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Hardest Rocking Station in America

S

saladdressing

Solid Rock 94.1 WJJO Madison, Wisconsin

Here they are in the 3PM hour today. Bear in mind, this is a midday time slot in a top 100 US market.

Sevendust "Ugly"
Toadies "Possum Kingdom"
Thousand Foot Krutch "Move"
Dope "Always"
10 Years "Wasteland"
Hurt "Rapture"
White Zombie "More Human than Human"
Disturbed "Guarded"
Godsmack "Awake"
Revelation Theory "Slow Burn"
Linkin Park "Lying From You"
Rage against the Machine "Bulls on Parade"

I guess the Linkin Park song will have to suffice for the downtempo song of the hour.
 
I remember the Z-Rock stations from ten years ago. There was one on AM in New York City and one here in Austin at 98.9 FM. The hardest rock station that I ever heard.


> Solid Rock 94.1 WJJO Madison, Wisconsin
>
> Here they are in the 3PM hour today. Bear in mind, this is a
> midday time slot in a top 100 US market.
>
> Sevendust "Ugly"
> Toadies "Possum Kingdom"
> Thousand Foot Krutch "Move"
> Dope "Always"
> 10 Years "Wasteland"
> Hurt "Rapture"
> White Zombie "More Human than Human"
> Disturbed "Guarded"
> Godsmack "Awake"
> Revelation Theory "Slow Burn"
> Linkin Park "Lying From You"
> Rage against the Machine "Bulls on Parade"
>
> I guess the Linkin Park song will have to suffice for the
> downtempo song of the hour.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
> I remember the Z-Rock stations from ten years ago. There
> was one on AM in New York City and one here in Austin at
> 98.9 FM. The hardest rock station that I ever heard.
>

Wasn't Z-Rock more mid-80s? I recall it being on a lot of AMs for some reason.
 
> > I remember the Z-Rock stations from ten years ago. There
> > was one on AM in New York City and one here in Austin at
> > 98.9 FM. The hardest rock station that I ever heard.
> >
>
> Wasn't Z-Rock more mid-80s? I recall it being on a lot of
> AMs for some reason.
>

Z Rock was both 1980s and 1990s.

The nationally-syndicated Z Rock format made its debut on September 1, 1986 in Des Plaines/Chicago at 106.7 FM (WZRC)(today it is WPPN and Spanish). Shortly thereafter, FM affiliates were added in Grand Rapids, Dallas and Cleveland. The original Z Rock was programmed by Wild Bill Scott (ex KNAC), and the station played some fiercely heavy stuff mixed in with some of the hair bands of the day. It was quite awesome !!! But it certainly did not fit in with the mainstream AOR stations of the 1980s.

By the spring of 1988 they had about 10 affiliates nationally, and began selling it as a hard-edged Metallic alternative to program on AM radio. It was marketed at FM AOR stations that had a low-rated AM sister station, so the station's airtime could be sold as a combo. A stand alone AM daytimer in Portland, OR took on the format and got a 2.6, 12 + in its first book (amazing).

In August 1988, Lee Abrams took over the Z Rock operations from Wild Bill Scott. He dayparted and mainstreamed the format immensely. Where they once had laid-back announcers, they now had screaming Boss Radio types. One began to hear mostly hair bands of the day on Z Rock (more Cinderella than Armored Saint and Anthrax) . The heaviest "thrash" was relegated to late night hours on a show called "Headbanger's Heaven."

This pattern continued until 1992 or so. In the meantime, the format was being pushed more towards FM stations. By this time, the majority of affiliates were on FM. The maximum number of affilates (at any given time) I remember was probably 30 or so.

By 1992, Nirvana and Pearl Jam changed the face of Hard Rock, and Z Rock morphed into an Alternative format by 1994. The Z Rock format (as a nationally-distributed satellite format) ended in December 1996.
 
