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Radio wars: WJIB vs. Easy 99.1

S

ssetta

It's been awhile since I've done a post like this, but that's because this is the first time in awhile that there's been an opportunity. Let's take a look at these 2 independently owned radio stations WJIB 720/101.3 FM and Easy 99.1. Both of them have a very similar format. WJIB used to focus much more on a lot of music from the 60s and prior, but I feel like that's being phased out, and they've added a lot more modern music, but easy listening. Although they recently added "More Than a Feeling" by Boston, and I don't know if I'd consider that easy listening. But it reaches quite a few areas that 99.1 doesn't. I have trouble getting 99.1 in my apartment and I hardly have any trouble getting 720 (though I did have a bit of trouble getting 740). But I've heard that 720 goes all the way up and down the coast, and that you can even get it on Cape Cod, and up in Maine.

99.1 typically has a pretty big signal, too, and covers a lot of areas, but is weak in a lot of them. And they play a lot of great music, but I have noticed that they have been adding a lot more post-2000 music lately. I'm surprised they still have the 70s and 80s weekends, and I have occasionally heard them throw in a 90s song or two. I feel like it's changed ever since Scott Reiniche left. In fact, someone on the WJIB Facebook group actually made a comment about 99.1, and they stated how they have a handful of people on 99.1, which gets stale after awhile. I don't think they were referring to DJs, but the people who call in and request songs. Whereas WJIB has had people of many types calling in. As sad as it sounds, I wouldn't be surprised if 99.1 was eventually sold to EMF and flipped to K-Love, as I don't think K-Love has a signal down in the area that WPLM primarily covers. However, I still enjoy listening to it, and they still play a lot of upbeat songs from the 90s (and other decades) that do not get played on any other stations.
 
During the day WJIB went from 250 watts on 740 to 5000 watts on 720. Nighttime they went from 5 watts on 740 to something like 250 watts ERP due north and south and to something like 13 watts ERP due west on 720. The signal propagation on 720 is approximately the same as on 740. The frequency change was to allow greater power since other existing stations on this new frequency were more distant from Boston.

On FM WJIB (101.3) is a translater with 250 watts ERP over the Boston metro.. WPLM (99.1) is 50,000 watts ERP over southeast Mass. (Plymouth)

WJIB's adding more music more recent than the 1960's corresponded to a change of ownership in early 2024..
 
The '60s are not being "phased out" of WJIB. There are still a lot of '60s and late '50s "oldies", along with a lot of '70s and some more recently added '80s and '90s.

There isn't quite as much "middle-of-the-road" pop music, crooners, and big bands from the mid/early '50s and 1940s (and even earlier) on WJIB as when Bob Bittner owned it, but there is still a lot of it in rotation (and a Saturday evening specialty show that features it).

EMF/K-Love is heard in parts of WPLM's coverage area on WTKL 91.1 FM North Dartmouth. MA and WLVO 95.5 FM Providence, RI.
 
107.3 also covers some of WPLM's listening area as well.

I am relieved every day that WPLM did not cut the playlist after Scott R. left. Not only have they added the occasional 2000s and even 2010s song, but they seem to be playing some of the better-tested songs more often (while not dropping the "oh wow" songs). I go out of my way to stream them and listen wherever I am.
 


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