After weeks of rumors, Entercom relaunched Hot AC “Star 94.1” WSTR Smyrna/Atlanta GA as Rhythmic AC “Star 94“.
Positioning as “The Rhythm of Atlanta”, the move brings WSTR back to its heritage brand without the .1 in the name. Core artists will include Prince, Bruno Mars, Madonna, and Lady Gaga.
The first hour of the new “Star 94” featured:
- Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Something
- Dee Lite – Groove Is In The Heart
- Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo – Give Me Everything
- Prince – I Will Die For U
- Eve ft. Gwen Stefani – I Will Blow Your Mind
- Britney Spears – Baby One More Time
- The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
- Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
- Notorious B.I.G. – Mo Money Mo Problems
- Lady Gaga – Just Dance
- Soft Cell – Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go
- Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now
- Naughty By Nature – O.P.P.
- Rhianna ft. Calvin Harris – We Found Love
- Aalyiah – Back & Forth
- Information Society – What’s On Your Mind
Announcing The New Star 94! We think collectively we need some good energy in 2020 and beyond. We’ve listened to your feedback and the New Star 94 will deliver the best FEEL GOOD music that puts you in the best mood! You'll feel The Rhythm of Atlanta every minute! pic.twitter.com/3kNMY6GpZj
— Star 94 Atlanta (@Star94Atlanta) September 17, 2020
Entercom, a leading media and entertainment company and one of the two largest radio broadcasters in the U.S., today announced the relaunch of The New Star 94, the rhythm of Atlanta, effective immediately. The upbeat station will be home to Atlanta’s largest music library, delivering a unique blend of expertly curated music from artists like Prince, Bruno Mars, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and more.
Listeners will enjoy more variety and unpredictability as part of their listening experience, including surprise moments and tunes that have been missing from ATL’s airwaves.
“The New Star 94 will bring the rhythm of Atlanta to life and capture the vibe of the metro area,” said Rick Caffey, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Atlanta. “In these difficult times, radio serves as a platform to both entertain and inform. We look forward to growing the well-established Star brand into a place for our audience to feel good through top hits from their favorite artists.”
Original Report 1:45pm: The rumored format adjustment at Entercom appears to be taking place at 3pm today.
The station is promoting on-air a “Big” announcement to take place at that time. Subscribers to the station’s email list were sent a teaser stating:
It moves you. Your emotions are changed by it. It’s the beat of your heart, and in every song you hear… and we think it makes the world go round.
As a Gold Star Access member we wanted to let you know a little info 1st. Listen at 3:00PM EST for a big announcement.
__________ of Atlanta is coming…
While earlier expectations centered around a flip to Variety Hits using the “Big 94” branding, we are told the station will be moving in a Rhythmic AC direction musically with “Rhythm of Atlanta” positioning.
donobrian
I don’t trust American radio to do this format right. The right balance of the ones that test through the roof, rotating secondaries, and a splash of “spike” songs like salt to a stew is critical or it burns fast or its to eclectic.
I guess they figure a segue to classic or adult hits is always an option, probably what ends up happening.
Hard to have faith when we know that the classic hits stations don’t understand how to use rhythmic records correctly when they are running the show of a rhythmic format. Sorta like calling your local chinese take out and asking for baked ziti.