Previous Format: Active Rock “Rock 103.5” WRCX
New Format: Rhythmic Oldies “The New 103.5” (eventually “103.5 The Beat” WUBT)
Date & Time Of Change: November 3, 1998 at 5:00pm
More Info: Wikipedia
Related Changes: “103.5 The Beat” flips from Rhythmic Oldies to CHR “Kiss-FM”
Jeremy
I remember recording this. They had a massive goodbye weekend on the Rock 103.5 side of things. The new format was already known in the internet world, but they wouldn’t mention it on the air, even when asked. They went into a jockless weekend and switched to Jammin’ Oldies that Monday.
By April of 1999, we had 2 rhythmic oldies stations, this format was a huge fad. 106.9 in Milwaukee. WJMR in Milwaukee swapped frequencies with it’s sister Classical station and moved to it’s current 98.3 frequency in late 2000, and tweaked to Urban AC in August of 2001. Was a very short lived fad, but I remember it vividly.
In regards to 103.5, about 3 years later, I listened to the same station switch to it’s current format, on the same radio. The morning guy on 103-5 The Beat was clear “It will be CHR. So if you like Nsync, Britney Spears, etc you’ll love it.”
Went jockless at 2 or 3 PM right after the Midday host’s shift on 1-12-01 and switched to CHR “Kiss 103.5” at 4.