Wave changes its tuneNear bottom of ratings, station drops alternative rock format By Kyle Stock (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
File/ Juliette Coughlin/Staff Crowds took to the field at Joseph P. Riley Park in this 2000 photo for a concert sponsored by 96 Wave Near bottom of ratings, station drops alternative rock format Days after Apex Broadcasting Inc. pulled the plug on alternative rock at its 96.1 "Wave" radio station, a whine of feedback has droned through Charleston's music scene. The storied but long-struggling frequency stopped spinning songs from the likes of Soundgarden in favor of softer stuff like Simon and Garfunkel, and turned down the volume on aspiring local bands like Red Handed and The Working Title. The broadcaster also changed its moniker from "Wave" to "Chuck," as in "Chucktown," a slang term for Charleston. Chris Johnson, an Apex vice president, described the new format as "adult variety hits" and said the frequency now has a "pretty wide-open play list." "The thinking on it was that it would broaden the appeal," he said. "It's kind of an undefined thing." The response from advertisers and listeners has been static-free and largely positive, according to Johnson, but many longtime residents and fans of independent, alternative music have lamented the change since Apex made the switch Friday night. Chris Dixon, a Charleston-based freelance writer, recalled stringing a wire through his Litchfield home to pick up 96 Wave as a kid. Dixon said the new format hardly echoes the former fare. "Who wants to hear Rick Springfield and Journey?" he said. "I feel like it changes the whole vibe of living in this town. ... There's nowhere on the air that you can find a new song by the White Stripes right now." For about two decades, Wave acted as a sort of greenhouse for budding bands, broadcasting some little-known acts and booking would-be giants like David Byrne and Wilco for Wavefest, its annual concert. Apex, a Charleston-based company that now has about 40 full-time employees, played tracks that were overlooked or unsanctioned by corporate radio powerhouses. Johnny Diamond, an agent who has represented a string of local bands, said 96 Wave's play list helped a number of his acts sign record deals. "It's obviously a terrible thing for the Charleston music scene," Diamond said Tuesday. "There's nothing even close to that format out there now. ... People can abuse the term 'cutting edge,' but that's always kind of how I felt about Wave." But despite resonating with rock purists, the Wave has grown weaker. The frequency slid to No. 16 in local ratings this spring, according to Arbitron Inc., a New York-based company that tracks the industry. Only three of every 100 people listening to the radio in Charleston at any given time had their dials tuned to WAVF-FM. Apex's other three stations posted stronger results, with its Star 99.7 frequency grabbing the No. 2 slot. The company cued up its new 96.1 at 5 p.m. Friday evening, bidding farewell to the old format with Soundgarden's "My Wave." Listeners on Tuesday heard a string of aging standards: "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon and Garfunkel, Snap's "I've Got the Power," "Do You Think I'm Sexy" by Rod Stewart and Loverboy's "Everybody's Working for the Weekend," to name a few. Ed Seeger, who consults radio stations nationwide as chief executive of Mount Pleasant-based American Media Services, said Apex's new programming is likely crafted to gain more listeners between the ages of 24 and 55. "That's what they call 'the money demo.' Most of your blue-chip advertisers are wanting that demographic," he said. Seeger predicted that the station's ratings would rocket under the new format. Apex commands about 18 percent of the Charleston radio market, according to Arbitron's most-recent statistics. The six local stations owned by Clear Channel Communications Inc., a Texas-based company, have 25 percent of listeners, while Las Vegas-based Citadel Broadcasting, grabs 22 percent of the market with its five stations. Reach Kyle Stock at 937-5763 or kstock@postandcourier.com. |
Article toolsSponsored Links |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 39 comment(s)
Posted by whalernut on September 5, 2007 at 5:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good days gone.
REAL CORPORATE NOW
Posted by puffler on September 5, 2007 at 6:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's hope they gave The Critic and really big severance package so he can start his own radio station!!
Posted by wjasongriffith on September 5, 2007 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everytime I came to Charleston, (a couple times a year, I would turn off my XM radio and listen to 96 Wave, which was by far one of the greatest stations ever in the US. In fact Rolling Stone once named it one of America's Top 5 Radio Stations.
