An automation glitch made iHeartMedia Modern AC “Cities 97.1” KTCZ Minneapolis the talk of at least one social media app on Tuesday night.
Just before 7:40pm, KTCZ began looping a few seconds of Max McNown’s 2024 song “A Lot More Free” until 10:09pm when the station began running iHeart’s national Hot AC “Today’s Mix” feed. It would appear the station’s automation computer either froze or died leading to the looping.
Boosted by former Mystery Science Theatre 3000 performer Bill ‘Crooooooooow’ Corbett, the automation glitch went viral on Bluesky. Although not intentional, there were many similarities to the 2014 “#Nelly1057” stunt on Unvision’s KVVF/KVVZ San Francisco that went viral for looping “Hot In Herre” for a weekend ahead of a format change.
INSTANT INSIGHT: You never know what it will be that gets people talking about your station. But we simply need to give people a reason to talk about it and then build off of it to sustain growth. I hope KTCZ leans into the situation and can construct it to something. Many of the comments leaned into what the station was as opposed to what the station is now. Hopefully these listeners are given something to warrant coming back again and again.
Cities97 has been playing the last two bars of the @maxmcnown01.bsky.social song “A Lot More Free” for over 7 minutes. lol methinks this is in error
— Staciaann, Esq. (@staciaann.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 8:52 PM
A radio station here in Minneapolis is stuck –
cities971.iheart.com— Bill Corbett (@billcorbett.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Cities 97.1 in Minneapolis/St. Paul (IHeart) is either doing a new take on a stunt, or Otto Mation has lost his damn mind for the last hour-plus!
— SamWalkerOBXNews 🎙📻📰🥍🦓 (@samwalkerobxnews.com) December 2, 2025 at 10:55 PM
This Cities 97 Sampler reboot is taking the sample part way too literally.
— Ray, future proprietor of the 1990's three star thriller museum (@fatassets.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Maybe there is some kind of subliminal message that is currently uploading into the brains of the 5 people on this bluesky thread and… whoever listens to Cities97
— e_lana (@e-lana.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I am choosing to interpret Cities 97's skipped-record routine as a gimmick for the format change we mouth-organ fans have been clamoring for!
— Chris Steller (@chrissteller.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Cities 97 playing a never-ending song. It's like a Phish concert.
— Steve Quick (@stevequick.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Cities 97? More like HARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICAGUITARHARMONICA
— Karlee Suszan (@karleekanz.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 11:11 PM
— petriform (@petriform.com) December 2, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Aaand now we’ve moved on the Panic! At The Disco after a wonderful heartwarming two hours and 33 minutes of @maxmcnowm.bsky.social
I hope you all felt the zen and have a peaceful evening.
— Staciaann, Esq. (@staciaann.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Highest ratings in WEEKS for that station.
— Staciaann, Esq. (@staciaann.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Steve Varholy
Could have been much worse.
Max could use the exposure.