It appears we may have a station to replace WABB, and it's not 107.3

[NWFLRadio10yrs]

I'm going to go ahead and make my prediction...and it's probably one that shouldn't surprise you. A few minutes ago I was listening to Jack FM, and in between songs they played a liner (and it was a quick liner) saying "Be listening tomorrow night at midnight for some changes on 104.1". They aren't "stunting", they're still ID'ing themselves as Jack-FM, but I bet they are flipping back to CHR since WABB will be history. It really does make sense for Cumulus to flip Jack-FM because Journey 100 is new, plus Journey also targets Pensacola. It would only make sense that Cumulus would flip Jack-FM to become the new CHR station since it is a Mobile station.

Tomorrow is making history.....we lose WABB at midnight and now it looks like we will lose Jack-FM too. On another note, some of us in Northwest Florida who have Cox Communications may lose Fox 10 and WFNA if they don't reach an agreement. (Sorry, I had to throw that in there since we are talking about "changes").

It's going to be interesting to see...I even heard Qtip on WABB say he thought we would have a new station sooner rather than later, and it sounds like Cumulus is is going to take the ball and run with it. Smart move on their part.

 

[Tibbs4]

I have to actually wonder if people in the area even notice these format changes since they are a dime a dozen along the beaches. A true sign of overkill. Now, the demise of WABB is actually scary and very noteworthy.

 

[Poledo]

Jack FM was always a "flavor of the year" format just like "All 80's" was a little over 5 years ago. I don't think anyone expected Jack to live more than 3 years or so in Mobile/Pensacola. Did Jack survive 3 years here? I've lost track of time since Hurricane Ivan and I've lost track of the dozen or more formats that Wizard 104 has gone through since signing on from the Wilcox Road tower farm.

I though I read that Journey was launched by Cumulus in another market (maybe in Ohio?) and it didn't even last 1 year.

I still think it would be cool for a couple more stations to flip in the next week or month. A complete shakeup of a stable radio dial would be interesting.

 

[Rob]

Didn't 104.1 already try CHR? I seem to remember KICKS was a failure out of the box then later on, it went something 104.. then JACK. I like the jack format. Their transmitters are in Atmore, AL but booms here.

-Rob

 

[NWFLRadio10yrs]

Jack FM was always a "flavor of the year" format just like "All 80's" was a little over 5 years ago. I don't think anyone expected Jack to live more than 3 years or so in Mobile/Pensacola. Did Jack survive 3 years here? I've lost track of time since Hurricane Ivan and I've lost track of the dozen or more formats that Wizard 104 has gone through since signing on from the Wilcox Road tower farm.

I though I read that Journey was launched by Cumulus in another market (maybe in Ohio?) and it didn't even last 1 year.

I still think it would be cool for a couple more stations to flip in the next week or month. A complete shakeup of a stable radio dial would be interesting.

You're right, Jack was launched in March of 2009, so it's been about 3 years. If my memory serves me correctly it seems like 104.1 was Wizard 104 (WIZD) in the late 80's, WGCX Rock 104, WDWG "The Dawg", Classic Country 104, "K-104" (when they moved the WYOK calls and format from 104.9), Star 104 (first as a hot AC then all 80's), Hot 104, Kicks 104, and Jack-FM. I don't think I missed any formats but they've been all over the place.

As for Journey, who knows how long they will last. They seem to be doing good right now.

 

[NWFLRadio10yrs]

Didn't 104.1 already try CHR? I seem to remember KICKS was a failure out of the box then later on, it went something 104.. then JACK. I like the jack format. Their transmitters are in Atmore, AL but booms here.

-Rob

They did try CHR as "Hot 104" from 2002-2006. But at that time they couldn't beat WABB. Now that WABB is out of the picture, Cumulus probably thinks they have a real shot at making it work this time (and they're probably right. They won't have WABB to compete with this time.)

 

[Poledo]

104.1 was also a move in to the Mobile/Pensacola dual market from Atmore, so I don't have a clue of what it's history was as a small Atmore FM before "The Wizard is Coming" billboards popped up all over the freaking place.

 

[macab4490]

Haha, poor 107.3

 

[Rob]

It would make cents to kick 107.3 out of the picture as they can't beat a full 100KW signal. Really needs to be 710 FM since it's owned by C. Channel. Would be great on 107.3

 

[macab4490]

Talk or Rob...Get ready for this....bring back My 107.3.

 

[Rob]

and their 100KW signal.. I loved that station myself.

 

[macab4490]

107.3 HMN can work but the signal needs to be worked on. Why not move it 96.1 since 97.5 is the "next" station on the Mobile/Pensacola dial, not to mention there will be plenty of people still used to seeking on the radios and putting CHR in front of what was once-used to be is a stellar move. 96.1 is CHR, first ahead of 97.5...meaning CHR will always be #1. Haha, I'm getting a little ahead of myself here but y'all probably don't see where I am going with this. Also, I don't know how well the Rocket is doing but they can always lean more classic hits than Rock. Or 107.3/96.1 can just go talk but having two talk stations right by each other seems a bit off. Remember: Variety!

It looks like the Gulf will see a fresh new radio dial just I'm time for Memorial Day weekend.
So, LET THE CHANGES BEGIN! R.I.P WABB!

