Ft Myers: WZJZ switching to Hot AC

[ChocoMingo]

iHeartMedia just leaked one of their stations new formats, and personally it's really bad for me as it affects my favorite station out there, WZJZ-FM, currently Top 40. Y100 is tweaking it's format to Hot AC Y100.1 from a leak in their website with slogan 90s to Now. Maybe to compete with the returning WINK-FM, currently going back to the top of the 12+ ratings in SWFL. It changed from competing with B103.9 (making WXKB the only true "Top 40" station once again in SWFL, and maybe WBTT will blowtorch it's Rhythmic CHR for Mainstream Top 40, or maybe add more Mainstream Top 40 songs on it's playlist. Look at this photo, it's proof that it's becoming Y100.1, tweaking to Hot AC or Adult Top 40.

 

[DJ Mo]

That's a tiny photo.

I personally LOVED the previous Rhythmic AC format Y100 had before they went CHR.
They most resembled my favorite radio station of all-time: 91.5 The Spark / Power 89.5 in the late-80's to early-90's!
(I grew up in Lehigh Acres & visit from Orlando every few months now.)

The "90's To Now" shift is currently official both on the air & on their website.
I heard the imaging in the 4am hour, but now it's iHeartRadio advertisements & lots of commercials in between Top-40 songs with no Elvis Duran.
I haven't heard a single 90's song yet after listening for the past hour.
Are they in transition now?

WINK 96.9 will stand strong, but my concern is for Mix 104.7.

I don't think 105.5 The Beat will change anything besides just adding a few CHR songs.
There's no other Urban-ish station in the market & it's done so well ever since their launch.
(It would be exciting to see someone else try an Urban format to compete with 105.5 The Beat...)

 

[JayR]

I personally LOVED the previous Rhythmic AC format Y100 had before they went CHR. They most resembled my favorite radio station of all-time: 91.5 The Spark / Power 89.5 in the late-80's to early-90's! (I grew up in Lehigh Acres & visit from Orlando every few months now.)

There will never be another station like "The Spark" in southwest Florida ever again. That station was one-of-a-kind.

WINK 96.9 will stand strong, but my concern is for Mix 104.7.

"Mix 104.7" targets the Naples market, which is worlds apart from Fort Myers.

 

[ScottBurns]

Mix still tries to target Ft. Myers. Their top of the hour jingle now says, "Naples-Ft. Myers." Remember, years ago, when the jingle only said, "Naples, Florida?"

 

[radiolife3]

Both WZJZ and WSGL are players in what is one market. Of course one signal is stronger to the South, and other stronger to the North (See Radio Locator) but both are targeting the dollars in the market. Mix's building is located just 10 minutes south of Fort Myers. WINK which has been AC was technically a Hot AC under the "More FM" branding and when they re-branded back to WINK it went full AC with no currents. WZJZ is now basically an Adult CHR still playing the hits with Elvis Duran and blocking a potential new CHR and will go after WXKB and WSGL and not get in the way of WBTT. I don't know if an Urban in the market would be wise with only a 6% African American population. They cover that and the rest of the demographic makeup nicely on the younger end. The real question is how does WSGL react if at all?

 

[davideduardo]

"Mix 104.7" targets the Naples market, which is worlds apart from Fort Myers.

The Nielsen market is all of Collier and Lee counties. So for radio, there is really no separate Ft. Myers or Naples market. What there are is a number of stations that do not fully cover both counties, due to transmitter site location. Mix is one of those and only has a good signal on the southern part of the market, but they are rated in the full market.

Of course, for single-location retailers and local services in Naples only, that does not make much difference.

 

[ScottBurns]

What happened was pretty clear. When WINK-FM was reestablished as an AC station - and NOT Hot AC - a format hole opened. Rather than compete with a format that already exists, iHeart chose to go with the format hole and not compete with anyone that has the same exact format.

 

[JayR]

Both WZJZ and WSGL are players in what is one market. Of course one signal is stronger to the south, and other stronger to the north (See Radio Locator) but both are targeting the dollars in the market.

I know Fort Myers/Naples is one market. If Renda is targeting the ad dollars in Fort Myers they are doing a poor job.

Mix's building is located just 10 minutes south of Fort Myers.

The building (Renda Broadcasting) is located in Bonita Springs east of the dog track.