What radio station would you NOT bring back?

[Charles1]

ALRocker's post gave me cause to think: What radio stations would you not bring back? My choices, all from the Birmingham area: US-99, then Lite 99 (the place holders on 99.5 between its K-99 and Rock 99.5 days); WQEZ, WAPI-FM as an elevator music station (that was before the days of 95 Rock for those who don't remember); Kicks 106 during its days as a country station, and finally Oldies 97.3. By the time WODL moved from 106.9 to 97.3, it was obvious that Cox was doing nothing to highlight or promote the station.

 

[passtheword]

ALRocker's post gave me cause to think: What radio stations would you not bring back? My choices, all from the Birmingham area: US-99, then Lite 99 (the place holders on 99.5 between its K-99 and Rock 99.5 days); WQEZ, WAPI-FM as an elevator music station (that was before the days of 95 Rock for those who don't remember); Kicks 106 during its days as a country station, and finally Oldies 97.3. By the time WODL moved from 106.9 to 97.3, it was obvious that Cox was doing nothing to highlight or promote the station.

Regarding the questions of what stations we would want to bring back (or not bring back)...on what basis are we making these opinions? It seems to me that whatever answers most people give are based primarily on personal preference rather than whether a station was programmed well and successful. Sometimes those things don't go hand in hand. I don't think most of us intentionally base our opinions on personal preference, but I would say it's hard to make a fair assumption about whether a station should be brought back and not have our opinions be influenced by personal likes and dislikes. I read a lot of posts from people on here who are very big into the top 40 and rock stations, and I believe a great deal of that has to due with the fact that those posters enjoy that particular kind of programming. Me...my interests draw more along the lines of the programming you mentioned about not bringing back and I do remember listening to several of those stations mentioned in your post (WQEZ, WLTB, WQUS). I didn't spend a whole lot of time listening to top 40 music, and even less with album rock, etc. Would I want to hear some of those stations again I just mentioned above? Sure, because I enjoyed listening to them, but do I think they were well programmed and worthy of bringing back...definitely not, lol. On the "opposite side of the coin"...there are a lot of stations I didn't spend a lot of time listening to in their heyday, but because they were successful stations (and I suppose to some degree because of the historical aspect of them), I would love to see them brought back (WSGN, for example). As I said, it's hard to make an opinion on it because so much of personal preference comes into play. I want to laugh sometimes reading some of the posts on these boards here, when folks bemoan the fact that some station is wasting a frequency offering some type of programming they're not interested in (easy listening, smooth jazz, christian programming), but then will laud other stations which offer programming they enjoy, even though sometimes those stations are poorly programmed and their ratings are in the tank. These are the same folks who, when those highly regarded stations opt for another format, carry on as though it's the end of the world as we know it. Some of the former "Vulcan" listeners fall into this category. I remember reading many posts on al.com when the Vulcan dropped off the radio dial in favor of WERC-FM. I hate news-talk formats immensely, but considering the dismal ratings "The Vulcan" had, can you really blame the folks at Clear Channel for changing the station's format to talk? It was IMO a very smart move by CC, but some of those "Vulcan" listeners don't see it that way as their personal preferences "get in the way" of making a fair judgment about all of it. I know some of them are still venting about the "Vulcan" format change as I've seen a group on facebook where they're protesting the station's change to talk. C'mon, folks...how many of us over the years have had our "favorite station" get blown up with another format? We might not like it, but that's the way it goes. Find another station to listen to (or listen to satellite radio, an internet stream, CDs or your MP3 player) and move on. That's what I do.

If we're going to have a discussion about which stations ought to be brought back (or not brought back)...why not give a reason why we feel that way. btw, Charles..you mentioned WYDE's oldies format in another thread...which WYDE oldies format are you referring...the initial one in '82 or the one in the early 90's? I don't believe either one of those attempts at oldies was very successful, the one in '82 was probably worse, losing about $1M before the station was sold and went to christian programming. From a historical perspective, I'd love to see an oldies WYDE again, but from the standpoint of whether it would be successful or not..that remains to be seen. WYDE did very well with its country format it had back in the 60's and 70's (pre-WZZK days), much more so than it ever did as an oldies station.

