Help: History of Syracuse radio questions.

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

I was wondering if you all can help me with some history questions for Syracuse:

1. When did WNDR 1260 end it's Top 40 format? And did it change to AC/Oldies or all Oldies? I noticed that the yearbooks say the format was Adult contemp/solid gold.

2. Did WTKW start out as Country (TK 99) in 1992 then Classic rock (TK 99) in 1994 or was it classic rock the whole time?

3. Could anybody tell me if WOIV 105.1 from 1961 to 1969 was classical or beautiful music? I have seen in many articles that the format stayed RRN network to 1969 and in one article from WIKEPIDA (history of WOIV) that WOIV was part of the QXR network. Did this apply to all of there network stations? (107.7 Buffalo, 95.1 Rochester, 101.9 Albany, 103.7 Ithica) Could anybody help me clear this up.

4. Did WKFM classic rock go straight to country WBBS in 1993 or was there another format in between? In my yearbook(1993) the calls for 104.7 was WEQL. I am a little confused. Did the WKFM calls end up on 104.3 in Utica at any time?

Thanks again guys for your help!!

T.J.

 

[Kat1994]

Hey Guys:

I was wondering if you all can help me with some history questions for Syracuse:



4. Did WKFM classic rock go straight to country WBBS in 1993 or was there another format in between? In my yearbook(1993) the calls for 104.7 was WEQL. I am a little confused. Did the WKFM calls end up on 104.3 in Utica at any time?

Thanks again guys for your help!!

T.J.

Hey T.J - I can help with # 4. WKFM "switched" to B-104 country in March or April of 1993. There was an agreement that WKGW 104.3 in Utica would "buy" the rights...music, talent, and identity of WKFM. At the exact same time WKFM 104.7 switched from classic rock to country WBBS...WKGW 104.3 switched from A/C to classic hits. WKGW then became WKFM broadcasting from the KG 104/ WRUN studios in Oriskany. In October of 1993 WKFM (104.3) sold the station and it became Big Frog 104. Around that time 1993 was the beginning of the end of mom and pop radio.

Ahhha...those good old days of Utica radio before the Clear Channels of the world sterilized the business. Remember when a personality of the DJ would be reflected in the music he picked? Back then we had no selector system, just color coated music logs and daypart clocks and music directors who would add songs based upon his gut feeling...no voice tracking and no corporate playlists.

One of the best "image" stations in this market was WNYZ 98.7 (1985 -1989). This station had a big market sound, a killer jingle package and the ultimate call letters. It was a sad day in Utica/Rome radio history when WNYZ flipped to WLZW. In Albany - WGY FM Electric 99 also had a killer jingle package and big market sound....How I miss those stations and jingles from Jam Productions.

Hope this helps.

 

[Play Freebird]

3. Could anybody tell me if WOIV 105.1 from 1961 to 1969 was classical or beautiful music? I have seen in many articles that the format stayed RRN network to 1969 and in one article from WIKEPIDA (history of WOIV) that WOIV was part of the QXR network. Did this apply to all of there network stations? (107.7 Buffalo, 95.1 Rochester, 101.9 Albany, 103.7 Ithica) Could anybody help me clear this up.

As I understand it, RRN had trouble making money with its original farm programming concept and entered into an agreement to rebroadcast WQXR sometime in the mid-'50s. At that time, receivers were still expensive so FM was considered a highbrow medium. The WQXR-FM signal was received off-air in the lower Hudson Valley and relayed to Albany and then westward across the RRN network to Wethersfield. Of course, if one of the transmitters failed (not unusual in those early days of FM), the remaining stations to the west would lose their feed, so this was a poor arrangement.

Woody Erdman of Ivy Broadcasting (WTKO, Ithaca and WOLF) bought the network on February 1, 1960 in a deal that involved traded-out spots for GLF Farm Stores (later to be known as Agway). I understand the format moved towards easy listening during his ownership. I was still in elementary school at that time and didn't listen very often. Of course, in 1969, Pat Robertson took over and introduced CBN's religious format which continued until he decided to run for President in the "80s, at which time he sold off the New York stations to raise cash.

I have collected a stack of articles on RRN and its successors which I hope to post one of these days. I'm the founding author of the Wikipedia article on the "Rural Radio Network" and would appreciate any further information the formats it carried over the years.

 

[ELL383]

Hey Guys:

I was wondering if you all can help me with some history questions for Syracuse:



4. Did WKFM classic rock go straight to country WBBS in 1993 or was there another format in between? In my yearbook(1993) the calls for 104.7 was WEQL. I am a little confused. Did the WKFM calls end up on 104.3 in Utica at any time?

Thanks again guys for your help!!

T.J.

Hey T.J - I can help with # 4. WKFM "switched" to B-104 country in March or April of 1993. There was an agreement that WKGW 104.3 in Utica would "buy" the rights...music, talent, and identity of WKFM. At the exact same time WKFM 104.7 switched from classic rock to country WBBS...WKGW 104.3 switched from A/C to classic hits. WKGW then became WKFM broadcasting from the KG 104/ WRUN studios in Oriskany. In October of 1993 WKFM (104.3) sold the station and it became Big Frog 104. Around that time 1993 was the beginning of the end of mom and pop radio.

Ahhha...those good old days of Utica radio before the Clear Channels of the world sterilized the business. Remember when a personality of the DJ would be reflected in the music he picked? Back then we had no selector system, just color coated music logs and daypart clocks and music directors who would add songs based upon his gut feeling...no voice tracking and no corporate playlists.

One of the best "image" stations in this market was WNYZ 98.7 (1985 -1989). This station had a big market sound, a killer jingle package and the ultimate call letters. It was a sad day in Utica/Rome radio history when WNYZ flipped to WLZW. In Albany - WGY FM Electric 99 also had a killer jingle package and big market sound....How I miss those stations and jingles from Jam Productions.

Hope this helps.

104.7 WKFM changed to B104.7 Feb 23 at 12:01 Am Brian Illes was the last DJ the last song was "The End - The Doors" the studio at 1022 Willis Ave was turned off at that time. B104.7 used the WKFM calls for about a month or too. B104.7 was to be KIX fm and slowly change formats but other stations in Syracuse had changed to Country over the weekend so Kix had no choice but to switch on Tuesday feb 23 1993
B104.7 kicked off with 300 songs in a row. WKGW agreed to become Kix fm on Monday Feb 22
the first song at 12:02am on 104.3 WKGW Kix fm was Beginnings by Chicago. The Show was called "the night service"
Also Magic 104.7 was a Top 40 Station in 1982 - 1983 mid 1983 started to add more Rock Hits by 1984 WKFM was a Rock Station sometime winter 1984 at 12am can't find the date! started to use the Kix fm
slogan and slowly switch to Classic Rock and used liners like " Syracuse's only Classic Rock " " Syracuse's Original Classic Rock " " The 20 in a row station" "The Original 20 in a row station " " It doesn't have to be old to be a classic"

 

[ELL383]

Made a mistake the last DJ on 104.7 Kix fm was Brian Cooney and not Brian Eillis sorry!

 

[GladToBeOut]

Who played that first song when KIX when to 104.3? Any idea where that jock is now?

 

[ELL383]

I don't know! Think it may have been music and I.D. sweepers all night.