I listened to K 104.7 when I was in Charlotte, NC and now I have it on the internet stream. I just wanted to know a little about this station. What was the format before they flipped to the current format which is AC. The current format sounds good, it sounds like a great AC station, just like another one I have listened to which is WRCH in Hartford K's sister AC station also owned by CBS Radio. But anyways I just wanted to know a little about this station thanks.
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K 104.7
- Thread starter radiolives
- Start date
> Hey, this is Holly Haze and I do evenings at K 104.7. Prior to it being K, we were Star 104.7 with much the same music, but we also played some classic rock like Styx, Skynard, The Who. After it turned to K it was more mellow to be more of an "at work" choice. Welcome and thanks for listening.
HH
HH
R
RobynWatts
Guest
Here everything that I know.
The station signed on as WIST-FM in the late 1940's. Unfortunately as typical with many AM stations that had sister FMs, the FM was sold off before it became commercially viable.
Fast forward to the early 1980's: 104.7 was, by that time, a bright AC known as EZ-104 (WEZC)and had spent much of it's time in the Top 5 12+, thanks to having a strong morning show in Chuck Boozer. Here is a page from the "That Was Radio" tribute site that has a aircheck of Chuck Boozer from 1984.
http://www.thatwasradio.com/ez.html
By 1989, the station was sold off to a company that adopted a new handle...Mix 104.7 (with the calls WMXC), and the station's format was altered slightly to Hot AC. It should be pointed out that at first, the station was referred on the air as "Mix 104.7, WMIX", until the real WMIX issued a C&D letter to the station. Chuck Boozer remained with the station until he was released in 1991 after a negative incident that cost him his job.
After Boozer was fired, Mix 104.7 started to slip in the ratings due to increased competition from 2 other ACs in the market-Sunny 107.9/WBT-FM (later WWSN) and EZ-102.9/WEZC (which became Lite 102.9/WLYT in 1994, more on them in a bit). The station entered into a LMA in 1992 with CHR/Rhythmic WCKZ/Kiss 102 that was short-lived. After ownership rules were changed in 1993 where 2 AMs and 2 FMs could be owned by the same company, the station was acquired by WSOC (which I believe was still owned by Cox at that time) and moved into the same studios with WSOC along 1-77 south of downtown Charlotte.
However the ratings were still slipping and in 1995, the station changed format to 70s Oldies as Star 104.7/WSSS (WSSS stood for Super Stars of the Seventies). Like many 70s Oldies outlets, the station gradually evolved to Classic Hits. However, the station's ratings did not improve, but the station was billing well, so the station was left untouched until 2000, when the station evolved to Gold-based Hot AC, but keeping the Star 104.7 handle. By late 2000, the station flipped to 80's Oldies (but was more Rock-leaning so it wasn't a "true" 80's outlet like WXXY in Chicago). Management brought back Chuck Boozer in 2000 in an attempt to revive the station, but only stayed for a short stint that lasted about a year. After a year with little growth, the station gradually went back to a Gold-based Hot AC where it stayed for the next few years. On October 31st, 2003, the station fired the airstaff and spent several hours playing Halloween music before segueing to all-Christmas music as the "New 104.7" until December 26th when the station was re-launched with a Gold based AC format as "The New K-104.7" (with the WKQC call letters adopted on December 24th). Finally, the station ratings went UP and they became locked in a battle with Lite 102.9 which since then, they had beaten several times .
To get back to Lite 102.9. In 1989, after Mix 104.7 dropped the WEZC call letters, WRLX, a then-new 80/90 Docket move-in from Hickory, NC on 102.9, changed it's call letters to WEZC and adapted the handle EZ-102.9 as a way to capitalize on the "heritage" that EZ-104 had. The format was also changed from B/EZ to Light AC. in 1994, the station changed it's name to Lite 102.9. Incidentally, this was the second "Lite" in the Charlotte market. The first one was Lite 102/WLIT (101.9), which signed on in 1986. By 1988, the station was acquired by Beasley Broadcasting which changed the format to Top 40/Dance as Kiss 102/WCKZ. That station is now V-101.9/WBAV.
Hopefully, that'll answer your question.
Robyn
<P ID="signature">______________
"They say you better listen to the voice of reason. But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think it's treason." Elvis Costello "Radio Radio"</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by RobynWatts on 02/01/06 12:54 AM.</FONT></P>
The station signed on as WIST-FM in the late 1940's. Unfortunately as typical with many AM stations that had sister FMs, the FM was sold off before it became commercially viable.
Fast forward to the early 1980's: 104.7 was, by that time, a bright AC known as EZ-104 (WEZC)and had spent much of it's time in the Top 5 12+, thanks to having a strong morning show in Chuck Boozer. Here is a page from the "That Was Radio" tribute site that has a aircheck of Chuck Boozer from 1984.
http://www.thatwasradio.com/ez.html
By 1989, the station was sold off to a company that adopted a new handle...Mix 104.7 (with the calls WMXC), and the station's format was altered slightly to Hot AC. It should be pointed out that at first, the station was referred on the air as "Mix 104.7, WMIX", until the real WMIX issued a C&D letter to the station. Chuck Boozer remained with the station until he was released in 1991 after a negative incident that cost him his job.
After Boozer was fired, Mix 104.7 started to slip in the ratings due to increased competition from 2 other ACs in the market-Sunny 107.9/WBT-FM (later WWSN) and EZ-102.9/WEZC (which became Lite 102.9/WLYT in 1994, more on them in a bit). The station entered into a LMA in 1992 with CHR/Rhythmic WCKZ/Kiss 102 that was short-lived. After ownership rules were changed in 1993 where 2 AMs and 2 FMs could be owned by the same company, the station was acquired by WSOC (which I believe was still owned by Cox at that time) and moved into the same studios with WSOC along 1-77 south of downtown Charlotte.
