Following the launch of “Philly’s 106.1” on WJJZ and WSNI 13 days earlier, it was known that 104.5 would eventually launch a new format of its own. Unlike the Rhythmic AC format at 106.1, which word had leaked out about a few weeks prior, Clear Channel kept the new format of WSNI closely guarded. Market observers guessed anything from Country to Modern Rock to Spanish, all of which could have filled a logical hole in the marketplace. As noon approached on August 23, Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” helped trigger the end of 104.5 as an english language station. A deep voice counted down from diez to uno and the station signed on with Frankie Ruiz’s “Puerto Rico” kicking off “Rumba 104-5”. Thanks to Nick D. for the aircheck.
August 10, 2006 will go down as one of the most historical days in Philadelphia radio history. At Noon, Clear Channel blew up the formats of two of their five FM stations simultaneously. While Smooth Jazz was disappearing from 106.1 WJJZ, 104.5 WSNI was saying goodbye to its Gold based AC format. In both of their places appeared Rhythmic AC “Philly’s 106.1”. It wasn’t a simlucast persay, as FCC regulations forbid two stations with identical coverage from duplicating so much programming, however the same songs played in the same order with different sweepers and commercials leading to the music not lining up completely. The purpose of the so-called “shadowcast” was to get Sunny 104.5’s audience to move over to the new 106.1 format before the debut o...
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