WPLJ’s last try at the CHR format was this super-hot version of the format which lasted for a short period of time. Mojo Radio sounded great and gave crosstown Z100 a run for it’s money before flipping to HotAC.
Here’s A.J. Hammer, a voice that fits right in with the format. Its a Friday afternoon, and there’s a Top 5 countdown that begins towards the end of this recording… you’ll hear number 4 before it ends.
No jingles, but some hot sweepers! This station had potential…
I can swear that W.P.L.J called themselves Mojo radio around 1988, not 91. I guess I’m wrong.
>>joeybinky wrote:
I can swear that W.P.L.J called themselves Mojo radio around 1988, not 91. I guess I’m wrong.<<
I got to 'PLJ in the Fall of '90. Scott Shannon arrived in April of '91 (we all thought it was an April fools joke) and flipped us to Mojo Radio. M.J. Kelly's production was on fire, the processing was out of control and it was some of the most fun I ever had on the radio!
And to be sure, this aircheck was from a Friday NIGHT. How fun to stumble upon – thanks for the memory!!
A.J. Loved Mojo Radio… Really loved it. Was very sad after it left. What was the real deal with switching to AC after such a short time. I went on the Mojo Radio boat cruise to Gilligan’s Island. Lot’s of fun.
As much fun as the jocks had and as booming as the station was, the listeners weren’t interested and the ratings reflected that. However, it did prove to be a great way to rest the ‘PLJ call letters and bring them back fresh. Which perhaps was the grand plan all along…??? Hmmm.
I was hearing “Mojo Radio” for about a month over the WABC/Yankees Baseball satellite channel. With the Mark Driscoll and Scott Shannon production it sounded a lot like Shannon’s “Pirate Radio” KQLZ Los Angeles except that “Pirate” was all rock and “Mojo” was straight CHR. The Driscoll piece I remember the most was; “This is the station that gives Al Roker a big old woodie” (Boing sfx).
Let’s get the facts straight — Mojo Radio came on after Scott Shannon was blown out at KQLZ-FM “Pirate Radio 100.3” in Los Angeles — a great concept stymied by a focus on hair bands implemented by consultant Randy Kabrich. The ultra-narrow focus killed Pirate Radio as music tastes changed and market dynamics led Power 106 toward hip-hop, KIIS-FM toward a Hot AC approach, and KROQ to its lowest period in recent memory (well, check those July 2016 ratings – they suck again).
ABC hired Scott to “put W-I-M-P out of its misery” and I nearly drove off the road when I heard Scott announce on WPLJ, “Watch out little Stevie Kushner (Steve Kingston at Z100’s real name) — the Mojo is coming to get you.”
For a short period, there was a CHR war in New York. Billboard magazine printed the listen lines for both stations, and I dialed in regularly (thanks AT&T ACUS for the high college campus phone bill) during the winter and spring of 1991.
But CHR was dead by this time. WPLJ smartly went Hot AC. Z100 floundered and nearly committed suicide at the end of 1993, only to take on a CHR/Modern Rock format to save itself. Only when Elvis Duran took over mornings did Z100’s survival become official. Meanwhile, WPLJ owned women and Northern New Jersey, and grew its audience share in the rest of the Tri-State Area, enjoying a highly successful run through the 1990s while Z100 didn’t hit its stride again until WKTU reemerged at 103.5 and it had to do something. The answer: Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, ‘N SYNC mixed with Green Day. It worked.