Okay, as promised we have more of WSRR in what could be it’s final incarnation as Classic Hits – or so the radio boards are saying. While this website is devoted to classic radio stations, on occasion we feature new material. This is one of those times.
We featured Rich Brother Robin over the weekend, just smokin’ at KCBQ San Diego in 1973. Reaction: plenty! I played that cut for a friend at work and she couldn’t believe that: A. It was Richbro so long ago, and B. It was AM radio! Well, that was in ‘73. This is now.
Rich not only programs WSRR, but he’s the crack afternoon guy. Gotta hand it to him, he’s lost none of the energy he had in his younger years. Not to editorialize too much here, but this is something totally lost on this generation of radio. And some wonder why Satellite radio is gaining so much in popularity, and radio listening is down so much in recent years.
My final comment on this, probably the last aircheck I’ll do of WSRR (except for any potential format change), is I can’t understand why this station never, in all it’s incarnations of Classic Hits, ever really garnered decent ratings. It sounds better than anything else in town. Perhaps it’s the demographics. Memphis is an Urban city, after all… but crosstown WEGR ‘Rock 103′ had excellent ratings up till this past year. And they had very little in the way of excitement – your typical Clear Channel Classic Rocker. So, I suppose this post here will become the footnote of another station which will soon disappear in favor of something else.
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I hate what has happened to the station I listened to all the time. It must be that mangament doesn’t care what the people out here are listening to all day. I guess I will have to find another station or listen to CD from now on. I loved the DJ’s on this station, and I haven’t found any others in Memphis that can top them…I’m sorry for the DJ’s and the Memphis listeners.
What exactly has happened to 98.1 The Cat? I DO NOT like the format they are playing now. Is this permanent? Where are J. L. Fisk and Wendi Hays? Could someone please tell me what is going on? I did prefer the station when is was still Star 98, Classic Rock. Comments and answers would be nice.
Thanks
I’ve been listening the past two days… and WOW!!! The folks at WSRR are playing albums of classic rock….. I’m talking the whole album straight through! I sure as heck hope this is the format they’re gonna stick to. Reminds me of the late 60’s early 70’s. Zepplin, Black Sabbath, REO, Kiss…. they’re all there! Hey, if this is what they’re gonna do from now on…… screw Rock 103!
What has happened to our 98.1? Where are the DJ’s? Why isn’t anyone talking about this? If this is the new format, I hate it!!! Why doesn’t mgmt. care enough to inform loyal listeners???
I’m not sure what to think of the format now. It’s pretty good, today especially they were playing loads of good music. I’ve noticed they are now saying to listen 4/1/05 at 7:10 am to hear their new sound. The call letters have changed as well. They announce it pretty frequently but I can’t remember, something like WXMX.
What happened to the radio station. It just changed one day without warning. I do HATE the new format. Is this permanent? Why was there no warning that the format was going to change. I listened to this station all the time and I really liked the DJ’s. If this is going to be permanent I will have to find another station to listen to or start playing my cd’s while I’m in the car. Could someone please let the listeners know what is going on??
To answer your question, The Cat is gone. What you’re hearing on 98.1 now is what we call a ’stunt’ – all album sides. The new format will launch in the coming weeks as a true Classic Rocker, with a whole new airstaff. It will be called 98.1 The Maxx – Maximum Rock.
I’m hearing April 20th as the official launch date, but I’d bet it appears sooner.
It’s very irritating when a radio station up and changes format w/ no notification to listeners…..so irritating in fact that the new station will have “a long row to hoe” to win me back as a listener. That said, Star 98 was a mediocre station at best…..but the best Memphis had to offer. The staff was lack-luster….the format was stupid…..they would run their station ID and say music from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s……then immediately follow that by a song from the 90’s. They tried to reach to wide an audience. I love music…..all kinds of music……but you can’t program to “everybody” because “everybody” doesn’t want to hear music from every decade. I’m sorry, but there is scarce a song from the 80’s or 90’s that I would consider “classic rock”. But maybe I’m just showing my age. I do know Memphis could sure use a good radio station.
