RIP 89X

[Chrocket87]

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2014 ... YNaIxtvxS0

After thirty years as some form of Modern Rock, it looks like they’re finally throwing in the towel. This station was the soundtrack to my teen and college-aged years, but like most of the market, I think I’ve barely listened to it in the last five years.

Any guesses as to what’s next? Them being a Canadian station makes it hard to guess, as I’m not sure what format holes are in Windsor and any change to target Detroit again cannot run afoul of Cancon regulations.

[CK-722]

Flip flopping the Formats? Maybe somebody did research on how much better they would do in the 92-108 MHz US commercial band? Going back to its roots? The Big 8 8 7? Unusual that they would debut two new formats at once.

BTW, I first listened to CKWW-FM and CKLW-FM in Genesee County in the mid 1960s. We had a turnstile FM antenna on our TV Antenna Tower. The old FM tuners had less than adequate AGC/AVC, so you had to turn the volume control all the way up to listen.

[radioandtventhusiast]

It looks like 93.9 the River is flipping too. One of them might be CHR.

[RingtailedFox]

Well... at this point, i'm pretty sure one of them will become Virgin Radio... what will the other be? FM simulcast of CKWW 580? FM Simulcast of CKLW 800? hrmmm....

[Chrocket87]

The fact that they’re both flipping at the same time makes me wonder if part of the plan is to merge the formats- Perhaps a rebranded Alternative format on 93.9?

A rebroadcast of Virgin radio makes sense. Maybe even a Hot AC in the vein of CHUM-FM in Toronto. Same for an FM simulcast of CKWW. I work night shift tomorrow, so I’ll tune in a couple hours after the changes.

[RayQix]

Guess we will find out on Thursday at 12noon

So far.... push the time and day.... that is what they’re doing


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[Gertner]

Wow, I figured this would happen someday but I'm still shocked. Called the X Lines many a time as a teenager.

[thatonedude]

Holy shit. Color me surprised.

I figured they’d blow up 89x at some point, but the River is what I’m surprised about. Doesn’t it do decently over in Windsor? Kinda odd to flip that as well.

[ChrisWL1980]

Here's my gut feeling at this point:

88.7 goes Variety Hits as Bob FM
93.9 goes Virgin Radio or Adult CHR CHUM-FM style (Mix 96.7 is sounding closer to mainstream AC these days, with the amount of '80s they play)

[MrTaterSalad]

What are the odds I can get an alt-country and/or real country format on 93.9? A station that plays a mix of real country and alt-country artists and leaves out the Jason Aldean's, Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line and all the pop and bro bullshit? Give me artists like Aaron Lewis, Ashley Monroe, Brandy Clark, Chris Stapleton, Holly Williams, Jamey Johnson, Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves, Lukas Nelson, Midland, Miranda Lambert, Old 97s, Sturgill Simpson, The Trishas, Turnpike Troubadours, plus an array of Canadian alt-country singers.

See KOKE-FM in Austin, TX for what I want.

www.kokefm.com

[radioandtventhusiast]

I kind of figured 89x's end was coming for at least 8 years. I think Dave and Chuck leaving was the start of the downfall.

I too am kind of surprised about 93.9 flipping. The River seemed to be fairly popular.

I second the idea of a variety hits format on 88.7.

[syntheticexctasy]

How about a real rock station on one of those freqs?

89x dug their own grave when they stopped working as hard as they did in 1993 to build out quality playlists.

Personally I like the river most of the time but I've noticed some tweaks lately that prompted me to listen less.

[thatonedude]

My thoughts:
88.7 goes Virgin Radio
93.9 reverts back to AAA but with a classic rock/alt focus and different branding (mentioned this idea in the "Predictions" thread) or becomes "Bob"

syntheticexctasy -- if you're referring to the influx of pop product into the playlist, that's why I stopped listening as well. Granted, I didn't listen much anyway since I prefer 107one's playlist, but the River was nice to have whenever 107one was in commercials. The sudden addition of Pink, Justin Timberlake, etc. turned me off completely.

[TC Talks]

What are the odds I can get an alt-country and/or real country format on 93.9? A station that plays a mix of real country and alt-country artists and leaves out the Jason Aldean's, Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line and all the pop and bro bullshit? Give me artists like Aaron Lewis, Ashley Monroe, Brandy Clark, Chris Stapleton, Holly Williams, Jamey Johnson, Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves, Lukas Nelson, Midland, Miranda Lambert, Old 97s, Sturgill Simpson, The Trishas, Turnpike Troubadours, plus an array of Canadian alt-country singers.

See KOKE-FM in Austin, TX for what I want.

www.kokefm.com

Ha! Pipe dreaming.... Too niched for a place like Detroit.

Ever listen to Sun Radio in Austin? Pretty excellent Alt Country station.