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Just have a very simple question about.Boston radio almost 40 years ago.

R

Retro

Back in 1980, it seems that the 2 prominent Top 40 stations WRKO, and WVBF had abandoned the format. It seems that by 1981, WXKS-FM came in and filled the gap, however, as we all know, Kiss 198 was not a straight forward CHR at the time at all.

Was there any real Top 40 competitors to Kiss 108 at that point?, and if not which competitor was the closest to the format instead?

Personally, I kinda cringe at the idea that besides all the AOR's at the time, that WHDH, which was AC/Variety at the time was likely the closest. It was either them or WEEi-FM, Soft Rock, or the remnants of WVBF instead.

Any insights, thoughts, insights or opinions on this? Thank you for your help!
 
Not sure if they were a close competitor but
WHTT 103.3 (Power, Hitradio) was top 40 1983-86.WZOU 94.5 was around starting in 84.From 1981 to 83 103.3 was also doing some top 40.
They switched to WODS Oldies in 87

Wiki on 103.3:
"WHTT continued with a Top 40 format until 7 p.m. on July 7, 1986. Because WHTT was involved in a three-way Top 40 battle with WXKS-FM and WZOU, they launched an adult rock format known as Boston's Quality Rock, playing a blend of softer Album Rock cuts [WMRQ]"

Wiki on 94.5: (it was WCOZ hard rock, then:
"September 1984, the station's call letters were changed to WZOU, and flipped to a top 40 format to compete against WXKS-FM (Kiss 108) as Z-94"
 
Not really. WRKO still presented a Top 40 image in 1980, and even still published a survey but musically they were more what would be later called Hot AC. Same goes for WVBF. There was little if any rock on either station.
Not sure when Kiss transitioned from disco to a dance-y, urban-leaning top 40, but they didn't really go full blown CHR until WHTT came along in late '82. ISTR WROR (98.5) briefly going CHR in late '82/early '83, but they were still a gold-heavy AC in '80. Don't ever remember WHDH being anything other than an AC.
The only other I can think of was the old WBZ-FM...I'm pretty sure they were still automated Top 40 in '80.

Back then I mostly listened to the Providence T-40s, WPRO-FM and JB-105.
 
Thank you everyone. I am asking specifically about the year 1981 though, as I am quite aware of the onslaught of Top 40 Radio from 1982 onward. Back during the entire year in 1981, Kiss 108 seemed to be the only real resource or go to station when came to hit music.

BTW, when WROR went Top 40, they did not do a real good job at promoting the station at all. Their TV commercials only mentioned that they were taking over radio, while pushing DJ's out of their chairs!

I literally found out that they went Top 40 on Dorchester Day back in 1983. I was listening to American Top 40, and when the show was over, they played a song that I liked. Then another one, and another one! 'ROR-FM became my favorite station until they reverted back to AC on Labor Day weekend.

I was so disappointed that I had to revert back to WHTT! Kiss 108 was still way too disoey at the time when mainstream pop/rock music was exploding!
 
I was not able to pull in radio stations from Providence back then? Can we keep the focus on the Boston Market instead?
 
WCGY was automated top 40 hits (Rock Garden) circa 80, then Wiki says they flipped to oldies in 83.I worked for Building 19 at the time and we had it over the page system--Blue Suede Radio, then Super Hits--oldies and classic rock with Cheryl Ann (Gowdy).

https://youtu.be/xQQq_ABhkOg
CGY jingle 40 sec in
 
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