WXMM Hampton Roads Flips from Rock to CHR

[johnm1120]

They made the switch at 7am this morning. Before then their website was stuntint "Kung Pao 100.5".

[EvanJ]

www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebsite20/members/ShowHeadline.aspx?FormatId=0&ContentID=48968 is an article about it.

WXMM hadn't been doing well in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News ratings.

[atlantaboy]

^Yeah Norfolk VA for some reason hasn't had a CHR since the mid 90s I think (there was a Z104 station that kept reportin to the CHR panel in the later 90s but only played rhythmic, and think it finally moved to rhythmic around 2000) - also think an alternative station flipped for about half a year to CHR in late 90s and completely failed

[Slinky]

A few years after Z104 went Rhythmic, 96X flipped from Alternative to CHR. They executed horribly though- they kept the "96X" name and still played a lot of Alternative stuff. So, of course it bombed and they went back to Alternative. Funny thing is their Alternative ratings were/are just as bad. 96X has never been a successful station in the market; it may have something to do with their signal.

106.1, which was owned by the same people as 96X, tried CHR a couple of years back as 106.1 The Zone. This is also a bad signal in the market though. They flipped to Country a while back and have been doing worse as a Country station.

100.5 is a big signal in the market. I think at one point, when they were Country WCMS, they were close to being #1. Looking at yes.com, this seems like a fairly well focused CHR. They do lean rhythmic, but given that Rhythmic Z104 does so well, it would be silly not to lean Rhythmic. I think 100.5 will do very well as a CHR in this area.

[atlantaboy]

^Yeah from what I remember about Norfolk area pretty sure it has high Asian pop. (and I think Hispanic too but not sure) - pretty sure that's why Z104 transitioned from CHR to Rhythmic, so new CHR IMO should def. lean rhythmic, esp. cause I think WPTE covers a lot of mainstream CHR tracks

[Marv]

Given the resurgence of the CHR/Pop format over the past 24-30 months, I wouldn't be surprised if more stations give it a shot after the recent launches and/or flips in NYC, LA, SF & Vegas.

[Slinky]

Got some interesting atmospheric conditions here in Alexandria, so I'm hearing 100.5 right now.

One of their liners out of a commercial is "Here comes a hot mess of music"... made me think of this board... LOL.

[shadster]

Wow, I should try an see if I can hear it but.....I wont. Its too late, I NEED to goto bed. Y am I still up?!?

There has been some interesting DX'ing this week. 2 days ago I was able to hear Q94 an the Elvis Duran morning show :) And I was also checking out 87.7, as I continue to hope, pray really, that this Pulse 87.7 will SOMEDAY show up but a las its still Contemporary Spanish Christian musica.....BUT i was also able to hear TV Channel 6 from Richmond in some places, I thought that was interesting. Other stations I heard was 103 Jamz from Norfolk and 98 YCR from York PA.

We must not be far from each other. I'm in Burke. I have fond memories of Hearing Z104 Norfolk during these DX's back in the 80s an early 90s, when Z104 was actually a good station. Now of course we have that danm country station @104.5 in Fredricksburg. Which I guess is ok, since Z104 is crap to me now, I shouldnt really care then...

[Slinky]

Yeah I think you would have gotten it. I'm in West Alexandria, so if you're in Burke, you're probably 8-9 miles away at most, maybe less. Had to tune to 100.6 because 100.5 was a hot mess of WBIG interference, but got it pretty clearly once I did that.

I also got a chance to listen to 99.3 Fredericksburg, which seems to be on the Pop side of Rhythmic now (I heard "So What"). I also got the new satellite CHR on 97.7 in Southern Maryland over the Contemporary Christian translator in my backyard. >:( *

* It's not that I even dislike the Contemp. Christian format, but it's totally unnecessary to me because I get it perfectly on 90.5 anyway. Yeah I know everyone else doesn't have as good radios, but still...