Hot Talk
WMAX Becomes Viva 105.3
Previous Format: Hot Talk “Real Radio 105.3” WMAX New Format: Spanish CHR “Viva 105.3” WWVA-FM Date & Time Of Change: September 15, 2004 at 10:00am More Info: Wikipedia
92.3 K-Rock WXRK becomes Free-FM WFNY-FM
Previous Format: Rock “92.3 K-Rock” WXRK New Format: Hot Talk “92.3 Free-FM” WFNY-FM Date & Time Of Change: January 3, 2006 at 6:00am More Info: RadioInsight, Wikipedia When Howard Stern announced his departure from terrestrial radio in late 2004, then-Infinity Broadcasting was left with a year to put together plans for replacements. In October, they announced a new initiative called Free-FM, branding all of its FM Talk stations under that name and included 4 different shows replacing Stern in various markets. Infinity also announced they would be flipping additional stations to the format including K-Rock in New York. K-Rock, which was New York’s only source for current Rock music, had only earlier in the year refocused from Alternative to Mainstream Rock in a...
KYNG Becomes The Talk That Rocks
Previous Format: Country “Young Country 105.3” New Format: Hot Talk/Active Rock “105.3 The Talk That Rocks” Date & Time Of Change: March 10, 2000 More Info: Wikipedia, DFW Radio History
“FM Talk 97.1” KLSX Los Angeles Becomes Amp Radio
There was no one reason that led to the demise of FM Talk on 97.1 KLSX Los Angeles after 13 years. The departure of Howard Stern to Sirius in 2005 led to the national “Free-FM” experiment bringing in a restructuring that brought in Adam Carolla. The PPM ratings system changed the way stations recorded listeners. But it was commercial radio’s attempt to save money that eventually led to the demise of the format. At 5:00pm on February 20, 2009 KLSX gave way to “Amp Radio”, a CHR presentation that had been airing on the HD2 signal of sister 93.1 KCBS-FM. Unlike most format changes in recent years, the staff of KLSX was given notice ahead of time and allowed to do farewell shows on their way out.
WCKG Becomes Fresh 105.9
With the return of Dan Mason to the head of CBS’ Radio division it soon became apparent that the company’s FM Talkers were in danger. The “Free-FM” brand was dropped and the format was dropped in New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Phoenix, San Diego, and Pittsburgh. In early October 2007, rumors began swirling that the Chicago outlet would soon change. Speculation ran from Rock to Spanish but kept coming back to the “Fresh” AC brand. On October 30 it was officially announced that the station would be changing formats. Afternoon host Steve Dahl was the only survivor as his show would be moved to morning drive on sister “104.3 Jack-FM” WJMK. Outside of Dahl’s show, the station went into stunt mode with Best-Of clips from Dahl’s 11 yea...
B94 Returns
Previous Format: Talk “93.7 The Zone” WTZN New Format: CHR “B94” WBZW Date & Time Of Change: October 5, 2007 at 5:00pm More Info: RadioInsight, Wikipedia
97.1 Free FM Becomes 97.1 The Ticket
Previous Format: FM Talk “Live 97.1 Free-FM” WKRK New Format: Sports “97.1 The Ticket” WXYT-FM Date & Time Of Change: October 1, 2007 at 3:00pm More Info: RadioInsight, Wikipedia Related Changes: Aircheck Contributed by
94.1 WYSP Returns To Rock From Talk
Previous Format: Talk New Format: Classic Rock Date & Time Of Change: 9/13/2007 5:00pm More Info: RadioInsight.com Story
“Free-FM” KZON becomes Rhythmic CHR “101.5 Jamz”
With the Memorial Day weekend flip of WFNY New York back to Rock and the relaunch of KFRC in San Francisco, the new management of CBS Radio made it clear that the “Free-FM” network of talk stations would not be long for the world. While many of the stations simply drop the Free-FM branding, speculation built that others would drop the format altogether. At 5:00pm on June 21, 2007 the Tom Leykis show was “taken over” by intern Renaldo proclaiming the station as “Free Paris” playing Paris Hilton’s music with attempts to get her released from jail early. The stunt lasted until 5:00pm the next day when Renaldo’s major announcement was the launch of “101.5 Jamz”. The Rhythmic CHR format was positioned between Clear Channel’s 104....
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