With the July 4 holiday falling on a Tuesday this year, there was no one day leading into the holiday weekend full of most of the format changes this year. Changes were spread out across the week leading into the holiday and even onto the holiday itself.
The trend this year seemed to lean towards a rebranding as opposed to an all-out change or seeing a Silent station return to the air.
Amarillo TX – Townsquare Media Variety Hits “98.7 Jack-FM” KPRF Amarillo TX shifted to Classic Rock “Lonestar 98.7“.
Boston – Beasley Media’s 1330 WRCA Watertown MA/106.1 W291CZ Boston will pickup Bloomberg Radio’s Business network programming on July 4.
Branson MO – Earls Family Broadcasting flipped Talk/Classic Hits 106.3 KRZK to Classic Country and 1220 KCAX/98.1 K251BZ from Classic Country to Classic Hits.
Fort Collins CO – After stunting with Christmas Music, iHeartMedia Christian AC “Up 107.3” K297AK Loveland CO/97.9 KXBG-HD2 Cheyenne WY went to 90s Hits “iHeart 90s 107.3“.
Kinston NC – Curtis Media flips 102.9 WELS-FM Kinston to part of its Beach Music “Beach Boogie & Blues” network.
Manchester/Nashua NH – Absolute Broadcasting Sports “ESPN New Hampshire” 900 WGHM Nashua/1250 WGAM Manchester drops the format for Oldies.
Norfolk VA – Sinclair Communications Rock “96.5 Rocks” W243DJ Norfolk/106.1 WUSH-HD2 Poquoson flips to Soft Oldies “Vintage 96.5“.
Panama City FL – iHeartMedia shifts Party Hits “96.3 Real Fun Beach Radio” 590 WDIZ/96.3 W242BF Panama City to Active Rock “96 Rock“.
Panama City FL – Horizon Broadcasting’s 104.3 WGSX Lynn Haven (formerly WBYW) flipped to Sports as “104.3 ESPN Panama City” after being off the air for much of the past few years.
Philadelphia – iHeartMedia Hot AC “Mix 106.1” WISX Philadelphia flipped to Rhythmic Throwbacks “Real 106.1“.
Richmond VA – SummitMedia CHR “Hot 106.1” W291CL/WURV-HD2 Richmond flipped to Sports “Sports 106.1” utilizing programming from CBS Sports Radio.
Rochester NY – iHeartMedia Hot AC “100.5 The Drive” WDVI rebrands as “Mix 100.5“.
San Antonio – iHeartMedia CHR “Mix 96.1” KXXM rebrands as “96.1 Now“.
St. Cloud MN – Townsquare Media Active Rock “Rev 96.7” KZRV Sartell/St. Cloud MN became Classic Hits “96.7 The River”.
Tyler TX – East Texas Results Group restores Silent 95.3 KFRO-FM Gilmer/102.3 KLJT Jacksonville to CHR as “Fun 95.3/102.3“. Former CHR “Breeze-FM” went Silent last August.
Tyler TX – Alpha Media Classic Hits “Sunny 106.5” KOOI flips to Variety Hits “106.5 Jack-FM“.
Washington DC – Reston Translator LLC has leased 105.5 105.5 W288BS Reston/Washington to Russian Federation news agency “Radio Sputnik“.
West Palm Beach – Alpha Media Sports “Fox Sports 640” WMEN rebrands as “640 The Hurricane“.