97.1 history wfox wlba-fm wwqt.

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

I thought I would post the early History of 97.1.

Nov 1, 1965 WLBA-FM sim WLBA AM

March 28, 1966 WWQT Beautiful Music

June 3, 1968 WFOX ________________ Format unknown?? Radio Athens Aq March 1972.

Here are the formats from the yearbooks:
1968-1972 WFOX No format listed

1973-1974 WFOX Adult

1975-1976 WFOX Adult Contemporary

1977 WFOX Top 40

1978-1984 WFOX ADULT ROCK??? (I find this interesting since I keep reading that WFOX was Top 40 before moving into Atlanta.)
I even found a playlist from Billboard magazine from 1981 and that playlist was definitely Top 40.

Wed August 29, 1984 at 7PM WFOX AC/Oldies

Mon Jan 2, 1989 WFOX Oldies
Can anybody help me out with the history of 97.1 from 1968 to 1984?

Thanks

T.J.

 

[max100]

I hate COX for what they have done to this station, what great call letters those were. This station today is a total bore.

 

[jabba17]

In 1979-1982 WFOX (before their move-in) was playing Top 40, although not being in the Atlanta market they tended to play more recurrents and lesser hits in addition to the hot smashes. You miiiiight have considered the format an early form of hot AC as they were a tad softer (but deeper, in terms of minor hits and recurrents) than Z-93, but it definitely wasn't any flavor of album rock.

During this time period, three metro stations carried AT40: Z-93 and Wide 107 (WWID 106.7, also before their move-in) carried AT40 from 10a-2p and 6p-10p on Sunday, while 97 F-O-X "The Fox" (never "Fox 97" until they went oldies) carried AT40 2p-6p.

When WFOX moved in in the mid-80s, their format was the "best of the 60s, 70s, and 80s". Not strictly oldies or even centered on oldies; the best way to describe the format was an early form of the eclectic Jack FM/adult variety hits format spanning those decades, although they did have actual DJs and they were definitely AC in terms of playlist "hardness", versus the harder Jack.

 

[MRFLASHPORT]

I miss the pre-Cox days of Fox 97. They were a class act in the mid to late 1980s until Cox destroyed it. IIRC it became 97.1 Jamz in 2002 or 2003, they tried to go after Hot 107.9 but with a horrible rimshot signal into the southside (where as 107.9 is on the south side) they failed. Then it became what it is today.

I think towards the end they were competing with B98.5 and Peach 94.9 too much, though Randy and Spiff was a top notch duo, it was clear Cox had other plans (like trying to get more into the urban formats, but conceded with Kiss 104 which is their only one that does well) for 97.1 from the get-go.

 

[jabba17]

it was clear Cox had other plans (like trying to get more into the urban formats, but conceded with Kiss 104 which is their only one that does well) for 97.1 from the get-go.

It is apparent that the fact that CBS and Radio One dominate urban in Cox's home market just eats them up.

 

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

First I want to say thank you all for your responses. It is a really big help. I just found this in Billboard Magazine I had from 1991 which did a article called tuning into radio archive History Of Atlanta.

It says that WFOX was automated country then adult rock then Top 40. I also found some playlists for WFOX from 1976 1979 1981 and 1983 that made WFOX definitely Top 40. OH and thanks Jabba 17 for the logos for WFOX. That really helped a lot.

So here is the 97.1 history timeline:

Nov 1, 1965 WLBA-FM sim WLBA AM

March 28, 1966 WWQT Beautiful Music

June 3, 1968 WFOX AUTO Country (Radio Athens Aq Feb 25, 1972)

March 13, 1972 WFOX Adult Rock or Rock AC

____________1976 WFOX Top 40 (Just need the exact date)

Wed August 29, 1984 at 7PM WFOX AC/Oldies

Mon Jan 2, 1989 WFOX Oldies

Thanks again to everyone.

T.J.