Rhythmic oldies is no more in Yakima.

[crainbebo]

After a good 3 1/2 year run, a loyal audience, and R.Dub's Slow Jams weeknights, Townsquare has dumped the format (and my preset) for watered down burnt-to-a-crisp 'MegaHits' Classic Hits to go after their competitor over at 100.9. RIP, Mega. You will be well-missed. And RIP to Yakima's FM dial. It now sucks without the rhythmic oldies. The website has not marked the change except for the playlist, now showing Dire Straits, Eagles and Foreigner.
Oh well, I have a wealth of stations to listen to on the internet.

 

[crainbebo]

Slow Jams with R.Dub was also dumped from 'MegaHits' as they just run an automation jukebox at night. Only way to hear R.Dub in Yakima is to listen to Sunday Night Slow Jams on KFFM. The weeknight version no longer airs over the air.

 

[Jay F]

I agree the music on the new Megahits 99.3 is burnt to a crisp. It is unlistenable to me...although I would consider myself a musicologist type not the typical listener. Normal people probably still get excited over the songs they play. It seems like a weak signal though and I can't envision them being a popular station...no matter what format they try. I would guess Townsquare is aware of this and is just trying to take a little bite out of CHERRY FM.

I started noticing jocks on 99.3 recently. They are definitely not local and I can't get a feel for where they are coming from. It sounds like some type of satellite provider or perhaps it's a feed Townsquare uses for all their classic hits stations?

The one show that identifies itself clearly is "The Night Shift with Craig Allen". I looked it up and it is distributed by Compass media who interestingly also syndicates R Dub's slow jams show. So perhaps Townsquare broke a contract when they dumped Slow Jams and are making up for it by airing another Compass Media show? Then again Townsquare seems to have a close relationship with Compass in general and carries several of their shows nationally.

 

[crainbebo]

I believe Reesha is still doing her morning show albeit playing Dire Straits and The Eagles instead of TLC, SWV and Prince. I've completely switched over to 100.9 (and even KYNR-1490 when I'm in the mood! What a station that is! Yakama Nation owns it, and in 2019, no website and no stream. Last time I listened, I heard an obscure Bruce Hornsby song called 'Across the River,' Toto's 'Pamela,' and a few others mixed in with multiple powwow/Indian chants.) Always felt the old Mega was a niche station, never had that many Facebook likes, but had a small loyal audience. R. Dub used to get a lot of oral expressions from around here as well.
The Night Shift sounds like a ripoff of Tom Kent. Then again, Mike Harvey and Alan Kabel also do similar shows. Before 95.7 Walla Walla went to Hot AC, then Christian, their last Classic Hits format was mostly running Tom Kent's 24/7 feed.

 

[Jay F]

What timing. Today I had an anecdotal encounter involving this station. A friend of mine was playing 99.3 at his home. I asked him what he thought of the format change. He looked at me puzzled and said "What do you mean? They didn't change. I have been listening to Mega for a few years...I like oldies". He seriously had no idea they switched from rhythmic to pop classic hits. He was loving it all from The Romantics "Talking in your Sleep" to TLC "Waterfalls". Everytime they played a song he was like "That's my jam!"

This makes me think Townsquare was smart to keep "Mega" in the name. My friend can't be the only one who didn't notice the change. They can keep their existing base and add new listeners. They did lose me however, once I get over this initial monitoring I will rarely listen again. I already heard those songs enough times to last the rest of my life.