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WORD to 98.9, Magic to 106.3

101tm said:
I haven’t checked the signal so I don’t know if it’ll be helpful, but Magic confirmed on Facebook that the 95.1 (Pickens/Clemson/Seneca) and 101.5 (Anderson) translators will switch over and become Magic along with 106.3. I’m assuming Magic will go to 98.9-HD2 since it feeds at least one of those. I didn’t know Audacy still had the 95.1 translator.
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Yes the Audacy translator begins to interfere with Kiss 95.1 on Augusta Rd. and White Horse Rd.
Wish they would confine it to Easley so it doesn't bleed into Greenville County.
Used to be you could even pick up Kiss 95.1 in Easley, along with Mix 107.9, but not now with interfering translators.
 
Vince Coakley signed off 106.3 today and was thankful for their support. He said he would be back on WBT on Monday. Sounded like it may have been a Radio One decision, but he did not provide an explanation. Perhaps it was indeed related to the upcoming 98.9 format change.
 
And officially starting Monday the 60-something curmudgeon Bill Frady will takeover the time slot. I bet the demos will look great! 🤣
 
I noticed that the HD text on 98.9 and 98.9-HD 2 and the RDS on 106.3 are now updated pointing to the station moving and to where.

I was in Anderson county over the weekend. 95.1, the translator in Oconee/Pickens and 101.5 in Anderson were both broadcasting in stereo relaying the WORD programming which will flip to simulcasts of the Magic format. 106.3’s signal falls apart at I-85 and Highway 153 in Powdersville and dies quickly going further down 85 and around Piedmont. I’m assuming it’s so directional to protect 106.1 in GA. The Greenville 98.5 and 99.5 translators do better to the SE than 106.3, and of course the C3 104.9.
 
I wonder if the stations will suspend their programming for a period of time and run a loop about the move on each old station about the format changing to a new frequency, then relaunch the formats on their new frequencies Tuesday at 9am?
 
It will be interesting to see future ratings and if WMYI (The Lake) or "EarthFM" reap any benefits of the "Magic" swap. Plus in the eastern Upstate and NC border counties, could any Charlotte stations gain listeners like K-104.7, Mix 107.9, etc? Time will only tell.
 
eacalhoun1 said:
It will be interesting to see future ratings and if WMYI (The Lake) or "EarthFM" reap any benefits of the "Magic" swap. Plus in the eastern Upstate and NC border counties, could any Charlotte stations gain listeners like K-104.7, Mix 107.9, etc? Time will only tell.
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In Spartanburg you cannot receive K-104.7 due to short spacing with WNOK in Columbia. However Mix 107.9 comes in good, along with 102.9 the Lake. Also Kiss 95.1, Hits 96.1, and V-101.9 come in good here. I tend to prefer the Charlotte version of 102.9 the Lake rather than WMYI-102.5 the Lake, which has become more rock oriented. Also I listen to 107.9.

From GSP, I like Earth FM, Awesome 99.5, and to a lesser degree 102.5 the Lake and Magic 98.9. Sometimes I will switch between hit music stations B-93.7, Kiss 95.1, and Hits 96.1. But musically I tend to prefer AC and variety hits formats. But when I want news, I tune to WBT on 99.3 or 107.9-HD2.
 
Any listeners in the market will probably go to 102.5 first if they can’t get 106.3. 103.3 and 99.5 are weaker than 106.3 (and the Anderson translator), so most that can't receive 106.3, won't receive 103.3 or 99.5...95.9 could probably benefit from the signal in the NW part of the state a bit. 106.3 still has a better signal than the closest alternatives other than The Lake. Earth FM may get a few listeners, but it rocks a lot harder than even 102.5 these days with a lot of 80s glam rock and 90s classic alternative, so I’m not sure how many listeners the stations shared as it was. Heck, sometimes 103.3/95.9 play harder rock songs than 101.1.
 
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I keep getting errors that my photos are too large to attach. The RDS and HD data are also no longer showing the artist/song - just “Magic 98.9 is moving to 106.3”
 
I wonder how long this will last, maybe someday there will also be a swap with Magic & Planet (106.3 & 93.3). I think the AC Format should be on a stronger signal than one of the Rock Formats, but as was mentioned the Popular Morning Shows on the other big signals is probably why Magic was chosen to goto 106.3
 
Seems like Audacy could do a little more to promote this. I’ve been listening to Magic and it’s business as usual except for the sweepers mentioning the March 28th move once or twice an hour. No additional mentions on the website or social media. Seems like they’d increase the promotion of the change when it’s less than 24 hours away. Not sure what 106.3 is doing but they’ve been running more ads about moving since the announcement than Magic.
 
Perhaps someone can record both feeds of the swap. Only a few hours left till the switch.

EDIT: On a side note, now with the switch imminent, it would be nice for Magic to restore their translator for the Asheville area, but I doubt that will happen. They have 95.1 in Clemson and 101.5 in Anderson, but maybe they can get another one eventually tho.
 
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I'm really surprised they area still calling this station "WORD" when its namesake and former frequency,
950 WORD-AM, went to the sports station.
I would be calling the station "WYRD" as in "Wired"
or even better, "Weird." 😉 🤔 😂

EDIT: They were testing early this morning about 3 AM,
for about 1 minute I heard WORD
on both 106.3 and 98.9...
Then a few minutes later I heard Magic
on both 98.9 and 106.3...
 
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KyleAndMelissa22 said:
I wonder how long this will last, maybe someday there will also be a swap with Magic & Planet (106.3 & 93.3). I think the AC Format should be on a stronger signal than one of the Rock Formats, but as was mentioned the Popular Morning Shows on the other big signals is probably why Magic was chosen to goto 106.3
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Doubtful. Rock is on a resurgence and AC (including CHR) has been trending downward for some time.
 
KyleAndMelissa22 said:
I'm really surprised they area still calling this station "WORD" when its namesake and former frequency,
950 WORD-AM, went to the sports station.
I would be calling the station "WYRD" as in "Wired"
or even better, "Weird." 😉 🤔 😂
Click to expand...
I detect your tongue in cheek tone, but as I'm sure you know, there is "meaning" and some heritage behind WORD. Branding, etc.
 
Well they just switched, no fanfare on Magic, they just ended with Murphy Sam and Jodi saying bye, then they played Cry Me a River from Justin Timberlake followed by UB40's Red Red Wine. But there was a few minute countdown on WYRD which then counted the past few seconds.

The switch was instant and lots of excitement on WYRD and quite a bittersweet goodbye on Magic, it kinda feels that way too, but I can still pick up 106.3 fairly well in Gaffney so not too big of a deal for me.

Kinda sux about distant listening tho, maybe soon they can be on a Class C signal again, or better. And they still stream of course, I may choose the HD signal on 98.9-2 instead of 106.3 at times.
 
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