Goodbye 96WAVE
Jason
Greenville, SC
Posted by greener1 on September 5, 2007 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously the audience just wasn't there, stop the whining!
Posted by Fire_Inspector on September 5, 2007 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously the ratings system is CRUD!
1) how do they determine listenership? By phone surveys? And who has a "land line" phone anymore? So all the people (like me) that only have a cell phone are left out of the surveys!
2) WTF does charleston need another "easy listening" disco era oldies station for?
3) Now there is NO modern rock station in Charleston? Corporate at the worst. BUSH has ruined local radio and tv by letting big corporations buy up all the stations. Lets go back to the days of local stations, no more than one belonging to a given company in each market.
4) and the format of "the chuck" suck$! I have never even heard of most of the lite crud on there!
Posted by yeayea on September 5, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhymes with luck, so let's just say "_ _ _ _ the Chuck!"
It was such an abrupted end. No warning, nothing.
I'm mad.
Posted by MSC on September 5, 2007 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
96Wave had a great run. It will be missed.
I question the quality of music that is out there now.
It isn't Bush's fault WAVE isn't around, so get off that trip already.
Posted by Noxcucurari on September 5, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Judging from the response here, as well as other forums such as myspace, this is a very well supported radio station. I'm not sure where the ratings system went wrong, but anyone who's attended a wave fest can attest to the number of loyal listeners. I know that as of right now, 5 of us are planning on meeting Saturday morning outside the station in Hannahan. We like to see many many more, and are working on a phone tree. If you would like to join us in a PEACEFUL protest, and sign a petition at the station, post here so we can see what kind of support to expect. We are also spreading the word via Myspace. Thank you.
~Nox
Posted by kma71 on September 5, 2007 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the new format sucks!!!! And it's not all easy listening either. On my way home Friday, they went from Bufett to metalica, to mellencamp to Sinatra. That wide variety of music does not belong on 1 radio station. You had a great thing with wave!! Nox-where is the station and what time sat morning? I think it also sucks they dropped free beer and hot wings too!!
Posted by M42R on September 5, 2007 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did anyone complaining about this change actually HEAR it happen at 5 pm Friday?
Proof that no one was listening.
Regardless of how revolutionary, cutting edge, or alternative The Wave was - it wasn't popular in Charleston anymore. Radio is still a business. And Radio died years ago - it was killed by a little thing we call an "I-Pod".
Quit your belly achin' and catch up with technology before it leaves you in the past, waving your morning paper (figuratively, of course because, you read it online now) at the kids on your lawn.
Posted by lilmsnobody on September 5, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good riddance. The Critic was sickening, all the other DJ's were boring, the only reason they played any good music was because there was a list in front of them telling them what to play. The only good thing they had going was the Free Beer and Hot Wings show. The new station is pretty lame thus far as well.
Posted by Noxcucurari on September 5, 2007 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was listening at 2pm on the drive back from one of the stores I'm over, and at 5 when I left work, so yes, people were listening.
The station's office is located at 2294 Clements Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29492.
Posted by Noxcucurari on September 5, 2007 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
M42r said "Regardless of how revolutionary, cutting edge, or alternative The Wave was - it wasn't popular in Charleston anymore. Radio is still a business. And Radio died years ago - it was killed by a little thing we call an "I-Pod".
Quit your belly achin' and catch up with technology before it leaves you in the past, waving your morning paper (figuratively, of course because, you read it online now) at the kids on your lawn."
An iPod only plays what you have, what you put on it. It was nice being able to hear NEW songs by NEW artists. The local bands they played can't be downloaded and added to your iPod. Maybe you can listen to the canned selection of music YOU like on your iPod, but I like a wider range of music, with a changeing venue.
