With the pending demise of KSWD “100.3 The Sound” later today, here’s a look back at the final day of a previous format/station on the same frequency, from almost exactly 20 years ago.
Following the “worst-to-first” performance of New York’s WKTU in 1996, a number of stations around the U.S. attempted similar formats (essentially Rhythmic AC) in their markets. B100 was one example – but the station never came close to achieving KTU-like numbers. It debuted in the Fall of 1996, emphasizing 70’s and 80’s Dance/R&B selections and positioning itself with the slogan “LA’s Hot FM.” Several months later, Viacom sold the station to Chancellor (which became AMFM). During the Spring of 1997, Chancellor tried to improve the station by making it more current-intensive and modifying the station’s slogan to “The Rhythm of L.A.”, among other changes, but the ratings didn’t improve. By the Fall, rumors of KIBB’s demise surfaced.
This aircheck represents the final couple hours or so of B100. A few days prior, the station went jockless and began airing announcements teasing a major event to take place in the near future. Also featured were calls from listeners inquiring about the changes – more genuine-sounding than the painfully obviously scripted versions heard a couple of days earlier.
This montage takes us to the start of the final song on B100. You can hear the end of that final song, and the subsequent launch of “The New 100.3” (eventually “Mega 100” with the KCMG call letters), on our sister site, Formatchange.com. The new station enjoyed instant ratings success — not to the degree of WKTU, but enough to cause the format to spread rapidly to markets all across the U.S. — which is ironic given the premise upon which B100 came to fruition.
Podcast: Embed
