Nearly a year after we first reported on the domain registration, Meruelo Media has broken apart the simulcast of Classic Hip-Hop 93.5 KDAY Rendondo Beach and 93.5 KDEY-FM Ontario CA.
After a day of stunting with a loop of Guns ‘N Roses “Welcome To The Jungle”, KDEY flipped to Urban “Wild 93.5” at 9:30am. Positioned as “The IE’s #1 For Hip-Hop and R&B”, the new format goes up against iHeartMedia Rhythmic CHR 99.1 KGGI.
The “Wild” branding and Hip-Hop format was previously utilized in the Riverside/San Bernardino market by what its now 96.1 KRQB San Jacinto from 2004-2007.
Update 3/23/2016: Meruelo has been granted an STA for 93.5 KDEY-FM Ontario that partially gives away their plans.
KDEY-FM filed an STA to operate at reduced power starting tomorrow, March 24 through April 6 and to then go off-the-air from April 7 through 20 to test different interference conditions between it and KDAY. Those tests will help Mereulo determine the amount of interference that would be created by breaking the simulcast between KDAY and KDEY-FM. That points to Mereulo utilizing the Wild935.com assets on KDEY-FM, while retaining the current Classic Hip-Hop on KDAY.
Original Report 3/17: Meruelo Media is prepping a change at Classic Hip-Hop 93.5 KDAY Redondo Beach/Los Angeles and/or simulcaster 93.5 KDEY-FM Ontario/Riverside.
Merulo has registered Wild935.com and reserved social media accounts for the brand. The domain was at one point registered by former KDAY GM Roy Laughlin during its previous ownership by Magic Broadcasting and the KDEY-FM side held the KWIE calls during its run as Rhythmic AC “Flo 93.5” from 2007-2009.
Our expectation is that if both stations aren’t flipping to Rhythmic CHR with the “Wild” identity, it will be just KDEY-FM doing so to continue the attack on iHeartMedia Rhythmic CHR 99.1 KGGI started by All-Pro Broadcasting’s flip of 103.9 KCXX to Rhythmic Hot AC “Hot 103.9” KHTI at the start of this year.