Washington D.C.
“Z104” WWZZ Signs-Off
On 12:00pm on January 4, 2006 Bonneville Radio announced a shuffling of its Washington, D.C stations. News WTOP moved from its 1500/104.3/107.7 simulcast to 103.5. Classical WGMS moved from 103.5 to the 104.1/103.9 simulcast that had been the home of Adult CHR Z104. This was to pave way for the March debut of Washington Post Radio on the 1500/104.3/107.7 simulcast that had been home to WTOP. Z104 had been through a number of iterations in its 9+ year history. First was the pure CHR format in the mid to late 90’s. It’s evolution to a more adult sound lead to the station dropping the Z from its name for a few years in favor of “More Music 104” before returning to the Z104 name. Listen here as Z104 plays its final song, gives its last ID, and GM Joel Oxley announces wh...
99.1 WHFS becomes “El Zol” WLZL
At noon on January 12, 2005, 99.1 WHFS was switched to a Tropical Latin music format. Its call letters were soon changed to WZLL for a few days, and then again to WLZL, and the station was rebranded as “El Zol 99.1 FM”. Although a format change had been rumored to some extent for years–due to slipping ratings (22nd) in its primary market of Washington (although its ratings in Baltimore remained high)–the switch was not publicized beforehand and took many long-time fans, and even most of the station’s staff, by surprise. Most of the station’s staff were not told of the change until less than an hour before it happened, and new management presided in the air studio as the former format was playing its last few songs. Aircheck Courtesy of HFStival.com. Summ...
WWZZ Becomes Z104 Again
Previous Format: Modern AC “More Music 104” New Format: Modern AC “Z104” Date & Time Of Change: April 8, 2004 More Info: Wikipedia Aircheck Contributed by David Pierce
CHR “Hot 99.5” WIHT Signs-On
After the merger of AMFM Inc. and Clear Channel Communications, the Jammin Oldies format, which AMFM had been debuting in many markets began to falter. With little corporate support and a high burnout factor in the music, it was not surprising that the format didn’t last longterm. In the meantime, Clear Channel began debuting its “brand” of CHR’s in many markets. Washington, already home to Bonneville’s weaker powererd Z104, was next in line. With the “Kiss” name unavailable, Hot 99.5 was to be born. Getting there was where things got interesting. Bucking the trends, WJMO management gave the station a farewell weekend for the staff and listeners to say goodbye. On April 2, 2001 at 7:00am, Survivor Radio was born. Just like the TV show, 5 people wer...
“Jammin 99.5 ” WJMO drops Jammin Oldies
After the merger of AMFM Inc. and Clear Channel Communications, the Jammin Oldies format, which AMFM had been debuting in many markets began to falter. With little corporate support and a high burnout factor in the music, it was not surprising that the format didn’t last longterm. In the meantime, Clear Channel began debuting its “brand” of CHR’s in many markets. Washington, already home to Bonneville’s weaker powererd Z104, was next in line. With the “Kiss” name unavailable, Hot 99.5 was to be born. Getting there was where things got interesting. Bucking the trends, WJMO management gave the station a farewell weekend for the staff and listeners to say goodbye. On April 2, 2001 at 7:00am, Survivor Radio was born. Just like the TV show, 5 people wer...
Pulse 94.3 Bids Farewell
Previous Format: Modern AC “Pulse 94.3” WPLC New Format: Spanish AC “Amor 94.3” Date & Time Of Change: June 30, 2000 More Info: Wikipedia
Xtra 104 Becomes Z104
Previous Format: 70’s Hits “Xtra 104” WXTR/WXVR New Format: CHR “Z104” WWZZ/WWVZ Date & Time Of Change: July 15, 1996 at 11:00am More Info: Wikipedia
The Final Hour of CHR on WAVA
In the early 1990’s, Emmis Broadcasting was one of the premier ownership groups in the country consisting of many stations of the former Doubleday and NBC Radio groups. However, one bad business decision (Ownership of the Seattle Mariners) caused the company to auction off many of its stations to the highest bidder. While WFAN in New York went to Infinity Broadcasting, some stations were unable to keep their current format by their new owners. Salem Broadcasting acquired WAVA and quickly stated its obvious intent to flip the station religious. WAVA had an illustrious history. One of the first FM all news stations in the 70’s, the station had been an AOR in the early 80’s when the decision to go Top 40 was made. Under such monikers as “All Hit 105”, “Powe...
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