Entercom flipped AAA “103.7 The Mountain” KMTT Seattle to Rhythmic Hot AC “Hot 103.7” at 3pm today.
Branded as “The Rhythm Of Seattle”, the station is focusing on current hits mixed with Rhythmic gold of the past 20 years. The station is launching with 10,000 songs in a row. Mike Preston, PD of Country “100.7 The Wolf” KKWF and previously PD of crosstown CHR “106.1 Kiss-FM” KBKS will program the station.
KMTT had been branded as “The Mountain” since 1991; first as AAA before seguing to Classic Rock in 2011. In the July PPM’s the station registered a 2.4 share.
The first hour of Hot 103.7 consisted of:
Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
MC Hammer – Can’t Touch This
Rhianna – Umbrella
Nelly – Ride Wit Me
Shaggy – Luv Me, Luv Me
Bruno Mars – Locked Out Of Heaven
Ne-Yo – Closer
Macklemore – Same Love
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire
Dr. Dre – The Next Episode
Justin Timberlake – Mirrors
Jay Z – Big Pimpin’
The Press Release announcing the launch of the new format follows:
At 3pm Pacific time today, Entercom launched a new Hot AC radio format in the Seattle market. The New HOT 103.7-The Rhythm of Seattle, replaces The Mountain in Entercom’s Seattle lineup. The New HOT 103.7 will be a unique, clearly defined station targeting modern Seattle women. It will play today’s hits with throwbacks from well-known artists from the 2000s and 1990s.
“Our new Hot AC, with its rhythmic format, will be everything our competitors are not, giving Seattle women a new radio choice,” said Jack Hutchison, Vice-President/Market Manager at Entercom Seattle. “These are exciting times for Entercom Seattle and for our advertisers. The New HOT 103.7 will provide a unique way to reach Seattle’s modern women, targeting those who have moved beyond the 18-year-old mindset and grown out of the younger CHR sound as well as the sleepy format of older AC stations.”
Entercom Seattle VP/Programming and Operations, Dave Richards, has announced that current KKWF PD, former longtime Program Director of 106.1 KISS FM and former Vice-President for CHR for CBS Radio nationwide, Mike Preston, will lead The New HOT 103.7. “It’s a logical choice. Mike is a brilliant programmer and knows this music and Seattle better than anyone,” said Richards.
“We are building The New HOT 103.7 to compete and win. We will launch with 10,000 songs in a row to build our brand and grow our audience, and we will back up our launch with an aggressive media campaign starting in September,” said newly installed Program Director Mike Preston.
In response to The Mountain leaving the FM dial, Hutchison added, “unfortunately, over time things change and tough decisions have to be made. Unlike most radio stations that simply go away and never come back, The Mountain will live on. We are redoubling our efforts to ensure this unique brand of music is there for our passionate fans. We will continue to dedicate an HD2 Radio channel to the original Mountain, and will continue live streaming on our website as well as delivering content to two different mobile apps.”