> By the spring of 1988 they had about 10 affiliates
> nationally, and began selling it as a hard-edged Metallic
> alternative to program on AM radio. It was marketed at FM
> AOR stations that had a low-rated AM sister station, so the
> station's airtime could be sold as a combo. A stand alone
> AM daytimer in Portland, OR took on the format and got a
> 2.6, 12 + in its first book (amazing).
>

The real kicker was the latter day Z-Rock (read 1990) was also broadcasted over shortwave during the first Iraq war to troops via WRNO Worldwide from it's relay of local Z-rock affliate WRNO-FM in New Orleans,La.

RFLA
 
Re: Question about Z-Rock

> Why did they focus on the AM dial?
>
A couple of reasons:

(1) By the mid and late 1980s, music on AM radio had pretty much bitten the dust. Back before deregulation and LMAs, owners were limited to one AM and one FM in each market. If you had a sucessful FM reaching 18-34 year olds, you could sell airtime on your sucessful FM and for a few bucks more sell time on a poorly-performimg AM as a combo sale.
(2) Satellite radio is cheap to run. All you need is a board op and/or some good automation equipment.
(3) The original Z Rock inclination (pre-Abrams)was not exactly mainstream. At times it was outrageous and progressive-sounding (I have a bunch of tapes of KZRK in Dallas from 1987/1988). The format was not mainstream enough for a major market FM, but it could work on an underperforming AM (and do so cheaply).
(4) When all the other AMs in town are doing Newstalk, Big Bands, Country and Oldies, Z Rock really stood out from the crowd, and the format was "niche" enough that dedicated listeners would seek it out. In some markets they did, in others they did not.

Markets that tried Z Rock on AM (Dates are approximate and are from personal memory):
Seattle, WA (KZOK 1590) 1988 - 1991
Portland, OR (KZRC 1010) 1988 - 1993
Eugene, OR (? 1320) 1991 - 1994
Las Vegas, NV (KMTW 1340) 1989 - 1992
Salt Lake City, UT (? 1550) 1988-1989
Denver, CO (KDZR 1390) 1988-1989; (KLZ 560)1991-1993
Albuquerque, NM (KIVA 1310) 1987 -1991
Kansas City, MO (KBZR 1030) 1988 - 1992
Houston, TX (KKZR 1070) 1987 - 1991
San Antonio, TX (KSJL 760) 1988-1992
Jackson, MS (WZRX 1590) 1986-1987
Minneapolis, MN (? 950) 1988-1989; (KMZR 980) 1989-1991
Grand Rapids, MI (? 1340) 1987-1989
Flint, MI (? 1570) 1989-1989
Portland, ME (? 1440) 1989-1991
New York City, NY (WZRC 1480) 1990-1993
Fort Meyers, FL (WWZR 770) 1989-1991

There were probably a few others....I can't remember all of them.
 
Re: Question about Z-Rock

There was also on eastern Long Island 1570 WRHD. I remember on Sunday nights Z-Rock did a countdown show that was also carried on their sister station 103.9 WRCN.
 
> Solid Rock 94.1 WJJO Madison, Wisconsin
>
> Here they are in the 3PM hour today. Bear in mind, this is a
> midday time slot in a top 100 US market.
>
> Sevendust "Ugly"
> Toadies "Possum Kingdom"
> Thousand Foot Krutch "Move"
> Dope "Always"
> 10 Years "Wasteland"
> Hurt "Rapture"
> White Zombie "More Human than Human"
> Disturbed "Guarded"
> Godsmack "Awake"
> Revelation Theory "Slow Burn"
> Linkin Park "Lying From You"
> Rage against the Machine "Bulls on Parade"
>
> I guess the Linkin Park song will have to suffice for the
> downtempo song of the hour.
>


Hell, even the Linkin Park song is edgy by their standards. This sounds like a terrific aggressive Active Rocker, one that I wish we had in the New Jersey area. Alas, we live in an area where radio programmers like to take absolutely zero chances, and we're stuck in a wasteland of Adult Contemporary and extremely safe Classic Rock and pseudo-Alternative Rock. Does this station stream?</P>
 
Re: Does WJJO Stream?

