IIRC The WMAK calls were used in Knoxville for a TV Station. (the old analog channel 8?). I am not sure but, I believe that some of the family that owned WMAK during it's glory years were part of the ownership of the K'town TV station.
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WMAK call letters return, and HANK FM to debut in Tennessee!
- Thread starter Whiplash
- Start date
IIRC The WMAK calls were used in Knoxville for a TV Station. (the old analog channel 8?). I am not sure but, I believe that some of the family that owned WMAK during it's glory years were part of the ownership of the K'town TV station.
I listened online over the night and thought the new WMAK jingles sounded good. The mix between decades was also fairly balanced. On the topic of rounding off the freq numbers, WCVQ here in Clarksville still does that. After all these years they still go by,
Q108. Not Q 107.9 FM And WJZM AM back in the day, would go by 14-JZM. I like rounding off the numbers. Good Job, Whiplash.
Q108. Not Q 107.9 FM And WJZM AM back in the day, would go by 14-JZM. I like rounding off the numbers. Good Job, Whiplash.
'JZM is at 1400, so no "rounding off" was done there. It is the exact frequency.
As for Q-108, they have had the same name for at least 20 years, dating back to when I lived there. It is similar to FM-100 in Memphis, but even they have added 99.7 to their logo.
I never said 14JZM was rounding off. And Q108 has added 107.9 to their logo, but they still go by Q108. I am not going to get in a pissing contest with you, but I can see why people don't contribute to this board. There has been so much change in radio in the last few years and a lot of it has not been good for the business. But it is a business and government checks don't come in the mail to keep it going, so we have to keep working to make it better. The past was great, but radio has to move forward and somehow survive.
Good call on Q-108 for adding 107.9 to their logo. I have not seen it lately, but I still have a sticker from the days when I lived in Clarksville, and I knew that they did not incorporate their digital frequency into their logo back then, although I knew that they also have changed their logo entirely since then.
For my money, 'JZM could still call themselves "14JZM." I don't mind dropping the "W." Who was the brain trust at the FCC that decided that stations east of the Mississippi had to start with "W"?
At any rate, "Q-108" and "FM 100" are successful established brands, dating back (at least in the case of FM 100) to the '70s. So, yeah, they would be crazy to change that. Adding the digital dial position to their logo is a great idea.
For my money, 'JZM could still call themselves "14JZM." I don't mind dropping the "W." Who was the brain trust at the FCC that decided that stations east of the Mississippi had to start with "W"?
At any rate, "Q-108" and "FM 100" are successful established brands, dating back (at least in the case of FM 100) to the '70s. So, yeah, they would be crazy to change that. Adding the digital dial position to their logo is a great idea.
And what is wrong with going back to an old idea. Trying to brand something new with an old idea is done all the time. Again in our logo and in imaging, we mention AM 1570. And the only way to try something new is to try, even if its an old idea. So Firepoint go back to listening to your Clear Channel and Cumulus stations. Thanks manicdpressd for the compliment. Its appreciated!
Wow, if you can't even accept CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, then you are not long for this world. And slinging juvenile insults at me does NOT make me want to listen to any of your stations.
By the way, I take some of my own music with me to listen to when I travel, because I do not want to be forced to accept whatever radio feels like dishing out to me whenever I am on the road.
If you mention 1570 in your advertising and whatever, then good call. But even you (apparently) do not round off your FM frequency. Every mention of it so far has been 101.3.
I took your criticism just fine at first. But when others posted, you continued to push the issue. I certainly will drop it if you will. The station sounds good, and the response so far has been very good. Its a small market, and would only be offered in a county by county ratings book any way. Being that we're one of a half a dozen stations that can even be heard, I'm not worried about rounding off the frequency, but rather creating whatever brand I can locally.
I've been at this for 35 years, so I've lasted longer than most.
I've been at this for 35 years, so I've lasted longer than most.
I get the feeling that everyone who posts here is about my parents' age. In other words, WELL beyond any salable, advertisable demographic. I hit the big 5-0 on my next birthday, and I thought *I* was old!
