In 1996, Country music was in a different era. Artists such as Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Reba and Faith Hill made up the core of the format. The WYNY call letters were also in a different era. Originally used on 97.1 as WNBC (AM)’s sister station, THIS WYNY became a Country station when it moved to 103.5 many years earlier.
This day in 1996, Country music disappeared from the radio landscape in New York City and it would take until 01/11/2013 for the format to make it’s return in America’s #1 radio market with the debut of Cumulus’ 94.7 WNSH.
Rumors of the demise of WYNY were bouncing around the market, but even after the format change nobody expected the format to disappear from the market for long.
This aircheck features the majority of the WYNY airstaff celebrating the history of the station and its impact on the market and each other. Hosts included night host Randy Davis, Mid-day girl Lisa Taylor, morning co-host Katherine Brown, and afternoon host “Dandy” Dan Daniel all of whom have had illustrious careers in the radio industry.
Unfortunately the tape we have is missing the final fifteen minutes before the staff said goodbye and the station went to satellite programming before the stunting that led to the birth of WKTU began the following morning. If anybody has this audio please contact us as we would love to add it to our collection here.
The links don’t work.
BIG Station
Wasn’t the Steve Warren on this ‘check the one that was on WHN? I guess one could say that NYC played musical frequencies (spoofing musical chairs). WKTU was on 92.3 before it took over 103.5. 92.3 is now CBS-owned. I forget the call letters, but its branding is 92.3 AMP, if I’m not mistaken. WHN became all-sports on 7-1-87, necessitating a new country station in NYC, namely WYNY at 97.1. WFAN moved to 660 on 10-7-88, consigning WNBC to history. I must say WHN was my favorite station EVER.
I remember back when they were WNBC-FM on 97.1. Then in the early 1970’s they ran a brief stint as all news WNWS-FM. That then became WYNY. I used to listen to them all the time in the 1980’s. I probably still have some cassette recordings stashed somewhere of some of the music.
About 30 years ago, I saw a guy wearing a WYNY t-shirt. I believe it also said 97.1. I was at the Italian Heritage Festival in Clarksburg, West Virginia, about 20 miles south of where I live. 97.1 is now WQHT and is urban contemporary.
Lisa Taylor is working down in Texas at //www.995thewolf.com/ She’s been there a few years now…
They all work now.