In the early 1970s, Philadelphia’s WDAS-FM switched from a “progressive rock” format to “progressive R&B.” “Progressive” in early ’70s radio lingo meant “album-oriented.” Just as progressive rock stations were trying to do the opposite of the AM Top-40 stations, the progressive soul stations were trying to be the opposite of the AM R&B stations,…
By 1985, Boston had become a very competitive radio market. There were FOUR different CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) stations in Beantown. Kiss 108, WXKS-FM was Top 40, with a Rhythmic lean. WROR 98.5 was a more Adult oriented CHR. There was the new WZOU 94.5, a mainstream straight ahead CHR. And finally, there was…
In 1981, radio consultant Mike Joseph installed his Hot Hits format on WCAU-FM in Philadelphia, and that began the 1980s Contemporary Hit Radio revival. Hot Hits was fast paced, lots of forward momentum, quick jock raps, and nothing but the hits with it’s short, currents only playlist. The format was reminiscent of some of…
In the early 1980, many FM stations were ditching their older skewing, soft formats, for Top 40, or Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR). One of those stations was WEEI-FM. In 1982, the soft sounds on 103.3 FM were slowly being pushed out in favor of new music. It was done very gradually, with the idea of…
Philadelphia’s Famous 56 WFIL, the Delaware Valley’s Pop Powerhouse, was the home of many broadcasting legends. Jim O’Brien, Dr Don Rose, George Michael, Jim Nettelton, Dick Heatherton, Frank Kingston Smith, & the jock featured on this aircheck, Long John Wade. Wade landed in Philly from Hartford’s WDRC in late 1966. He worked on air…
WCAU-FM was America’s pioneer all oldies radio station. In September of 1970, WCAU-FM converted to oldies from CBS’s soft pop automated format, The Young Sound. The station was totally automated with the voice of Jim Nettleton intro’ing or backselling everything 24/7; in 1972, the station began it’s evolution to a totally live sound, by…
Charlie Wilde worked at some legendary stations in the 1980s & 90s… KPKE Denver, WHYN-FM Springfield, KSAN San Francisco, & KDWB Minneapolis. Then in 1995, Charlie became the first American ever to host a morning show in London, England. After a successful two-year stint hosting the breakfast show on KISS 100, UK government officials…
Many know today’s 102.7 KIIS-FM as L.A.’s Hit Music Station. But I have been surprised by how many did not realize KIIS started as an AM station back in 1970. 1150 KRKD new owner changed to format from Adult Standards, to Soft Hits, and the calls were changed to KIIS, which was NOT meant to…
