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WCBS-FM (101.1 MHz) is a radio station in New York City that is owned by CBS Radio. The station airs a Oldies/Classic Hits format concentrating primarily on music from 1964 to 1985. WCBS-FM was one of the first notable oldies stations in the country, with the format dating back to July 7, 1972.
| File:Cbsfmlogo07.jpg | |
| Broadcast area | New York City area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 101.1 FM (MHz) (HD Radio)
101.1-2 FM Adult hits "Jack FM" (HD Radio) |
| Branding | CBS FM 101.1 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Commercial; Oldies/Classic Hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | CBS Radio |
| WCBS, WCBS-FM, WFAN, WINS, WWFS, WXRK | |
| History | |
First air date | 1941 |
Call sign meaning | W Columbia Broadcasting System |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 6,700 watts |
| Links | |
| Webcast | WCBS-FM Webstream Jack FM Webstream |
| Website | http://www.wcbsfm.com/ http://www.ilikejack.com/ |
Between June 3, 2005 and July 12, 2007, the station aired an adult hits format as Jack FM, before returning to its previous oldies format.
Early years
What is now WCBS-FM began in 1941 when it became CBS's first FM station, under the callsign W67NY, broadcasting on the 46.7 MHz frequency. In 1943, the callsign was changed to WABC-FM (for Atlantic Broadcasting Company, the former owner of CBS's AM station, with no relation to the present-day WABC) and subsequently the frequency changed to 96.9 MHz. Finally, by 1947 the station became WCBS-FM and the frequency moved to the current 101.1 MHz.
For many years WCBS-FM simulcast its AM sister station. From the 1940s until the late 1950s both stations aired a typical network-dominated general entertainment format with comedies, dramas, news, information, sports, talk shows and some music. As these types of radio shows either moved to television or were canceled outright, WCBS and WCBS-FM evolved slowly into a personality-oriented format featuring news, popular music, sports, and information. As rock and roll became popular, the stations limited the music to only softer songs of the genre.
The two stations split in 1966. The AM station retained their personality-oriented Middle of the road format (prior to switching to an all news format the following year) and WCBS-FM broke away with their own programming. They initially programmed a younger-leaning easy listening format known as "The Young Sound", playing soft instrumental versions of current pop music songs. This automated format was adopted by all of CBS's FM stations.
In 1969, WCBS-FM launched a freeform rock format, which was becoming an increasingly popular format at the time. All the other CBS-owned FM stations picked up this format as well. For the first time, WCBS-FM would have an airstaff. Bill Brown and Don K. Reed began their long tenures with the station at this time, and both remained there until 2005.
Original Oldies years
WCBS-FM was never successful with their rock format, competing with stations such as WPLJ (the former WABC-FM) and WNEW-FM had most of the rock audience. As a result WCBS-FM switched to oldies on July 7, 1972, becoming one of the first full-time stations in the country to use that format. The change coincided with rival WOR-FM's decision to drop pre-1964 oldies from its playlist a few months prior (as they became WXLO). The first record aired on the WCBS-FM was Dion's “Runaround Sue”. The entire staff from the rock format remained at the station, as it was not uncommon at the time for stations to keep airstaffs through format changes. In fact, Bill Brown (who actually started with the station back in 1969 during their rock days) and Don K Reed would remain with the station during their entire first long run as an oldies station. Initially, the station focused on rock and roll hits from 1955-1964, and mixed in softer hits of the late 1960's and 1970's. They also played a moderate amount of adult standards from the rock era. In addition the station played two current hits per hour known as "future gold". By the late 1970's, however the station dropped most of the adult standards type artists with a few exceptions and added more rock hits from the late 1960's.
WCBS-FM's oldies format weathered many trends and corporate moves. By 1979, three FM stations owned by CBS had gone disco. In 1981 all of CBS's FM stations, except for WCBS-FM, adopted a CHR format known as "Hot Hits". The oldies format on WCBS-FM continued to be a success.
Joe McCoy took over as program director in 1981 and at that point WCBS-FM began to gradually shift its focus to the 1964-1969 era, but would also feature a more pre-1964 oldies than most other such stations. The station continued also to feature hits of the 1970's and some hits of the 1980's while cutting future gold selections to one per hour. Also in the 1980's, WCBS-FM began employing many disc jockeys who were widely known on other New York City stations (and sometimes nationally), such as Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram, Bruce "Cousin Brucie" Morrow, Harry Harrison, Dan Daniel and Jack Spector. Bob Shannon, whose only previous New York City radio experience before coming to WCBS-FM was as a weekend part timer/fill-in at WYNY, became well-known himself through his 19-year run as the station's afternoon disk jockey.
In 1989, WCBS-FM discontinued playing current product during the day but continued playing it on the late nights and overnights. While most oldies stations were playing songs from exclusively 1955 to 1973, WCBS-FM continued to play a moderate amount of songs from the late 1970's as well as about one 1980's hit per hour. Most of the 1980's music came from core oldies artists.