No WJJO does not stream. But I have good news for you: After the demise of Lazer 103 in Milwaukee, the folks at WJJO created an online-only station for the disaffected listeners in brewtown which can be found at http://www.jjomilwaukee.com
This online station is even harder than WJJO-FM in Madison
 
> Solid Rock 94.1 WJJO Madison, Wisconsin
>
> Here they are in the 3PM hour today. Bear in mind, this is a
> midday time slot in a top 100 US market.
>
> Sevendust "Ugly"
> Toadies "Possum Kingdom"
> Thousand Foot Krutch "Move"
> Dope "Always"
> 10 Years "Wasteland"
> Hurt "Rapture"
> White Zombie "More Human than Human"
> Disturbed "Guarded"
> Godsmack "Awake"
> Revelation Theory "Slow Burn"
> Linkin Park "Lying From You"
> Rage against the Machine "Bulls on Parade"
>
> I guess the Linkin Park song will have to suffice for the
> downtempo song of the hour.
>


My vote WOULD HAVE gone for WZZN/Chicago.......but that format no longer exists on WZZN. I'd give them the edge for including Pantera, old Metallica and so forth.
 
Re: Question about Z-Rock

> There was also on eastern Long Island 1570 WRHD. I remember
> on Sunday nights Z-Rock did a countdown show that was also
> carried on their sister station 103.9 WRCN.
>
That would be the Z-Rock 50. I used to listen to this all the time when they aired the countdown on 94HJY in Providence. There was also an affiliate at 98.7FM (WXZR) in New London, CT. The host was Dave Bolt. Does anyone know where Dave Bolt (and the others) are these days?

Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>
 
Re: Question about Z-Rock

> > There was also on eastern Long Island 1570 WRHD. I
> remember
> > on Sunday nights Z-Rock did a countdown show that was also
>
> > carried on their sister station 103.9 WRCN.
> >
> That would be the Z-Rock 50. I used to listen to this all
> the time when they aired the countdown on 94HJY in
> Providence. There was also an affiliate at 98.7FM (WXZR) in
> New London, CT. The host was Dave Bolt. Does anyone know
> where Dave Bolt (and the others) are these days?
>
> Jacko
>

Dave Bolt does a shift at ABC's (formerly Satellite Music Network's) Classic Rock Format. Check out this link for more information:

http://www.theclassicrockexperience.com/showdj.asp?DJID=12481

I guess when Z-Rock folded at the end of 1996, he just went down the hall to the booth where Classic Rocl was located.
 
> I remember the Z-Rock stations from ten years ago. There
> was one on AM in New York City and one here in Austin at
> 98.9 FM. The hardest rock station that I ever heard.
>
I remember Z-Rock in Austin. Now Austin radio is a joke with the only thing resembling rock is a watered down classic rocker in KLBJ. I still think the best terrestrial rock station is "The Big Red Radio" 98 KUPD in Phoenix,AZ.
 
> Solid Rock 94.1 WJJO Madison, Wisconsin
>
> Here they are in the 3PM hour today. Bear in mind, this is a
> midday time slot in a top 100 US market.
>
> Sevendust "Ugly"
> Toadies "Possum Kingdom"
> Thousand Foot Krutch "Move"
> Dope "Always"
> 10 Years "Wasteland"
> Hurt "Rapture"
> White Zombie "More Human than Human"
> Disturbed "Guarded"
> Godsmack "Awake"
> Revelation Theory "Slow Burn"
> Linkin Park "Lying From You"
> Rage against the Machine "Bulls on Parade"
>
> I guess the Linkin Park song will have to suffice for the
> downtempo song of the hour.
>
Wait till you hear what they play from 12AM-1AM. Black/Death/Speed/Hard Core metal. I can only pick the station up around that time and all I ever hear is Coal Chamber, Cradle Of Filth, Mushroomhead, Slipknot, Pantera, Cannibal Corpse, Devildriver, Cepahlic Carnage, etc Don't think you can get much harder. I'm not a fan of this type of music but I know for sure other then college stations and Rebel Radio (which is a network that runs on brokered stations in the Chicago area) WJJO is the only place I have ever heard it. <P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
> > Solid Rock 94.1 WJJO Madison, Wisconsin
> >
> > Here they are in the 3PM hour today. Bear in mind, this is
> a
> > midday time slot in a top 100 US market.
> >
> > Sevendust "Ugly"
> > Toadies "Possum Kingdom"
> > Thousand Foot Krutch "Move"
> > Dope "Always"
> > 10 Years "Wasteland"
> > Hurt "Rapture"
> > White Zombie "More Human than Human"
> > Disturbed "Guarded"
> > Godsmack "Awake"
> > Revelation Theory "Slow Burn"
> > Linkin Park "Lying From You"
> > Rage against the Machine "Bulls on Parade"
> >
> > I guess the Linkin Park song will have to suffice for the
> > downtempo song of the hour.
> >
> Wait till you hear what they play from 12AM-1AM.
> Black/Death/Speed/Hard Core metal. I can only pick the
> station up around that time and all I ever hear is Coal
> Chamber, Cradle Of Filth, Mushroomhead, Slipknot, Pantera,
> Cannibal Corpse, Devildriver, Cepahlic Carnage, etc Don't
> think you can get much harder. I'm not a fan of this type of
> music but I know for sure other then college stations and
> Rebel Radio (which is a network that runs on brokered
> stations in the Chicago area) WJJO is the only place I have
> ever heard it.

