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Z-995 Best Default CHR in INDY (TOP 40 RADIO HISTORY)

M

midwestclubber

Guest
Dont you guys think that Z-99.5 is the best, of the CHRish stations in INDY. I know alot of you guys are fed up WNOU, especially the Jocks. I like the Jocks on ZPL, they are pretty funny, and at least sound happy to be on the air, yet not overly immature. Z-995 just isnt your average CHR,,, and not your Average Hot AC either, we are lucky to have a Rock Leaned Chr in INDY, their format reminds me of the old WNAP of the 80s, with its Rock Top 40 format, as well as the old sound of WZPL back in the late 80s, remember when ZPL was heavy on ROCK HAIR BANDS at the time, going head to head with Q-95, and Q95 was a CHR leaned Rock station. WTTS used to have a Rock Top 40 format too, when they Shifted POWER 92 (bloomington) from a Dance Leaned Top 40, to a Rock Leaned Top 40, around 1988. Does anyone else remember this era?
 
Yes ZPL was a "rock-40" station in the late 80s. They played a very limited amount of rhythmic/urban music. Q-95 at that time was still closer to their harder "chain-saw" sound.

> Dont you guys think that Z-99.5 is the best, of the CHRish
> stations in INDY. I know alot of you guys are fed up WNOU,
> especially the Jocks. I like the Jocks on ZPL, they are
> pretty funny, and at least sound happy to be on the air, yet
> not overly immature. Z-995 just isnt your average CHR,,,
> and not your Average Hot AC either, we are lucky to have a
> Rock Leaned Chr in INDY, their format reminds me of the old
> WNAP of the 80s, with its Rock Top 40 format, as well as the
> old sound of WZPL back in the late 80s, remember when ZPL
> was heavy on ROCK HAIR BANDS at the time, going head to head
> with Q-95, and Q95 was a CHR leaned Rock station. WTTS
> used to have a Rock Top 40 format too, when they Shifted
> POWER 92 (bloomington) from a Dance Leaned Top 40, to a Rock
> Leaned Top 40, around 1988. Does anyone else remember this
> era?
>
 
There still was a bit of anti-disco backlash even in the late 80s..some CHRs sharply limited anything rhythmic.<P ID="signature">______________
Did the Corinthians ever write back?</P>
 
So when did Z99.5 shift from CHR-pop to hot AC (but continued to lean rhythmic)?
 
ZPL experienced some moderate success back in the late 80s/early 90s. They focused a lot on the metal bands that were out then (Poison, Winger, Skid Row) and mixed in the Paula Abduls, Janet Jacksons, and Michael Boltons of that time. They even started calling themselves "Indy's #1 Hit Music Station". The lineup of Barry Donovan & Ann Craig "The Breakfast Club", Don Payne, John Trout, Jeff Lewis, Michael J. Powers, and Crystal was so talented (Whatever happened to all of these guys?)

Unfortunately, that success only lasted a few years, but it sure sounded good while it was there. Gave Q a run for their money. Now it looks like Jack and WKLU are taking a run at them...and having some success.

Let the games begin again!


> Yes ZPL was a "rock-40" station in the late 80s. They
> played a very limited amount of rhythmic/urban music. Q-95
> at that time was still closer to their harder "chain-saw"
> sound.
>
> > Dont you guys think that Z-99.5 is the best, of the CHRish
>
> > stations in INDY. I know alot of you guys are fed up
> WNOU,
> > especially the Jocks. I like the Jocks on ZPL, they are
> > pretty funny, and at least sound happy to be on the air,
> yet,
> > not overly immature. Z-995 just isnt your average CHR,,,
> > and not your Average Hot AC either, we are lucky to have a
>
> > Rock Leaned Chr in INDY, their format reminds me of the
> old
> > WNAP of the 80s, with its Rock Top 40 format, as well as
> the
> > old sound of WZPL back in the late 80s, remember when ZPL
> > was heavy on ROCK HAIR BANDS at the time, going head to
> head
> > with Q-95, and Q95 was a CHR leaned Rock station. WTTS
> > used to have a Rock Top 40 format too, when they Shifted
> > POWER 92 (bloomington) from a Dance Leaned Top 40, to a
> Rock
> > Leaned Top 40, around 1988. Does anyone else remember
> this
> > era?
> >
>
 
