WEMP is now...

[Barry]

So, New Rock 101.9 is a temporary moniker and it becomes 101.9 RXP again?

Check out this post from July 19, 2012: http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=215945.msg1941232#msg1941232

And this one from July 17, 2012: http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=215882.msg1940205#msg1940205

Yes, WRXP is returning to 101.9FM tomorrow. I am very happy to hear Alternative Rock return to the New York City airwaves ;D The WEMP incarnation has been great and I know the WRXP incarnation will be even better music-wise than before.

How do you know that the switch to the WRXP call sign will take place tomorrow? Doesn't the F.C.C need to sign off on the change first? Or will Merlin perhaps image the station as 'RXP without waiting for the official call sign change?

 

[JoeyBagODonuts]

Couldn't they use the moniker "101-9 RXP" if they wanted to while waiting for the FCC to approve the call letters, as long as they did the correct WEMP legal ID at the TOH?

 

[The Spy]

WEMP is now..WRXPFM New York (officially).

 

[Barry]

WEMP is now..WRXPFM New York (officially).

Yes. I heard the official WRXP ID today.
But so far, none of the other imaging has changed to reflect the new/old call sign. They still call themselves New Rock 101.9, and only mention WRXP once an hour during the required ID.
In contrast, I believe the original station called themselves WRXP; it was not just their official call sign.
Perhaps this indicates that while having the same call as the old station may provide some continuity for rock fans, the music, presentation and possibly the air staff will be different.

 

[The Spy]

WEMP is now..WRXPFM New York (officially).

Yes. I heard the official WRXP ID today.
But so far, none of the other imaging has changed to reflect the new/old call sign. They still call themselves New Rock 101.9, and only mention WRXP once an hour during the required ID.
In contrast, I believe the original station called themselves WRXP; it was not just their official call sign.
Perhaps this indicates that while having the same call as the old station may provide some continuity for rock fans, the music, presentation and possibly the air staff will be different.

Yes and I doubt they will call the station 1019 RXP as before. This station has seemingly hit the ground running, the old RXP spent years on the air trying to find a direction.

 

[Frequency Breakdown]

Yes and I doubt they will call the station 1019 RXP as before. This station has seemingly hit the ground running, the old RXP spent years on the air trying to find a direction.

Precisely! Getting those call letters back was just the cherry on top of a so far pretty successful "re"-launch.

"It doesn't suck yet!" has been my mindset since day two, and that's good enough for me!

 

[Barry]

Certainly the station is quite focused, compared to its predecessor, the original WRXP.
But as I am only slightly familiar with alternative rock, I wonder whether there are enough good contemporary songs and hits from the last 2 or 3 decades in this genre to keep 101.9 New Rock sounding fresh in the months and years to come. With narrow focus there is a possibility that the songs will be repeated frequently, and lots of quality rock groups that are not alternative will be ignored.

 

[FellOutBoy]

WEMP is now..WRXPFM New York (officially).

Yes. I heard the official WRXP ID today.
But so far, none of the other imaging has changed to reflect the new/old call sign. They still call themselves New Rock 101.9, and only mention WRXP once an hour during the required ID.
In contrast, I believe the original station called themselves WRXP; it was not just their official call sign.
Perhaps this indicates that while having the same call as the old station may provide some continuity for rock fans, the music, presentation and possibly the air staff will be different.

Yes and I doubt they will call the station 1019 RXP as before. This station has seemingly hit the ground running, the old RXP spent years on the air trying to find a direction.

I dont think they deserve credit for simply having what is a defined format ("alternative"). I think it's more of a statement about Emmis glaring failure to define what they were doing with the station by playing everything from obscure classic rock to obscure indie bands. That was the formula for the first year it seemed and then they began to narrow the focus. Initially by targeting the aging classic rock fan while tying to appeal to the inner city hipster at he same time they should have realized IF you try to please everybody you usually end up alienating everybody instead.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Musically this is what modern rock radio should sound like. Anyone in the target audience knows these artists and the songs, they're not obscure to rock fans. And yes there's enough great new rock coming out all the time to sustain this format, it's just that we haven't heard it on commercial radio in NYC for so long you probably didn't realize it.

So is New York is enough of a "rock town" to support a good modern rock radio station? The naysayers have been saying 'no' for a long time now. Assuming Merlin adds good airstaff with a great morning show I think we should finally know the answer by this time next year.

I'm excited about this station and I really hope it works. It sounds like Merlin might actually do it right this time.