Just to clarify, the sign-off is midnight Monday night/Tuesday morning. Jack will be broadcasting live from MS Blood Services on Monday, according to their Facebook page.
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Since Jack and Rock 93.9's days appear to be numbered...
- Thread starter the golden boy
- Start date
Here is the whole story on the Clarion Ledger
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120114/NEWS01/201140333/Radio-stations-flip-Christian-format?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120114/NEWS01/201140333/Radio-stations-flip-Christian-format?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
flytrap said:Since K-Love and Air 1 are piped in from satelite, will there be anyone working in the building anymore?
There won't even be a building anymore, let alone anyone in it. The public files for the two stations will likely be kept at the public libraries of their respective communities of license, and the stations will be run from a computer at the transmitter site that just fires the legal ID on cue.
Who will be minding the store? Just an engineer?
Since there's no store to mind, they don't really need anyone. I believe they use contract engineers as necessary when problems arise.
If you're willing to spend the money (and they are) an operation like this can be run easily from a remote location.
JBI is correct ... on another thread I detailed what I knew about the WWHO days ... located at the NE corner of Terry Road at Elton Rd ... it went dark by 1970... I was involved with the group that put 94.7 back on the air as WKXI Aug 10 1971. Studio moved to 2662 Bailey Ave about 1976, though the xmtr stayed at the old site until the 80s when studio and xmtr relocated to Beasley Rd.
Went back and looked it up ... on page 14, thread captioned "WBAD (and maybe some insights on WKXI and other things)," last comment on it filed May 4, 2010.
Was 94.7 ever affiliated with WRBC? For a while WRBC 1300 was known as "The Adult Entertainer" and had a mostly jockless AC format if I remember correctly. around '78 KXI moved from 94.7 to 1300, while the old WKXI FM changed the call letters to WTYX and put in an automated AC format. So I always thought that the early WTYX was actually a frequency swap with WRBC but with new call letters, since WKXI AM and WTYX were in the same building in the 80's. Was WRBC ever in the same building with 94.7? WTYX didn't add live jocks and start playing top 40 until the early 80's. The original early automated WTYX was pretty awful. Sometimes with dead air, annoying canned voices. With someone saying "We don't Talk about it, we play it" It really wasn't until Scott Mateer, Jim Chick, Roscoe on the Radio, and others were added that the station hit its stride.
94.7 WKXI was originally owned by me,, my bro-in-law Cliff Thomas, and his brother Ed Thomas, from 1971-78, dba TAB (Thomas And Bowab) Bcstg, studio at 2662 Bailey Ave, xmtr on Terry Rd (old WWHO site). Bob O'Brien came into the deal 5 years later.
WRBC 1300 studio/xmtr on North State St, owned by Rebel Bcstg (the Wright family, local soft drink bottler, and McCarty family, owners of Jitney Jungle). WRBC had gone from successful Top 40 to NBC's NIS all-news in 1975... that project failed, so RBC then went with automated soft-AC syndication, The Entertainers. Things weren't going well, and it became known that McCarty/Wright was ready to sell.
There were two black FMs (us and JMI); no other market in the US had more than one, most had none. We felt 1300 could wipe out 1550 WOKJ (and it did), and 94.7 could fill a great void.
We (TAB) approached them about buying RBC. We recognized the void in FM Top 40, wanted to change 94.7 to that format, but didn't want to give up on our black format at 94.7 ... idea was to move black KXI over to 1300 and free up 94.7 for Top 40. At the same time we were negotiating to acquire 1300, it turns out that the owners of WLOX TV (Love family) Biloxi were looking to acquire a Jackson broadcast property.
The result was that TAB-94.7 acquired 1300, and SIMULTANEOUSLY, WLOX acquired 53% of TAB Broadcasting, owner of a 94.7/1300 combo... in late 1978. We (TAB) went from 100/% of 94.7 to 47% of 94.7/1300. We changed 1300 WRBC to 1300 WKXI ... intended to change WKXI FM calls to WTYX immediately ... but the owner of 1590 AM filed a ridiculous petition with the FCC to deny the call change ... claiming that the calls were too similar to WTIX, and that we were misleading the public into thinking that we were associated with that legendary New Orleans AM station, 180 miles away.