However the ratings were still slipping and in 1995, the station changed format to 70s Oldies as Star 104.7/WSSS (WSSS stood for Super Stars of the Seventies). Like many 70s Oldies outlets, the station gradually evolved to Classic Hits. However, the station's ratings did not improve, but the station was billing well, so the station was left untouched until 2000, when the station evolved to Gold-based Hot AC, but keeping the Star 104.7 handle. By late 2000, the station flipped to 80's Oldies (but was more Rock-leaning so it wasn't a "true" 80's outlet like WXXY in Chicago). Management brought back Chuck Boozer in 2000 in an attempt to revive the station, but only stayed for a short stint that lasted about a year. After a year with little growth, the station gradually went back to a Gold-based Hot AC where it stayed for the next few years. On October 31st, 2003, the station fired the airstaff and spent several hours playing Halloween music before segueing to all-Christmas music as the "New 104.7" until December 26th when the station was re-launched with a Gold based AC format as "The New K-104.7" (with the WKQC call letters adopted on December 24th). Finally, the station ratings went UP and they became locked in a battle with Lite 102.9 which since then, they had beaten several times .
To get back to Lite 102.9. In 1989, after Mix 104.7 dropped the WEZC call letters, WRLX, a then-new 80/90 Docket move-in from Hickory, NC on 102.9, changed it's call letters to WEZC and adapted the handle EZ-102.9 as a way to capitalize on the "heritage" that EZ-104 had. The format was also changed from B/EZ to Light AC. in 1994, the station changed it's name to Lite 102.9. Incidentally, this was the second "Lite" in the Charlotte market. The first one was Lite 102/WLIT (101.9), which signed on in 1986. By 1988, the station was acquired by Beasley Broadcasting which changed the format to Top 40/Dance as Kiss 102/WCKZ. That station is now V-101.9/WBAV.
Hopefully, that'll answer your question.
Robyn
<P ID="signature">______________
"They say you better listen to the voice of reason. But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think it's treason." Elvis Costello "Radio Radio"</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by RobynWatts on 02/01/06 12:54 AM.</FONT></P>
> Wow. that was informative!!! Thanks Robyn. However, I have been there since 1999 and no one was fired in Oct of 2003. Dallas Reese was the first to go on his own terms. Samantha Stone, Sander Walker, Regular Joe were released from their contracts. Scarlet C came in in the later part of the summer 2003. The on air staff was then Tom Jeffries, Scarlet, T Edward and myself. We did indeed go all Christmas on Oct 31, 2003, but no one was fired. All 4 of us came back on the air after the New K 104.7 came on the air.
M
mike704
Guest
Robyn,
Good job on the history but let me correct a couple of small errors. I have been in Charlotte since 1981 when I was hired for afternoons at WSOC-AM 93.
> The station signed on as WIST-FM in the late 1940's.
> Unfortunately as typical with many AM stations that had
> sister FMs, the FM was sold off before it became
> commercially viable.
I think sometime either before or after the association with WIST it was also known as WYFM.
When I got here in 1981 EZ-104 was insturmental beautiful music, owned by EZ Communications which I believe was based in Richmond. We used to put it on in my daughter's room at night to help her sleep. Bill Curry did mornings at the time.
> Fast forward to the early 1980's: 104.7 was, by that time, a
> bright AC known as EZ-104 (WEZC)and had spent much of it's
> time in the Top 5 12+, thanks to having a strong morning
> show in Chuck Boozer. Here is a page from the "That Was
> Radio" tribute site that has a aircheck of Chuck Boozer
> from 1984.
>
> http://www.thatwasradio.com/ez.html
>
> By 1989, the station was sold off to a company that adopted
> a new handle...Mix 104.7 (with the calls WMXC), and the
> station's format was altered slightly to Hot AC. It should
> be pointed out that at first, the station was referred on
> the air as "Mix 104.7, WMIX", until the real WMIX issued a
> C&D letter to the station. Chuck Boozer remained with the
> station until he was released in 1991 after a negative
> incident that cost him his job.
It was still owned by EZ Communications at this time. The thought was EZ was more of a "Beautiful Music" handle and no longer fit the station's format.
> After Boozer was fired, Mix 104.7 started to slip in the
> ratings due to increased competition from 2 other ACs in the
> market-Sunny 107.9/WBT-FM (later WWSN) and EZ-102.9/WEZC
> (which became Lite 102.9/WLYT in 1994, more on them in a
> bit). The station entered into a LMA in 1992 with
> CHR/Rhythmic WCKZ/Kiss 102 that was short-lived. After
> ownership rules were changed in 1993 where 2 AMs and 2 FMs
> could be owned by the same company, the station was acquired
> by WSOC (which I believe was still owned by Cox at that
> time) and moved into the same studios with WSOC along 1-77
> south of downtown Charlotte.
Actually it was the other way around, EZ Communications aquired WSOC-FM as part of a swap involving Cox getting ownership of WHQT Hot 105.1 in Miami in the trade.
> To get back to Lite 102.9. In 1989, after Mix 104.7 dropped
> the WEZC call letters, WRLX, a then-new 80/90 Docket move-in
> from Hickory, NC on 102.9, changed it's call letters to WEZC
> and adapted the handle EZ-102.9 as a way to capitalize on
> the "heritage" that EZ-104 had. The format was also changed
> from B/EZ to Light AC. in 1994, the station changed it's
> name to Lite 102.9.
