The Christmas music on WWLY Panama City gave way to its new identity of Classic Country “Wild Willie 100” at 8am this morning. Promoting “Real! Country! Legends!” such as George Strait, Reba McIntyre, Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson, the new format creates an older skewing in-market competitor for iHeartMedia’s market leading 92.5 WPAP and Powell Broadcasting’s “Kick’n 103.5” WKNK. Gulf South Communications Classic Country “96.9 The Legend” WDJR Hartford AL, which primarily serves the Dothan market, is also heard throughout much of the Panama City market.
Marc Summers, Operations Manager for Magic Broadcasting Panama City will serve as Program Director for WWLY.
Original Report 3/20: With Rock “97X” WYYX relocating back to 97.7, Magic Broadcasting has launched Christmas Music “100.1 Santa-FM” WWLY Panama City Beach FL.
The station has gone beyond the usual Christmas stunt to at least give the appearance of its promise of “Christmas Hits All Year”. The station is running live remotes this weekend including “Rudolph’s Foam Party” on Saturday, March 25 described as “Christmas music? Check! Glow sticks? Check! Reindeer hats? Check! 10,000 gallons of foam? Check!”
Prior to WYYX’s tower being struck by lightning and 100.1 becoming the temporary home of “97X” last August, the station was Rhythmic Oldies “Groove 100.1” WVVE.
Joseph_Gallant 
coughitup 
I can’t see this as a year-round format on anything outside of maybe an HD-2 subchannel.
But if it is, then it would be something the entire industry would be watching.
If it were to be a year-round format, and if it gets a decent share of listeners between January 1st and November 1st (read: a 1.5 overall share or better during that period), then maybe the all-year-all-Christmas format will be copied extensively, especially by iHeart Christmas (a/k/a iHeart Media), who could flip many AC’s to an all-year-all-Christmas format.
OH, my God! A Christmas all year music station! we’ve already got those on the internet. (By the way, one of the pet peeves I’ve given up for Lent is Christmas music, since it’s not appropriate for the season of prayer, fasting & almsgiving.)