94.7 went ahead with contemporary format, using TM Productions' tape syndicated format called "3000 R Stereo Rock." Used the same automation system that WRBC had purchased for executing The Entertainers format. We called it "94 Tyx" and gave legal ID once hourly as WKXI FM, until the call change was eventually approved.
At the time, WQUE 93.3 New Orleans, and other stations in other markets, were using the TM format and doing quite well. Two years earlier, WQUE was #1 in the market (O'Brien had worked there). Our idea was that it would not hold up against live FM competition, but it would be fine for a while since the FM dial was devoid of top 40 (ZZQ was AoR, WLIN was beautiful music, 96.3 was religious, JMI was black).
I only stayed around a few months after the merger, but kept my part ownership (24%) and went on to build cable TV systems. Jim Chick oversaw the automation system.
In the StereoRock format, each sweep was predictable: played two currents recorded back-to-back on the tape, followed by the titles back-announced on the same tape (canned voice of Johnny Borders, legendary Dallas DJ)... then played one cut off the Recurrent tape, unannounced, then segued into either one or two oldies, unannounced, until the next stop set came up.
Yes, for a year or two, 1300 and 94.7 shared the old WRBC building on North State. Rebel Bcstg owners kept ownership of the building, sold only the license and equipment. I remember them telling us that the property had immense commercial value for future development, and we would eventually have to relocate. The facilities did relocate within a few years, to the Beasley Rd site very close by.
At the time, FCC rules allowed moving an AM station to move 2 miles or less with a minimum of data submission ... believe it was classified as a "minor change" - and the Beasley Rd move was within 2 miles.
I moved back home to Mobile, so I haven't seen the old WRBC building lately, but I know it was still there at least 25 years after the Rebel principals told us they would execute grandiose plans with the property, so valuable bcuz of its frontage on State Street.
94.7 seemed to slowly evolve to live execution ... going live in some dayparts, then back to automation in less critical times. I remember when ZZQ went country, leaving the AoR void, we went AoRish at night with a DJ named Kevin (last name started with a V) ... when the decision was made to pull back on that, and stay true to top 40 around the clock, there were lotsa protests.
Along the way, WQMV 98.7 went from a short tower in Vicksburg to a somewhat taller one a little closer to Jackson ... went up against 94.7 as "Q-99" but it never made any impact.
One other name I recall from about that time was a DJ named Freddy Mertz, probably not his real name, but copied from the next door neighbor in I Love Lucy.
1590 was Top 40 at the time 94 TYX premiered, but as a top-of-the-dial AM, it had no significance. 62 JDX was still very viable, but AM Top 40 days were numbered, and a music-intensive FM would eventually overcome them.
The automation system for 94 Tyx didn't always work well, and I believe that was due to it being in a high RF field, as the 1300 tower was right outside the window.
Interesting aside: my bro-in-law Cliff (now deceased) would many years later be part owner of 93.9 WVIV, the other component of the 93.9/94.7 combo.
WRBC 1300 studio/xmtr on North State St, owned by Rebel Bcstg (the Wright family, local soft drink bottler, and McCarty family, owners of Jitney Jungle). WRBC had gone from successful Top 40 to NBC's NIS all-news in 1975... that project failed, so RBC then went with automated soft-AC syndication, The Entertainers. Things weren't going well, and it became known that McCarty/Wright was ready to sell.
There were two black FMs (us and JMI); no other market in the US had more than one, most had none. We felt 1300 could wipe out 1550 WOKJ (and it did), and 94.7 could fill a great void.
We (TAB) approached them about buying RBC. We recognized the void in FM Top 40, wanted to change 94.7 to that format, but didn't want to give up on our black format at 94.7 ... idea was to move black KXI over to 1300 and free up 94.7 for Top 40. At the same time we were negotiating to acquire 1300, it turns out that the owners of WLOX TV (Love family) Biloxi were looking to acquire a Jackson broadcast property.