The station's ratings increased during the 1990s (and were sustained into the 2000s) and market research studies showed a small and growing audience in the 35-49 year old demographic as a new generation's "songs they grew up with" moved into the oldies format. The station even hit number one overall in the ratings on at least several occasions during the 1990's.
By 2000 CBS began to lose interest in the oldies format. The company philosophy had changed gradually over the years. CBS had merged with several companies and owned over 100 FM stations in many different formats. In 2000, WCBS-FM cut back on the pre 1964 oldies slightly while playing slightly more music from the 1970's and 1980's. By early 2001, they axed many specialty shows. Eventually, they began to shorten the regular playlist and cut away from pre-1964 and toward 1970-1989 product even more. In the summer of 2002, Don K. Reed's long-running Sunday night Doo-Wop Shop program was cancelled.
The station canceled more specialty shows in 2003 such as the "Top 20 Oldies Countdown". In the summer of 2003, to appease some fans, they did bring a specialty 1955-64 oldies show called "Heart & Soul of Rock & roll" with Norm N. Nite (another longtime air person who has been there off and on since 1973). Still in that year Harry Harrison left mornings and Dan Ingram also left.
In the spring of 2004, WCBS-FM narrowed the playlist even more. The station's playlist consisted of music almost entirely from 1964 to 1979 dividing the 1960's and 1970's about equal. They only played a handful of pre 1964 oldies as well as only a few songs from the 1980's at that point. Joe McCoy left the station shortly after and was replaced by Dave Logan.
WCBS-FM's last morning show host as an oldies station was ex-Monkee Micky Dolenz, who had appeal to this audience segment by virtue of 1970s The Monkees reruns and the mid-1980s Monkees revival. His broadcast on June 3, 2005, was a remote at a Manhattan restaurant to celebrate his 100th day at the station. However, by the end of that day, the station would be changed dramatically.
In a July 2005 keynote address to the Radio & Records Convention, musician/actor/DJ Steven Van Zandt labeled this switching out of 1950s music for 1970s music as the key death blow to WCBS-FM (and other oldies stations).[1]
101.1 JACK FM
Friday, June 3, 2005 began as a usual day at WCBS-FM. But at a couple minutes before 4:00 p.m., Bill Brown stated "CBSFM 101.1, ever get the urge to shout "RESCUE ME!!"? Well I am getting that feeling, Here's Fontella Bass." After that Bill and about half the airstaff went to an emergency meeting to be informed that WCBS-FM has ended the oldies format and will become an adult rock station with a format called Jack. (The other half were informed at that moment as well through a conference call). The entire airstaff would then be laid off immediately. Bill Brown appeared to have possibly known what was about to happen at the end of his shift or at least knew something quite unusual was about to occur. The other staffers signing off clearly did not know of the change until the meeting began. It was reported that the decision to change the format was made over Memorial Day Weekend. Meanwhile, the station played various oldies and jingles from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ending with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra followed by a montage of sound effects.
Then in a shocking and controversial move, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, June 3, 2005, WCBS-FM 101.1 flipped formats from Oldies to the new "Jack FM," and is self-identifying under that term.
A short introduction was played, followed by the announcing of the new station name. "Welcome to the NEW 101.1 Jack FM, playing what we want." The first song aired was Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right". The format played close to over 2000 songs.
With this move, WCBS-FM left the oldies scene after broadcasting oldies continuously for 33 years. In an attempt to cater to fans of the old format, the station created an internet-only oldies station on its website. Initially, the internet-only station is DJ-less like the new Jack FM (whose "DJ" is a pre-recorded male voice done by Howard Cogan), but in a letter on the WCBS-FM website posted on June 5, 2005, station VP Chad Brown announced the web stream might try to have most of the original shows and DJ's back and that eventually the station will also be able to be heard on HD radio.
Many criticized the change of formats. According to the New York Post, mayor Michael Bloomberg responded to the change by declaring he would "never listen to that f---ing CBS radio again", which the new Jack station picked up on, making jokes about his quip ("Hey, Mayor Bloomberg. I heard you took a shot at us in The Post. What's with all the swearin' like a sailor? Fleet week is over. It's just music.") in between berating and insulting former WCBS-FM listeners. In an interview with the New York Daily News, Cousin Brucie likened the format switch to "replacing Yankee Stadium with a fruit stand". Cousin Brucie has since signed on with Sirius Satellite Radio to continue spinning oldies tunes.
In March of 2006, Chad Brown hired Brian Thomas as program director replacing Steve Smith. Chad was replaced by Les Hollander later that year after a big layoff of personnel at CBS Radio. In 2007, Jennifer Donohue (from WWFS) was named as Jack's new General Manager.
