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Countdown to WFMX Flip
- Thread starter Big_Ben
- Start date
What pisses me off so much about the WFMX move is what it does for Statesville and Iredell County. When the F-C-C made its dumb-ass decision to allow such things, that was the start of "NO LOCAL SERVICE!" What ever happened to the "serving the community?"
I've been part of several of these moves. One in particular, Rock 92 from Asheboro to Greensboro. The station has such a crappy signal to the north! I did a remote in 1990 at an apartment complex behind Walmart on Battleground Avenue. I couldn't even hear the station...instead I could only hear K-92 out of Roanoke. But that is for another bitch session about ******** Broadcasting.
Something else that pisses me off just about as much is the TOTAL LACK of programming originality. It's all cookie-cutter radio nowadays. You have to look hard to find good radio these days. Some stations still are unique like WPAQ, Mt. Airy with its bluegrass and WPCM, Burlington with its beach music. Whatever they program on WFMX will surely be one of those "safe" formats, which was probably thought-up in Clear Channel's home shit-house.
I will miss WFMX! It has been a long-time competitor of mine...but one of the damn best sounding country stations in the United States!
I've been part of several of these moves. One in particular, Rock 92 from Asheboro to Greensboro. The station has such a crappy signal to the north! I did a remote in 1990 at an apartment complex behind Walmart on Battleground Avenue. I couldn't even hear the station...instead I could only hear K-92 out of Roanoke. But that is for another bitch session about ******** Broadcasting.
Something else that pisses me off just about as much is the TOTAL LACK of programming originality. It's all cookie-cutter radio nowadays. You have to look hard to find good radio these days. Some stations still are unique like WPAQ, Mt. Airy with its bluegrass and WPCM, Burlington with its beach music. Whatever they program on WFMX will surely be one of those "safe" formats, which was probably thought-up in Clear Channel's home shit-house.
I will miss WFMX! It has been a long-time competitor of mine...but one of the damn best sounding country stations in the United States!
I think the flip is in progress or has happened
Between 4:30 and 4:50 I heard Edd Robinson making remarks about his 40+ years in radio. He played what he termed his "favorite country song of all time", which was For the Good Times by Ray Price. Edd seemed less of his "easy" self than usual. They played a spot set from 4:50 to 4:55 with several local Statesville-area businesses. Following the spot set, was an ID...WFMX-Statesville, Winston-Salem, Mooresville were the ID cities. At 4:58pm, there was a 1 second pause, then a liner that was noticeably louder than the music had been. From that point on, it was non-stop country music and liners until the 5:25 spot set, which was liner-in, national spots and jingle out...but no Edd Robinson.
My guess is that they're going to be jockless until the format change. But as it seems, all that WFMX was is now out of Statesville.
Bon chance, mon vieux!
Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
Between 4:30 and 4:50 I heard Edd Robinson making remarks about his 40+ years in radio. He played what he termed his "favorite country song of all time", which was For the Good Times by Ray Price. Edd seemed less of his "easy" self than usual. They played a spot set from 4:50 to 4:55 with several local Statesville-area businesses. Following the spot set, was an ID...WFMX-Statesville, Winston-Salem, Mooresville were the ID cities. At 4:58pm, there was a 1 second pause, then a liner that was noticeably louder than the music had been. From that point on, it was non-stop country music and liners until the 5:25 spot set, which was liner-in, national spots and jingle out...but no Edd Robinson.
My guess is that they're going to be jockless until the format change. But as it seems, all that WFMX was is now out of Statesville.
Bon chance, mon vieux!
Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
If you have access to R&R, there are several good articles about the state of radio ten years after the telecom bill that allowed the consolidation! Some interesting points of view from people in and out of the business. Several address your point about the lack of "local" stations.
I agree about WPAQ Mt Airy and WPCM Burlington. Add WBRF Galax to the list. That is a likely target - good signal in the Triad. Let's hope someone doesn't get that one!
WFMX - RIP!
I agree about WPAQ Mt Airy and WPCM Burlington. Add WBRF Galax to the list. That is a likely target - good signal in the Triad. Let's hope someone doesn't get that one!
WFMX - RIP!