I would have to beg the differ on those bands. The hardest band you mentioned by far is Cannibal Corpse. Harder bands include: Emperor, Abgott, Faust, Cryptopsy, Obituary, and so on...
>
 
> > > Solid Rock 94.1 WJJO Madison, Wisconsin
> > >
> > > Here they are in the 3PM hour today. Bear in mind, this
> is
> > a
> > > midday time slot in a top 100 US market.
> > >
> > > Sevendust "Ugly"
> > > Toadies "Possum Kingdom"
> > > Thousand Foot Krutch "Move"
> > > Dope "Always"
> > > 10 Years "Wasteland"
> > > Hurt "Rapture"
> > > White Zombie "More Human than Human"
> > > Disturbed "Guarded"
> > > Godsmack "Awake"
> > > Revelation Theory "Slow Burn"
> > > Linkin Park "Lying From You"
> > > Rage against the Machine "Bulls on Parade"
> > >
> > > I guess the Linkin Park song will have to suffice for
> the
> > > downtempo song of the hour.
> > >
> > Wait till you hear what they play from 12AM-1AM.
> > Black/Death/Speed/Hard Core metal. I can only pick the
> > station up around that time and all I ever hear is Coal
> > Chamber, Cradle Of Filth, Mushroomhead, Slipknot, Pantera,
>
> > Cannibal Corpse, Devildriver, Cepahlic Carnage, etc Don't
> > think you can get much harder. I'm not a fan of this type
> of
> > music but I know for sure other then college stations and
> > Rebel Radio (which is a network that runs on brokered
> > stations in the Chicago area) WJJO is the only place I
> have
> > ever heard it.
>
> I would have to beg the differ on those bands. The hardest
> band you mentioned by far is Cannibal Corpse. Harder bands
> include: Emperor, Abgott, Faust, Cryptopsy, Obituary, and so
> on...
> >
>
Those were just a few I know off the top of my head, as I am not a fan of that type of music. I've heard harder but I have no idea what I'm listening to. Its not easy to tell what they are even saying since half of the music is unitelligable growling like the boogie man. Yes.com doesn't even pick up half of the stuff they play during that time.

http://www.yes.com/lookup.php?s=WJJO&to=15<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
Re: Question about Z-Rock