True the calls were taken by WRLX (I thought it was 1988 but it could have been 1989 but probably early 1989) the format remained Beautiful Music on WRLX for awhile before the station went Soft A/C. I came in to WEZC 102.9 around 1990. The station was first LMA'd to Trumper in the fall of '92 (owner of what was then WTDR) then sold to Trumper a few months later. We moved in with WTDR around July 1993 in the Cameron Brown building. They first changed the slogan to Lite 102.9 without changing the call letters, the call letters changed to WLYT sometime after I left. What people might forget is at the time Lite moved in with WTDR Jim Schafer was the morning man on WTDR with Liz Luke doing news.
On a personal note by 1994 I was doing afternoon drive but I decided I'd had enough and got out of radio. In fact I left Charlotte for South Florida. The funny thing is my replacement John Miles came from South Florida! When I returned to Charlotte 3 years later he had just left the station.
Today I have the pleasure of working weekends at K-104.7 with good folks like Holly Haze, Tom Jeffries, Scarlett C. and T. Edward Benson.
Mike
Good job on the history but let me correct a couple of small errors. I have been in Charlotte since 1981 when I was hired for afternoons at WSOC-AM 93.
> The station signed on as WIST-FM in the late 1940's.
> Unfortunately as typical with many AM stations that had
> sister FMs, the FM was sold off before it became
> commercially viable.
I think sometime either before or after the association with WIST it was also known as WYFM.
When I got here in 1981 EZ-104 was insturmental beautiful music, owned by EZ Communications which I believe was based in Richmond. We used to put it on in my daughter's room at night to help her sleep. Bill Curry did mornings at the time.
> Fast forward to the early 1980's: 104.7 was, by that time, a
> bright AC known as EZ-104 (WEZC)and had spent much of it's
> time in the Top 5 12+, thanks to having a strong morning
> show in Chuck Boozer. Here is a page from the "That Was
> Radio" tribute site that has a aircheck of Chuck Boozer
> from 1984.
>
> http://www.thatwasradio.com/ez.html
>
> By 1989, the station was sold off to a company that adopted
> a new handle...Mix 104.7 (with the calls WMXC), and the
> station's format was altered slightly to Hot AC. It should
> be pointed out that at first, the station was referred on
> the air as "Mix 104.7, WMIX", until the real WMIX issued a
> C&D letter to the station. Chuck Boozer remained with the
> station until he was released in 1991 after a negative
> incident that cost him his job.
It was still owned by EZ Communications at this time. The thought was EZ was more of a "Beautiful Music" handle and no longer fit the station's format.
> After Boozer was fired, Mix 104.7 started to slip in the
> ratings due to increased competition from 2 other ACs in the
> market-Sunny 107.9/WBT-FM (later WWSN) and EZ-102.9/WEZC
> (which became Lite 102.9/WLYT in 1994, more on them in a
> bit). The station entered into a LMA in 1992 with
> CHR/Rhythmic WCKZ/Kiss 102 that was short-lived. After
> ownership rules were changed in 1993 where 2 AMs and 2 FMs
> could be owned by the same company, the station was acquired
> by WSOC (which I believe was still owned by Cox at that
> time) and moved into the same studios with WSOC along 1-77
> south of downtown Charlotte.
Actually it was the other way around, EZ Communications aquired WSOC-FM as part of a swap involving Cox getting ownership of WHQT Hot 105.1 in Miami in the trade.
> To get back to Lite 102.9. In 1989, after Mix 104.7 dropped
> the WEZC call letters, WRLX, a then-new 80/90 Docket move-in
> from Hickory, NC on 102.9, changed it's call letters to WEZC
> and adapted the handle EZ-102.9 as a way to capitalize on
> the "heritage" that EZ-104 had. The format was also changed
> from B/EZ to Light AC. in 1994, the station changed it's
> name to Lite 102.9.
True the calls were taken by WRLX (I thought it was 1988 but it could have been 1989 but probably early 1989) the format remained Beautiful Music on WRLX for awhile before the station went Soft A/C. I came in to WEZC 102.9 around 1990. The station was first LMA'd to Trumper in the fall of '92 (owner of what was then WTDR) then sold to Trumper a few months later. We moved in with WTDR around July 1993 in the Cameron Brown building. They first changed the slogan to Lite 102.9 without changing the call letters, the call letters changed to WLYT sometime after I left. What people might forget is at the time Lite moved in with WTDR Jim Schafer was the morning man on WTDR with Liz Luke doing news.
On a personal note by 1994 I was doing afternoon drive but I decided I'd had enough and got out of radio. In fact I left Charlotte for South Florida. The funny thing is my replacement John Miles came from South Florida! When I returned to Charlotte 3 years later he had just left the station.
Today I have the pleasure of working weekends at K-104.7 with good folks like Holly Haze, Tom Jeffries, Scarlett C. and T. Edward Benson.
Mike
R
RobynWatts
Guest
> > Wow. that was informative!!! Thanks Robyn. However, I have
> been there since 1999 and no one was fired in Oct of 2003.
> Dallas Reese was the first to go on his own terms. Samantha
> Stone, Sander Walker, Regular Joe were released from their
> contracts. Scarlet C came in in the later part of the summer
> 2003. The on air staff was then Tom Jeffries, Scarlet, T
> Edward and myself. We did indeed go all Christmas on Oct 31,
> 2003, but no one was fired. All 4 of us came back on the air
> after the New K 104.7 came on the air.
