Gnash FM 93.1 to rebrand - probably on or near February 22

[MWmetalhead]

It looks like 93.1 WDRQ is *finally* going local in morning drive!

RadioInsight reports the station will soon dump the Nash name and adopt the same "New Country" moniker used by WKHX in Atlanta and KSCS in Dallas. Moreover, R-I reports the station will soon have an all local morning show!

Perhaps this explains the sudden change to WYCD's sound as of a few weeks ago? (BTW, I absolutely HATE how WYCD sounds now and have removed that station entirely from my presets in the car.)

My prediction is Broadway Bill will handle mornings with an on-air partner TBD. I heard Roxanne doing PM drive today. Would not at all surprise me if she winds up handling that shift permanently going forward.

Timing wise: look for something to occur on or near February 22, which is the day Garth Brooks plays Ford Field.

[Mega Hertz]

Got me all excited, thinking a flip was imminent. Thanks for NOTHING, MW

[radioandtventhusiast]

This will be interesting for sure. They should have had a local morning show from the beginning. This might actually increase ratings for the station. There seem to be fewer Nash-branded stations compared to the years the Dickey Brothers ran Cumulus.

[MrTaterSalad]

Why not brand it 93-1 W4 Country and bring Bubba over to do mornings with someone like Roxanne or a Renee Vitale?

[MWmetalhead]

Got me all excited, thinking a flip was imminent. Thanks for NOTHING, MW

In an era where local airstaff is being slashed, I think it is exciting that a station is replacing a milquetoast national show with a 100% local show.

If I thought a flip were imminent, I would've referenced "format change" in my topic title. Rebrand almost always means retention of existing format, but with a new station name.

One has to wonder if WFBE in Flint will soon revert to its longtime "B95" identity? Once WDRQ changes its name, nearly all stations that use the Nash moniker will be concentrated in very small markets. We all know the Cumulus country station in Grand Rapids dumped "Nash" when it switched (very unsuccessfully) from 94.5 MHz to 107.3 MHz, and within the past week, longtime Country station 97.3 MHz in Peoria, IL reverted to its longtime identity, River Country.

[MWmetalhead]

BTW - let me reemphasize:

WYCD sounds TERRIBLE right now!!! I absolutely hate the new voiceovers, the new audio processing settings, and the playlist changes. It's the worst the station has sounded in at least 15 years, in my opinion.

[armchair pd]

Why not brand it 93-1 W4 Country and bring Bubba over to do mornings with someone like Roxanne or a Renee Vitale?

Just stop already.

Very interesting if this happens. Whilst I agree 995!!YCD!! (gag) sounds unfocused, off brand, and just bad right now they aren't going anywhere soon. I'd love a competitive battle.
NASH was doomed from day one with that horrific launch and so much baggage goes with that name, which means zero to Detroiters, it was never going to be a serious contender.
Broadway for mornings makes perfect sense.

[MrTaterSalad]

If WLLZ can be brought back after over 25 years to a different spot of the dial there is no reason to think Cumulus can bring back the W4 Country brand to Detroit. The W4 brand that was around longer in Detroit than Wheelz was. No reason either a simulcast could happen or one station is branded WFOR-FM (assuming the Miami TV station allows the calls to be used for radio) and the other WWWW-FM.

[Trophyhead]

Having known Broadway for 20 years, I am pleased to hear he is getting this chance.

[fuzzpower]

A simulcast would be a waste- way too much overlap in signal, even with 102.7 moving closer to the market core.

Does Cumulus feel being a powerhouse in Ann Arbor is a better bet than moving the branding and taking a chance in Detroit? Wheels is fading, so what’s not to say a revived W4 would do the same?

[windsor]

Ive never listened to WYCD on 99.5, prob. since WOW FM.

And btw Wheelz is fading bc iheart has their head up there ass with the corp BS playlist.Until they prog. a more local Wheelz throwback playlist of classic rock.

[MWmetalhead]

I'm not sure why anyone would have expected 106.7 Fake Wheels to sound good long-term!

It's a ribbon (i.e. the WLLZ brand) on a steaming pile of dung. Bill McAllister and Trudi Daniels are not being utilized properly. Doug Podell is not being utilized properly. Drew Lane created a bit of excitement around the station yet iFart rewards him by cutting his airtime. Corporate yes man Casey K. is PD. 'Nuff said.

[Mark Elliott]

Ive never listened to WYCD on 99.5, prob. since WOW FM.

So it's true - someone actually DID listen to Wow FM!

[drew10219]

Mark.. i loved your show on wow

I actually skipped school one day just so I could listen to your show with Art Volo as a guest

[fuzzpower]

Only show I remember on WOW was Dr. Don doing afternoon drive. Sorry Mark.