Long-anticipated return of Urban format expected in June
Pittsburgh:It's been rumored for a while that once the sale of WPYT-AM (660 Wilkinsburg) was final, a full-time urban format would return. The sale is expected to close within days and an urban contemporary format is targeted to begin in June. New owner Tim Martz of Radio Power Inc. told the Post-Gazette, "WAMO had a big audience. It's an attractive format." The daytime-only AM signal reaches parts of Ohio and West Virginia but will be joined by a 99-watt FM translator at 100.1. The translator - currently testing with the audio of WDUQ-FM (90.5) - should cover most of the metro region except areas farther south. The callsign is not expected to change immediately.
Two full years have passed since the announcement that Sheridan Broadcasting was selling WAMO-AM/FM (860 Millvale; 106.7 Beaver Falls) along with WPGR-AM (1510 Monroeville) to St. Joseph Missions for $8.9 Million. The former became WAOB-AM/FM in the fall of 2009 signing off for several months before returning in 2010 with Catholic programming.
Meanwhile, WLTJ-FM (92.9) has aired several hours of urban programming six days a week with host and former WAMO personality Tracey Lee. Former WAMO program director Ron Atkins streams an R&B/hip-hop format over 101TheBlaze.com. Bev Smith, whose program is produced locally and distributed by American Urban Radio Networks, has been picked up locally by WBGN-AM (1150 New Kensington).
Readers’ Forum
WAMO did not have a big audience after the PPM was introduced, and that was on a 50,000-watt FM station. Unless they do the right sort of urban, a daytimer and translator are unlikely to do much better. I wish them luck.
Seeing Eye - May 14, 2011 at 07:14 am
WAMO did have a big audience even after the PPM. When the PPM came out WAMO did even better. They went from #9 to #5 and beat KISS.
But they shouldve made 106.7 URBAN AC if they know they were losing money. URBAN AC is more tolerable with blacks whites and spanish. But someone should buy 106.7 and make it a CHURBAN. Urban will not work especially since this is the southern rap area. im 25 and i hate negative music with no message.
I just hope 92.9 realize they’ll generate more money and listeners if that flip to URBAN AC!
osn412 - May 14, 2011 at 2:04 pm
The above statement is incorrect. When the PPM was introduced, WAMO lost half of its audience. The PPM was even cited by Sheridan as one of their reasons for selling the stations (they believed it was detrimental to the ratings of urban formats, and perhaps it is: it has the unfortunate but honest habit of sending minority formats back down to minority ratings). Please check your facts before posting blatant falsehoods.
Seeing Eye - May 15, 2011 at 04:11 am
Blatant Falsehoods? what actions of blatant are spoken in the message? Learn how to use the meaning of words correctly in there entirety in a sentence.
In the Spring 2009 PPM charts.
WAMO was #6 with a 5.2…WKST was #9 with a 4.5. So PLEASE check your facts before posting bonehead blatant falsehoods. God Bless:D
osn412 - May 16, 2011 at 05:13 am
The Spring 2009 ratings were under the diary system, not the PPM. The first Pittsburgh PPM results were for September 2009. When those numbers were released, it was reported that WAMO had lost half their audience.
The entire news story can be read here:
http://www.insideradio.com/Article.asp?i..
Again, please check your facts before posting. I trust this will bring an end to our “boneheaded” discussion.
Seeing Eye - May 16, 2011 at 08:51 am
Churban? As in contemporary urban?
Rick - May 16, 2011 at 3:27 pm
I’ve been following the saga of WAMO and the loss of the Urban format in Pittsburgh since rumors of the sale of WAMO began. While I truly understand and appreciate the significance that the sale of a this landmark radio station (and loss of those legendary calls) and the need to make sure all audiences are properly served and have a voice… I keep wondering that if it were so crucial, important and such a money making bonanza, why no one else stepped up to the bat, except for perhaps WLTJ’s night time Urban A/C? I also agree with previous comments that the way to go with this new station would probably be Urban A/C perhaps crossed with a taste of “Jammin Oldies” – an important element still would be in the station’s community outreach and public affairs. I don’t think its going to be easy for the new guys on the block… but I really wish them the very best… I love to see people willing to take a risk blast apart old fart “conventional wisdom”.
Rick in DC - May 16, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Rick (not in DC), I believe “Churban” is “Christian Urban”.
Eric - May 16, 2011 at 5:35 pm
I’ve always known Churban to be a hybrid of CHR and Urban… now called, I guess Rhythmic Contemporary..
Rick in DC - May 16, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Is the “will not be heard as well in the areas farther to to the south of the metro area” due to Morgantown’s WCLG (I think that’s the correct designation) at 100.1? I live in the SHills and can get CLG pretty clearly from Century III on southward…
Pip - May 17, 2011 at 1:43 pm
This may answer your question, though I find it fascinating that WCLG-FM can come in clear further north than Radio-Locator’s estimate of a fringe area.
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat..
Pat Cloonan (URL) - May 18, 2011 at 12:52 pm
I havent bothered to read the immature response statement above.
@RICK in DC-Churban is what Eric is talkin about. “hybrid of CHR and Urban”
Churban is more passable then Urban stations up north because Southern music is dominating the airwaves right now. Up north southern music has no message.
I think 100.1 is not a long term frequency for a strong format.
What I think is Tim Martz probably made some type of deal with 92.9 to re-broadcast there HD-2 station on 100.1 and am660. I live in Nyc now but i think WLTJ should do something with 92.9 WLTJ. The ratings came out and WLTJ is #13. smh. I guess 92.9 will come to there senses that they’re not an at work station but thy’re a station that needs format work.
osn412 - May 18, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Someone tell those numnuts at CLG to fix their live stream! I bought a Squeezebox to listen to them and I am simply beside myself today!
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