WDOK vs. The Wave

[Buckeyes2001]

Does not look like they will be using "fresh". Do they officially re-brand at midnight or during Trappers show Monday?

My guess is at 5:30am with Trapper's show. But who knows. It's all a big set of question marks coming out from One Radio Lane.

If WDOK doesn't take the name tomorrow, they will soon. (It's starting to seem like "New 102" will be the temporary branding, not unlike 92.3 dubbing themselves as "92.3: Cleveland Jammin' Oldies" in the interregnum between "Jam'n 92.3" and "92.3 The Beat.")

And if nothing happens, it will be the ugliest bunch of nothing since the "Death of the Buzzard."

Didn't 97.1 in Columbus do that when they dropped Oldies back in 2001, temporarily call themselves the 'New 97.1' then eventually 'Mix 97.1' when they went hot AC? (Of course, now they are 'The Fan'). Also, I remember WHBC 94.1 back in the early 90s identifying themselves as 'The New 94.1, HBC-FM' before becoming 'Mix 94.1' WLKR 95.3 in Norwalk for a while was known as the 'New 95.3, LKR' back around 2003/2004. Seems that a branding with the word 'New' in it is temporary, perhaps to remind listeners that the station recently changed some things around, whether format or on-air personalities, or otherwise??

 

[rubberchicken]

Didn't 97.1 in Columbus do that when they dropped Oldies back in 2001, temporarily call themselves the 'New 97.1' then eventually 'Mix 97.1' when they went hot AC?

Yes they did. "The New 97.1" and later, "97.1, More Music. More Variety"
2005 is when they became Mix. Same format. They made tweaks every now and then.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Does not look like they will be using "fresh". Do they officially re-brand at midnight or during Trappers show Monday?

My guess is at 5:30am with Trapper's show. But who knows. It's all a big set of question marks coming out from One Radio Lane.

If WDOK doesn't take the name tomorrow, they will soon. (It's starting to seem like "New 102" will be the temporary branding, not unlike 92.3 dubbing themselves as "92.3: Cleveland Jammin' Oldies" in the interregnum between "Jam'n 92.3" and "92.3 The Beat.")

And if nothing happens, it will be the ugliest bunch of nothing since the "Death of the Buzzard."

Didn't 97.1 in Columbus do that when they dropped Oldies back in 2001, temporarily call themselves the 'New 97.1' then eventually 'Mix 97.1' when they went hot AC? (Of course, now they are 'The Fan'). Also, I remember WHBC 94.1 back in the early 90s identifying themselves as 'The New 94.1, HBC-FM' before becoming 'Mix 94.1' WLKR 95.3 in Norwalk for a while was known as the 'New 95.3, LKR' back around 2003/2004. Seems that a branding with the word 'New' in it is temporary, perhaps to remind listeners that the station recently changed some things around, whether format or on-air personalities, or otherwise??

Even Q104 branded themselves as "The New Q104" back in 2002, as their 90s-era airstaff - Johnny Williams, Dan Deely, Jon Russell and Jay Lynn - was one-by-one replaced over the course of one year, and the format was wavering between modern AC and hot AC, with early trappings of the current adult CHR format every now and then. But they still had the 90s-era highly repetitive playlist schema intact, with one 80s outlier song every hour at a specific time.

That "New" branding for Q lasted for... what, about 8-9 months?

 

[CleveFan]

WQAL also used "The New Q104" in 1991/92 when they first flipped to Hot AC after a distasterous turn as "Soft Hits 104." The first time was really effective since Q basically killed "Lite Rock 106 1/2" and set off an intense rivalry since WMMS vs. G98 in the 80's.

The second time "The New Q104" used it was with the "90's and Now" slogan while still playing 80's music. Not to mention the unstable airstaff during that time.

 

[johnbasalla]

The value of "The Wave" is that it is not as much nothing more then a different shade of the same thing.

 

[CleveFan]

No matter what the shade is, The Wave actually sounds pretty good. The playlist has been uniquely diverse, and the jocks are good.

 

[CleveFan]

I've been listening more and more to 102, and it sounds like they're moving more and move in the "Fresh" direction. Wouldn't be surprised if they do start calling it "Fresh 102.1."

I also think the remaining 70's music will be phased out this year, and even the 80's over the next few years. This is just making a transition to a much younger sounding AC station.

Speaking of AC, what do you guys think of the new Wave commercials. I personally like them.

 

[Tim]

No radio station is going to be 100% in sync with any of our exact personal choices...that's why MP3 players are perfect for individuals who are that heavily into music.

To my ears The Wave's sweet spot is women age 45-54, some 35-44's, and adults 55+.

In an older than usual, heavily blue collar and mixed ethnic market like Cleveland, with many stations already hammering on adults 18-34 and 25-44...I think The Wave's music blend makes sense.

It's my guess they'll do well. And, I wish them all the luck in the world. I'll be listening too!