In the early 1990’s CHRs across the country were flipping formats. Baltimore and Washington, D.C. had lost theirs in 1992. In 1993, Philadelphia would lose its. The 106.1 frequency had been CHR for almost a decade under a few monikers: WZGO Z106, WTRK Electric 106, and finally Eagle 106. Smooth Jazz formats were sprouting up across the nation, targeting a more desirable audience to advertisers. After the flip on Friday, March 12th, another station was quick to jump on WEGX’s audience. 100.3 WKSZ, a struggling AC flipped to CHR as Z100 the following Monday, but would later change calls to WPLY “Y100” after a lawsuit from New York’s Z100 fearing audience confusion due to signal overlap. WPLY would have an Adult lean until it flipped to Modern Rock in 1994. Other than Star 104.5’s flirtation with CHR in 1996, it wouldn’t be until Q102 began removing its Rhythmic lean in late 1998 that Philadelphia would have a Mainstream CHR.
jb
One of the sadder days of my childhood. Eagle was my station from ’88 until this moment in ’93. The changeover happened just after lunch, and for some reason, my teacher let me listen to my Walkman during class to hear this, while I had my mom tape it back home.
I was convinced Smooth Jazz wasn’t going to work. But there it was, something like 15 years later, still playing in malls everywhere. Y100 filled in the gap for a while, but it was never the same. Lander and the Nut Hut were something special to wake up to.
Monica
Exactly! It really was one of the saddest days of my “tweendom”. I loved listening to the Nut Hut. Great times!
Emily Anderson
I wasn’t a fan of Eagle 106. I loved WTRK Electric 106 better. I heard the last recording of WTRK and it didn’t get any sentimental goodbyes like Eagle did. The last song played on WTRK was “Candy” by Cameo. They should have played Glass Tiger’s “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone”. I hated the smooth jazz format too. All I can say is thank goodness for LimeWire because I was able to download my favorite tunes and say goodbye to the radio forever.