Changes at WQAH 105.7 FM

[WBGR FM 93.1]

WQAH 105.7 in Hartselle (licensed to Addison in Winston Co; tower in Cullman County) has had several changes lately. Their format has been modified from playing Classic Country of the 50's & 60's and Bluegrass to Country of the 70's, 80's, and early 90's, with a few songs from the early 2000's thrown in.

Bluegrass is now limited to saturday nights from 6P-12A and Gospel on sundays from 6A-1P. Jerral Miller (ex WDRM) is now the staff Meterologist.

So far, one may be wondering what is so negative about the changes, well here is the shocker... the request line is a thing of the past. At one time, one could request songs from 5:30A-6P, but the new management has eliminated the request lines.

My opinions... while it is great trying to reach out to an audience who has been overlooked by the mainstream country stations who rarely play songs from the late 80's & early 90's, it appears they are attempting to turn their back on their original listeners, ages 45+. Although they've widened their playlist, they've also took control away from the listeners who made the station what it is today.

What are your opinions?

-Travis

 

[BSOD]

Hmmm..

Today's programmers/owners don't feel as though they need listener input. Added to the fact that most announcers are multi-tasking while on the air this type of programming is seen as exact (to get ratings) and less stressful on everyone. Personally I love listener input and local flavor built into a station's format.

 

[tomservo]

Someone answering phones and hosting programming live costs money.

 

[WBGR FM 93.1]

What is odd though is that although the request lines are gone, the station is still live, not voicetracked during the week. So far the biggest change noticable during the day is that there is not as much older country being played during the "Drive in with Carol Lynn" in the afternoons.

Most of the 50s & 60s country was played during her request show, since that's when the older listeners called in. The two earlier slots, covered in the mornings with Mark Donovan and middays with JT basically played the 70s-90s music which is now the core focus.

I'm still surprised that they haven't started the V-T game, since there isn't much of a reason to keep someone live at the station.

-Travis

 

[WBGR FM 93.1]

And the new slogan is... "Big Country 105.7 - Your Home for the Country Classics." As of last night, there are new liners and the station Id's itself as WQAH- Addison, Huntsville. I guess they are now beginning their run as a "Huntsville Station." Aside from the negatives I've previously mentioned, I'm liking the new presentation

-Travis

 

[tomservo]

And the new slogan is... "Big Country 105.7 - Your Home for the Country Classics." As of last night, there are new liners and the station Id's itself as WQAH- Addison, Huntsville. I guess they are now beginning their run as a "Huntsville Station." Aside from the negatives I've previously mentioned, I'm liking the new presentation

-Travis

Well, good luck to them on that. It's gonna be hard to siphon anything off WDRM and The Wolf. I know their signal in H'ville is better than the coverage maps show, but it's still a pretty weak rimshot against two locals.

 

[jharmon]

I dont need someone to answer the phone on my Ipod.
Pandora does not need to answer my phone requests.
I've already done that.
Local radio will also have a place for the obits and church broadcasts.

 

[RollTide]

WQAH has always had a descent showing in the Huntsville market numbers since it went classic country several years ago. The last ratings had them at number 7. I haven't seen a break down so I'm just assuming here but I'm willing to bet that they are strongest in Morgan co, Decatur and Hartselle. but they are the only classic country outlet so they've definitely got that going for them, and always have. IDing as Huntsville isn't the first time they've done that, but if they are going to strictly say Addison - Huntsville, and try to increase their numbers and listeners in the Huntsville, Madison co area, they are gonna need to get a translator to help the weak signal in that area. It is true that it's better than the maps show, but it's still not near strong enough.

 

[WBGR FM 93.1]

The reason their signal is best in Decatur, Hartselle, and Moulton is because their tower is on top of a mountain about 15 miles SW of Hartselle, and is between AL 157 and Danville Rd. With a good car radio, one can hear them as far north as Pulaski, but starts to experience interference about 20 miles SE around Ardmore. With the signal they currently have in Huntsville, I doubt their ratings will increase, maybe rise to #6 at best.

-Travis

 

[scott salvatori]

yipes, been a few months since i tuned in via CCWiFi. not too happy with the changes. seems heavy on the 70,80's, and 90's pop stuff (snow bird- anne murray, older women-rodney mcdowell) i expect any minute i'll hear barbara mandrell, and crackers, and sleepin single in a double bed.
WQAH, always had some good country programming i could head out of state for (washington, that is). not sure if this stuff is just day parted for the alabama drive time, or what, but it seems pretty lame, boys.
your talk about the end of the req show is a mixed bag. they should have kept it, but just use discretion. i used to work at a washington state AMer in the 90's and had the same 6 people calling for red sovine, and his hit "teddy bear" continuously.
the elimination of the 50's and 60's, is a good move, but still, 50's/60's should be added once every few hours with a presell, connected to a song hitting #1 on this date, or artist birtday etc. not to mention an oldies show on weekends that play that stuff a bit deeper.
used to enjoy the bluegrass music mixed in, but glad they still keepin it on sat.
where is the hard core country boys? not too much here this thur morning via CCWiFi. is it possible that hard core country dont work even in alabama no more?

scott-duvall, WA

 

[WBGR FM 93.1]

Every once in a while I'll come across a station that still plays a lot of the older country music. I used to live four miles from WQAH's tower, and now (for most of the year) live about 200 miles southeast in Auburn. There's a station in Auburn that plays 75% classic country, and about 25% new traditional country. Some days, however, the proportion is different. The station, 95.9 WQSI, still plays a lot of Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, etc.

Also, WCKA AM 810, located about 100 miles north in Anniston, still plays a lot of the older country music. Both stations have websites, but neither offers online streaming.

Travis