> ZPL experienced some moderate success back in the late
> 80s/early 90s. They focused a lot on the metal bands that
> were out then (Poison, Winger, Skid Row) and mixed in the
> Paula Abduls, Janet Jacksons, and Michael Boltons of that
> time. They even started calling themselves "Indy's #1 Hit
> Music Station". The lineup of Barry Donovan & Ann Craig "The
> Breakfast Club", Don Payne, John Trout, Jeff Lewis, Michael
> J. Powers, and Crystal was so talented (Whatever happened to
> all of these guys?)
>
Ann Craig works with her Husband John Cinnamon Mornings on WYJZ, Crystal Bounced around at Emmis for awhile at WKLR and WENS in the early to mid 90's. Don Payne i think worked behind the scenes for a while after going off air at ZPL (Tom Berg would know more about Don. John Trout is in Youngstown using his real name i think as a pd or MD. Michael J Powers went to seattle for a while after leaving ZPL, Jeff Lewis went to Hot 96.3 for a while after Bill Shirk Signed it on in the early 90's. Dont Know About Barry Donavon though.

> Unfortunately, that success only lasted a few years, but it
> sure sounded good while it was there. Gave Q a run for their
> money. Now it looks like Jack and WKLU are taking a run at
> them...and having some success.
>
> Let the games begin again!
>
>
> > Yes ZPL was a "rock-40" station in the late 80s. They
> > played a very limited amount of rhythmic/urban music. Q-95
>
> > at that time was still closer to their harder "chain-saw"
> > sound.
> >
> > > Dont you guys think that Z-99.5 is the best, of the
> CHRish
> >
> > > stations in INDY. I know alot of you guys are fed up
> > WNOU,
> > > especially the Jocks. I like the Jocks on ZPL, they are
>
> > > pretty funny, and at least sound happy to be on the air,
>
> > yet,
> > > not overly immature. Z-995 just isnt your average
> CHR,,,
> > > and not your Average Hot AC either, we are lucky to have
> a
> >
> > > Rock Leaned Chr in INDY, their format reminds me of the
> > old
> > > WNAP of the 80s, with its Rock Top 40 format, as well as
>
> > the
> > > old sound of WZPL back in the late 80s, remember when
> ZPL
> > > was heavy on ROCK HAIR BANDS at the time, going head to
> > head
> > > with Q-95, and Q95 was a CHR leaned Rock station. WTTS
>
> > > used to have a Rock Top 40 format too, when they Shifted
>
> > > POWER 92 (bloomington) from a Dance Leaned Top 40, to a
> > Rock
> > > Leaned Top 40, around 1988. Does anyone else remember
> > this
> > > era?
> > >
> >
>
 
Actually, I had heard that Barry was working for the Pacers. Any truth to that?

