WNEW-FM

WNEW is a New York City FM radio station operating at 102.7 MHz and owned and operated by Infinity Broadcasting. Today they offer a dance oldies format.

Decline and fall

The real problems began for WNEW in 1995, when it adopted an adult album alternative format. The station, which now had the slogan of "New York's Rock Alternative", evolved to a weird eclectic mix of adult rock by the end of 1995.

Related Topics:
1995 - Adult album alternative

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In January of 1996, the station declined to switch to classic rock when WXRK, which had a classic rock format for several years, decided to adapt an alternative rock format. In July of 1996, WAXQ adopted a classic rock format. By the beginning of 1997, the station reverted to a classic rock station, becoming the second choice for the format when earlier they could have been first. At this point, many long-time fans felt WNEW-FM had completely lost its focus. Throughout the 1990's, many of WNEW-FM's jocks defected to classic rock competitors WXRK and later WAXQ or to smaller but more freeform WFUV. Ratings remained dismal. In 1996 CBS and Westinghouse would merge making WNEW a CBS station. Infinity Broadcasting would then merge with CBS in 1997, making WNEW a CBS/Infinity station.

Related Topics:
WXRK - WAXQ - WFUV - CBS - Infinity Broadcasting

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In 1998, WNEW moved to a harder-edged rock format and continued to slump in the ratings. The remaining classic jocks left on the station departed one by one during 1998. Later that year, shock jocks Opie and Anthony arrived to do afternoons on WNEW. They played several songs an hour, but for the most part, the show was typical of a talk show featuring shock jocks. With Opie and Anthony's ratings soaring, the station made the decision in 1999 to abandon its 32-year rock format for a "hot talk" format. The final moments of the old WNEW-FM came on September 12, 1999; sole remaining long-time jock Richard Neer signed off his Sunday morning show by playing Bruce Springsteen's beautiful dirge "Racing in the Street".

Related Topics:
Shock jock - Opie and Anthony

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