What Is The Definition Of A "Heritage" Radio Station

[DavidKaye]

Usually when somebody refers to a "heritage" station they're talking about an old tired AM that nobody listens to anymore that just got sold to a Jesus outfit or had its power reduced (like WOWO) to benefit another station. I can't think of any time when I've seen the word used in a context that wasn't negative.

I think the Wikipedia entry is bogus, or at least the FM part: "In commercial radio, heritage station is the term for an AM radio station that has broadcast a specific format for a sustained period of time, since its beginning; usually since the 1930s or 1940s; in some cases the 1920s. Also, the call letters will have remained the same for most of the station's life. The term is also used for FM radio stations that have broadcast a specific format, usually since the 1970s or 1980s."

 

[olmjax]

I think WDIA (1070 AM) in Memphis also qualifies as a heritage station because it was the first African-American programmed station in the country in 1949 and it is still on the air today although it has been white owned throughout its history. The station, which started on low-power 730 AM, was the first black-programmed station to upgrade its signal to 50,000 watts in the 1950s. Tothis day, WDIA, which is now owned by Clear Channel, is one of the top-rated stations in the Memphis market according to Arbitron. The ratings of this station have been consistantly higher than some FM stations in the market.

 

[davideduardo]

Just because LIN ran it that way doesn't mean that Citadel had to stay the course. And, presented properly, KAAY need not be a second-rate talker. For one thing, you can have the 50 kw AM simulcast their talk FM (as KARN does now) - increasing the daytime range significantly. And, you gain a lot more listeners at night than you'd lose. Stick something else on the present 5 kw KARN AM signal.

The FM talker covers the market better day and night than the AM does*, and there is 1) nearly no night revenue on AMs except for bonus spots and low rate ROS buys and 2) no revenue outside the home metro.

KARN's 64 dbu and the KAAY 5 mv/m are about the same... so adding the AM would not benefit the FM format, and goes against the trend which is to abandon the format on AM to move to FM.