>
And thank you for the correction, Holly. It's good to see that 104.7 has made a dramatic comeback in the last 2 years.
Robyn
<P ID="signature">______________
"They say you better listen to the voice of reason. But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think it's treason." Elvis Costello "Radio Radio"</P>
> been there since 1999 and no one was fired in Oct of 2003.
> Dallas Reese was the first to go on his own terms. Samantha
> Stone, Sander Walker, Regular Joe were released from their
> contracts. Scarlet C came in in the later part of the summer
> 2003. The on air staff was then Tom Jeffries, Scarlet, T
> Edward and myself. We did indeed go all Christmas on Oct 31,
> 2003, but no one was fired. All 4 of us came back on the air
> after the New K 104.7 came on the air.
>
And thank you for the correction, Holly. It's good to see that 104.7 has made a dramatic comeback in the last 2 years.
Robyn
<P ID="signature">______________
"They say you better listen to the voice of reason. But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think it's treason." Elvis Costello "Radio Radio"</P>
R
RobynWatts
Guest
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the corrections & additional information. That's what happens when you try to remember who owned what & when over a decade ago, you start to forget certain crucial details.
Since were on the subject, could you answer a few more questions:
1): Was EZ-104 the first AC on FM in the market? I think WBT was AC by the early 80s, but of course they were on AM and they were slowly phasing out the music shows for more Talk-oriented programs over the decade (the last one, I believe, was the "Sunday Night Hall Of Fame" and it was gone by 1991)
2): I've should have know about the Cox-EZ Communications swap! One of the rumors at the time was that since Hot 105 in Miami was having some serious ratings problems, they were planning to flip from CHRuban to Country and take on WKIS once the swap took place. Most of the airstaff from WSOC was going to Miami to launch the station's new format. As we all know, that never took place as Hot flipped to Urban AC shortly before the station swap and they went to #1 12+ in their first book under the new format. After that, the rumors were put to rest and WHQT was left untouched and remains Urban AC to this very day.
Have you heard of anything like that? A friend of mine that was working in Miami at the time was swearing that that was the plan for WHQT, even though it sounded like pure BS at the time (and it still does even by today's standards).
Thanks,
Robyn
<P ID="signature">______________
"They say you better listen to the voice of reason. But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think it's treason." Elvis Costello "Radio Radio"</P>
Thanks for the corrections & additional information. That's what happens when you try to remember who owned what & when over a decade ago, you start to forget certain crucial details.
Since were on the subject, could you answer a few more questions:
1): Was EZ-104 the first AC on FM in the market? I think WBT was AC by the early 80s, but of course they were on AM and they were slowly phasing out the music shows for more Talk-oriented programs over the decade (the last one, I believe, was the "Sunday Night Hall Of Fame" and it was gone by 1991)
2): I've should have know about the Cox-EZ Communications swap! One of the rumors at the time was that since Hot 105 in Miami was having some serious ratings problems, they were planning to flip from CHRuban to Country and take on WKIS once the swap took place. Most of the airstaff from WSOC was going to Miami to launch the station's new format. As we all know, that never took place as Hot flipped to Urban AC shortly before the station swap and they went to #1 12+ in their first book under the new format. After that, the rumors were put to rest and WHQT was left untouched and remains Urban AC to this very day.
Have you heard of anything like that? A friend of mine that was working in Miami at the time was swearing that that was the plan for WHQT, even though it sounded like pure BS at the time (and it still does even by today's standards).
Thanks,
Robyn
<P ID="signature">______________
"They say you better listen to the voice of reason. But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think it's treason." Elvis Costello "Radio Radio"</P>
I know that Holly Haze frequents the board here, and has made comments in this thread. It's neat that insiders do indeed visit and post on these boards. I said all of that to say, "Holly, don't take this personally against your employer"...but I am quite amazed that 104.7 has done so well in the ratings since the "Star" days. What's amazing to me is how this has happened. PERSONALLY, naming a station these days like "K 104.7" seems so bland and simply not an attention-grabbing name. Taking one letter(commonly a K, Q, or Z) from the callsign and sticking in front of the dial position was the big thing to do twenty years ago. Then there's K104.7's music...when one factors in how AC-type music has evolved over the past twenty years, is today's K104.7 that different from EZ-104 during the Chuck Boozer era in the mid 80s? I guess the reason that K-104.7 is working today is the reason I'm not a consultant
I apparently don't really know what listeners like...but just making my personal observations here. Again, Holly, don't take my post personally--just my simple-minded opinion.
Mike and Robyn--enjoyed the history of 102.9 and 104.7. It is my thinking that 102.9 "moved" from Hickory to Charlotte in 1988. I was working at the old AM 1000, WSPF in Hickory and it went dark on Dec 31, 1988. I believe WHKY had sold their FM(102.9) earlier that same year. Wasn't the B/EZ music on WRLX 102.9 only an interim format until the station got fully up and running in Charlotte--and shifted to Soft AC?
Eric
I apparently don't really know what listeners like...but just making my personal observations here. Again, Holly, don't take my post personally--just my simple-minded opinion. Mike and Robyn--enjoyed the history of 102.9 and 104.7. It is my thinking that 102.9 "moved" from Hickory to Charlotte in 1988. I was working at the old AM 1000, WSPF in Hickory and it went dark on Dec 31, 1988. I believe WHKY had sold their FM(102.9) earlier that same year. Wasn't the B/EZ music on WRLX 102.9 only an interim format until the station got fully up and running in Charlotte--and shifted to Soft AC?
Eric
P
Poppinjay
Guest
Sunday Night Hall of Fame was still on WBT when I left in 1994.
