Summary contributed by Jeffrey T. Mason.
I think I am qualified to give a summary of the 80’s Channel/Chicago sign-on, seeing that I was one of the folks who orchestrated it!
Contrary to popular belief, Big City Radio – not Chancellor Media – was the first company to debut a “Jammin’ Oldies” type format. It was not called “Jammin’ Oldies,” but “103.1FM, Chicago’s Heart & Soul.” They purchased WVVX/Highland Park and WJDK/Morris, both at 103.1 to create the simulcast. Call letters were changed to WXXY and WYXX. Due to a poor signal, and some bad judgment in their outdoor campaign (billboards placed in areas that could NOT receive the station), “Chicago’s Heart & Soul” didn’t see much success. It was definitely a valiant effort, however…with BCR hiring market veterans like Robert Murphy for mornings, and Fred Winston for afternoons.
In late 1998, Chancellor Media flipped WRCX (Rock 103.5) to “Chicago’s Jammin’ Oldies, 103-5 The Beat.” They offered to sell the rights to the entire WRCX format (including name, call letters, etc…) to BCR in exchange for Heart & Soul. BCR declined, and Chancellor did Jammin’ Oldies anyhow. With a full signal from downtown, it was a no-brainer who would prevail. So in early 1999, Chris Shebel (PD of sister 92.7 Kiss-FM) was named PD of WXXY/WYXX. Just as BCR signed on the first Jammin’ Oldies format, they also were the first to sign-on an “All 80’s” format. After about 6 months of planning, Heart & Soul ended it’s format at 12 noon on Thursday August 5, 1999. 24 hours of movie clips & TV theme songs from the 80’s followed. At 12 noon on Friday August 6, 1999…”The 80’s Channel – 103.1 WXXY” signed on the air. Robert Murphy, Dona Mullen & Fred Winston continued in their dayparts, and Jeffrey T. Mason was brought on-board from Kiss-FM as APD/MD and evening jock. Steve Davis from Zapoleon Media Strategies consulted.
What set this station apart from the other 80’s stations that followed (including ABC’s “94.7 The Zone”) was the musical direction and overall presentation. Most 80’s stations programmed a rock or new wave leaning format, with a very Gen-X sound. WXXY was straight down the middle CHR. The classic 1980’s JAM jingles and ballsy Eric Edwards sweepers were also VERY reminiscent of 1980’s Top 40 radio in Chicago.
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Now if we were ONLY able to have this type of format WITHOUT the corporate hackery.
I remember this, and it was good.
Somewhere I have this format change on tape. I got the last fifteen minutes of stunting and the first fifteen minutes of The Eighties Channel.
Words cannot say how much I came to love this station…I literally shed a tear as the final song (“Never Say Goodbye” by Bon Jovi) played a little over a year later.
As a big eighties fan, I really wished that “The Eighties Channel” was around longer. I listened to this station a lot while it was eighties retro. The best part was, the music was how you remembered it. Plenty of variety and ample keyboards. The station thought deductively and outside the box. It was great while it lasted. I used to go for weekend rides on the Tri-State through the south suburbs. This served as a wonderful soundtrack. By the way, what was the song between 2:31 and 2:40 in this clip? It’s been a long time since I heard it. Go figure, the LA/Orange County style of radio is everywhere these days.