mix 96.9 Best Mix 80s, 90s, Today.

"Don't Fix What Ain't Broke" Z-93 is fine on 93.3.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

Here are a few details on the flip, as Lon Helton pointed out in his Country Aircheck newsletter available at http://www.countryaircheck.com.

Ex-WIWF PD & PM Drive personality Brian Driver is the new PD for WIOP; he left Citadel in January after five years.

According to him, WIWF has been plagued by techinical iissues, and WIOP will also be playing much more gold music than the current incumbents.

OM Brian Douglas stated that he was told by the local business community that they'd spend more money with his company if they had a country station, and he also pointed out that Apex has the market's #1 Urban AC station, the #1 non-ethnic station and the #1 sports station.

 

[carolinaradio]

Agree. Z93 is fine where it is. 80s 90s and now is outdated and Hot AC has evolved in to more of an adult top 40/modern AC sound now, which could hurt 95SX. If I were Apex, I'd try to take WIWF down then worry about WEZL. Country never did very well on 107.5 either, remember...so 96.9/107.5 have been trying at something for years and have gotten very far, in terms of taking WEZL down.

It is such a shame about what happened to 95.9. It's terrible the way the staff were hired and fired (same for the afternoon guy even though he had been there longer, I believe). What was Apex's point in hiring people just to get rid of them 4 months later? There's always 101.7 and Y102.5, but has anyone noticed how...cheap Y102.5 sounds? The imaging is horrible and the ID's at the TOH sound basement produced!

 

[Radio-X]

Agree. Z93 is fine where it is. 80s 90s and now is outdated and Hot AC has evolved in to more of an adult top 40/modern AC sound now, which could hurt 95SX. If I were Apex, I'd try to take WIWF down then worry about WEZL. Country never did very well on 107.5 either, remember...so 96.9/107.5 have been trying at something for years and have gotten very far, in terms of taking WEZL down.

It is such a shame about what happened to 95.9. It's terrible the way the staff were hired and fired (same for the afternoon guy even though he had been there longer, I believe). What was Apex's point in hiring people just to get rid of them 4 months later? There's always 101.7 and Y102.5, but has anyone noticed how...cheap Y102.5 sounds? The imaging is horrible and the ID's at the TOH sound basement produced!

92.5 isn't really making the waves expected, so I'd guess 93.3 is safe as-is.

And as for how Y102.5 sounds? Really, honest to goodness, most of the AC stations owned by CC have reached a level of cost cutting and duplication unseen in radio before. Maybe it's 'cuz I'm a rocker at heart, but 102.5, 98.7 in Savannah, and 104.3 in Augusta all sound the same. Hell, for years Kat Simons did (live, I do believe) the midday show at Lite 98 in Richmond, VA. Move down here and I hear her at the same time on 98.7...I'm going to assume VT'd with the good 'ol radio hotline off the hook and busy.

Radio-X

 

[radiolives]

Agree. Z93 is fine where it is. 80s 90s and now is outdated and Hot AC has evolved in to more of an adult top 40/modern AC sound now, which could hurt 95SX. If I were Apex, I'd try to take WIWF down then worry about WEZL. Country never did very well on 107.5 either, remember...so 96.9/107.5 have been trying at something for years and have gotten very far, in terms of taking WEZL down.

Just thought maybe with the bigger stick Z93 Jamz would do better on 96.9 then 93.3 as for if The Wolf doesn't keep howling country over Charleston what would be another format other then bring WTMA from AM? Bring back Sunny 96.9 that would be silly. I feel if they were around currently in this day they would be much lower as Y 102.5 has dropped in ratings.

 

[Silkie]

It is such a shame about what happened to 95.9. It's terrible the way the staff were hired and fired (same for the afternoon guy even though he had been there longer, I believe). What was Apex's point in hiring people just to get rid of them 4 months later?

Just consider that they made a bad business decision, an error in judgment. As Paul Revere and The Raiders would say, "You Shouldn't Take It So Hard". Sounds like the two in the morning will surface somewheres else like a loan officer and his little loan processor who hop from company to company. They'll be just fine on the circuit.

 

[carolinaradio]

92.5 isn't really making the waves expected, so I'd guess 93.3 is safe as-is.

And as for how Y102.5 sounds? Really, honest to goodness, most of the AC stations owned by CC have reached a level of cost cutting and duplication unseen in radio before. Maybe it's 'cuz I'm a rocker at heart, but 102.5, 98.7 in Savannah, and 104.3 in Augusta all sound the same. Hell, for years Kat Simons did (live, I do believe) the midday show at Lite 98 in Richmond, VA. Move down here and I hear her at the same time on 98.7...I'm going to assume VT'd with the good 'ol radio hotline off the hook and busy.

Radio-X

Most CC AC's are very similar (whose aren't?), but Y102.5's imaging is exceptionally poor and amateurish. They seem half classic hits/half AC. It's interesting to see how low their ratings have fallen- as classic hits they were always top 3-5, now don't even have a 4 share as AC.
On the weekends, you can hear Liz Ryals on My 102.5 in Greenville and Lite 102.9 in Charlotte at the same time and both stations overlap!

If they didn't simulcast WTMA, maybe 96.9 should try rock or classic hits if they are forced to change formats. However WTMA-FM makes the best sense. WTMA is a good little talker and an FM would help them better compete and sound better, plus improve the demos and probably numbers, not to mention signal.

92.5 isn't a huge success yet (numbers aren't bad though), but I see potential as the station grows and they seem to be making improvements.