I think WBT-FM (the first time) had an automated AC format briefly after being automated B/EZ and before becoming rock WBCY. That was part of the reasoning to go back to WBT-FM (the second time) not to be confused with the third WBT-FM, 99.3.
WBT-AM, as an AC, managed to roll up a 20 share before EZ came along.
Another aside about EZ communications, all of their stations had the letters EZ in the calls until the company was close to selling out. The format didn't matter. NOLA's CHR is WEZB to this day.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Poppinjay on 02/01/06 08:25 PM.</FONT></P>
I think WBT-FM (the first time) had an automated AC format briefly after being automated B/EZ and before becoming rock WBCY. That was part of the reasoning to go back to WBT-FM (the second time) not to be confused with the third WBT-FM, 99.3.
WBT-AM, as an AC, managed to roll up a 20 share before EZ came along.
Another aside about EZ communications, all of their stations had the letters EZ in the calls until the company was close to selling out. The format didn't matter. NOLA's CHR is WEZB to this day.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Poppinjay on 02/01/06 08:25 PM.</FONT></P>
M
mike704
Guest
Hi Robyn
Glad you didn't mind some of the corrections. For some reason this trivia seems to be locked into my brain. I'm a true radio lover!
> Thanks for the corrections & additional information. That's
> what happens when you try to remember who owned what & when
> over a decade ago, you start to forget certain crucial
> details.
Don't feel bad I really had a hard time trying to figure out some of the dates.
> Since were on the subject, could you answer a few more
> questions:
>
> 1): Was EZ-104 the first AC on FM in the market? I think WBT
> was AC by the early 80s, but of course they were on AM and
> they were slowly phasing out the music shows for more
> Talk-oriented programs over the decade (the last one, I
> believe, was the "Sunday Night Hall Of Fame" and it was gone
> by 1991)
Surprise! The answer is no. When I got here in 1981 there was A/C on FM from 96.9 WLVV in Statesville. They were doing it from Statesville so I don't know if it actually qualifies but they had a good signal and they were marketing the station to Charlotte. Now of course the station is known as Kat Country.
You are correct about WBT. The station played music longer than just about any big stick AM. I worked there weekends from '85-'90 and had a blast. It was fun having listeners from Motreal to Miami!
> 2): I've should have know about the Cox-EZ Communications
> swap! One of the rumors at the time was that since Hot 105
> in Miami was having some serious ratings problems, they were
> planning to flip from CHRuban to Country and take on WKIS
> once the swap took place. Most of the airstaff from WSOC was
> going to Miami to launch the station's new format. As we all
> know, that never took place as Hot flipped to Urban AC
> shortly before the station swap and they went to #1 12+ in
> their first book under the new format. After that, the
> rumors were put to rest and WHQT was left untouched and
> remains Urban AC to this very day.
Good story but not one that I ever heard. I doubt it's true only for the simple fact that Cox also took their FM in Dayton Country and I don't think any of the WSOC folks were a part of it. Cox wasn't really big on the Country format until WSOC-FM became popular. I do know for a fact that WSOC-FM would have gone "Mellow Rock" if the Country format hadn't taken off like it had. Country was a hard sell at one time. I remember one of the sales guys who loved the station worked very hard to get one of the major banks as a client.
Mike
Glad you didn't mind some of the corrections. For some reason this trivia seems to be locked into my brain. I'm a true radio lover!
> Thanks for the corrections & additional information. That's
> what happens when you try to remember who owned what & when
> over a decade ago, you start to forget certain crucial
> details.
Don't feel bad I really had a hard time trying to figure out some of the dates.
> Since were on the subject, could you answer a few more
> questions:
>
> 1): Was EZ-104 the first AC on FM in the market? I think WBT
> was AC by the early 80s, but of course they were on AM and
> they were slowly phasing out the music shows for more
> Talk-oriented programs over the decade (the last one, I
> believe, was the "Sunday Night Hall Of Fame" and it was gone
> by 1991)
Surprise! The answer is no. When I got here in 1981 there was A/C on FM from 96.9 WLVV in Statesville. They were doing it from Statesville so I don't know if it actually qualifies but they had a good signal and they were marketing the station to Charlotte. Now of course the station is known as Kat Country.
You are correct about WBT. The station played music longer than just about any big stick AM. I worked there weekends from '85-'90 and had a blast. It was fun having listeners from Motreal to Miami!
> 2): I've should have know about the Cox-EZ Communications
> swap! One of the rumors at the time was that since Hot 105
> in Miami was having some serious ratings problems, they were
> planning to flip from CHRuban to Country and take on WKIS
> once the swap took place. Most of the airstaff from WSOC was
> going to Miami to launch the station's new format. As we all
> know, that never took place as Hot flipped to Urban AC
> shortly before the station swap and they went to #1 12+ in
> their first book under the new format. After that, the
> rumors were put to rest and WHQT was left untouched and
> remains Urban AC to this very day.
Good story but not one that I ever heard. I doubt it's true only for the simple fact that Cox also took their FM in Dayton Country and I don't think any of the WSOC folks were a part of it. Cox wasn't really big on the Country format until WSOC-FM became popular. I do know for a fact that WSOC-FM would have gone "Mellow Rock" if the Country format hadn't taken off like it had. Country was a hard sell at one time. I remember one of the sales guys who loved the station worked very hard to get one of the major banks as a client.
Mike
M
mike704
Guest
I don't think that anyone would take offense to you comments about K-104.7 since you stated them very well.
