Year in Radio
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times

January 3, 2005

 

Story of the Year - The biggest story in radio nationwide and in Philadelphia was the departure of Howard Stern from terrestrial radio.  The top-rated personality here for almost twenty-years, Stern begins his new era on Sirius satellite radio Monday. 

 

This leaves the door open for other stations to grab Stern’s audience that won’t follow him to pay-radio.  For the first time in two decades, WYSP won’t have the guaranteed income generated from Stern’s highly rated show.

 

Format Changes - Y-100 changed from alternative rock to hip hop, WPEN 950-AM changed from Oldies to Sports Talk, 103.9-FM changed from “The Beat” to Gospel, 95.7-FM changed from adult contemporary to the “Jack” format, 94.1-FM changed to “Free FM.”

 

Goodbye – Christy Springfield and the WPEN oldies staff, Hy Lit, Chio, Rocco the Janitor on 96.5-FM, Carter and Sanborn, Rollye James (fulltime), the entire Mix 95.7-FM on-air staff.

 

New Address – Jerry Blavat from WPEN to WXPN, Preston and Steve to WMMR, Kim Douglas and Vinnie the Crumb to Free-FM, Tom Joyner from WDAS 105.3-FM to WRNB 107.9-FM“The Hawk” 94.5-FM and WPST 97.5-FM changed frequencies.

 

Hello – Jay Severin, John Tesh, John “Bubba” Stevens, Cindy Drue, Steve Harvey, Jody McDonald, Barsky, Kim Douglas, Vinnie the Crumb, Kidd Chris, David Lee Roth.

 

In Memoriam – Mark “The Shark” Drucker, best-known for his role on WMMR’s “The Morning Zoo,” and most recently for “The Buzz” on KYW 1060-AM, died of cancer at the age of 48.

 

Happy Anniversary – Sid Mark’s weekend Frank Sinatra show celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

 

The iPodization of radio – The “Ben” format is patterned on the iPod shuffle, many stations provide “podcasts” on their websites, B101 airs a “Shuffle” lunch.

 

Harried – KYW 1060-AM’s Harry Donahue suffered through a winless season as Temple University’s football radio announcer.

 

Disc Jockeys: An Endangered Species – WSNI 104.5-FM doesn’t utilize a morning personality, Ben 95.7-FM employs no DJs, B-101-FM doesn’t utilize a live overnight disc jockey.

 

Timing Is Everything – After losing the Phillies contract to WPHT, WPEN boosted its night-time signal.
 
Notes:
 
WPHT 1210-AM's new weeknight lineup is Susanne LaFrankie from 6-7 p.m., Jay Severin from 7 - 10 p.m., Dom Giordano from 10 - midnight, Bill O'Reilly from 12 - 2 a.m., and "Coast to Coast AM" from 2 - 6 a.m.  "Fridays with Frank" will air from 6 - 7 p.m. on Friday. "The Rollye James Show" is the odd show out.
 
James was on WPHT for six years and two years on WWDB.  Her show will continue on XM Satellite Radio Channel 165 and in syndication.