 

[Poledo]

Pensacola has Cumulus' 100kw Z96.5 about 40 miles to the east to fall back on. It's Mobile that has the glaring format hole. 107.1 The Monkey doesn't even reach Pascagoula. True Dat 107.3 is already there in Baldwin county, but the signal is poor and any of the smaller Mobile only FMs could overtake them. That's why I feared that if Cumulus didn't flip 100.7 or 104.1 within a week that WZEW 92.1 might not be able to resist filling that hole. I'd hate to loose the Rocket but I do understand that Business is Business. If the Rocket goes someone will have to fill that hole. In the end, Cumulus HAS to flip either 100.7 or 104.1 or both. I can't see any way around it.

 

[RollTide]

104.1's calls have officially changed to WABD as of 2/28/12. Sounds a whole lot like WABB when you say it fast. Sounds like they may try to snatch up the WABB air staff and make a WABB clone bringing CHR back to 104.1. More discussion about this on the Alabama board.

 

[amfmxm]

The compusion to throw the best signal possible at the WABB hole is probably greater among people on this board than it is in either San Antonio or Atlanta. Even during its heyday WABB was never the top-biller in Mobile (much less Pensacola)--for 30 years-or-so that honor has been WKSJ's. CHR has always played second-fiddle to Country and/or AC in the 25-54 dollar derby and the erosion of the 18-34 base in recent years due to iPods and other digital media--and the format's splintering with urban stations--has all combined to make CHR a second-tier option.

Don't get me wrong. The relative stability of WABB under the Dittmans and the legacy of the calls among boomer-age media buyers in Mobile probably served to help WABB get more than their fair share of radio revenue up until now (or very recently, at least). But that's about to go "Poof!"

As to the coming battle over the remains of 97.5's audience, both Cumulus and Clear Channel are capable players. But unless Cumulus has undergone a massive change in operating philosophy in the last few months--one that involves spending money--I'd put my bet on Clear Channel to win this one, regardless of which frequency they ultimately slap CHR on.

"Poor 107.3" my ass. It's just a spot on the dial, guys. This is all about business... all about money.

 

[tomservo]

Didn't 104.1 already try CHR? I seem to remember KICKS was a failure out of the box then later on, it went something 104.. then JACK. I like the jack format. Their transmitters are in Atmore, AL but booms here.

-Rob

Even when it was running HD, WYOK had the best signal in the area in my opinion. But it doesn't transmit from Atmore, but one of the pickle forks off I-10 in Baldwin County, along with WEAR, WHBR, WFGX-DT, WKSJ, WJLQ and WBLX.

With this call change wenow have WABB, WABD and WABF all together; they also have an app to lower antenna height a little and re-license to Saraland.

SARALAND?! I don't think saying "Saraland-Mobile" at the top of the hour is any easier than "Atmore-Mobile". Only us geeks pay attention to the TOH ID anyway.

 

[Mario500]

^Saying "Saraland-Mobile" or "Atmore-Mobile" would be easy, depending on pronunciation and speed.

 

[Poledo]

I've always thought some station should change their city of license to Jay, FL as first local service and pick up some call letters ending in the letter "J". On air TOH ID would be "WxxJ Jay-Mobile-Pensacola". If you don't get it then you should be Eaton Daton Alive.

Is it possible that Cumulus is buying the intellectual property of WABB and the WABD call letters are just temporary until EMF puts their new calls on 97.5? Then the Dittman's could give 104.1 permission to use the WABB-FM calls before changing the call letters of 1480 so no one would get the chance to snag them? Seems like that would be the safest way to work it out.

 

[amfmxm]

Yup, I think you've got it. Frankly, since the Dittmans likely have no real interest in the radio biz, at all, once the $3.1 million check clears, they could probably persuade the family to just swap the WABB calls on 1480 for the WABD calls... and maybe another check for the "intellectual property." Whoever eventually buys the AM to run more religious teaching and preaching... or Korean tunes... won't give a shit what the call-letters are.

And, FWIW, it was "The New Z93 is WGTZ, Eaton, Dayton and Springfield alive!" (Z was always "new"--and would have remained "new" forever, had GT not sold the SOB).

I'm proud to be an old Great Trails Broadcasting alum--the "GT" in WGTZ--great folks. And Z93 was a terrific radio station--essentially, the WABB of Dayton. And, yeah, Dayton remains a great city. Good memories.

 

[Poledo]

I was too lazy to look it up. I can't believe I forgot the Springfield part but I knew I didn't have it exactly right. It's been a very long time since Broadcasting 101. That station is probably still in the new textbook's chapter about hiding your COL.

Very surprised you used to work with the folks up there RNR. Next thing you know we'll find out we went to the same high school.

Oh yeah, in some other post you mentioned not visiting the beach this year. It was just announced that Gus Brandt is booking Pensacola Beach's Deluna Fest in October. I imagine Gus will put together an amazing festival lineup... should also bring back memories of the early 90's. The shows he put on at Yank's, Sluggo's and the Nite Owl were awesome back in the day, he probably played the biggest role in developing the Pensacola modern/punk rock scene that lead to Radio 123 and One Zero Seven. Hopefully he can get the Screaming Trees back together for Deluna Fest!