1997 in radio
Encyclopedia
The year 1997 in radio involved some significant events.
Events
- February 15 - After 5 years of Alternative Rock, WDRE flips into Rhythmic AC as Philly 103.9, the station, began to play Pearl JamPearl JamPearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
's AliveAlive (song)"Alive" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. "Alive" was Pearl Jam's first single, and appeared on the band's debut album, Ten . Written by guitarist Stone Gossard, "Alive" originated as an instrumental titled "Dollar Short" and was included on a demo tape circulated in hopes of finding a...
while crowding the live stage. - February 24 - 98.5 Kiss (Kiss Again 103.3) debuts after stunting played KissKiss (song)In 1988 Art of Noise released a cover of the song, featuring Tom Jones on vocals. The song became the band's biggest hit to that point, reaching number eighteen on the U.S. dance charts and number five on the UK Singles Chart, higher than the original in that country...
by PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. - June 22 - V-103 rebranded as 102.7 XYV (now WQSRWQSRWQSR is a radio station broadcasting on 102.7 FM. The station is licensed to Baltimore and serves that market. Its transmitter is located in Pikesville, next to the Pikesville Reservoir. It is under ownership of Clear Channel Communications. The station offers an adult rock hits format known as...
) in Baltimore - September 5 - WPLN ended its 40 years of Classical music in Philadelphia, The station becomes a Adult hits format as Max 95.7 (now WBEN-FMWBEN-FMWBEN-FM, known as "95.7 Ben FM," is an adult hits station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station plays a mix of 1970s, 1980s and 1990s hits, with some current hot adult contemporary rock singles. Named after Benjamin Franklin, the station pioneered a "Playing Anything We Feel Like" radio...
) - October 1 - Windy 100 (WPNT, now WILVWILVWILV is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Hits format. Licensed to Chicago, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. The station is also broadcast on HD radio....
) premiered its '40s-'60s formats. - October 19 - KMJM-FMKMJM-FMKMJM-FM is an FM radio station licensed to Columbia, Illinois, USA better known as "Majic 104.9". The station airs an Urban Adult Contemporary format, and has been the top-rated station in St...
moved from 107.7 to 105.1 at midnight. - October 20 - KSLZKSLZKSLZ, "Z107.7", is a Top 40 Mainstream FM radio station in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 107.7 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW. Its transmitter is located in Shrewsbury, a suburb of St...
debuts as Z107.7 - November 19 - B100 (KIBB) rebranded as Mega 100 (now KSWD)
- November 21 - After playing its longtime classical music, WQRS goes off the air, and The Edge 105.1 debuts as a Modern RockModern rockModern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
format.
Debuts
- Ron and Ron Show disbands, and Ron BenningtonRon BenningtonRon Bennington born January 9th,1959, is an American radio personality and comedian. He is the primary voice of The Ron and Fez Show, and a stand-up comic...
teams up with Fez WhatleyFez WhatleyFez Marie Whatley , is an American talk radio host and comedian who co-hosts The Ron and Fez Show. From October 9, 2007 to June 27, 2008, Whatley also served as the Executive Producer....
to create The Ron and Fez Show. - Dennis and Callahan debuts on WEEIWEEIWEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had... - A CHRContemporary hit radioContemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
station called Z95.7 debuts on KZQZKGMZKKOL-FM is an oldies music formatted radio station serving Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. The Salem Communications outlet broadcasts at 107.9 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW and is licensed to Aiea, Hawaii.-History:...
in San Francisco
Deaths
- Roger BarkleyRoger BarkleyRoger Barkley was an American radio personality, based in Los Angeles, California, best remembered for his work with Al Lohman as part of The Lohman and Barkley Show on KFI....
, 60, Los Angeles radio personality, teamed with Al LohmanAl LohmanAl Lohman was a personality and comedian with a long career in American radio from the 1950s through the 1980s and into the 1990s. Among his early career stops was a stint as morning man at New York City top-40 station WABC when it first adopted a pop music format in 1960...
as part of The Lohman and Barkley Show on KFIKFIKFI is an AM radio station in Los Angeles, California. It received its license to operate on March 31, 1922 and began operating on April 16, 1922 as one of the United States' first high-powered, "clear-channel" stations...
. - Jerry DoggettJerry DoggettJerry Doggett was an American sportscaster who called games for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball from 1956 to 1987.-Early days:...
, 80, sportscaster, play-by-play for Brooklyn and Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
baseball games from 1956 in radio1956 in radioThe year 1956 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.-Events:*February 13 - NBC and Westinghouse Broadcasting consummate a station ownership trade which saw NBC attaining owned-and-operated AM and TV stations in Philadelphia , and Westinghouse receiving NBC's AM, FM...
to 19871987 in radioThe year 1987 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 1 — WBEA-FM in Elyria, Ohio drops their "B107" top 40 format to become the second affiliate for the Satellite Music Network's "Z Rock" service, with new WCZR calls....
.