DC's Hot AC Z104 gone

[Slinky]

Hot AC WWZZ/WWVZ "Z104" in the DC area was replaced by sister classical station WGMS on the 104.1/103.9 frequencies at noon today. All-news WTOP has taken over WGMS's former 103.5 frequency. Another news/talk station, called Washington Post Radio will be starting on WTOP's old 1500/107.7 frequencies in March.

See DCRTV.com for more details.

[Slinky]

www.z104radio.com/

The website now has a goodbye message and a suggestion for listeners to check out competitors Mix 107.3, DC101, and Hot 99.5. Very unorthodox for a station website to acknowledge a format flip and competitors that way, but then again Bonneville seems like a kinder, gentler radio company than we usually see.

[Chase]

This station had such a great and varied playlist, IMO. It was a relief to hear a HOT AC station take a chance on bands like Carbon Leaf and Better Than Ezra, despite the fact they played Kelly Clarkson almost every hour.

[John77]

Another one bites the dust. :(

[vstreamer]

That's sad.

[reception]

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006

Bonneville/Washington Bids Farewell
To Z104 Staff

Bonneville/Washington SVP Joel Oxley confirmed on the air this morning on Hot AC simulcast WWVZ & WWZZ (Z104) that the entire staff of Z104 had been fired, in the aftermath of Bonneville/Washington's station shakeup. On-air talent directly affected by the frequency changes at Bonneville/Washington include morning guy Mathew Blades, PD Sammy Simpson, APD/Music Director/PM Driver Sean Sellers, midday talent Jenny Chase and night-time personality J.V.

In the final minutes of Z 104's Hot AC broadcast, the song selection included Jewel's "Foolish Games," Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" and Michelle Branch's "Are You Happy Now." A few beats of Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You" provided an introduction for Oxley, who came on the air to announce the changes at Bonneville/Washington. He thanked the staff of Z 104 for their "tireless energy" and its listeners for "letting us into your lives." Oxley concluded, "Z 104 now takes its place among the great radio stations in Washington's history."

In all, 35 Bonneville/Washington employees, including the staff of Z 104, the sales staff of WGMS and part-timers from both stations, were given pink slips this morning. Sources inside Bonneville/Washington report that "everyone who was terminated received severance and outplacement help."

Concurrently, Bonneville/Washington announced plans to hire 25 new staff members for its new "Washington Post Radio" FM News station that is currently without call letters. Everyone who was let go this morning is being encouraged to apply for the new openings.

[tico]

reception said:

Everyone who was let go this morning is being encouraged to apply for the new openings.

That doesn't make since. Why would you fire someone, then offer them a chance to re-apply? To me, if you fire someone, that means you didn't want them there. Bonneville should've told staff members that morning or the day before that they were changing formats and give the staff the option to stay on with the new format. I guess that would make too much since, eh?