Wyld 940 to gospel

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

Does anybody know when WYLD 940 went to a Gospel Format. I was thinking Summer of 1989.

Thanks

T.J.

 

[Doctor_Technical]

T.J., I can help a little bit with your question, as I was the specific person who suggested that change to then-owner Interurban Radio. At the time, 940 was trying their heart out with a rap/dance music format, and while I loved hanging out with the music-loving staff in the control room @ 2222 Gravier Street, the numbers on the signal-limited AM station were just not happening. At the time, NOLA had no full-time, full-service Gospel station, and I still remember gathering up my nerve to walk into the manager's office to pitch my observation that those unbelievably-valuable WYLD call letters would be better used on a traditional urban Gospel station like the ones I grew up with in LA and MS. I also wish I had a picture of the look on my face when she said "you're right, let's change the format". A humble engineer doesn't get many chances like that in our business.
I was there in 1988-89, so your timeframe would be about right.
Also: in a funny / ironic twist I now work with one of the radio groups who are on the bleeding edge of the classic hip-hop format. "What is old is new again".

 

[smashedcd]

I am pretty sure it was 1989. I was on a construction site and one of the guys was listening to the New Gospel 940 WYLD on his pickup radio. Who knew back then the AM band would be flooded with the format just 10 years later!