> > Why did they focus on the AM dial?
> >
> A couple of reasons:
>
> (1) By the mid and late 1980s, music on AM radio had pretty
> much bitten the dust. Back before deregulation and LMAs,
> owners were limited to one AM and one FM in each market. If
> you had a sucessful FM reaching 18-34 year olds, you could
> sell airtime on your sucessful FM and for a few bucks more
> sell time on a poorly-performimg AM as a combo sale.
> (2) Satellite radio is cheap to run. All you need is a
> board op and/or some good automation equipment.
> (3) The original Z Rock inclination (pre-Abrams)was not
> exactly mainstream. At times it was outrageous and
> progressive-sounding (I have a bunch of tapes of KZRK in
> Dallas from 1987/1988). The format was not mainstream
> enough for a major market FM, but it could work on an
> underperforming AM (and do so cheaply).
> (4) When all the other AMs in town are doing Newstalk, Big
> Bands, Country and Oldies, Z Rock really stood out from the
> crowd, and the format was "niche" enough that dedicated
> listeners would seek it out. In some markets they did, in
> others they did not.
>
> Markets that tried Z Rock on AM (Dates are approximate and
> are from personal memory):
> Seattle, WA (KZOK 1590) 1988 - 1991
> Portland, OR (KZRC 1010) 1988 - 1993
> Eugene, OR (? 1320) 1991 - 1994
> Las Vegas, NV (KMTW 1340) 1989 - 1992
> Salt Lake City, UT (? 1550) 1988-1989
> Denver, CO (KDZR 1390) 1988-1989; (KLZ 560)1991-1993
> Albuquerque, NM (KIVA 1310) 1987 -1991
> Kansas City, MO (KBZR 1030) 1988 - 1992
> Houston, TX (KKZR 1070) 1987 - 1991
> San Antonio, TX (KSJL 760) 1988-1992
> Jackson, MS (WZRX 1590) 1986-1987
> Minneapolis, MN (? 950) 1988-1989; (KMZR 980) 1989-1991
> Grand Rapids, MI (? 1340) 1987-1989
> Flint, MI (? 1570) 1989-1989
> Portland, ME (? 1440) 1989-1991
> New York City, NY (WZRC 1480) 1990-1993
> Fort Meyers, FL (WWZR 770) 1989-1991
>
> There were probably a few others....I can't remember all of
> them.
>
I will keep on asking this......

But, with the coming of Digital AM, and FM Radio.....
Won't that allow a good stereo singal on AM, with an --independent-- locally-owned Station that could carry something besides Classic Rock programming ? ? IE Hard Rock, --without-- the obnoxious DJs.
You know, a laid back DJ that actually os free to pick tracks, without some consultant-driven comglomerate regimin.<P ID="signature">______________
1968-1978 -- THE "GOLDEN AGE" OF ALBUM ROCK MUSIC . . .
In spite of Disco and Top 40 in that period,
it yielded the "Motherload" of Great Album Rock Releases
--Enough for a Lifetime-- :) :) :)</P>
 
Re: Question about Z-Rock

> But, with the coming of Digital AM, and FM Radio.....
> Won't that allow a good stereo singal on AM, with an
> --independent-- locally-owned Station that could carry
> something besides Classic Rock programming ? ? IE Hard Rock,
> --without-- the obnoxious DJs.
> You know, a laid back DJ that actually os free to pick
> tracks, without some consultant-driven comglomerate regimin.
>

Uhhhhhh, that kind of radio went out with Nehru jackets & blacklight posters. The "consultant-driven comglomerate regimin" stations ate their lunch. If most (or even many) people wanted free-form hippie radio it would have hung on.
 
Re: Question about Z-Rock

> I will keep on asking this......
>
> But, with the coming of Digital AM, and FM Radio.....
> Won't that allow a good stereo singal on AM, with an
> --independent-- locally-owned Station that could carry
> something besides Classic Rock programming ? ? IE Hard Rock,
> --without-- the obnoxious DJs.
> You know, a laid back DJ that actually os free to pick
> tracks, without some consultant-driven comglomerate regimin.
>

The type of programming you suggest MAY pop up on HD radio someday as a "second" or "third" level channel at an existing station in the future. I personally enjoy the radio you mention, and have great memories of it from the 1970s. I might suggest you invest in one of the Satellite services. Both Sirius and XM have "Deep Track" classic rock formats. I've XM for over four years, and have been a dedicated listener of their "Deep Tracks" channel. I think you'll like it. Think early KZEW, KFWD, KAMC and KNUS-FM. Well worth it.

I'd even listen to it on AM. But it's cheaper to install a satellite-driven, religion or a brokered-ethnic format on the little AMs.
 
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