I’m an old guy … 49 yrs old. I remember when you turned on the radio and actually listened to MUSIC! I hate the talking and all the junk … give us great classic rock and we will listen!
I wish you all would play HEART’S “JUPITERS DARLING” It has many rocking hits! Kay I love the new lineup!!!!!!!!!!!1
98.1 was the best station in town, Wendi and JL the only good DJ’s in town. I hadn’t turned my station in over 11 years. Why can’t there be at least one decent radio station in Memphis, TN? I don’t like Rock103 much, but it looks like I’m stuck with it. At least, if possible, let the fans know where Wendi and JL are.
please give us back our oldies. this was the only station i even listened to. now i
don’t listen at all. why change a good thing?
Reading these comments is a hoot! First off, this isn’t the official WXMX site, but we’re sure getting plenty of comments about it. Second… well, Kay isn’t with the station anymore, but she probably will get a chuckle when I tell her to come here and read the comments addressed to her..
Who is ‘jl’? J.L. Fisk? Hahaha. You guys crack me up.
Someone please tell me where this aircheck is linked that we’re getting this phenomenal feedback. 60 comments on a semi-current aircheck. Out of all the old airchecks on this site I’m floored!
Most of these comments are from idiots. All you losers who want old classic rock with little talk or personality are the most loathsome bunch yet. The problem is you haven’t graduated from the bad taste you had when you were 17, and you have a closed mind for anything recorded after your musical coming of age. Weak.
And I rarely approve such negativity but I’d like to make a point. With 14 comments on this aircheck and 62 on the other WSRR clip, there’s much interest in the what and why in Citadel’s changing formats on 98.1. The why is simple. Nobody was listening. Ratings were in the toilet (the first trend for The Maxx is out now, and it’s worse than the last ‘Cat’ trend, strangely enough)..
In regards to the previous post, I would certainly not consider it narrow mindedness that people gravitate and wish for a station which plays the songs they grew up with. Most of those same listeners do listen to current music, if not nearly as often as younger people. That does not make them narrow minded, especially when many of the formatics which were in place when that music was new are still around today in one form or another. You younger folks should give the rest of us a break.
Its worth noting that you people who take the time to search for, then comment on a station shown here aren’t your typical Arbitron listeners. You’re geeks. I’m a geek, otherwise we wouldn’t have this forum. So in the grand scheme of things, we don’t count. The average listener does. And according to every ratings period in the last five years, the Classic Hits format on 98.1 was NOT popular with any demo, regardless of music rotation, slogan (Star 98, Star 98.1 or 98.1 The Cat) or air personality. They tried EVERYTHING that could have been tried, and Citadel came in, saw it was dead as a doornail and killed it off just as soon as they finished off 98.9’s Smooth Jazz format.
It’s not that anyone at the station wanted to kill personality, it’s that the format ran it’s course and wasn’t getting anyone’s attention. Radio is a business and if advertizers don’t think they’ll get results on a station they won’t buy. It’s as simple as that.
Now, its up in the air as to whether or not 98.1 The Maxx will even make a dent in the ratings against WEGR, but they had to do something. This is radio 101 for 2005 guys, you gotta learn to move on.
My sensei! (humbly bows…)
Slick
proud, and probably the last, member of “The Brotherhood of Boss Jocks”…
well for one, I happened to like Wendi and JL. It was a radio program in the morning that you didn’t have to wonder if there was going to be a problem with what may come over the speakers when your kids were in the car on the way to school. People like to say, “if you don’t like it, just tune to another station or turn it off” but when it flies out, and your kids hear it, it is just too late. I didn’t have to worry about somthing off color comming out unexpected. I also liked the regular traffic reports. It was an easy station to just listen to.
But now it is gone and what I would like to know is, where have Wendi and JL gone to?