The result was that TAB-94.7 acquired 1300, and SIMULTANEOUSLY, WLOX acquired 53% of TAB Broadcasting, owner of a 94.7/1300 combo... in late 1978. We (TAB) went from 100/% of 94.7 to 47% of 94.7/1300. We changed 1300 WRBC to 1300 WKXI ... intended to change WKXI FM calls to WTYX immediately ... but the owner of 1590 AM filed a ridiculous petition with the FCC to deny the call change ... claiming that the calls were too similar to WTIX, and that we were misleading the public into thinking that we were associated with that legendary New Orleans AM station, 180 miles away.
94.7 went ahead with contemporary format, using TM Productions' tape syndicated format called "3000 R Stereo Rock." Used the same automation system that WRBC had purchased for executing The Entertainers format. We called it "94 Tyx" and gave legal ID once hourly as WKXI FM, until the call change was eventually approved.
At the time, WQUE 93.3 New Orleans, and other stations in other markets, were using the TM format and doing quite well. Two years earlier, WQUE was #1 in the market (O'Brien had worked there). Our idea was that it would not hold up against live FM competition, but it would be fine for a while since the FM dial was devoid of top 40 (ZZQ was AoR, WLIN was beautiful music, 96.3 was religious, JMI was black).
I only stayed around a few months after the merger, but kept my part ownership (24%) and went on to build cable TV systems. Jim Chick oversaw the automation system.
In the StereoRock format, each sweep was predictable: played two currents recorded back-to-back on the tape, followed by the titles back-announced on the same tape (canned voice of Johnny Borders, legendary Dallas DJ)... then played one cut off the Recurrent tape, unannounced, then segued into either one or two oldies, unannounced, until the next stop set came up.
Yes, for a year or two, 1300 and 94.7 shared the old WRBC building on North State. Rebel Bcstg owners kept ownership of the building, sold only the license and equipment. I remember them telling us that the property had immense commercial value for future development, and we would eventually have to relocate. The facilities did relocate within a few years, to the Beasley Rd site very close by.
At the time, FCC rules allowed moving an AM station to move 2 miles or less with a minimum of data submission ... believe it was classified as a "minor change" - and the Beasley Rd move was within 2 miles.
I moved back home to Mobile, so I haven't seen the old WRBC building lately, but I know it was still there at least 25 years after the Rebel principals told us they would execute grandiose plans with the property, so valuable bcuz of its frontage on State Street.
94.7 seemed to slowly evolve to live execution ... going live in some dayparts, then back to automation in less critical times. I remember when ZZQ went country, leaving the AoR void, we went AoRish at night with a DJ named Kevin (last name started with a V) ... when the decision was made to pull back on that, and stay true to top 40 around the clock, there were lotsa protests.
Along the way, WQMV 98.7 went from a short tower in Vicksburg to a somewhat taller one a little closer to Jackson ... went up against 94.7 as "Q-99" but it never made any impact.
One other name I recall from about that time was a DJ named Freddy Mertz, probably not his real name, but copied from the next door neighbor in I Love Lucy.
1590 was Top 40 at the time 94 TYX premiered, but as a top-of-the-dial AM, it had no significance. 62 JDX was still very viable, but AM Top 40 days were numbered, and a music-intensive FM would eventually overcome them.
The automation system for 94 Tyx didn't always work well, and I believe that was due to it being in a high RF field, as the 1300 tower was right outside the window.
Interesting aside: my bro-in-law Cliff (now deceased) would many years later be part owner of 93.9 WVIV, the other component of the 93.9/94.7 combo.
Some of you may recognize two other names who were associated with 94 TYX at its 1978 inception: Bill Crews, formerly of WJDX, and Terry Stenzel, who was a jock and good engineer.
And as a post-script: at times WKXI, now on 1300, came out #1 in the ratings, with better numbers than it had gotten as an FM.
And as a post-script: at times WKXI, now on 1300, came out #1 in the ratings, with better numbers than it had gotten as an FM.
Thank you for all of that J Alex. Good read. I was buds (and still am) with one of the Thomas family. Don't want to mention his full name on here but he does audio work. I like to call him "Dr. Feedback." He doesn't seem to enjoy the compliment.