 

[BlueWanderer]

I definitely won't bring back The Vulcan. That station was only created because The X folded and at the time left a void for new rock. Now with Live 100.5 in existence. the market still has new rock. It may not be the kind that former Vulcan listeners would like, but it's there. I don't like the fact that Live is on the same frequency that killed the X off in the first place. Potentially, history could repeat itself if Live isn't too careful.

passtheword, you're right about the picks being personal preferences, well at least mine anyway. What's odd about my picks is that both 107.7s (WENN & The X) went downhill when they swap frequencies with other stations. Both of them were very entertaining and actually made me want to listen to the radio. Now? The only station I barely listen to is NPR. Rest of the time it's cds, podcasts, and internet streams.

 

[ALRocker]

800 WHOS in Decatur, when they went all Elvis. That lasted about as long as ...uh Jailhouse Rock.

 

[Charles1]

My picks on what to bring back (as well as what not to bring back) were based a lot in part on the emotional impact that I associate with the memories of those stations. In the case of each of the Top 40 stations, as well as the original oldies format on WYDE, it takes me back to a time that I didn't have a lot to worry about: when I was in elementary, then high school, and then in college, then the years just after I had graduated from college. Those were the days I didn't have to worry about mortgage payments, holding to my job in tough economic times, child support, health issues, a receding hairline, and the like. I would like to think that many of us have fond memories of growing up. And the stations I listed were the ones I listened to in those seemingly care-free days.

 

[Nate Wesley]

Past radio stations that I *wouldn't* bring back...that's actually more tough to answer than the stations you would choose to resurrect! But I put some careful thought into it...

**Radio Macarena 107.3: (EDIT:This is actually a Pensacola station...but I can't bring myself to remove what I wrote. Forgive it, please.) 'Radio Macarena' was a stunt for aa few days until WOWW 107 transitioned into the former Cool 107.3. It was actually kinda cute for half an hour or so, and quickly became an abomination of diminishing returns if you spent any more time listening. The world wasn't made better with that many remixes of one song. Never again, Radio Macarena!

**Mobile's Star 104.1, Birmingham's 106.9 The Point, and [possibly] Montgomery's Alice 96.1: Each had a stint as all 80s stations, and were programmed as if Prince and Michael Jackson were the only urban acts of consequence. I'm sure this complaint could be lobbed at most 80s station, but I'm singling out the Alabama ones. Be gone, stay gone, all of you!

**Originally, I was going to suggest the recently departed Kicks 104.1. But I decided there was a better choice: No stations that directly challenged 95-KSJ get to come back. Not because WKSJ is so great, mind you--I don't even like country music. But because of where Mobile is situated amongst other radio markets--a WKSJ challenger wasn't ever needed.(Practically speaking, of course--if your business thought it had what it took to unseat them for ratings and revenue, I can't totally blame you for taking the risk.)

Regardless of whether or not you lived in Mobile or Baldwin counties, there's usually been one (or more) big signal alternative to KSJ from the Biloxi or Pensacola coasts. So no Dawg, no Kicks, not even a Q Country* or a Kicker*--none of ya'll will be coming back.

(*hat tip to ABMP)

 

[oldradiodj]

WVNA-AM between Jack Voorhies' departure and the beginning of newstalk. It was too much of a mismash. Oddly enough, they were a little ahead of their time and had they either gone in whole hog for news or sports, they would have been a ground breaker in that part of the world, but alas, the programming choices weren't there as they are today. There was a huge struggle between trying to kill it its' legacy heritage and what to do with it. They tried to play music during the day, then at night and on the weekends program lots of sports, then played Larry King on overnights. Just didn't work.

 

[ruger22com]

No stations that directly challenged 95-KSJ get to come back.

what? no Q-Country????? chuckle!