>Dave Van Stone needed something to jump start 97.1 so the Wolf family would stop grumbling. It was really stale musically and more importantly, it was having a tough time with revenue. Deck chairs on the Titanic? It's very hard to make money when you are a cluster of two, a weak signal for 1460 The Fan and 97.1. You need a niche format, because you can't compete otherwise with the big boys in terms of bringing in the cash.
> This appears to be an consultant move I think, There is a
> > Mix 97.1 in Nebraska that is using simular slogan "80s,
> 90s
> > and Now" So I wonder if their consultant directed them to
> go
> > in this direction with the tweaks

either way, I think
> its
> > an improvement...
>
> Seems likely there's a connection. Mix 97.1's consultant is
> Guy Zapoleon, who worked closely with WBNS-AM/FM GM Dave Van
> Stone back when Van Stone was PD of KHMX in Houston -- the
> station that was the first "Mix" Hot AC, back around 1990.
> (It was hugely successful until Jacor bought it along with
> all the rest of the Nationwide stations.) If you look at
> Zapoleon's Hot AC client list on his website (
>
http://www.zapoleon.com ), you'll see several stations using
> either exactly the same slogan as 97.1, or a similar one --
> sure enough including KSRZ Omaha, "Star 104.5, The Most
> Music from the 80s 90s and today" (Of course, tons of Hot
> AC's use similar-sounding slogans.)
>
> In an article on his homepage, one point Zapoleon makes is
> that Hot AC has gotten musically stale, thus helping allow
> Jack-type stations gain a toehold with greater variety and
> freshness. To help make his points, he speaks about the
> early days of both KHMX and WMMO Orlando, the pioneering
> "Rock AC" station created by Cary Pall. BTW, 97.1 PD Jeff
> Ballentine used to program at least one other Mix Hot AC,
> namely WMMX Dayton.
>