Did Bill Crews go by the name "Cruiser?" I grew up listening to him on JDX. Also I remember Scott Mateer bounced around several times before going to 94TYX. I believe he was on WZZQ the first time I heard him in the late 70's, He had a pretty good show on JDX for a while and I believe he was at WSLI doing the weather for Farmer Jim. He later turned up at Rock 102 as one of its first DJ's but the station burned down not long afterwards. He went to Q-99 for a while and I believe the transmitter also burned. It was after that he went to WTYX. I thought 1590 was WCCL country around the time TYX came out? It was Y-16 top 40 around '76 or '77 so I may be wrong. WCCL 1590 was pretty popular as country until ZZQ became Miss 103. Brock Broulette was there. I remember WCCL was some sort of oldies/classic hits format with album rock at night right after ZZQ went country. I actually enjoyed that format but it didn't last long. It was the closest thing to ZZQ before Rock 102 came on.
Not hard to figure out who Dr Feedback is ... first name initial is "D" - yes? Great friend of mine in years past.
Yes, Cruiser was an alternate name for Bill Crews. A local Jacksonian, one of the Tanner crew at 62 JDX, followed him to Y-100 Miami but didn't stay long.
When 94 TYX kicked off, 1590 was Y-16 at the time... a misadventure of veteran Memphis broadcaster Bill Thomas and a Memphis investor named Fogelman. The 1590 incarnation as WCCL (Country CLub) was Eddie Holladay, wasn't it, and that was just prior to Y-16.
IIRC, it was Y-16 who protested 94.7's call change to WTYX. At the time, FCC rules clearly stated that stations within 35 miles had to be notified of our intent to change calls, but it said nothing about denying the request because the calls were one letter different from a station 180 miles away.
Couple of other names come to mind in what I wrote about up above ... Dudley Evans was GM at 1300 WRBC when the station went to the NBC/NIS all news format ... after its demise, and The Entertainers MoR format came in, RBC still had drive time news blocks. They hired on a GM (Wynn Hott) and a GSM (Ed Linville) who had been at a Wash DC all-news station. One of the RBC news dept staffers was Catherine Johns, who eventually made her way to an on-air position at WLS 890 Chicago.
Yes, Cruiser was an alternate name for Bill Crews. A local Jacksonian, one of the Tanner crew at 62 JDX, followed him to Y-100 Miami but didn't stay long.
When 94 TYX kicked off, 1590 was Y-16 at the time... a misadventure of veteran Memphis broadcaster Bill Thomas and a Memphis investor named Fogelman. The 1590 incarnation as WCCL (Country CLub) was Eddie Holladay, wasn't it, and that was just prior to Y-16.
IIRC, it was Y-16 who protested 94.7's call change to WTYX. At the time, FCC rules clearly stated that stations within 35 miles had to be notified of our intent to change calls, but it said nothing about denying the request because the calls were one letter different from a station 180 miles away.
Couple of other names come to mind in what I wrote about up above ... Dudley Evans was GM at 1300 WRBC when the station went to the NBC/NIS all news format ... after its demise, and The Entertainers MoR format came in, RBC still had drive time news blocks. They hired on a GM (Wynn Hott) and a GSM (Ed Linville) who had been at a Wash DC all-news station. One of the RBC news dept staffers was Catherine Johns, who eventually made her way to an on-air position at WLS 890 Chicago.
J Alex ... when U mentioned Dudley Evans,that makes me remember the woman Mgr. of WSLI, when they
were on I-55 somewhat across from old WJXN, 1st name Cindy, I believe, remember? Do U recall here last name? & current where-abouts ?
were on I-55 somewhat across from old WJXN, 1st name Cindy, I believe, remember? Do U recall here last name? & current where-abouts ?
Sorry don't remember ... that was after my time (I went back to MObile in 1979) ... Dick Voorhis was GM of WSLI in my time.
The PD at JackFM has selected his last song. The song is:
Goodbye from Night Ranger
JackFM is not going to wait until Midnight to sign off. They said on Twitter that they will be bidding farewell at 11PM tonight. Their Facebook page is gone and JackFM fans are sharing their condolances.
Goodbye from Night Ranger
JackFM is not going to wait until Midnight to sign off. They said on Twitter that they will be bidding farewell at 11PM tonight. Their Facebook page is gone and JackFM fans are sharing their condolances.
Thanks, J. Alex, for the lesson. I knew some of those people.
And I knew Henry "Swampwater" McClurg!
Yeas J Alex, we're talking about the same "D".
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