NERW update 1/2/13: WTKK in stunt-land
THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE:If there was any doubt still left when the “Power 96.9″ playlist started repeating on a five-hour loop Wednesday afternoon, it was all gone as of this morning at 10, when “Power” went away and WTKK flipped to a dance-heavy top-40 mix as “Nova 96.9.” It’s pretty clear now that the frequency is in heavy-duty stunt mode, and if yesterday’s Greater Media press release is any indication, we’ll be treated to daily flips until sometime next week, when we find out what’s really in store for the frequency.
*Good morning and welcome to 2013!
There’s one big story we’re following this morning, of course, and it was the worst-kept secret in Boston radio over the holidays: at 10 AM, Greater Media will say goodbye to the talk format at WTKK (96.9) after just over 13 years.
10 AM UPDATE:After a farewell from Jim Braude and Marjorie Eagan and a few spots that apparently had to be burned off, 96.9 relaunched as “Boston’s Power 96.9,” launching with Rihanna’s “Diamonds” and Rick Ross’ “Dead Pineapples.” A sign of a more urban lean for 96.9 compared to its top-40 competitors at Clear Channel and CBS Radio?
10:45 AM UPDATE:Here’s Greater Media’s statement, in its entirety: “Get ready for an exciting week of music on the air at 96.9 FM in Boston. Live and local, the new 96.9 promises to bring a fun new sound to the Boston community! Beginning today, 96.9 FM returns to music with Power 96.9, Boston’s Hip Hop and R&B station with more surprises to take place during the upcoming week. Stay tuned!”
Could the very, very urban sound (much harder than WJMN’s rhythmic top-40) we’re now hearing on “Power” be a stunt, perhaps one of several over the next few days?
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Why not put Howie on WGBH? ;-)
Heaven forbid!
Howie once “worked” at WGBH-TV when they had a newscast at 10:00 pm. Viewers objected and he was voted off the station.
WTKK was stuck with the second team talkers. RKO was too deeply entrenched, and fighting against that, even with an FM signal was not going to work.
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The move back to music is the right one; now, will be another consultantized pile of muck, or something more original?
Well, so much for Talk 96.9! It’s a new era of top 40 competition in Boston. In the 60s and 70s, it was WRKO and WMEX. Now, it’s Kiss 108, Amp 103 and Power 96.9! We’ve come full circle!
Scott posted to the Boston Radio Interest Group Wednesday that if people observed that young people were fleeing radio and that was a problem, they shouldn’t complain about a station that was trying to get them back. 96.9 is just exhibiting the attention-span of young people and changing format every day.
Stunting….the new ANNOYING norm