It’s the most wonderful time of the year. A time to blow up your station’s previous branding and start fresh after blowing out your playlist for 6-8 weeks of music that you cannot play except for maybe that one day in July when people like to pretend it is winter.
While there will be many others changes that seemingly come out of nowhere (even beyond those we track in our Domain Insight reports), the following is a list of stations where changes have been confirmed, expected, or at least worth monitoring between Christmas Day and January 7 (the first Monday of 2019).
Completed Changes
Albuquerque – iHeartMedia flipped Urban “100.9 The Beat” 100.9 K265CA/KZRR-HD2 to Soft AC “100.9 The Breeze” after stunting as “Santa 100.9“. (12/26)
Augusta ME – Mountain Wireless has flipped Oldies “Cruisin 93.5” WCTB Fairfield ME to Classic Country “Cruisin Country 93.5“. (12/26)
Brattleboro VT/Keene NH – Saga Communications has launched Soft AC “EZ Favorites 100.3/107.5” on 100.3 W262CL/WKVT-HD2 Brattleboro VT and 107.5 W298BT/WKNE-HD2 Keene.
Bryan OH – Swick Broadcasting Company has flipped Country 104.5 WLZZ Montpelier/Bryan OH to Classic Rock “Z104“.
Buffalo – Townsquare Media AC “Mix 96” WMSX flips to Soft AC “96.1 The Breeze“. (12/26)
Canton – iHeartMedia AC “101.7 My-FM” WHOF relaunches with an older and softer playlist lean as “Sunny 101.7“. (12/26)
Charleston – Cumulus Media Country “96.9 Nash-FM” WIWF switches to Classic Hits “96.9 The Wolf” following Christmas music microformat. (12/26)
Clewiston FL – Glades Media Company has flipped Classic Hits 590 WAFC Clewiston FL and its network of translators to Country “Pure Country WAFC“. (12/26)
Clinton MO – Radford Media has relaunched Classic Rock “104.9 The Eagle” KXEA as “Rock 104.9“.
Mankato – Subarctic Media Oldies 100.5 KXAC flips to Classic Hits “Magic 100.5” after stunting as “The Christmas Igloo“. (12/26)
Minneapolis – Cumulus Media’s former “Vibe 105” 105.1 WGVX Lakeville, 105.3 WLUP Cambridge, and 105.7 WWWM-FM Eden Prairie/Minneapolis will end stunting with Christmas music switched to Soft AC “Love 105“. (12/28)
North Platte – Eagle Radio’s “ESPN 1410” KOOQ flipped to Classic Hits after stunting with Christmas music as “Reindeer Radio” since December 1. (12/27)
Palm Springs – QChella Media Corporation takes over operations of Classic Hits “Valley 106.5” 1270 KVGH/106.5 K293CL and flips it to LGBTQ targeted Classic Dance 106.5 KGAY. (12/26)
Richmond IN – Brewer Media Christian AC “Sunny 95.3” W237AT/WQLK-HD3 flips to Classic Country “95.3 The Legend“. (12/26)
Salt Lake City – Capital Broadcasting’s former Talk 1430 KLO flipped to Standards “Unforgettable 1430“. (12/26)
Springfield MA – Cumulus Media Sports “1450 The Hall” WHLL flipped to Country “98.1 Nash Icon“ with addition of new translator. (12/28)
Tampa – Beasley Media AC “B98.7” WPBB comes out of Christmas Music with a flip to Classic Rock “98.7 The Shark“. (12/26)
Taylorville IL – Miller Media Soft AC “96.5 Easy-FM” W243DN/WMKR-HD2 flips to Oldies “Cruisin 96.5” (12/26)
Confirmed Changes
Likelihood of format change = 100%
Jacksonville – Cox Media Group will flip 690 WOKV from a simulcast of News/Talk 104.5 WOKV-FM to Sports “ESPN 690” on January 2.
Latrobe PA – LHTC Media Conservative Talk “PA Talk” 910 WAVL Apollo/98.7 W254CR Latrobe PA will flip to Variety Hits “98.7 Jack-FM” on 12/31.
New Orleans – Cumulus Media’s 106.7 KKND will launch a new undisclosed format on Monday, January 7 following move of Urban AC KMEZ to 102.9.
Dothan – Alarado Media’s Silent 700 WARB/105.9 W290DG will return to the air as Urban “Vibe 105.9” on January 1.
Expected Changes
Likelihood of format change = 70% or greater
Erie – Inspiration Time’s 1530 WZTE is currently stunting with readings of the constitution and patriotic music.
Kennewick/Richland/Pasco – Stephens Media Group’s 960 KALE/106.1 K291BS Richland has been stunting as “Santa 106.1” since Halloween.
Knoxville – Oak Ridge FM’s 1120 WVLZ Maryville/97.1 W246DH Knoxville TN is stunting as “Tender Tennessee Christmas” as it ended its simulcast with 1180 WVLZ.
Port Huron – Liggett Communications’ 1590 WHLX Marine City/92.7 W224DT Port Huron is stunting as “92.7 The Gift” and preparing to debut a new format.
No Changes
Rochester – iHeartMedia Hot AC “Mix 100.5” WDVI dropped the Elvis Duran Show and went Christmas unexpectedly in November but returned to its regular format on 12/26.
Topeka – Alpha Media Classic Country “Country 106.9” KTPK dropped its branding for Christmas music in mid-November but brought it back on 12/26.
Love 105 will flip on 12/28
So far WVLZ, Knoxville is running a bunch of random music.
Another station in Northeast Indiana to keep an eye on is Spanish AC WGBJ Auburn/Fort Wayne as Sarkes Tarzian closes on thier purchase of station and will most likely debut a New format on or around January 3rd 2019.
LMA of WVMT 620 Burlington VT to begin New Year’s Day by Voxx.There is talk of it becoming a WEEI Radio Network affiliate other than a local morning show, and/or getting Red Sox baseball with an appeal to English speaking Canadians nearby.
WVMT is staying Talk. The morning show from WXXX is moving there. Vox already has two Sports stations in the cluster, there is no reason why they would add a third. That’s not to say there may not be further changes in the cluster with the addition of those two, but it won’t be that.
Well Hot 96.7 is out for sure, unless they tweak it to become a real Rhythmic/Hip-hop station. Right now it may image as “Hits and Hip-Hop”, but really it’s just CHR with a few more Rhythmic crossovers than 95XXX, and still stuck in the ratings cellar. Keeping both those stations around as is makes no sense.
OK thanks…K Vahey was saying on Facebook he heard that they could go to EEI Sports Network and/or do Red Sox (if so. WCPV could take Yankees) and that they could make $ appealing to Anglo listeners in and near Montreal. Agreed about sports. But yes, we’ll see about other changes.