After a weekend “on-hold”, Connoisseur Media flipped Hot AC “Star 96.7” WSSR Joliet IL to 80s-2000s Classic Hits “The 9-6-7” at 6am this morning.
The new brand is positioning as “Chicagoland’s Classic Pop” emphasizing music from the 1990s and 2000s similar to recently launched sister “Z93” WGTZ Dayton OH.. Morning host Eddie Volkman is emphasizing these are the hits that he played during his heyday in mornings at “B96” WBBM-FM Chicago. The on-air lineup will remain as-it-was with Volkman in mornings, Jillian Bass in middays, Hannah B in afternoons, and Skyview Networks’ “XYZ with Erik Zachary” at night.
The first half hour on the new “The 9-6-7” featured Backstreet Boys “Larger Than Life”, Outkast “Ms Jackson”, Tal Bachman “She’s So High”, Rema ft. Selena Gomez “Calm Down”, Warren G. ft. Nate Dogg “Regulate”, Madonna “Material Girl”, and Jimmy Eat World “The Middle”.
Operations Manager Gordon Mays said, “We all grew up and cruised these Chicagoland suburbs with this music as the soundtrack. It was everywhere. It’s been so fun building something we know will feel instantly familiar, and in a way that fits where our listeners are today.”
Connoisseur SVP/Programming Keith Dakin commented, “After the success we’ve had in Dayton with Z93, we decided the next station that makes sense for the brand-new classic pop format is WSSR. With morning show host Eddie V’s history with this sound, it’s a match made in heaven. The pop music Chicagoland grew up with and the DJ they listened to.”
Original Report 3/20: Connoisseur Media has dropped the Hot AC format on “Star 96.7” WSSR Joliet IL and has begun stunting with on-hold music.
The station is counting down to a relaunch on Monday, mixing on-hold messages with waiting room staples such as Michael Jackson “Human Nature”, Commodores “Easy”, Chuck Mangione “Feels So Good”, Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time”, and Chicago “If You Leave Me Now”, Bee Gees “How Deep Is Your Love”.
WSSR most recently featured Chicago morning staple Eddie Volkman in mornings, Jillian Bass in middays, Hannah B in afternoons, and Skyview Networks’ “XYZ with Erik Zachary” at night.