There is a Yahoo group for South Florida radio veterans and what I have learned from the experts there is the people filling out ratings books for the most part do not fill out call letters or slogans, they fill out dial positions 104.7, 107.9, 102.9. I never knew that!
The term "Lite" can sometimes be a negitive but it seems to be working okay for them. The fnny thing is when I left we were saying "Lite Rock" and when I returned to Charlotte the "Rock" was gone!
> Mike and Robyn--enjoyed the history of 102.9 and 104.7. It
> is my thinking that 102.9 "moved" from Hickory to Charlotte
> in 1988. I was working at the old AM 1000, WSPF in Hickory
> and it went dark on Dec 31, 1988. I believe WHKY had sold
> their FM(102.9) earlier that same year. Wasn't the B/EZ
> music on WRLX 102.9 only an interim format until the station
> got fully up and running in Charlotte--and shifted to Soft
> AC?
Yes it was WHKY-FM prior to WRLX. It was sold to Keymarket. No the B/EZ format was done here in Charlotte. I had a chance to see the station when they were building the studios. When I came to work there a couple of years later the reel to reel decks for the B/EZ format were still in the studio.
102.9 was one of the last stations to get CD players for on air. All the music was on cart. The CD players didn't come till we got over to the Cameron Brown Building with WTDR.
Ah now it's all in the computer. My how things have changed!
Mike
There is a Yahoo group for South Florida radio veterans and what I have learned from the experts there is the people filling out ratings books for the most part do not fill out call letters or slogans, they fill out dial positions 104.7, 107.9, 102.9. I never knew that!
The term "Lite" can sometimes be a negitive but it seems to be working okay for them. The fnny thing is when I left we were saying "Lite Rock" and when I returned to Charlotte the "Rock" was gone!
> Mike and Robyn--enjoyed the history of 102.9 and 104.7. It
> is my thinking that 102.9 "moved" from Hickory to Charlotte
> in 1988. I was working at the old AM 1000, WSPF in Hickory
> and it went dark on Dec 31, 1988. I believe WHKY had sold
> their FM(102.9) earlier that same year. Wasn't the B/EZ
> music on WRLX 102.9 only an interim format until the station
> got fully up and running in Charlotte--and shifted to Soft
> AC?
Yes it was WHKY-FM prior to WRLX. It was sold to Keymarket. No the B/EZ format was done here in Charlotte. I had a chance to see the station when they were building the studios. When I came to work there a couple of years later the reel to reel decks for the B/EZ format were still in the studio.
102.9 was one of the last stations to get CD players for on air. All the music was on cart. The CD players didn't come till we got over to the Cameron Brown Building with WTDR.
Ah now it's all in the computer. My how things have changed!
Mike
Wow! What an interesting thread on the subject here, great history tidbits and good reading. Back to an original query in the first post, WRCH in Hartford and K-104 sounding alike, is probably because they are both consulted by the best A/C consultant in the biz, Gary Berkowitz, he knows how to make the music work.
Thanks to all who have posted all the historic info on K-104!
Kahuna
www.thatwasradio.com
> I don't think that anyone would take offense to you comments
> about K-104.7 since you stated them very well.
>
> There is a Yahoo group for South Florida radio veterans and
> what I have learned from the experts there is the people
> filling out ratings books for the most part do not fill out
> call letters or slogans, they fill out dial positions 104.7,
> 107.9, 102.9. I never knew that!
>
> The term "Lite" can sometimes be a negitive but it seems to
> be working okay for them. The fnny thing is when I left we
> were saying "Lite Rock" and when I returned to Charlotte the
> "Rock" was gone!
>
>
> > Mike and Robyn--enjoyed the history of 102.9 and 104.7. It
>
> > is my thinking that 102.9 "moved" from Hickory to
> Charlotte
> > in 1988. I was working at the old AM 1000, WSPF in Hickory
>
> > and it went dark on Dec 31, 1988. I believe WHKY had sold
> > their FM(102.9) earlier that same year. Wasn't the B/EZ
> > music on WRLX 102.9 only an interim format until the
> station
> > got fully up and running in Charlotte--and shifted to Soft
>
> > AC?
>
> Yes it was WHKY-FM prior to WRLX. It was sold to Keymarket.
> No the B/EZ format was done here in Charlotte. I had a
> chance to see the station when they were building the
> studios. When I came to work there a couple of years later
> the reel to reel decks for the B/EZ format were still in the
> studio.
>
> 102.9 was one of the last stations to get CD players for on
> air. All the music was on cart. The CD players didn't come
> till we got over to the Cameron Brown Building with WTDR.
>
> Ah now it's all in the computer. My how things have
> changed!
>
> Mike
>
Thanks to all who have posted all the historic info on K-104!
Kahuna
www.thatwasradio.com
> I don't think that anyone would take offense to you comments
> about K-104.7 since you stated them very well.
>
> There is a Yahoo group for South Florida radio veterans and
> what I have learned from the experts there is the people
> filling out ratings books for the most part do not fill out
> call letters or slogans, they fill out dial positions 104.7,
> 107.9, 102.9. I never knew that!
>
> The term "Lite" can sometimes be a negitive but it seems to
> be working okay for them. The fnny thing is when I left we
> were saying "Lite Rock" and when I returned to Charlotte the
> "Rock" was gone!
>
>
> > Mike and Robyn--enjoyed the history of 102.9 and 104.7. It
>
> > is my thinking that 102.9 "moved" from Hickory to
> Charlotte
> > in 1988. I was working at the old AM 1000, WSPF in Hickory
>
> > and it went dark on Dec 31, 1988. I believe WHKY had sold
> > their FM(102.9) earlier that same year. Wasn't the B/EZ
> > music on WRLX 102.9 only an interim format until the
> station
> > got fully up and running in Charlotte--and shifted to Soft
>
> > AC?