As for being up with the technology, I was a computer tech. I am one of the people who ahd to explain to people like you want the diffrence in a wma and an mp3 is. I'm make it a point to be on the cutting edge of tech. I have a dvd/mp3 player installed in my firebird (okay, the cars not new) that let's me listen to 1000s of songs on one disk without changeing, has access to GPS navigation, and will be able to access the internet once I get windows booting off my 16gig thumb drive properly. But I still like to stop my mp3s and listen to something new, something I haven't heard yet. And sometimes listen to the DJs entertain me with a wit that was no doubt lost on you.
~Nox
Posted by 4Real on September 5, 2007 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have two words for you: satellite radio.
I got my Sirius two years ago and haven't really listened to terrestrial since. They have new music, old music, and any other kind of programming you can think of.
I spoke with one of 96 Wave's former DJ's (don't want to say who... he can speak for himself), and didn't even realize he wasn't on anymore. He hates regular radio, too, and listens to satellite.
Sirius even has a portable player which acts as a regular satellite radio and also like an iPod. You can download music into it, and you can also press a button if you hear a song you like on satellite, and it stores it like an iPod would. Why do we even need terrestrial radio anymore?
And yes, I was a rabid listener and supporter of 96 Wave "back in the day." Once TNT left and Woody sold the station, it went downhill pretty quickly.
BTW, they haven't been in Hanahan in years. Remember their move to West Ashley, led by the white Ford Bronco? (They're on Daniel Island now.)
Posted by libertarian on September 5, 2007 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will miss Wave, but geez Fire_Inspector how is this Bush's fault?
Today's loony left (Blame Bush for everything) sounds a lot lot yesterday's loony right (It's all Clinton's fault!) Sorry, the media consolidation happened long before GWBush's "reign".
By all means, complain to Apex. Heck, lobby another company to flip their low-rated station to Wave's old format. If the listeners are there, they will. But get a life. Bush, Clinton, Cheney, Gore, HR Clinton, Obama, Gulianni.... none of them knew or cared about Wave. Sorry, it's just not that important.
Posted by SangareeCrew on September 5, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The reason they shut it down is low ratings.......but the problem is in the way they get the ratings. Arbitron only does its surveys over land line phones. People in their late teens and twenties, even early thirties, increasingly DON'T have land line phones, but have high speed cable internet and cell phones and don't use land lines. So the number of people who listened to the Wave may have not been properly surveyed in the first place. And yes, all the sales staff cares about is what the ratings of the station are ON PAPER, not in real life. Ratings on paper are what sell the ads. But as the poster said above, the response here, on myspace and facebook, and the attendance at WaveFests and birthday bashes show the loyal following the Wave had.......let's hope it is somehow revived, even on another frequency, in the Lowcountry.
Long live LOCAL radio.
Posted by kma71 on September 5, 2007 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok nox-now I know where, but what time? And how do we find you on my space? I would love to sign a petition to try to get wave back!!!
Posted by bullygirl on September 5, 2007 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was listening Friday and I got that stupid "Charles in Charge" song stuck in my head all weekend. I thought that it might have been a joke until I heard the commercial for the "Chucktown" station. So long 96 Wave, thanks for many great years.
Posted by dta on September 5, 2007 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I quit listening to 96 Wave when the Free Beer and Hot Wings morning show started. It Sucked, but I did like the music format and I hope enough people complain and they will bring alternative back.
Posted by jammanofdi on September 5, 2007 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While I do agree that 96Wave's listenership has dropped a little, I also think that this is a direct effect of bad management at the station. They have chiseled every bit of identity away from the station slowly since I began listening several years ago and now it is (or I should say "was") just like so many of its competitor stations. They fired a great morning show, turned "Wavefest" into the "Van's Warped Tour", hired a syndicated morning show, started playing more heavy metal - and really lost the community feel that it based itself on. Because of Mr. Johnson's past poor decisions, he was forced to make one more, very large, bad decision. And I seriously doubt that 96Wave ranked in 16th place out of listeners here in the lowcountry. Everyone that I know, young and old, all listen to 96Wave to some degree - and their presence was everywhere in Charleston. Instead of listening to what Arbitron tells Apex, Apex should listen to what CHARLESTON tells them. If they weren't listening before, they will soon - when their "new" ratings come in. As a member of their target demographic, I would like to tell them that no one that listens to oldies is also going to listen to 80's rock, new music, gospel, tv show theme songs, canned voices, easy listening, rap and whatever else ChuckFM deems "waveworthy". Apex is one bad manager and 6 months away from bankruptcy. The old phrase, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" really goes a long way in this situation...
