WRXP is back - as country

[friday]

Cumulus bought WFME 94.7 from Family Radio back in October, and formally dropped the religious format on January 11, also changing the call letters to WRXP, which of course was the erstwhile alternative station in New York prior to CBS buying the station and flipping it to WFAN. They've been simulcasting WPLJ for a week until today, when they launched a stunt called "The Wheel of Formats", with everything from mash-ups of current hits to old-school WABC sound checks.

The new format is set to debut on Monday at 9:47 AM. The new call letters would suggest that they're going to bring back alternative, but country is also being rumored as the possible new format. The Facebook page for WPLJ has been soliciting suggestions for the new format, with those two being the popular choices.

Personally, I hope it's alternative. I know it's been awhile since a country station was on New York airwaves, but I honestly think alternative radio is much more needed in NYC than country. The old WRXP was on the ascendancy before CBS killed it, pulling in a 2.1 rating in September despite almost no promotion or even an airstaff. Of course, these things are never as obvious to radio programmers. So I'm holding my breath until Monday.

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

‘Nash 94.7’, aka WRXP 94.7, becomes first country radio station in New York City in 17 years

www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/nyc-country-radio-station-17-years-article-1.1243999#commentpostform

Congrats on New York finally getting a country music station. Can't believe it's been 17 years since New York City had a country station. Cumulus Media does something different.

Their website:

www.nashfm947.com/

[friday]

Yeah, I was afraid it was gonna be country, given the reports I was reading over the weekend. I mean, I guess on paper it makes for Cumulus as the format probably dovetails better with WPLJ's listener base than an alternative station would. And yeah, country fans in NYC have certainly been in the doghouse a lot longer than alternative fans have been. I'm just curious to see what the numbers on this will be. What is the bar for success for country radio?

Now I just hope it's not another 17 years before alternative radio returns to New York. By the way, just what was the point then of Cumulus acquiring the WRXP call sign only to come out with a country station? Are they gonna give 94.7 a new call sign in line with its brand and spin off WRXP to a new frequency? Or was it just a classic bait and switch?

[EvanJ]

Jan 21, 2013 13:28:44 GMT -5 ♛ The Manticore ☯ said:

‘Nash 94.7’, aka WRXP 94.7, becomes first country radio station in New York City in 17 years

Although the stations I'm referring to didn't actually come from New York City, at least some of New York City could hear Country much more recently than 17 years ago. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WYNY_(defunct) says:

"At the start of 2002, Big City Radio announced that indeed the rumors would now be true, but not until May. As with 103.5 WYNY, the air personalities all were given the opportunity to say goodbye, but they did this less melodramaticly than in 1996. In its last week as a country format, Y-107 was automated except for mornings; finally, on May 7, Garth Brooks' "The Dance" closed out the country format on Y-107."

WRXP changed from Christian to Country, and one of the stations that used to be Y-107 as Country is now christian.

[Deleted]

I'm late as hell on replying to this, as I am new, but...
New York with out a Country station, lol. I haven't counted them, but I get like ten or so Country stations (1 of which is Classic Country). Some, though, only come in when the condition are right.