103.5
WKTU (103.5 The New ‘KTU) – New York – 11/13/01 – Broadway Bill Lee
In February 1996, Country WYNY flipped to WKTU, offered what we now call a Rhythmic AC format, and went from worst to first in one rating book – an absolutely remarkable feat for any radio station, particularly in America’s #1 market. This is a sample of the station almost six years after its debut.
WKTU (103.5 The New ‘KTU) – New York – 7/5/96 (Top 300 countdown) – Geronimo
In February 1996, Country WYNY flipped to WKTU, offered what we now call a Rhythmic AC format, and went from worst to first in one rating book – an absolutely remarkable feat for any radio station, particularly in America’s #1 market. This is a sample of the station about 5 months after its debut (recorded 20 years ago today, over Independence Day Weekend 1996), when it aired a countdown of the Top 300 New York dance records.
WKTU (103.5 The New ‘KTU) – New York – 12/1/96 – Al Bandiero
In February 1996, Country WYNY flipped to WKTU, offered what we now call a Rhythmic AC format, and went from worst to first in one rating book – an absolutely remarkable feat for any radio station, particularly in America’s #1 market. This is a sample of the station about 8 months after its debut (recorded about 18 years ago this month.)
WZSK (103.5 The Shark) – Ocean City, MD – 7/26/97
“Making the world safe to party with a shark…” — 103.5 the Shark was just an unusual station all-around. The music mix was entertaining, but too unfocused — at the beginning of the aircheck, it sounded like a dance format, while it was closer to Mainstream CHR towards the end. It featured many different types of jingles that seemed suited for multiple formats — including some with “robotic” sound effects that would have been a better fit in the early to mid 80’s. And some of the jingles/sweepers would play several times in the middle of songs (I’ve left examples of this intact.)
CIDC (Hot 103.5) – Toronto – 5/25/97 – Kim Ellison
According to Wikipedia, CIDC (licensed to Orangeville, ON) has been programming some form of Rhythmic-oriented CHR since 1995. This brief sample from the days of Hot 103.5 was recorded 18 years this month. The station evolved to “Hits 103.5″ in February 1998.
WQHT (Hot 103) – New York – 4/29/87 – Bill Lee
Recorded 28 years ago today, this is – in my opinion – the best and most successful example of a Dance CHR station in the United States. Hot 103 debuted in August 1986 and became Hot 97 (on 97.1 FM) in September 1988. Additional, very detailed information about the history of Hot 103 can be found on Wikipedia.
WKTU (103.5 The New ‘KTU) – New York – 3/30/99 – Diane Pryor
In February 1996, Country WYNY flipped to WKTU, offered what we now call a Rhythmic AC format, and went from worst to first in one rating book – an absolutely remarkable feat for any radio station, particularly in America’s #1 media market. This is a sample of the station about 3 years after its debut (recorded 16 years ago today.)
New York/Long Island Composite – 2/11/99
Recorded 16 years ago this week, this is a montage of the stations pictured above, recorded around the 8pm hour.
WKTU (103.5 The New ‘KTU) – New York – 1/19/98 – Dimas Martinez
In February 1996, Country WYNY flipped to WKTU, offered what we now call a Rhythmic AC format, and went from worst to first in one rating book – an absolutely remarkable feat for any radio station, particularly in America’s #1 media market. This is a sample of the station about 2 years after its debut (recorded 17 years ago today.)
WKTU (103.5 The New ‘KTU) – New York – 9/27/98 – Dangerous Dave Hanson
In February 1996, Country WYNY flipped to WKTU, offered what we now call a Rhythmic AC format, and went from worst to first in one rating book – an absolutely remarkable feat for any radio station, particularly in America’s #1 media market. This is a sample of the station about 2.5 years after its debut, recorded during “KTU Dance Factory” Saturday night mixshow programming.
WKTU (103.5 The New ‘KTU) – New York – 2/10/96 (FIRST HOUR)
18 years ago today, Country WYNY flipped to WKTU, offered what we now call a Rhythmic AC format, and went from worst to first in one rating book – an absolutely remarkable feat for any radio station, particularly in America’s #1 media market. The actual debut of WKTU is available at our sister site, The Format Change Archive. Posted here is the remainder of approximately the first hour. It includes a lengthy spoken word segment from top brass at Evergreen Media, which owned the station at the time.
WKTU (103.5 The New KTU) – Diane Pryor & WHTZ (Z100) – Billy Hammond – New York – 10/15/98
Both recorded 15 years ago today, this is a sample of the two dominant CHR stations in the largest U.S. media market during the late 1990’s. WKTU offered what we now call a Rhythmic AC format, while Z100, true to its roots, aired a straight-ahead Mainstream CHR format.
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