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When WTIC-FM changed formats in June of 1994

KML0224

KML0224

Tonight while dubbing older cassettes over to MP3 files and (maybe) CDs for durability, I came to the point of June 1994. That was when WTIC-FM 96.5 changed their format from CHR/Top 40 to HOT AC "96.5-TIC". My questions from that are this:

1- Was the format change due to sagging ratings?
2- Was the format change due to a change of station ownership?

On a side question, when did WZMX-FM 93.7 and WRCH-FM 100.5 become sister stations of WTIC-FM and AM? ???

Also, IF the link works, this is what I had on my cassette from around the time of the WTIC-FM format change:

http://minus.com/ltFbaUmOWODOD
 
It was a ratings-based decision while the station was still under Chase ownership. Kiss was owning the market at the time.

The change in ownership didn't come until 1996 when the stations were sold to ARS, who already owned ZMX and RCH. They maintained separate studios and offices until '99 when TIC AM/FM moved from the Gold Building into the existing Infinity space in Farmington.
 
I think that was when they changed on May 12,1977. Airchecks I've heard from like 1978 were still using the "Ticks" name.

As for Kathy, I know she was with WKSS-FM first. She did a TV ad with them in late 1985. The "caller" asks her "Is this 96?", with her sharply saying "Noooooo! We're 95.7 Kiss-FM!" (I haven't seen that TV commercial since). She would have a later stint at 104.1 FM in their Star days of 1992 or so.

I myself can only remember WTIC-FM from about 1986 or so, since I was living in Maine for most of the 1985-87 period. I'm 42 now and didn't own my own AM/FM/cassette recorder until 1986-87. With all of the cassettes I've been going through, the oldest one was bought on April 17, 1987.

P.S. The dubbing I've mentioned is bringing me into early 1998. I had forgotten that Hollywood Joe had come back to WKSS-FM 95.7 for a short while. After WKSS-FM the first time, he had stints in Philadelphia and WEZB-FM ("B 97"), then came back to Connecticut in 1990 as Joe Mama, when night jock A.J. (Hammer) left for New York City.
 
I started going through my friend's listing of airchecks of TIC-FM from 12/77 through 2006 and unfortunately his list has them all listed as TIC-FM. I guess I'll have to call his as he would certainly have an idea judging by the span of recordings he has.

I forgot Kathy was at KISS first. I have that same video clip on one either a Cal Airchecks or Voulo Video tape. That brings back memories.
 
Fun fact: if you google "96 tics," the first result that comes up is the website for 96.5 TIC. There's some serious search engine optimization for ya.

The way I remember it being told to me, the station used "96 Tics" from 1977 until 1979-1980 when they shied away from the Hot Hits presentation.
 
From the time WKSS went CHR in 1984 until about 1992 or so, TIC-FM held the edge in the head-to-head hit radio battle. Kiss eventually surpassed them, but 96.5 was never that far behind. They could have stayed with the format....but a lot of CHR stations were jumping on the Hot AC bandwagon in the mid 90's (alternative and country too). The Chases thought they could make more money with an older skewing format, while the ratings lagged behind Kiss after the switch, the demos were better and the billing shot up. Turns out they were right.
 
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