Townsquare Media’s “Mix 96” WMSX Buffalo NY has come out of Christmas music with a shift to Soft AC as “96.1 The Breeze“.
The station is launching jockless with 10,000 songs commercial-free. Core artists are being listed as “ranging from Air Supply, Fleetwood Mac, and Boys II Men to Adele, Ed Sheeran and Whitney Houston”. The launch took place at midnight following a 10 minute stunt of farewell songs including Elton John “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, Eagles “Already Gone” and REM “It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”.
The first hour of “96.1 The Breeze” consisted of:
Christopher Cross – Sailing
Bonnie Tyler – It’s A Heartache
Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way
Genesis – In Too Deep
Bee Gees – Fanny
Counting Crows – Big Yellow Taxi
Climax Blues Band – I Love You
Rod Stewart – You’re In My Heart
Big Mountain – Baby I Love Your Way
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
Hailey Reinhart – Can’t Help Falling In Love
REO Speedwagon – Keep On Loving You
America – A Horse With No Name
Eric Clapton – Layla
WMSX previously was known as “96.1 Joy-FM” WJYE until its September 2014 relaunch with a younger presentation and move towards Hot AC. The station has been trending upwards in the ratings this year from a 2.5 share in the Spring Nielsen Audio ratings to 3.0 in Summer to 3.8 in the Fall Phase 2 trends.
I grew up in Buffalo until 1997 and have fond memories of listening to 96.1 WJYE with my parents. It’s nice to know that the same music is still on that station.
Leaves Buffalo without a proper AC station, unless you consider the Canadian stations. Instead of branding to breeze, why not stick with their old call sign, a brand that was previously recognized with a softer AC tune than the Mix?