Correct me if I'm wrong, but in other markets in the mid 70s, the AM stations like WLS were drawing 20 and 30 shares. Was this not the case with WIBC/WIFE/WIRE in Indy? Did the FM transition happen earlier here?
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WNAP 70s & 80s
- Thread starter japman
- Start date
I'm not totally sure what the case was in the mid 70's, but WIFE pretty much dominated the market in Indy until WNAP came along in 1968. I've heard stories of 70 shares back in WIFE's heyday, and that really wouldn't suprise me much. I think what set WIFE apart from the other AM's was their heavy community presence and giveaways along with the "boss" on-air presentation. WNAP was way ahead of anything else on FM with maybe the exception of WTLC, which also began in 68, changing from a classical format (WAIV) to urban. The rest of the FM stations on the air at that time were pretty much a flavor of easy-listening or classical until the mid 70's, so I'd say AM may have been able to stick it out longer here than in some other markets with WIFE, WNDE, and WXLW going strong until then. Seems like it wasn't until the late 70's that FM operators began to realize that there was finally a market for better formats than an automated Drake-Chenault system running in the hallway closet.PTBoardOp94 said:
IndyDan said:
You have to remember that prior to1968, Indy was essentially a 4-station (AM) market - WIBC, WFBM, WIFE, and WIRE - the others being low-powered suburban sticks and/or daytimers. Those were the only full-time AMers and I'd be surprised if the total share for all the FM stations combined was higher than 5 prior to the arrival of WNAP & WTLC.
Plus, the only full-market (metro Indy plus Bloomington, Anderson, & Columbus - I think that was the market definition at the time) FMs at the time were 93.1, 94.7, 95.5, and 107.9. 103.3 and 105.7 had poorer signals to the south, while 90.1 & 104.5 were non-comms and didn't count in the ratings. The suburban signals didn't target Indy in those days even if they were able to cover the entire market. Radio stations were actually required to serve their city of license first back then.
Not sure of the exact numbers, but WIFE had a larger share of the audience than WNAP did through the mid 70s. The AM audience splintered a bit around that time with WNDE & WXLW taking a piece of the pie as well. WNAP really didn't have the numbers until the late 70s when the AMs all decided to go for a more "adult" audience and instead blew off almost ALL of their audience. The FMs then won by default. WTLC became more of a factor around that time as well as more people had FM radios.
Remember that the "standard" car radio well into the 70's was AM only, AM-FM was an upgrade, and AM-FM Stereo was typically only available in higher end car lines. AM was in serious trouble by the end of the 70's with only the big signal full service stations doing well, everybody else scrambling to find a new niche.
I listened to WIFE well into the seventies, but only on the "AM only" car radio. Once FM became a more or less standard feature, AM's fortunes dwindled.
I listened to WIFE well into the seventies, but only on the "AM only" car radio. Once FM became a more or less standard feature, AM's fortunes dwindled.
F
flashback
Guest
does anyone else remember when wnap was first on as a truely underground station?not what it became as it evolved in the 70`s.
Sure, I listened to them the first day they came on the air...(got the thank you letter they sent out signed by the "wild ones" and later the infamous peace sign poster) and they indeed had an "underground" sound, playing a lot of off the wall music, but also stuff like Steppenwolf and The Rolling Stones. The jocks (Al Stone, Rick Reinhart, Jason, John Gillis, and Chris Conner) all sounded much different that what I was used to hearing on WIFE or any of the AM stations, and I think that's what made the station so darned unique, especially in the summer of '68. I wish Chris would visit here again and talk about what it was like being a part of it and how the numbers shifted in those days. It would make some really interesting reading. There was no other station like it at the time.flashback said:
flashback said:
WNAP was never an "underground" station. From their sign on in 1968 (I heard them the first day), they were a "hybrid", playing mostly Top 40 with a mix of popular album tracks. They used PAMS jingles when they first went on (I have the jingle package) before later switching to the killer "Hellers". "Naptown Nitetime" played a heavier mix of album cuts. Anyone who listened in the early days will surely remember SRC's "The Angel Song".
WNAP was never an "underground" station.
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Absolutely correct. NAP during the first six months was in fact VERY top 40 during the day, offering capsule countdowns of the day's top 5 songs. American Contemporary Radio Network news hourly during the day. Remember, "Born to Be Wild," "Sunshine of Your Love," "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (3 min version)," "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and other future classic rock staples were all playing on WLS, WIFE, WHUT, WERK, WGOM and other top 40 outlets at the time.
It was only during the evening hours until sign off at 2 am, that the album cuts came out.
[/quote]
Absolutely correct. NAP during the first six months was in fact VERY top 40 during the day, offering capsule countdowns of the day's top 5 songs. American Contemporary Radio Network news hourly during the day. Remember, "Born to Be Wild," "Sunshine of Your Love," "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (3 min version)," "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and other future classic rock staples were all playing on WLS, WIFE, WHUT, WERK, WGOM and other top 40 outlets at the time.
It was only during the evening hours until sign off at 2 am, that the album cuts came out.
Wonder if SRC's "Angel Song" & "Bolero" had big airplay anywhere else in the country. WNAP made them local hits here, well at least they were hits to the station's limited number of listeners. It's true that they did play the Archies & Bobby Sherman as well as the harder songs. They also played urban acts, including the Meters. They even played some country crossovers. You might say they "played all the hits". When they went stereo "at the dawn of the 70s" they used reverb on only one channel. Wonder if Chris Conner remembers the specifics. He did it so long there it may be a blur, and he seems like the type of person who's more interested in the present and the future than the past.
T
Toaster
Guest
And lest we not forget that great Cleveland horn band Rastus. WNAP championed them for numerous local appearances and lotsa airp[lay.
S
SPOTS FOR DOTS
Guest
I just wondered onto this thread and being out of the Indy market for over 20 years, I have enjoyed your comments regarding the great WNAP in the 70's. I was wondering, where did Chris Connor end up these days?
Gee, I found a old commercial that Buster Bodine did with Dick the Brusier for Crazy Larry's Stereo Lab. Bodine aked the world's most dangerous wrestler if he was going to wear those funny little shorts and the brusier replied, "Gimmie that microphone!" A true classic.
Do you have a link for that commercial RL ? I'd love to hear it again....
Pardon me for dropping-in on the great thread. I was in high school in Indy during NAP's heyday of the early 70's and everything said here rings true as far as the greatness of the station. The reason I even found this thread, though, is that I am trying to locate an mp3 (or any other audio file) of WNAP's "wrath of the buzzard" ID from that time. It's purely for personal fun. I have this "What I did in highschool" playlist on my iPod, and I think it would be fun to have that "Buzzard" ID dropped in there. If anyone thinks they might have a source, I'd love to know.
Back then, I listened to just two stations...NAP and TLC. My parents, though, were huge WIBC junkies.
Thanks,
Jim C
Back then, I listened to just two stations...NAP and TLC. My parents, though, were huge WIBC junkies.
Thanks,
Jim C
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