Modern AC
105.1 WMXV ends Showtunes stunt, launches Modern AC “The Buzz”
Previous Format: Hot AC “Mix 105” WMXV New Format: Modern AC “105.1 The Buzz” WDBZ Date & Time Of Change: November 14, 1996 at 6:00am More Info: Wikipedia In 1996, Mix 105 began to feel the squeeze of WLTW and WPLJ. Market speculation had the station flipping to Mainstream CHR to compete against WKTU, however Z100 beat them to the punch by returning to its heritage sound. By November, the station had announced the hiring of new morning team Kelly & Kline from WTIC-FM in Hartford. On November 14th, when the morning team debuted, it did so by kicking off a brand new station. 105.1 The Buzz debuted as an 80’s leaning Modern AC, attempting to fill a niche in between K-Rock and WPLJ along with gaining listeners disenfranchised by Z100 and WNEW dropping ou...
WSHE Becomes 103.5 Planet Radio
Previous Format: Rock “She 103” WSHE New Format: Modern AC “The New 103.5” (Would become “103.5 Planet Radio” WPLL later in 1996) Date & Time Of Change: May 2, 1996 at 1:03pm More Info: Sun Sentinel, Wikipedia
104.7 KZZP Returns After 5 Year Hiatus
KZZP. During the 80’s, those call letters were synonymous with what was great about Phoenix radio. KZZP was the market’s legendary CHR during that decade. However, in April 1991, like many CHRs across the country, KZZP was forced to make big changes due to declining ratings and the polarization of the CHR format; they flipped to Hot AC as KVRY. Almost 5 years later, with KVRY on its death bed, owner Nationwide Communications decided to bring back the KZZP calls. But the format, while positioned as a CHR (the slogan was “Your Hit Music Station”), was actually a Modern AC — one of the first Modern ACs in the country. At the time, the move made sense. KKFR (Power 92) was a broad Rhythmic CHR that played a lot of the songs that KZZP as a CHR would have played. Ins...
