Update 3/9: After stunting on Thursday with protest songs as “Occupy 99.1“, W256BU flipped to Soft Oldies as “Sunny 99.1” at 12am with all the songs featuring Sunny in the title. That format would not be the final format as the station then shifted to Urban “Hot 99.1” at 3pm. The new format is targeted directly against Albany Broadcasting’s “Jamz 96.3” WAJZ. WAJZ’s Program Director Tansch resigned last week to join Townsquare.
The first hour of Hot 99.1 consisted of:
Mims – This Is Why I’m Hot
Beyonce – Love On Top
John Legend & Andre 3000 – Green Light
Kirko Bangz – Drank In My Cup
Nicki Minaj – Super Bass
Monica & Brandy – It All Belongs To Me
Chris Strip – Strip
Future & T.I. – Magic
Ashanti & Busta Rhymes – The Woman You Love
Drake & Lil’ Wayne – The Motto
New Edition – I’m Still In Love
Trey Songz – Can’t Be Friends
Drake & Nicki Minaj – Make Me Proud
Kanye West & T-Pain – Good Life
Update 3/6: W256BU has begun stunting with construction sounds which will continue until 12am on Friday, March 9.
At that time the station will debut Soft Oldies “Sunny 99.1“. The station’s Facebook Page describes the new format as “Albany’s Greatest Hits and Brightest Favorites”. Said page features a list of core artists,
We go on-the-air on March 9th at midnight. Wake up Friday to the sounds of The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, Barbra Streisand, Anne Murray and Barry Manilow, Take That, Bon Jovi, Chicago, Olivia Newton-John, Elton John, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Darin, Christopher Cross, Vanessa L. Williams, Simon & Garfunkel, Whitney Houston, Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, Michael Bolton, The Supremes, The Four Seasons, Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, The Temptations, The Monkees, Stevie Wonder, The Righteous Brothers, Buddy Holly, The Beach Boys.
Original Report 2/7: Last year Townsquare Media acquired 99.1 W256BU Albany, NY from Digital Radio Broadcasting for $245,000. Broadcasting with 250 watts from the tower of sister “Crush 105.7” WQSH, the translator covers the majority of the Albany market.
The company has registered a pair of domains for its new acquisition: 991TheMountain.com and Sunny991Albany.com. A Facebook page is in place for the latter teasing “The brightest way to fill your day with sound” coming on May 7, 2012.
99.1 is licensed to be fed by 105.7 WQSH, likely by an HD subchannel when the separate programming debuts.