>
> Yes it was WHKY-FM prior to WRLX. It was sold to Keymarket.
> No the B/EZ format was done here in Charlotte. I had a
> chance to see the station when they were building the
> studios. When I came to work there a couple of years later
> the reel to reel decks for the B/EZ format were still in the
> studio.
>
> 102.9 was one of the last stations to get CD players for on
> air. All the music was on cart. The CD players didn't come
> till we got over to the Cameron Brown Building with WTDR.
>
> Ah now it's all in the computer. My how things have
> changed!
>
> Mike
>
> No offense taken at all. As jocks we too wonder what makes it tick. Since K started with the new name, we have done nothing differently, yet we have great ratings at times, and not so great at others. There is no rhyme or reason half the time. The jocks also realize that there is a small library of music and a short rotation as well. I could name over 100 songs that I personally would love to add, but as someone stated, Berkowitz is in charge of that department. The hard part is making it all sound new and good every time we crack the mic.(especially challenging during Christmas time ). So thanks to all who add input on here. I wish all the higher ups read this so they could hear from you, the people.....but I guess they think "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I would also like to add that I have worked for several Charlotte stations, and K is by far the most laid back (minus the Fox before CC bought them out).
HH
). So thanks to all who add input on here. I wish all the higher ups read this so they could hear from you, the people.....but I guess they think "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I would also like to add that I have worked for several Charlotte stations, and K is by far the most laid back (minus the Fox before CC bought them out).HH
> I think WBT-FM (the first time) had an automated AC format
> briefly after being automated B/EZ and before becoming rock
> WBCY.
WPEG (97.9) in Concord went to gold-based A/C in 1975, and was marketing in Charlotte by the end of the decade. I think you'll find this was the first AC on FM in the Charlotte Market which showed any success.
Matt Smith, Station Manager
WGSR-TV "Star-39"
Reidsville, NC
> briefly after being automated B/EZ and before becoming rock
> WBCY.
WPEG (97.9) in Concord went to gold-based A/C in 1975, and was marketing in Charlotte by the end of the decade. I think you'll find this was the first AC on FM in the Charlotte Market which showed any success.
Matt Smith, Station Manager
WGSR-TV "Star-39"
Reidsville, NC
WPEG - Suburban Radio Group
This could potentially-and maybe should-start a whole new thread on Suburban Radio Group. Back in the 80s and early 90s I worked at WSVM in Valdese and many of you know it was a Suburban station--as was WEGO/WPEG and the station in Belmont. Remember those shifts when there was a race or ball game and you felt like "prowling" for station artifacts? I ran across those LARGE carts with time checks for automation--there were two(Odd and Even times, you'll remember) for WPEG and two for WEGO. I listened to a few and found them to be "customized"--until that time I had only heard "generic" time checks on automated stations.
The WEGO time checks had Bob Kingsley's voice--indicating the package came from Drake-Chenault--and that WEGO was country. I do not remember the voice on the WPEG time checks, but I remember it referencing "FM 98, WPEG". I assumed the station had been Beautiful Music given the various references on each time check cut. So, Matt, would these carts have been used with the gold-based AC format you've referenced?
Eric
This could potentially-and maybe should-start a whole new thread on Suburban Radio Group. Back in the 80s and early 90s I worked at WSVM in Valdese and many of you know it was a Suburban station--as was WEGO/WPEG and the station in Belmont. Remember those shifts when there was a race or ball game and you felt like "prowling" for station artifacts? I ran across those LARGE carts with time checks for automation--there were two(Odd and Even times, you'll remember) for WPEG and two for WEGO. I listened to a few and found them to be "customized"--until that time I had only heard "generic" time checks on automated stations.
The WEGO time checks had Bob Kingsley's voice--indicating the package came from Drake-Chenault--and that WEGO was country. I do not remember the voice on the WPEG time checks, but I remember it referencing "FM 98, WPEG". I assumed the station had been Beautiful Music given the various references on each time check cut. So, Matt, would these carts have been used with the gold-based AC format you've referenced?
Eric
Re: WPEG - Suburban Radio Group
Great flashback stuff Eric! The big thing I remember is the old Suburban Radio Group jingle that sang "SRG" over and over for what seemed like several minutes but was probably just :60 seconds, it was at midnight every night with a voice over in the doughnut, I have it on an aircheck somewhere in storage, but I doubt I'll have time to dig it out within the next year, gosh I would love to hear it again!
Kahuna
www.thatwasradio.com
> This could potentially-and maybe should-start a whole new
> thread on Suburban Radio Group. Back in the 80s and early
> 90s I worked at WSVM in Valdese and many of you know it was
> a Suburban station--as was WEGO/WPEG and the station in
> Belmont. Remember those shifts when there was a race or ball
> game and you felt like "prowling" for station artifacts? I
> ran across those LARGE carts with time checks for
> automation--there were two(Odd and Even times, you'll
> remember) for WPEG and two for WEGO. I listened to a few and
> found them to be "customized"--until that time I had only
> heard "generic" time checks on automated stations.
> The WEGO time checks had Bob Kingsley's voice--indicating
> the package came from Drake-Chenault--and that WEGO was
> country. I do not remember the voice on the WPEG time
> checks, but I remember it referencing "FM 98, WPEG". I
> assumed the station had been Beautiful Music given the
> various references on each time check cut. So, Matt, would
> these carts have been used with the gold-based AC format
> you've referenced?
