WLVY ditching "Rock," and becoming "Wired?"

[theradiokid]

I was doing some online browsing tonight, and decided to look up WLVY 94Rock. Instead, I came up with a website that promoted a station called “94Wired.” After doing some digging, I found a section of the website that said: “A Robert Funtner Radio Group.” That’s the same person who owns WLVY. I also found a section that said that “94Wired” was located in Elmira, and, just like “94Rock,” it is a CHR station. You can check out the website for yourself at:
www.94wired.com.

Then, I loged into radiostationworld.com, the directory for radio stations that I use to look up call letters and such. Underneath the call sign, radiostationworld refered to the station as “94Rock,” but when I clicked on the weblink provided for me for the station, it directed me to the “94Wired” website. Huh?

I then did some more snooping, and checked out the “94Rock myspace.” And, curiously, in it’s blog, it tells listeners to go to the 94wired.com website.

So, for me, an outsider, this brings up some questions.

1. What is WLVY calling itself on air: “94Rock,” or “94Wired.”

2. The myspace blog that directs listeners to 94wired.com is from 2006. How long has WLVY had the interesting arrangement between the “Rock” and “Wired” nicknames?

3. Is WLVY finally getting rid of the “Rock” nickname, in favor of a more hip “Wired” moniker?...

Any answers would be appreciated.

P.S. Does anyone know if WLVY has live streaming? I’d love to hear it.

--The Radio Kid
(AKA Oswego Jeremy, as nicknamed by George of the Radio Racket.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[ThePickleReport]

Not being from the market, I think that's just what they called their website, "Wired".

 

[theradiokid]

Quote from the Pickle Report: "...I think that's just what they called their website..."

Maybe. But, then, why would the website say: "Welcome to 94Wired." That's not what the station is called on air... or, at least, I don't think so...

--The Radio Kid
(AKA Oswego Jeremy, as nicknamed by George of the Radio Racket.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[JakeLongwell]

I can confirm that they are indeed still going by "94 Rock" on air.

I agree that it dfoesn't make much sense for them to have a website whos name does not match that of the radio station it is representing.

It would make more sense for them to call themselves "Wired 94-3" or something to that effect. In Philadelphia, the CHR station on 96.5 (WRDW) calls itself "Wired 96-5".

While I respect WLVY as a heritage CHR station in the southern tier, I do believe it is time to retire the 94 Rock nickname. If I'm not mistaken, the name dates back to the 70s. Someone please correct me if I'm in error there.

The time has come to give the station a "cooler" moniker. This is especially true considering there isn't much "rock" in their playlist these days.

 

[wirelessinnepa]

Throwing out the name "rock" in 94 Rock would be akin to renaming the restaurant 'Burger King' because they sell other things than burgers.

The best format for any radio station is longevity...and you can't get that unless you already have it.

I'd bet throwing out the name 94 Rock for "Hot" "Mix" or "The Bear" isn't going to be happening anytime soon.

Ben

 

[theradiokid]

First, Jake, thank you for confirming the on-air name of the station for me.

Now, the nickname. This is the perfect opritunity for Pembrook Pines to change the name of the station, like Jake said. I think that Robert Funtner should just replace "94Rock" with "94Wired." And, to my little, warped brain, that makes a whole lot of since, and sounds more in tune with the format of the station to go with the "Wired" nickname. Again: I don't think "Rock" is a good name for a dance station. Your thoughts, anyone?

--The Radio Kid
(AKA Oswego Jeremy, as nicknamed by George of the Radio Racket.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[SHimes100]

HI,

I was a part-timer when the name change took place.
The 94 Rock moniker was picked up around 1983. Street changed it from Strereo 94. When they still had that format on huge reel to reels.

I see the domain name 94Rock.com is taken, therefore, I surmise that the gang at Lake Welmer needed a domain name and picked Wired.

As for 94 Rock having to change it's moniker. Now would not be the time for them to do it anyway. Change for the sake of change makes no sense.

By the way... hey Ben... how the heck have ya been. Haven't heard from ya ... hope the station is going well for ya.

 

[LowPayDJ]

Whats in a name anyways? Especially when you call yourself Rock and Play Fergie & Timberlake. I never could understand that even when I worked there back in the late 80's and early 90's. I felt weird playing Ice Ice Baby and saying 94 Rock. That would be like spinning Metallica on Warm 101. Lol And how the hell has Steve been?

 

[SHimes100]

Things are good. Can't complain. It wouldn't do any good to anyway.

I have always agreed that the rock moniker was out of sorts.. but hey it is catchy and has worked for many years.

besides... how many thoucasands of envelopes and printed material already are done with that logo?

My question would be have they "Degaussed" the studios yet?...

Right Kev?

 

[LowPayDJ]

It would cost Bob a good sized pile of cash to change a name and logo considering what he has into it. If I was him, I'd fill the void and do an Active Rock format in Elmira. As for the DeGaussing of the studios, I remember when the Reed Brothers came in. They had their hands full for awhile before the both ran screaming from Lake Street. Bob Gauss thought he could fix anything with with Duct tape, Piano Wire, and Solder. Hard to believe he also was fixing Hospital Equipment in Sayre too. ;D

 

[SHimes100]

I helped him build that am studio right in front of the transmitter in 83 I think, It looked like the space shuttle. It was a work of art. hahahahaha
Funny that someone actually remembers.....

Good chatting again. take it easy.

 

[Adric1963]

Years ago, the first thing listed on the consultant report on how 94rock was doing, was CHANGE THE NAME. This will never ever happen, because of all the t-shirts and "heritage" of the name. Even though it's a (or was) a true top 40.

I believe the name 94wired was used when they switched web hosting companies. To downplay the rock moniker for the website.

 

[Radknowski]

Whenever this Buffalo guy has driven through Elmira-Corning and heard "94 Rock" it always sounded, as LowPayDJ noted, like an improper fit, hearing the logo followed by Fergie or Timberlake.

IMHO, the word "Rock" works better with Active Rock or Classic Rock, 97 Rock in Buffalo, being a good example. Still if the listeners in the market know the station and accept the "disconnect" between the logo and the product, don't fix what's not broken.

"Wired" is an unproven moniker. It rhymes with "tired" and it sounds too much like "Weird."

 

[jlf018]

94 Rock was my second fulltime professional gig as a jock... that was back in '87-'88. I always hated the logo (looked like a yellow stain atop a black stain), but agree the market will always know it as "94 Rock." BTW, we were running automation reels overnights in the late '80s too (Drake-Chenault, I believe). And does anyone else remember Bob Gauss's famous "sunspots" explanation for EVERYTHING that wasn't working properly?

Steve! It's been a long time... how've you been? I'm Chris P's buddy in Rochester...

 

[SHimes100]

Hey...... How the heck are ya. Those reels were something else. The tip of my one finger is still screwed up from trying to stop it cuz the brakes on it sucked and took a huge chunk out. There were some great promotions from that station in the 80's.. Lake Welmer, Pat Salois on a waterbed in the sky, the hanggliding, and who can forget how many can fit in a vw bug. I kinda like it being 94 Rock... gives all something to pick on... yeah but the twisted wire spices were the best.
Hope all is well in Roch-cha-cha.