Joshua Megill
1108 Waters Inlet Circle
Charleston, SC
joshmegill@bellsouth.net
Posted by AL4854 on September 5, 2007 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also was listening when that Charles in Charge song came on. My first reaction was... maybe Scott Baio ended up in the news and they were playing this as a jab to him.. but it kept going and going. Then it just went to hell and never came back. By Sat. afternoon, I was sure this was a sign of the end of days when I heard Whitney Houston on 96 Wave. WTF!! I have never been so pissed at a radio in my life. Granted, some of the more recent changes to the programming may have been questionable to some, but at least this was a station you could turn on to hear something new or by someone who wasn't an American Idol winner. So lame. I listened at work all day, but I guess since I lack a land line my vote doesn't count. "Chuck" is just as generic as the rest of what's out there now. How many stations of "soft rock/variety" does one town need?
Posted by eb720 on September 5, 2007 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rod Stewart!? Charles in Charge! Seriously?? SERIOUSLY!
I went out of town for the holidays and when I got back to town, turned my car on with the dial tuned to 96 wave as is has been 90% of the time for the last 12 years I have lived here!, and was thoroughly confused when I heard Pink playing.
Pink.
I switched the station like 5 times to be sure I wasn't just losing it or there wasn't some glitch in my tuner.
This is sad...epic proportion type of sad. The end of an era sad. I don't understand those ratings, when I am in their so-called 24-55 market group, and I don't know anyone that doesn't listen to 96 wave.
The only conclusion I come to is that the majority of people in the demographic that listen to good music and are really into new music, local bands and cutting edge stuff (i.e. 96 wave) are also the more hip, tech-savy people that have bought satellite radio and have ipod adaptors. It just sucks that the only people the radio appeals to now though are those with apparently really lame music taste, excluding everyone else from radio completely. There truly is now "nothing good on the radio"
Posted by AL4854 on September 5, 2007 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eb720 - yeah, you've not experienced a real mind F*** until you hear Charles in Charge on 96. You missed out on a truly tragic moment. But I guess we ALL get to experience it now. Whoopie.
Posted by libertarian on September 5, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is 'Chuck' really 'Jack'? The JackFM format was hot for a while. Bizarre mix of music (Charles in Charge, Pink, and Rod Stewart anyone?) and limited DJs (almost automated). That would at least be new for Chucktown - errrr Charleston.
It would have been a good experiment to try when Apex took Coast and made it the (un)Hot New B92. [Wonder how that's working out for them?] Evidently the only format the white guys at Apex can succeed at is Rap/Hip hop. Oh the irony.
Move Chuck to B92. Bring back the Wave. At least no one missed Coast.
Posted by puffler on September 5, 2007 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, 96Wave ranked 19 out of 26 stations in the lastest poll on R&R (www.radioandrecords.com) but who cares? Apex killed off the mighty Wave!! The glory days of mid 90s when Atom, Richard and the Critic had the mornings and Uncle Miles had the All-Request Lunch and Diamond Dave Rossi had drive time are long gone. If they started (up)ChuckFM with "Charles in Charge", I wish they would have signed off the Wave with one last Uncle Miles blast of "IIIIIIIIIIIIII'mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm outta here!!!
I tried to complain to Apex but the email came back "undeliverable". Apparently, they can't run their computer system any better than they can run radio stations.
Posted by JonWithnal on September 5, 2007 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know what I really like? Satellite radio! Commercial radio is unlistenable. I am listening to Deep Tracks on my xm radio and I just heard an amazing old Leon Russell song - you won't ever ever hear anything good on local radio. Was WAVF ever any good?
