does anyone know the history of wnci back when it was known as stereo 98? was stereo 98 a top-40 radio station back in the late 1960s though the '70s. any promos and jingles from that era?
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- Thread starter ohstuskaterpunk
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WNCI started broadcasting with a classical music format in July of 1961 as WRFD-FM, sharing studios with AM sibling WRFD, east of Powell, Ohio. In 1972, WNCI moved to the sixth floor of the new Scot's Inn, at 4900 Sinclair Road. I think that was about the same time Nationwide Insurance bought the station. WNCI was Top 40 station by defanition but as i remember they actually had a really tight playlist unlike WCOL which at the time was playing a really wide variety.
At the time i also remember they had some really great talent, Michael O'Malley in the morning, (John Corby was part of that morning show in the early 80's. Mike Metsger mid-day, Bob Nunnally (Big Bob as he was known on the air then did afternoons, in the late 70's Terry Tyler evenings and John L (John Lane, was overnight he later went on to WTVN for many years in the mid day spot
i also remember they had a news department that had "98second news updates" hourly all day long.
just some things i remember growing up with that station
At the time i also remember they had some really great talent, Michael O'Malley in the morning, (John Corby was part of that morning show in the early 80's. Mike Metsger mid-day, Bob Nunnally (Big Bob as he was known on the air then did afternoons, in the late 70's Terry Tyler evenings and John L (John Lane, was overnight he later went on to WTVN for many years in the mid day spot
i also remember they had a news department that had "98second news updates" hourly all day long.
just some things i remember growing up with that station
WNCI became a Top 40 in 1970, give or take a year. That's the same time (or about the same time) they switched from mono to stereo and took on the moniker Stereo 98, with a logo that incorporated the Peace Dove. They were not a tight-listed station back then. To the contrary, they had an even longer and broader list than then-kingpin WCOL-AM, whose list was laready considered long by early 70's standards. Instead of a Top 40 (plus some "hitbounds") like COL, NCI had the "Hot Half Hundred"of 50 songs, plus a lot of extras. Their evenings were devoted to "progressive rock" album cuts, via "E. Karl's Incredible Progressive Rock Circus".
In mid-1975, under the direction of consultant Bartell Media, NCI did a major flip-flop to a super-tight list. That's when Michael O'Malley came in for mornings, and Steve Edwards (who has been the voice of Jeg's "forever") came in for afternoons. They also cut the spotload. This new approach quickly wiped COL-AM off the map, a number of years before the big AM Top 40's in other markets had to concede the format to FM.
I think Terry Tyler (formerly of NCI) joined a year or two later. He was good. As for John L, I always get confused here...I know there was a John L on the '70-'75 NCI, and maybe even later, but I'm not sure whether it's the same John Lane who was later on 'TVN.
Back with an edit: O'Malley may have actually started a little before the 1975 tightening at NCI. Before O'Malley it was Charlie Pickard, whose voice should be very familiar because of the huge number of TV and radio voiceovers he's done in the past 30 years. If you don't know the name, listen to some samples on the link below and you'll probably recognize the voice. His laid-back style was very characteristic of NCI's pre-1975 "progressive" approach to Top 40.
http://hearvoices.com/charlie-pickard.html
In mid-1975, under the direction of consultant Bartell Media, NCI did a major flip-flop to a super-tight list. That's when Michael O'Malley came in for mornings, and Steve Edwards (who has been the voice of Jeg's "forever") came in for afternoons. They also cut the spotload. This new approach quickly wiped COL-AM off the map, a number of years before the big AM Top 40's in other markets had to concede the format to FM.
I think Terry Tyler (formerly of NCI) joined a year or two later. He was good. As for John L, I always get confused here...I know there was a John L on the '70-'75 NCI, and maybe even later, but I'm not sure whether it's the same John Lane who was later on 'TVN.
Back with an edit: O'Malley may have actually started a little before the 1975 tightening at NCI. Before O'Malley it was Charlie Pickard, whose voice should be very familiar because of the huge number of TV and radio voiceovers he's done in the past 30 years. If you don't know the name, listen to some samples on the link below and you'll probably recognize the voice. His laid-back style was very characteristic of NCI's pre-1975 "progressive" approach to Top 40.
http://hearvoices.com/charlie-pickard.html
looking for promos, jingles, and airchecks from wnci's Stereo 98 days.
chad, how did you get your copy of the wnci aircheck from aircheck factory? can you send it to me via email?
[email protected]
[email protected]
I think the website is http://www.theaircheckfactory.com. I got my copy when he was only offering cassettes, but now you can get it on CD.
As far as I know, Nationwide owned the station from its inception around 1961 as WRFD-FM and the flip to WNCI and Top 40 came in 1971. As the previous posters, the format of WNCI pre-1975 was very loose and included a broad playlist and a fair amount of album cuts. As of the fall of 1971 they were still broadcasting from the WRFD studios on Powell Road in Worthington (also the transmitter site until 1976 when they moved the stick downtown). The move to Scotts Inn (later Carousel) happened sometime before August on '72.
I think Tyler came over from WCOL and O'malley from WRFD sometime early in '75 shortly before the consultants were called in and put a "Q" format in place. E Karl and Dave Anthony had both been there since at least '72 and made the cut as well. Karl was named PD.
I think Tyler came over from WCOL and O'malley from WRFD sometime early in '75 shortly before the consultants were called in and put a "Q" format in place. E Karl and Dave Anthony had both been there since at least '72 and made the cut as well. Karl was named PD.
SonoSational18 said:
I really think the flip to Top 40 was a bit earlier -- at least 1970. But I guess 69 vs. 70 vs. 71 doesn't make much difference. However, I believe that WRFD-FM changed calls to WNCI when they switched from their original Classical format to the CBS-Syndicated "The Young Sound." So they were already WNCI when they moved on from "The Young Sound" to locally-produced Top 40.
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