As first indicated in our 1/5 Domain Insight, Emmis flipped 98.7 WEPN-FM New York and Gospel 1190 WLIB to Bilingual AC “La Exitosa 98.7” at 6pm today.
Like the similar presented formats that have popped-up in markets including Austin, Bakersfield, Orlando, and San Antonio since it first debuted in Miami in November 2023, the new brand will be Gold based featuring English and Spanish hits from the 1980s through 2000s with core artists including Madonna, Ricardo Arjona, Prince, Shakira, Phil Collins, Chayanne and Bryan Adams with the presentation all in Spanish.
Like its predecessor the new brand is being overseen by consultant Mike McVay, who said, “The strong Dominican, Puerto Rican, Columbian, Mexican, and Ecuadorian communities in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are radio’s most passionate fans. Delivering the popular hit music these diverse communities grew up listening to, will provide a unifying listening experience New York has never heard before.”
Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan noted that while they have been attempting to sell the stations commented, “While Emmis has taken steps to sell its radio station portfolio, Emmis Chairman Jeff Smulyan called the launch of the station an easy decision. “We’ve been trying to sell our last two stations in New York, but when ESPN/Good Karma moved to AM after the LMA, we thoroughly reviewed the New York market and saw a significant opportunity for a Spanish AC format playing English and Spanish hits from the 1980s to 2000s. We believe the opportunity was too good to pass up and have spent several months preparing for the launch.”
The new brand replaces the temporary “pop-up” Hot AC “TJ 98.7“. That format launched via LMA with United Stations and McVay to promote the syndicated “The TJ Show” hosted by New Jersey native TJ Taormina on August 31, 2024 following the end of the twelve year LMA of the station from Emmis to ESPN and successor Good Karma Brands to operate Sports “ESPN New York“.
The “TJ 98.7” brand signed-off with Taormina hosting a live show with the station signing off with Jax “Victoria’s Secret” leading into the launch of the new format with Cristian Castro “No Podrás”, Haddaway “What Is Love”, Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”, N’Sync “Bye Bye Bye”, and Franco de Vita “Tú de Qué Vas”.
Listen to the launch of “La Exitosa” at FormatChange.com.
