Two of Schurz Communications stations in South Bend, IN are sporting new names and slightly revamped formats.
Country “Real Country 99.9” WHFB-FM Benton Harbor, MI has tweaked to a current based presentation as “New Country 99.9” focusing on 18-34. The station retains the syndicated Bob & Tom Show in mornings.
Rock leaning Classic Hits “Oldies 94.3” WZOC has been renamed as “Z94.3“. Schurz describes the station as “Whether you call it Oldies, Classic Hits or Classic Rock, it’s all the music you grew up with from the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s”.
In addition to WHFB-FM and WZOC, Schurz Communications owns Talk/Sports 960 WSBT/96.1 W241AD, AC “Sunny 101.5” WNSN, and CBS 22 WSBT-TV in the South Bend market.
The rebranding was a good idea. “Real Country” was a misnomer when all they played was the current hot “bro-country” which is more rock than country. “Oldies 94.3” had basically turned into a classic rock station – no soul, no Motown, no pop. It was overdue.
Oldies 94.3 should have been rebranded a long time ago. When it went local, it’s been basically classic rock.
As for 99.9, that station’s been thru a lot of re brandings since it switched from Hot AC (B99) back in ’98 or ’99 or so. First it was “Hot Country 99”, then “Kicks Country 99-9”, “Cat Country 99-9”, “Real Country 99-9” now “New Country 99-9” wonder which is next?
99.9 (as well as 101.5) have very good signals. 99.9 makes parts of Grand Rapids at times, while I’ve gotten both 99.9 and 101.5 in Manistee, MI (~160 miles north of South Bend).