Posted by Ohioaninsc on September 5, 2007 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was completely flabergasted when I got back in town earlier today from visiting my family. When I moved here a few years ago, I found the best radio station in the country I thought. Nothing in Ohio compared to the great Alternative music I would hear in The Wave. It became the only station I listened too in Charleston. No other station even compared. I loved hearing music from the local groups and from bands that don't get played on most corporate radio stations. Yes the last year has seen a downfall in the Wave, and the playlist seemed to get more corporatized, but I couldn't hear groups like Interpol, Silversun Pickups, and White Stripes and any others on any other radio stations here. The amazing thing is that I am in the supposed demographic the new Chuck station is geared towards, and I can't stand the soft sh*t that it is playing. I don't like old soft music like Rod Stewart or many others. Play that stuff on 96.9 or 102.5 not on my 96.1 Wave. Where can I go to get cutting edge Alternative/Indie music that you can't hear on the radio anymore? Isn't satelite radio corporatized too? Any free online stations that play similar playlists to what the Wave used to play?
BTW, NYC had the same thing happen to a great station there a few years ago, even though it was an oldies station. WCBS had a very loyal following, then they switched to that stupid JackFM format and lost most of their listenership. I will have to just use my IPod in the car now unless I find out Satelite Radio does play some of the unsigned type artists that the Wave played.
What a sad day for Charleston Radio to lose one of the best radio stations in the country.
Posted by christyfolly on September 6, 2007 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I went out of town and returned to my favorite radio station playing cheesy music. I really thought there was some mistake.
I too, would shut down my Sirius, to hear whats playing on 96 wave. I have listened for years, and looked forward to Sunday mornings. Its sad when people who are "out of touch" can make these corporate decisions. I work for the federal government, so I should be used to this kind of thing.
Posted by Noxcucurari on September 6, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We haven't set a time yet, we're looking to see if there's enough support for it. So far it looks like about 9 lonely people would be there. I'm on myspace as Noxcucurari, www.myspace.com/noxcucurari. If you know you can be there, let's say arround 9am, let me know.
Posted by libertarian on September 6, 2007 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gaaaa! I forced myself to listen to (up)Chuck while running errands for a couple of hours this morning. No one should have to listen to that !@#$. I'm old enough to remember most of the songs they now play... and I gotta say, it was bad then.
They say "We play everything". Fine. Live up to it. Where's the classic rock? R&B? Country? Hip hop? AOR? Punk? Big band? Polka? Indie? Alternative? Techno?
Oh, by 'everything' they mean the same tired !@#$ other stations play. That's not everything. Not even close. And for the life of me, I can't see why a Sunny (or other me-too bland station) listener would bother to switch to (up)Chuck.
At least there appear to be no DJs getting harmed pushing this stuff. I assume the Critic would rather be delivering pizzas again that this. (Not that being unemployed is good. But at least they aren't being tarnished by association with this dreck.
Posted by M42R on September 6, 2007 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nox,
I was merely commenting with my own opinions, and wasn't using this comment option to insult or make my self feel smarter by putting someone else down. I AM an IT Specialist. I work with technology every day. The point I was making with the "I-Pod" comment was, to simply put it, there are other options out there. Podcasts, music sites devoted to one genre, and Satellite radio - as many of the other writers have commented about as well.
Radio TELLS its listeners what is cool. And radio's advertisers tell RADIO what's cool.
Quit being a sheep and explore.
And quit insulting people - that's probably why you still live with your mother and work at Best Buy.
Posted by Noxcucurari on September 6, 2007 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
m42r, you're wrong on both accounts, and for someone who seems to be playing the hollier-then-thou card you sank right to what you seem to have deemed my level by insulting me. Reguardless, this isn't the forum for us to see who's is bigger, we can do that on myspace if it makes you feel better.
For now, let's stick with what's canon for this forum. I'm doing the best I can in getting a protest togather. The only experiance I actually have with getting people to mass... is so we can all go to the bar. So if anyone has a plan, or can at least reply to mine so we can get this thing rolling, it would be much apprichiated. As I said, I'm on myspace at www.myspace.com/noxcucurari and I can be e-mailed at noxcucurari@yahoo.com. There are shirts and buttons at http://www.cafepress.com/SaveTheWave. I'd like to claim I made em, but I did not, and I'd also like to get the profits from them but alas am not. If this comes togather I'll wear one though.
