Sunday, December 24, 2006

Merry Christmas from Clear Channel

Fans of Sunny 93.9 may be disappointed to learn that the station is straying from its adult contemporary format.

When the station ends its 55 day run of Christmas music Tuesday (don't even get me started on that), the station will switch to a "Rhythmic AC" format. Don't know what that means? You're probably not alone. Program director Chris Shebel told the News & Observer listeners can expect to hear artists like Kool & the Gang, Earth Wind & Fire, Jennifer Lopez and Madonna.

The station will also air Whoopi Goldberg's morning show (yes, someone gave her a radio show) called "Wake Up With Whoopi" during the morning drive, from 5-9 a.m.

Sunny also won't be so "sunny" anymore, dropping its current moniker. No word what the new name will be.

Before you ask, yes, Sunny 93.9 is owned by Clear Channel Communications. Just two months ago, Clear Channel rocked the boat by switching up 106.1 (once classic rock station WRDU, now country station The Rooster) and 100.7 The River from a sort-of adult alternative format to one with a little more emphasis on classic rock and bands like Boston.

Who knows what sort of musical void they're trying to fill with this move, but when you're pulling in $2.7 billion dollars a year and own more than 1,200 stations nationwide (thanks, FCC), who needs a reason?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I actually like some of the 12 songs they play on 100.7 — the first 5,000 times they play them. Boston, however, is proof that the same predictable, overproduced, blowdried crap that sold radio advertising in the '70s can do the same thing 30 years later. Some people say Tom Scholz is a genius. I say he's a putz. Even though it's the Christmas season and everything and I should be more charitable and stuff, jeez, this just doesn't give me much hope for the future of our culture.

Anonymous said...

I was pretty pissed when they chyanged the 100.7 format. It was probably one of the only tolerable radio stations. I'm very curious as to how the new 93.9 is going to go over.

Anonymous said...

Another good reason to listen to live local music at night and your iPod during the day.