8.29.99: Remember that photo of Big Ron and Famous Amos I posted here last month? Well, Anita Bonita (you may recognize her as a radio voice-over for stations such as The Buzz 105.1 ['96/'97] here in New York) submitted this information on the photo:
| Joe Tedd (and several others of us) got it from Jeffrey T. Mason (now APD/MD at Kiss's sister station, The 80's Channel), who was back visiting his old Philadelphia stomping grounds on 6.19.99 and had invited a bunch of radio buddies to meet him for a late dinner at Kat-Man-Du (on the waterfront at Penn's Landing), outside of which the picture was snapped. (It HAD to be late; Famous was on the air in NYC until 6 that evening...to say nothing of attendees coming from places like Ocean City.) Big Ron O'Brien, BTW, is actually the afternoon air talent at Philly's Star 104.5, which is a Hot AC, not JO; he also is heard doing shifts on a few other AMFM JO stations, *including* Jammin' 105 as recently as last week (filling in for the vacationing Beth Bacall). NYC radio fans, of course, remember Ron from places like 99X andWNNNNNNNNBC. |
By the way, the photo can be accessed by clicking here.
Also, Norm Murcheson informed me of a Jammin' Oldies station that recently sprouted in Phoenix, switching from standard oldies. You may recall that Phoenix at one time had a Jammin' O station for about a few days before it switched to hot Spanish. Anyway, this station sounds great, it's KBZG, simulcasting on 104.3 and 99.3. Their website is split screen with area sister station "101.1 The Loop". Oh, and you can also hear them live as well, refer to the "Listen Live" section. The same good sport Norm also gave me live audio feed links for the Jammin' O stations in Austin, Texas and Jackson, Mississippi as well. Like KBZG's feed, links are listed in the "Listen Live!" section. Thanks a bunch, Norm.
8.14.99: I've received plenty of feedback concerning Jammin' 105 not having a website. I find it strange that AMFM has websites for virtually all of their Jammin' O stations except for the one in only the #1 radio market, but that's just my opinion. But be patient - I was told that jammin105.com will be up and running around November. In the interim, Lavpass sent me a logo for Jammin' 105 which is in place under the regular station listings.
Speaking of Jammin' 105, they were heard in Minneapolis - only for a day - on 100.3 FM. It was formerly a rock station that aired Howard Stern in the mornings, and on Tuesday, August 3, after the Stern show, they started simulcasting other AMFM stations, including Jammin' 105, as well as AMFM's "smooth jazz" station in San Francisco, for a day each. They ultimately ended up as a classic rock station. It's surprising that Minneapolis has yet to have a Jammin' Oldies station yet, especially considering AMFM owns six stations in the Twin Cities. I have observed comments on radio message boards over this decision and most were saying it was over demographics there.
Finally, Miami's Mega 103.5 is now broadcasting over the Internet (check under Listen Live) and their calls are now WMGE.
8.7.99: A pair of stations in suburban Chicago which was recently broadcasting a Jammin' Oldies-type format called "The Heart And Soul of Chicago", WXXY and WYXX, both at 103.1 FM, has switched to an all-80's format after consistently pulling low ratings, somewhere in the 0.3 neighborhood. Contributing to the fall of this simulcast is not only the stations' weak signal in the ChicagoLand area, but of course, the dominant power and aura of 103.5 The Beat/WUBT, owned by AMFM Inc.
8.3.99: Two new Jammin' O type stations have sprouted in the Sunshine State. WPLL 103.5 FM in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, formerly known as "Planet 103" is now "Mega 103.5". Not too far away in West Palm Beach, WRLX 92.1 FM is now "92X'. They were formerly "Relax 92.1"... I'm guessing this is similar to what Chancellor did to WGAY in Washington, changing from an easy listening format to one more profitable. (My assumption is Relax was easy listening.) No word yet on who owns these stations, but I'll get the info eventually. By the way, thanks to Steve Gowlak for this info.
8.1.99: What's new: There is now a website for Denver's Jammin' 92.5, and an image for Myrtle Beach's Cool 104.9.
Also, a website plug for MichaelDHanks.com. Mike himself sent me an e-mail a few weeks ago and he was the one who convinced me that this format started in Los Angeles on Mega 100, and not Dallas, as I have been stating since the inauguration of this website. Who is Michael D. Hanks, you ask? And how does he know this for sure? Well, he was the imaging voice for Mega 100, and was the voice of the launch liner for Magic 102. He also lends/lent his voice to the Jammin' O stations in Chicago, Denver and Orlando, as well as the "Dancin' Oldies" station in Hartford; in addition to Dallas, his voice was on the launch liners for the Jammin' O stations in Cleveland and Washington, D.C. Quite an interesting resume. Keep it up, Michael.
As for the extremely huge gap between updates, it's something that's a bit beyond I control... and still, I somehow find a way to update this page. If I didn't have any initiative, I would ahev never done it at all, but I do. Keep sending the e-mail, the info will - eventually - make it here.