Jack signed on with "No DJ's" but initially left the options open to add Dee Jays in the future. Months later, they stated there would be no air personalities but later hired Amy Scott, a former VH1 VJ, to host information elements in its morning programming, "F.Y.I." includes headlines, weather and traffic. It has also added Delphine Blue as the host of it's weekly "Acoustic Sunrise" show on Sunday mornings 7am to noon and her role was expanded in January 2007 to include hosting weekday afternoon "F.Y.I" updates, from 4:00 - 7:00pm. [2]
Return of the Oldies Format
In early July, 2007, various websites quoted sources as saying the station was ready to shift from its current "Jack" format and return to its previous format. CBS Radio, owner of the station, declined to comment on the much-rumored change. Initial reports about the WCBS format change initially surfaced on July 6, 2007 in the Radio Business Report online newsletter and at Crain's New York Business.com.
"If this happens, it will be a fantastic move," said Cousin Brucie Morrow, one of the veteran DJs jettisoned when the station swapped formats. "There isn't a day that goes by that people don't come up to me and say, `We miss the station so much.'"
CBS Radio confirmed the rumors on July 9, 2007 that oldies would indeed return to 101.1 and the HD 1 channel on Thursday, July 12 at 1:01 p.m. EDT (the first song played in the return was "Do It Again" by the Beach Boys).[2] The returning format was slated to concentrate on music from 1964 to 1985, a sprinkling of hits of the 1980s and a very limited amount of oldies from 1955-1963.
During Jack's final week, liners ran promoting the upcoming return of the oldies format and reminding listeners that Jack would still be available, both online and via WCBS's digital HD2 subchannel.
In a reference to the series finale of The Sopranos, the final song on Jack FM format was "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, ending at 12:44 PM in the same spot it abruptly ended on the Sopranos finale. Then, after a few seconds of dead air, the oldies format returned in the same way it left. First picking up at the end of Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind" followed by greetings from former CBS FM DJs Harry Harrison and Ron Lundy, leading into clips of music, movies, television shows, and events from each year starting in 1964 through the 1980s, with WCBS-FM jingles interspersed between. Former mayor Ed Koch then welcomed back the format, noting the "mistake" WCBS-FM had made with the switch.[2]
On Air Schedule
WEEKDAYS
- 12:00am-6:00am Jeff Mazzei
- 6:00am-10:00am Dan Taylor with Mr.G & Al Meredith
- 10:00am-3:00pm Bob Shannon
- 3:00pm-7:00pm Broadway Bill Lee
- 7:00pm-12:00am TBD
WEEKENDS
HD2
A few hours after the flip to Jack, WCBS-FM's 60's and 70's music was brought back online at wcbsfm.com. Over the next couple of weeks the station started playing some pre-1964 oldies again. Additionally, the 60's and 70's oldies became broader and some 80's oldies were also mixed in, and the format got much deeper. However, it was commercial-free and had no airstaff. WCBS-FM also began broadcasting on HD Radio in October of 2005 (beating most of the other NY stations, which launched in early 2006).
The HD2 station featured "The Greatest Hits of All Time", with a much larger playlist from the mid-1950s to the 1980s, but predominantly the music of 1964 to 1983, programmed by longtime New York City radio veteran Jeff Mazzei (who now does overnights on the new CBS-FM).
Air personalities were added to the WCBS-FM HD2 oldies unit on July 11, 2007. The Oldies WCBS-FM unit then moved to the analog and HD1 channels at 1:00 PM on July 12, 2007. The HD2 also simulcast the oldies format until 2:00 PM that day, at which time Jack FM moved to HD2. At 3:00 PM that day, Jack resumed streaming on their website.
Management
- Jennifer Donohue – VP/General Manager
- Brian Thomas - Program Director
- Lenny Bloch – Asst. Programming Director
- Jeff Mazzei - Asst. Programming Director
- Maria Martello – Programming Coordinator
- Al Meredith – Director of News & Public Affairs
- Theresa Beyer – Marketing/Promotions Director
- Keith Crystal – National Sales Manager
- Glen Tacinelli - Local Sales Manager
- Lance Delaney - Local Sales Manager
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ a b Hinckley, David (2007-07-13). "101.1 reasons to rejoice". Daily News.
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See also
WCBS (AM), aka "WCBS Newsradio" (880 kHz)
WCBS-TV (channel 2)
External links
- 101.1 WCBS-FM (effective July 12, 2007)
- Jack-FM HD2 subchannel (effective July 12, 2007)
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- New York Daily News: Oldies suddenly a thing of past in WCBS shift (June 4, 2005)
- Interview with Cousin Brucie in The Villager
- WCBS-FM tribute site
- WCBS-FM Station Information
- Newsday stories from July 7, 2007 and July 12, 2007 on the return of oldies to WCBS-FM.
- Proclaimation from Mayor Michael Bloomberg on "WCBS-FM Returns to New York City Day"