> > ZPL experienced some moderate success back in the late
> > 80s/early 90s. They focused a lot on the metal bands that
> > were out then (Poison, Winger, Skid Row) and mixed in the
> > Paula Abduls, Janet Jacksons, and Michael Boltons of that
> > time. They even started calling themselves "Indy's #1 Hit
> > Music Station". The lineup of Barry Donovan & Ann Craig
> "The
> > Breakfast Club", Don Payne, John Trout, Jeff Lewis,
> Michael
> > J. Powers, and Crystal was so talented (Whatever happened
> to
> > all of these guys?)
> >
> Ann Craig works with her Husband John Cinnamon Mornings on
> WYJZ, Crystal Bounced around at Emmis for awhile at WKLR and
> WENS in the early to mid 90's. Don Payne i think worked
> behind the scenes for a while after going off air at ZPL
> (Tom Berg would know more about Don. John Trout is in
> Youngstown using his real name i think as a pd or MD.
> Michael J Powers went to seattle for a while after leaving
> ZPL, Jeff Lewis went to Hot 96.3 for a while after Bill
> Shirk Signed it on in the early 90's. Dont Know About Barry
> Donavon though.
>
> > Unfortunately, that success only lasted a few years, but
> it
> > sure sounded good while it was there. Gave Q a run for
> their
> > money. Now it looks like Jack and WKLU are taking a run at
>
> > them...and having some success.
> >
> > Let the games begin again!
> >
> >
> > > Yes ZPL was a "rock-40" station in the late 80s. They
> > > played a very limited amount of rhythmic/urban music.
> Q-95
> >
> > > at that time was still closer to their harder
> "chain-saw"
> > > sound.
> > >
> > > > Dont you guys think that Z-99.5 is the best, of the
> > CHRish
> > >
> > > > stations in INDY. I know alot of you guys are fed up
> > > WNOU,
> > > > especially the Jocks. I like the Jocks on ZPL, they
> are
> >
> > > > pretty funny, and at least sound happy to be on the
> air,
> >
> > > yet,
> > > > not overly immature. Z-995 just isnt your average
> > CHR,,,
> > > > and not your Average Hot AC either, we are lucky to
> have
> > a
> > >
> > > > Rock Leaned Chr in INDY, their format reminds me of
> the
> > > old
> > > > WNAP of the 80s, with its Rock Top 40 format, as well
> as
> >
> > > the
> > > > old sound of WZPL back in the late 80s, remember when
> > ZPL
> > > > was heavy on ROCK HAIR BANDS at the time, going head
> to
> > > head
> > > > with Q-95, and Q95 was a CHR leaned Rock station.
> WTTS
> >
> > > > used to have a Rock Top 40 format too, when they
> Shifted
> >
> > > > POWER 92 (bloomington) from a Dance Leaned Top 40, to
> a
> > > Rock
> > > > Leaned Top 40, around 1988. Does anyone else remember
>
> > > this
> > > > era?
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
 
> WENS in the early to mid 90's. Don Payne i think worked
> behind the scenes for a while after going off air at ZP

Don was also chief engineer at 'ZPL during those days, along with a little contract work at WQFE in Brownsburg. He left for about a year to do engineering over in Cincy, but is now back in town as chief engineer at Radio One's cluster (WHHH,WYJZ,WTLC, and WDNI-TV). I ran into him about a month ago and he is doing great.
 
Hey I'm here alive and well in Indy. I'm Chief Engineer of the Radio-One group. We have 3-FM, 1-AM and 1-TV. Yes it keeps me busy. 80% of what I do is budgets and admin stuff and work on computers. Barry Donovan (last I heard) was Promotions Director of the Pacers. He has a law degree. I saw Jeff Lewis a while back at a funeral for Betty Neeley from ZPL. Gary Hoffmann is still running DJ's to Go. Boog Mathews is in Indy, building equipment for radio stations under the name Enberg Electronics. Crystal is at WKLU-FM. Thanks for the kind words. We had fun. Roger Ingram was a blast to work for as GM, and he encouraged us to be creative. I left Indy for 3 years for a stint as Director of Engineering for CBS radio in Cincinnati (I always wanted to work for Q-102) then came back here to take this gig at R1. Crystal (tries to ) maintain a list of the old ZPL'ers and we actually got together about a year ago at the Old Point Tavern downtown. (Of course ALL radio people were welcome, not just ZPL!) We can't leave Bernie and Tim Bonnell out! -Don
 
If someone wants to get technical, WZPL is "modern" AC...not CHR. PD Scott Sands makes sure his station has a few of the "well-performing" Top 40 tunes, as well as those from Hot AC.

Even further...there are two different formats of CHR: Mainstream (WNOU) and Rhythmic (WHHH).
 
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