>
> Eric
>
Great flashback stuff Eric! The big thing I remember is the old Suburban Radio Group jingle that sang "SRG" over and over for what seemed like several minutes but was probably just :60 seconds, it was at midnight every night with a voice over in the doughnut, I have it on an aircheck somewhere in storage, but I doubt I'll have time to dig it out within the next year, gosh I would love to hear it again!
Kahuna
www.thatwasradio.com
> This could potentially-and maybe should-start a whole new
> thread on Suburban Radio Group. Back in the 80s and early
> 90s I worked at WSVM in Valdese and many of you know it was
> a Suburban station--as was WEGO/WPEG and the station in
> Belmont. Remember those shifts when there was a race or ball
> game and you felt like "prowling" for station artifacts? I
> ran across those LARGE carts with time checks for
> automation--there were two(Odd and Even times, you'll
> remember) for WPEG and two for WEGO. I listened to a few and
> found them to be "customized"--until that time I had only
> heard "generic" time checks on automated stations.
> The WEGO time checks had Bob Kingsley's voice--indicating
> the package came from Drake-Chenault--and that WEGO was
> country. I do not remember the voice on the WPEG time
> checks, but I remember it referencing "FM 98, WPEG". I
> assumed the station had been Beautiful Music given the
> various references on each time check cut. So, Matt, would
> these carts have been used with the gold-based AC format
> you've referenced?
>
> Eric
>
Re: WPEG - Suburban Radio Group
> So, Matt, would these carts have been used with the
> gold-based AC format you've referenced?
Indeed they were...the voice on the WPEG carts was (I think) Don Steele. It's interesting that you found those carts at WSVM. I know that WPEG's original automation system, named "Otto" by the staff, was stored for a long time at WGCG in Belmont...with the ReVox tape decks from the system removed and I assume used at one or more of the SRG stations.
WPEG used those for about two years, WEGO never used their customized time-checks that I remember. About 1977-78, both stations went to generic time-checks, supposedly because Suburban was going to automate all of their stations and wanted to make one or two sets of time checks usable on all of their stations. Later, they dropped them all together explaining that their consultants thought constantly airing the time might remind listeners of things they needed to do that "might" result in their turning off the radio.
As far as I know, Suburban never used any other automation service than Drake-Chenault. The WPEG format was called "Solid Gold" at first, then after a few years they switched to "Contempo 300". In 1979, they changed formats to "DC-Disco" and then to "SuperSoul" in 1981. They stayed with that one until Suburban sold the station in the late 80's/early 90's.
The Drake Solid Gold and Contempo music reels were still in existence, and being used by WEGO in a live-assist format until Suburban sold that station to George Buck a few years back.
WPEG/WEGO and their eclectic station manager of the time, Charlie Hicks, are a gold mine of old radio stories.
Matt Smith, Station Manager
WGSR-TV "Star-39"
Reidsville, NC
"Don't blame me...I worked for WRKB."
> So, Matt, would these carts have been used with the
> gold-based AC format you've referenced?
Indeed they were...the voice on the WPEG carts was (I think) Don Steele. It's interesting that you found those carts at WSVM. I know that WPEG's original automation system, named "Otto" by the staff, was stored for a long time at WGCG in Belmont...with the ReVox tape decks from the system removed and I assume used at one or more of the SRG stations.
WPEG used those for about two years, WEGO never used their customized time-checks that I remember. About 1977-78, both stations went to generic time-checks, supposedly because Suburban was going to automate all of their stations and wanted to make one or two sets of time checks usable on all of their stations. Later, they dropped them all together explaining that their consultants thought constantly airing the time might remind listeners of things they needed to do that "might" result in their turning off the radio.
As far as I know, Suburban never used any other automation service than Drake-Chenault. The WPEG format was called "Solid Gold" at first, then after a few years they switched to "Contempo 300". In 1979, they changed formats to "DC-Disco" and then to "SuperSoul" in 1981. They stayed with that one until Suburban sold the station in the late 80's/early 90's.
The Drake Solid Gold and Contempo music reels were still in existence, and being used by WEGO in a live-assist format until Suburban sold that station to George Buck a few years back.
WPEG/WEGO and their eclectic station manager of the time, Charlie Hicks, are a gold mine of old radio stories.
Matt Smith, Station Manager
WGSR-TV "Star-39"
Reidsville, NC
"Don't blame me...I worked for WRKB."
Re: WPEG - Suburban Radio Group
> Great flashback stuff Eric! The big thing I remember is the
> old Suburban Radio Group jingle that sang "SRG" over and
> over for what seemed like several minutes but was probably
> just :60 seconds
At WSVM, I also ran across something KIND of similar: A "WSVM, Valdese" ID with a singing "NCAB"(NC Assoc of Broadcasters) jingle. I never ran across any SRG jingles as you described. They were probably, or HAD been there and taken as souvenirs over the years
> Great flashback stuff Eric! The big thing I remember is the
> old Suburban Radio Group jingle that sang "SRG" over and
> over for what seemed like several minutes but was probably
> just :60 seconds
At WSVM, I also ran across something KIND of similar: A "WSVM, Valdese" ID with a singing "NCAB"(NC Assoc of Broadcasters) jingle. I never ran across any SRG jingles as you described. They were probably, or HAD been there and taken as souvenirs over the years
> Yes Dallas is now Music Director and afternoon drive in Raliegh and I couldn't be happier for him!!! He and the wife had baby #4 a few weeks ago, so he deserves this gig. Since we worked together at the FOX years ago, we have always remained friends and I go visit the Reese family often.
HH
>
HH
>
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