Everyone here seems so impressed that you scored the WMAK call letters, but as someone posted earlier here, the original WMAK supposedly barely got past the county line. So I am not sure what impact "WMAK" will have way out there in the woods. Co-opting someone else's "brand" is also not particularly impressive with me. Everyone here (except me) is apparently in their 80s, and has lived here all their lives. So they remember the original WMAK like it was yesterday. I would be old enough to remember the original WMAK, but I am a transplant from west Tennessee. Maybe they are impressed that you scored "heritage" calls, but unless they live in Linden (or listen online), it really won't matter all that much. I am not even sure that Oldies 96.3 (who also co-opted those calls after they got Coyote McCloud) got out that far. But WMAK has not been used in Nashville since 1978 or so (Oldies 96.3 does not count), so you are basically targeting Linden residents who used to live in Nashville back in the '70s. I would not want to be trying to launch an AM station in a rural area in 2013.
I have a cousin who lives in Linden these days (and has for years), but I don't know what (if anything) she listens to these days. But I know that she lived in Dyersburg back in the '70s.
I am sure that the music sounds great, but even I can't bring myself to listen to AM radio for very long anymore. My parents still do, but that is MY generation's music that you are playing. (They would probably like Hank-FM better!)
Buy a couple of billboards along I-40 to promote Hank-FM (one going each way) and one each direction to promote the AM station, if the signal gets out that far.
Everyone here seems so impressed that you scored the WMAK call letters, but as someone posted earlier here, the original WMAK supposedly barely got past the county line. So I am not sure what impact "WMAK" will have way out there in the woods. Co-opting someone else's "brand" is also not particularly impressive with me. Everyone here (except me) is apparently in their 80s, and has lived here all their lives. So they remember the original WMAK like it was yesterday. I would be old enough to remember the original WMAK, but I am a transplant from west Tennessee. Maybe they are impressed that you scored "heritage" calls, but unless they live in Linden (or listen online), it really won't matter all that much. I am not even sure that Oldies 96.3 (who also co-opted those calls after they got Coyote McCloud) got out that far. But WMAK has not been used in Nashville since 1978 or so (Oldies 96.3 does not count), so you are basically targeting Linden residents who used to live in Nashville back in the '70s. I would not want to be trying to launch an AM station in a rural area in 2013.
I have a cousin who lives in Linden these days (and has for years), but I don't know what (if anything) she listens to these days. But I know that she lived in Dyersburg back in the '70s.
I am sure that the music sounds great, but even I can't bring myself to listen to AM radio for very long anymore. My parents still do, but that is MY generation's music that you are playing. (They would probably like Hank-FM better!)
Buy a couple of billboards along I-40 to promote Hank-FM (one going each way) and one each direction to promote the AM station, if the signal gets out that far.
R
Radio Man 1951x
Guest
WMAK got past the county line in the daytime and reached into southern Kentucky. It was at night with its narrow directional signal that it didn't reach parts of the entire county. In the 60's I listened to WMAK(daylight hours) in northern Sumner County.
Thanks, I had a feeling that 'MAK got past the county line, unlike what someone here earlier said. Maybe he was referring to night-time signal. I remember listening to WHBQ in Memphis in the mornings before school (back when Rick Dees was there) from two hours away in northwest Tennessee. And someone else here recently mentioned a pool in a neighboring county blasting out 'MAK during the daytime. It was great DX-ing AM stations back then. About the only time that I had any real difficulty was during storms, and even the hometown station could be difficult to pick up when the weather was bad.
If it reached into southern Kentucky, then it probably reached Perry County as well, assuming that the signal was non-directional. But still, that was 40 years ago. Does anyone in Perry County remember the old WMAK? And if so, do they remember it fondly? At any rate, Chris has his work cut out for him. Gonna try to find his station, to listen to it online, because I know that I can't receive the signal here in Cheatham County. The radio-locator site still gives the cat country link, at least as of yesterday.
If it reached into southern Kentucky, then it probably reached Perry County as well, assuming that the signal was non-directional. But still, that was 40 years ago. Does anyone in Perry County remember the old WMAK? And if so, do they remember it fondly? At any rate, Chris has his work cut out for him. Gonna try to find his station, to listen to it online, because I know that I can't receive the signal here in Cheatham County. The radio-locator site still gives the cat country link, at least as of yesterday.