C
CCX
Guest
:-[ For those of us who love radio and who have been a part of the birth or death of a station, the WFMX sign-off is a very sad thing. I think the big groups have killed the passion for radio and that passion is what always made this industry so special. It just hurts to see what is happening in radio today. Poor management, the squelching of ideas, the continual homogenization of formats, and the constant micro-managing have all killed the spirit of our business. It used to be fun to compete against other stations but now our mission has been reduced to the bottom line. Employees no longer have input so they feel it's just a job. What used to be striving for excellence is now all a big joke. The level of talent in our industry continues to decline and it's no wonder why! All of the really good people are too intelligent to put up with it all and they're moving to different industries. Very sad.
A
audiomusiclover
Guest
I can't help but feel very, very sad about WFMX being pillaged this week!
It was a great station that had a great signature coverage area and a good local feel to it. I am so pissed at the FCC for first allowing these Rapes of our smaller market stations to occur. Of course CC also doesn't care as they are just a cold mechanical entity that we would be better off not having, at least for the listeners.
I am breaking this day out. I have now seen this happen over and over, but never to such a Baseline station as FMX . It was one of the first FM stations and had such a large following over the years.
A VERY VERY SAD SITUATION Indeed!!!
It was a great station that had a great signature coverage area and a good local feel to it. I am so pissed at the FCC for first allowing these Rapes of our smaller market stations to occur. Of course CC also doesn't care as they are just a cold mechanical entity that we would be better off not having, at least for the listeners.
I am breaking this day out. I have now seen this happen over and over, but never to such a Baseline station as FMX . It was one of the first FM stations and had such a large following over the years.
A VERY VERY SAD SITUATION Indeed!!!
S
sportsradio12
Guest
Well I usually read and never post, but at this point, what the hell.
As of today, I'm officially a WFMX alum. When I left the fulltime work of the station a few years ago, I knew that this day would be coming. As someone of higher influence in jobs said today here, "Its like your sick grandmother, you know the day is coming, but you're still never prepared for it like you think you are." It really is a shame to see it all go, the thing you put your blood, sweat and tears in to. The same blood, sweat and tears as they did in 1947 when WSIC AM & FM signed on. The same when the calls changed to WFMX in 1958 and became the first FM to program country music. While I've moved on to other things, I still had my keys to the building and it was hard to watch the guys who cared slowly leave today, one by one. It will be hard come the strike of midnight, unfortunately for some, after midnight, you won't ever be able to hear it anymore. An unfortunate situation we all face these days with corporate radio.
As of today, I'm officially a WFMX alum. When I left the fulltime work of the station a few years ago, I knew that this day would be coming. As someone of higher influence in jobs said today here, "Its like your sick grandmother, you know the day is coming, but you're still never prepared for it like you think you are." It really is a shame to see it all go, the thing you put your blood, sweat and tears in to. The same blood, sweat and tears as they did in 1947 when WSIC AM & FM signed on. The same when the calls changed to WFMX in 1958 and became the first FM to program country music. While I've moved on to other things, I still had my keys to the building and it was hard to watch the guys who cared slowly leave today, one by one. It will be hard come the strike of midnight, unfortunately for some, after midnight, you won't ever be able to hear it anymore. An unfortunate situation we all face these days with corporate radio.
What is the fate of the WFMX personalities? Since the "flip" has ocurred with Edd Robinson's apparent sign-off, are we at liberty to discuss this now? I wouldn't feel so bad about this whole flip, if CC would've allowed a decent farewell--whether it had been a week-long or all day today. What a way to depart after almost 50 years! 
When I was in Charlotte, WFMX was the only country station I really cared to listen to. I'm not a country music fan and never worked in Country, but I did enjoy listening to WFMX and WBRF late at night. They were different. They sounded like a REAL country radio station. It wasn't fake. The personalities were also very good. While I would never say never, WBRF should be safe. I don't think it is going anywhere soon, but you never know. I do wish there was a requirement to keep the studio in the COL. Imagine WFMX at the old school building in Clemmons or WGBT in Eden. ;D It would at least give the hometowns a feeling that it is local, even though all the personalities are from the midwest or west coast.
105.7 Kiss FM? I've seen these clues turn-out wrong in the past though.
A "Kiss" Loop
At 5:40am, 105.7 was airing a loop of song excerpts and voice blurbs centered around the word "Kiss".
I'm not going to read too much into that right now. Format change is about the only opportunity a ClearChannel programming person has to be creative.
What I WILL say is that the signal they're getting from Sauratown is MUCH weaker here than it used to be. ClearChannel executives are going to be asking a lot of questions of the engineers today.
Like the signal they got when they bought 94.5, they can't make 105.7 into a winner in Greensboro with a weak signal like this.
Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
At 5:40am, 105.7 was airing a loop of song excerpts and voice blurbs centered around the word "Kiss".
I'm not going to read too much into that right now. Format change is about the only opportunity a ClearChannel programming person has to be creative
.What I WILL say is that the signal they're getting from Sauratown is MUCH weaker here than it used to be. ClearChannel executives are going to be asking a lot of questions of the engineers today.
Like the signal they got when they bought 94.5, they can't make 105.7 into a winner in Greensboro with a weak signal like this.
Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
The "KISS" presentation is an ear-catcher! But "KISS" once again in the Triad? 98-7 WRQK switched to "KISS" in 1985 then it was a handful of different formats before finally becoming "SIMON." I agree the signal strength is not as good. I live in Alamance County and it is much harder to pull in 105.7 FM this morning than it has ever been. Will the format be "98-7 SIMON" the way it is suppose to be done...or...will it be a Clear Channel cheap imitation?
A
audiomusiclover
Guest
The signal in the Mooresville area is much weaker than yesterday as was expected with their moving to the edge of the mtns with the transmitter. It appears their ERP will be less than half of what it was at Cool Springs, so they must be relying on a high clear view shot for coverage. Unfortunately, their transmitter being up on the northwest fringe will never be able to utilize the signal as well as before. Again, expected and one of the reasons to have been against this unfortunate move. It appears they are not covering the overall Triad area any better than before at this point with having given up so much signal strength on the move. CC is such a Cluster....
Re: A "Kiss" Loop
;D
They've been at it all night with "Kiss" themed songs. I'm trying to think of what they would gain from a 105.7 Kiss FM?
Yeah, I predicted this (weak signal) on the WFMX tower thread.WFMX was the stronger country outlet in Winston-Salem and its western suburbs. WTQR doesn't have the signal you would expect in Winston-Salem and it is stronger. WTQR also isn't as strong as they need to be in Burlington (a very fast growing *cheap sprawl* Triad city). I think another reason behind this may involve 105.3 WAGI? I've long questioned if CC would find a way to move it in (to Charlotte) by downgrading and moving WFMX.
I still have great memories of 98.7 Kiss FM! I have an old 1986 aircheck of WKSI on my website.
Matt Smith said:Format change is about the only opportunity a ClearChannel programming person has to be creative
;DThey've been at it all night with "Kiss" themed songs. I'm trying to think of what they would gain from a 105.7 Kiss FM?
Yeah, I predicted this (weak signal) on the WFMX tower thread.WFMX was the stronger country outlet in Winston-Salem and its western suburbs. WTQR doesn't have the signal you would expect in Winston-Salem and it is stronger. WTQR also isn't as strong as they need to be in Burlington (a very fast growing *cheap sprawl* Triad city). I think another reason behind this may involve 105.3 WAGI? I've long questioned if CC would find a way to move it in (to Charlotte) by downgrading and moving WFMX.
I still have great memories of 98.7 Kiss FM! I have an old 1986 aircheck of WKSI on my website.
Actually, I was up at midnight and heard the segue from regular music to "After Midnight", which was normal. So, they switched transmitters and to stunting during or after "After Midnight". Also, here in Morganton the new signal can be heard, but it's not tolerable for the average listener.
By the way, last song before "After Midnight" was "Are the Good Times Really Over for Good?" by Merle Haggard. Given that they were essentially on a jukebox after 5pm yesterday, I wonder if this song was scheduled or coincidental. ???
By the way, last song before "After Midnight" was "Are the Good Times Really Over for Good?" by Merle Haggard. Given that they were essentially on a jukebox after 5pm yesterday, I wonder if this song was scheduled or coincidental. ???
I live outside the market in Atlanta. I've used this name on this forum for years (remember the old boards that didn't use registration?). I was in Charlotte back then. I can't hear or check any of this and I'm not aware of any internet stream where I can listen, so I have to go by what others say. The switch to Kiss stunting was expected to start at midnight and later changed to just after 1 AM? I don't know if it did or not?
I'm still not 100% sure if it will be 105.7 Kiss FM?
I'm still not 100% sure if it will be 105.7 Kiss FM?
M
mediaspeaks
Guest
Gotta remember folks, Clear Channel used the same "KISS" stunt between Magic 96 and 96-One The Beat...
Remember????
I can say for sure ...it WONT Be KISS 105.7
Remember????
I can say for sure ...it WONT Be KISS 105.7
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