FM Airchecks

WFHN (Fun 107) – Fairhaven/New Bedford, MA – 6/17/98

Tanim — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:00:09 +0000

“Fun 107″ (107.1 WFHN Fairhaven/New Bedford, MA) certainly lives up to its relatively unique name, even to this day. In the late 90′s, it was one of the best-sounding stations around, offering a Rhythmic-leaning Mainstream CHR format that even included a few dance/rhythmic classics. Voiced by the late and great Brian James, here’s a sample of the station recorded 15 years ago today. (We also have another Fun 107 montage already posted that was taped just a few days after this one.)

At the time this aircheck was recorded, the Fun 107 imaging was being used as a stunt format for then sister station WZZP Atlantic City, NJ which we previously spotlighted here.

WHJX (101.5 Channel X) – Jacksonville, FL – 6/14/94

Tanim — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:00:13 +0000

During the early to mid 1990′s, a handful of radio stations in the United States – such as 101.5 Channel X – adopted an MTV-like approach. Specifically, they blended together modern rock and urban hits — and not just the most mainstream selection from each genre. To maintain some balance, Channel X also incorporated selections that are best described as “pure pop”.

However, according to this message board posting, WHJX did not stick with this approach for very long; after about 4 months, it returned to an Urban format.

This aircheck was recorded 19 years ago today.

“WFSH” (Fresh 106) – “New York” – 6/13/97

Tanim — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:00:29 +0000

Fresh 106 was one of the earliest Internet-only streamers. Its high-energy presentation, voiced by the legendary Mitch Craig, its use of the fictional WFSH call letters, the presence of mainstream commercials and the availability of FM-quality streams made it sound very much like a traditional radio station.

Reviewing the “FAQ” section of the defunct Fresh 106 Website via archive.org:

Fresh 106 targeted the New York City market, but was apparently based in San Francisco.
Musically, the station seemed to position itself between hip-hop/R&B-dominated Hot 97 (WQHT) and recurrent/classic dance-heavy 103.5 WKTU, taking many potshots at the latter.
Fresh 106 debuted on 3/21/97.

Functioning archived versions of the Fresh 106 website are available through 5/31/02, implying that it had at least a 5- year run. However, clicking on the link for the 11/22/02 capture results in a redirect to power105.com – which at the time was a page promoting Emmis Communications (specifically, WQHT and similarly formatted KPWR “Power 106″ in Los Angeles and KKFR “Power 92″ in Phoenix). Emmis had clearly registered power105.com (along with power1051.com) in order to capitalize on Clear Channel’s failure to do so when it debuted WWPR “Power 105″ as a competitor to WQHT…and they presumably purchased the fresh106.com domain as well.

This brief montage was recorded 16 years ago this month (about 3 months into the station’s existence.) Due to technical issues, the audio of this edited aircheck is more reminiscent of a low-bandwidth stream; the original aircheck offered the aforementioned FM quality sound.

Galaxy 101 – Bristol, UK – 6/7/98

Tanim — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:00:24 +0000

From time to time, FMairchecks.com will feature material from outside the United States. This sample of Galaxy 101 from Bristol (recorded 15 years ago this month) is one of a handful of UK airchecks in my collection.

WFAT (96.5 The Fat One) – Kalamazoo, MI – 6/8/98

Tanim — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:00:43 +0000

According to Wikipedia, the WFAT call letters lasted a decade and a half on 96.5 FM in Kalamazoo, yet represented a wide variety of formats. This montage (recorded 15 years ago today) is a sample of the station’s brief attempt at a format that appeared to be a hybrid between Mainstream CHR and Hot AC.

KQPW (Power 102) – Fresno, CA – 6/6/91

Tanim — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:00:16 +0000

Recorded 22 years ago today, this is a sample of the morning show at Power 102 (101.9 FM). The station went head-to-head with longtime market leader KBOS “B95″. According to comments posted to this B95 aircheck, Power 102 employed a hip-hop-heavy approach at some point.

That’s pretty much all I know about Power 102; Google searches haven’t helped. Any additional, factual information about the history of Power 102 is appreciated.

KIDR 740 – Phoenix – 6/4/98 – Matt Miller & Brotha Fred

Tanim — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:00:36 +0000

During the mid-90′s, KIDR (740 AM) in Phoenix was one of several radio stations across the U.S. affiliated with the childrens’-targetted “Radio AAHS” network. Ten of these stations were owned by Radio AAHS.

By January 1998, with Radio Disney having launched its own competing network, Radio AAHS ceased operations. They put the ten stations up for sale (KIDR had joined this group not long before the sale was announced). Until a buyer was found, the affiliates (both the AAHS-owned and non-owned stations) aired a mix of random music and paid programming for 12 hours (4am-4pm PT), and all-dance “Beat Radio” for the remaining 12 hours (4pm-4am PT).

In May of that year, KIDR program director Matt Miller elected to begin airing an hour of locally originated programming during the 2pm-3pm hour, three days a week. With the lack of a Mainstream CHR station in Phoenix at the time, and with some help from yours truly, Matt constructed a playlist that consisted primarily of contemporary dance and pop/rock hits — along with a few Rhythmic classics.

This aircheck represents the second installment of this program and was recorded 15 years ago today. It continued for a few weeks that summer. Joining Matt on the mic was Christopher Frederick a.k.a. Brotha Fred – who is currently the morning show host at WKSC “103.5 Kiss-FM” in Chicago.

For more information on Radio AAHS and Beat Radio, visit these Wikipedia pages:

Radio AAHS
Beat Radio

WSNX (104.5) – Grand Rapids, MI – 6/1/98 – Brita, Fast Eddie

Tanim — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 16:00:32 +0000

WSNX was one of the standout CHRs of the mid/late 90′s. It offered an upbeat, recurrent-friendly music mix accompanied by outstanding jingles & sweepers, voiced by the late and great Brian James. Very impressive for a medium-sized market. This aircheck was recorded 15 years ago today.

WYSY (107.9) – Aurora/Chicago, IL – 5/30/97 (Stunting with “Bill”)

Tanim — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:00:19 +0000

According to Wikipedia: following the merger of CBS and Infinity, the new entity (CBS) found itself with more FM stations than allowed by the FCC. It chose to sell WYSY – which at the time was offering a low-rated Classic Hits format billed as “Y-107.9″ — to SBS (Spanish Broadcasting System). From 4/24/97 through apparently 7/4/97, as the ownership transfer process was underway, the station went into stunt mode. Specifically, someone supposedly named “Bill” claimed to have borrowed “CDs and records” from a group of people and was playing “some of (his) favorite songs”. The concept was essentially identical to the “Jack FM” Variety Hits format that did not become commonplace until some 8 years later.

This montage is a brief sample of the stunt format, recorded 16 years ago today.

WNEW (Mix 102.7) – New York – 5/28/06 – Ray Rossi, Freddie Colon

Tanim — Tue, 28 May 2013 02:11:00 +0000

From Memorial Day Weekend seven years ago, this is a sample of “The Legends of Dance Weekend” on New York’s WNEW, during its days as a Rhythmic AC.
Features “The Best of the 90′s” and “Best of Freestyle”.