I never heard of WMAK until I started working in Nashville in the late '70s. Growing up 50 miles away in Smith County, I remember the daytime Nashville stations I could easily receive were WSM, WSIX, WLAC and WHIN (I always thought Bill Buntin was a made up radio name). I could not receive any stations from Knoxville or Chattanooga. From 1969 on, I remember waiting for Lebanon's WCOR to sign off so I could listen to WLS.
I've actually had people tell me they listened to the golden age of WMAK out of Nashville in Perry County. Its just a gimmick guys to pick up a legendary set of call letters. Doesn't happen often, so I grabbed them. I agree firepoint that music on AM is tough, and that talk and sports are the formats that currently work. I still believe that oldies, and perhaps classic country and standards can work on AM in certain situations. But I couldn't see a talk or sports format working in rural Perry County, TN.
Here's the link to the stream for WMAK. http://67.223.226.139:21009/
Best to use Winamp to bring it up. And it is listed as Cat Country 1570 on the Tunein app as well. Takes them awhile to make a change to anything.
Here's the link to the stream for WMAK. http://67.223.226.139:21009/
Best to use Winamp to bring it up. And it is listed as Cat Country 1570 on the Tunein app as well. Takes them awhile to make a change to anything.
I finally got a chance to listen to your station (online of course) and it is actually pretty good. Since I was listening online, I got to hear it in stereo, which I of course would not get on the radio. I got the link from your Facebook page. Had to type in "WMAK Linden" in the search engine, because just "WMAK" pulled up airchecks of the original WMAK, and info about the TV station in Knoxville. Feed dropped out from time to time, but I have come to expect that.
While I would agree that sports wouldn't work, I am guessing that you carry high school football, maybe even college football (Vols?) and maybe even the titans, especially if there is no other affiliate nearby.
While I would agree that sports wouldn't work, I am guessing that you carry high school football, maybe even college football (Vols?) and maybe even the titans, especially if there is no other affiliate nearby.
Meant to mention this earlier, but I hit post before I was finished, but I really like the logo. Glad to see the actual dial position incorporated into it. That is always very important. Also hearing it mentioned on air. Less important once the listener is actually tuned in, but still great just the same.
It has been years since I heard a station referred to as "Solid Gold," but it absolutely conveys the right message. And kudos for the use of a slogan ("more music, more fun") that I have never seen or heard used anywhere before.
And it appears that your morning man has survived a format/ownership change. Always great when talent can keep their jobs through such changes. I should know. I've been there!
It has been years since I heard a station referred to as "Solid Gold," but it absolutely conveys the right message. And kudos for the use of a slogan ("more music, more fun") that I have never seen or heard used anywhere before.
And it appears that your morning man has survived a format/ownership change. Always great when talent can keep their jobs through such changes. I should know. I've been there!
Whiplash - I have to admit, Firepoint got my interest up to check the station out. I can hear your enthusiasm in what you are doing. Maybe Firepoint and I can road trip from Bellevue out to see what you have going on! Been a while since I have been out that way. I also must say, I like the 16 and the 1570. I think folks get the round ups, still. Look at The Big 98 or 92-Q, or even i106. AM may be a bit tougher these days to get that. I dunno Firepoint, I see your digital point (haha), but agreed - why follow everyone else. What I am still not buying into is that call letters don't matter. I think anything that ties a concept together, especially the minor details, make a huge difference. Not having call letters that are somewhat close to the moniker is just a sign of indifference in my book. Like: WNFN - i106. Pathetic. Ratings or PPMs or not.
Appreciate the offer, but as Tibbs said, I live an hour away from you. Still, the museum of country relics seems interesting, even though I am not really that big of a fan of country music. Maybe the wife and I can go down there some weekend. Are you open on Saturdays? I would definitely call before road-tripping out there. I would get off at the "Loretta Lynn" exit, right?
I wasn't going to "like" your station's Facebook page, because I didn't (and still don't) think that I would find anything relevant to me not living in Perry County, but maybe I will check it out anyway.
It would be cool, however, if the owner/manager of the Springfield station would make me a similar "come by and check it out" offer for what he intends to do with the Ashland City station. Much closer to me.
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