~Nox
Posted by wasupyall on September 7, 2007 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i was listening to friggin "charles in charge" that day and thought it was some kind of joke. then, it played a few more times and it started to piss me off. when i finally realized the radio station had changed i almost felt like driving into oncoming traffic. but seriously, this new programming sucks! what a complete 180. there's no station out there right now worth listening too. it may be time to invest in satellite radio, because there's no way i can stand listening to 96 upchuck. i thought the wave was the only good station around in the low-country and that it was here to stay. boy was i bamboozled. i guess i don't have the pulse of the people down here.
bring back the wave!!!
Posted by serf034 on September 7, 2007 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What's next? How about we close down the market, or ban the basket makers from downtown, or even better let's close the beaches to public access.
96 Wave was one of the things that made Charleston special. There are very few places in the country that one can listen to the radio without all of industry "swill merchants" manipulating the play-lists. We don't need "96 chuck." We already have it...it's called 95SX , 96.9, and 100.5. I don't mind those station once in a while but they all produce the same recycled garbage.
Lester Bangs is shedding a tear in a cold dark coffin somewhere today! Thanks a lot to the panhandlers of the industry of cool for screwing up a great station!
Posted by mc67 on September 8, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Currently, I have been living about 2 hours outside of Charleston and cant get 96wave on my radio dial. However, I looked forward to my weekend returns when I would get to switch my radio station from the standard top40 station I am forced to listen to, back to 96wave. Then, a couple days ago I was told by a friend that 96wave was no more.
After reading through this article and various responses i am even more disappointed to what has happened to 96wave. In response to various comments about the station hasnt been doing that well I respond back with the idea that it is APEX broadcasting's fault. In January the station went through a serious reformating. Many of our beloved DJs were out, and some not-so good ones were in. The music changed (anyone else notice how they felt like they were listening to 98X and go to change the station only to realize it was, in fact, 96wave?). The critic was put into a small timeslot during a time where most people couldnt listen (due to work or school...). 96wavefest and birthday bash were long gone. And seen by the recent shows at the Windjammer, the relationship between Charlestons best radio station and Charleston best beach bar was officially severed. Not to mention, while I grew to like free beer and hotwings, 96wave's long line of local morning shows ended to a nationally sindicated morning show. And let me tell you, for a long time listener, all of this was very disappointing.
We have all seen in these past couple of months the fall of 96wave. Its just sad that we actually had to witness it's death.
So please can we have our radio station back? Back like it was before APEX decided to, well, f--k it up?
Posted by melody1967 on September 14, 2007 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've listened to 96wave since the station came on the air in the late 80's. I travel all over the country and no other radio station even comes close to the great station 96wave was and will continue to be to it's loyal listeners. I will miss all of the great local music this station offered. The Charleston radio airwaves will never be the same.
Posted by carlosthedwarf on September 15, 2007 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You 96 Wave fans remind me of the people who have a yard sale, but don't want to give up the 8-track collection or painting that's been neglected for several years. Only when it is taken away from you do you get mad and cry foul. Listen, I think it sucks, too, that an independent station got taken over by an automated, corporate station. But the bottom line is that ratings were poor and the quality of 96 Wave has deteriorated in recent years. If you don't like commercial or terrestrial radio, buy a satellite radio, listen to Internet radio or find another alternative.
Posted by EBatos on September 26, 2007 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The response from advertisers and listeners has been static-free and largely positive, according to Johnson"
This guy obviously didn't get the voicemail I left him.
Posted by starrburst12 on September 27, 2007 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
96 Wave played Ween and Primus... which was freaking awesome. I refuse to pay for radio and I will not listen to any of the other crappy radio stations here. The Chuck is simular to the lame radio stations from where I lived in Ohio, it was nice to have a good radio station to listen to for once...