WHTT
Encyclopedia
WHTT-FM 104.1 FM
, is a commercial radio station
based in Buffalo, New York
United States
. The station has a classic hits
format
and is known by the name "104.1 WHTT".
WHTT is owned by Cumulus Media
. Its transmitter is located in Buffalo.
originally signed on in 1954 as WWOL, from Lackawanna, New York
. Its transmitter is located on Dorrance Avenue near Abbott Road on the border between West Seneca and Lackawanna. The station also held the calls WWOR and WACJ. It would change call signs to WNYS in 1982. During the WNYS years, the station employed future progressive talker Stephanie Miller
.
The station changed formats and call letters in the autumn of 1986 switching to classic hits
with the moniker "Classic Hits 104.1 WHTT". The station was one of the first to take the "classic hits" moniker in the United States, and did so due to the lack of a classic rock station in Buffalo after WRLT
switched to adult contemporary music. In May 1989, after WRLT went back to classic rock as WGRF, WHTT became an oldies
music outlet playing hits from the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s with the on air branding "Oldies 104".
In the late 1980s, the call letters and format were also heard on sister AM station 1120AM WHTT (now brokered Spanish language WBBF
).
By September 2003 the station, like many other oldies stations in the United States, had evolved into a classic hits format playing a mix of classic rock, soft rock
, R&B and pop music
hits from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. At this point the station changed its slogan to "104.1 WHTT The Greatest Hits Of All Time". In the autumn of 2004 the slogan was modified to "104.1 WHTT Buffalo's Greatest Hits," and in November 2006, since its music library now progressed well into the 1980s, changed yet again to "104.1 WHTT Buffalo's Best Mix." The move was carefully timed as the station imaged itself as more of an adult contemporary station as the two AC outlets in Buffalo, WJYE
and WTSS
, both changed to full-time Christmas music
in November and WHTT historically has not (instead opting for one Christmas song per hour from the day after Thanksgiving up through a few days before Christmas, then increasing to all-Christmas music for the last week before the holiday; a similar "mixed" Christmas format is being used in 2007). In addition, WHTT added many artists who are staples of the Adult Contemporary format, such as Madonna
, Wilson Phillips
, Don Henley
, and Sheryl Crow
to its playlist while keeping a large amount of 1965–1985 music in rotation; thus, some could consider it a Gold-Based AC.
In late February 2007, WHTT switched to variety/AC and changed its on-air branding to "Mix 104.1", adding to its playlist current and recent hits from artists such as Kelly Clarkson
, Maroon 5
, The Goo Goo Dolls, Carrie Underwood
and Avril Lavigne
, while continuing to phase out its older '70s music. The station also introduced a brand-new logo. Some of the oldies music was displaced to WGRF
. Most of the staff was retained, with Val Townsend coming from WEDG
as the afternoon jock to eventually replace longtime jock Harv Moore being the only notable change in the transition.
However, by October 2007, since ratings for the new "Mix" format had fallen somewhat dramatically since its debut, 70s and even some 60s music has slowly returned to WHTT's playlist while the new songs have been reduced back to the pre-"Mix" one song per hour. As of April 2008, the top 8 songs in WHTT's top 100 playlist were all current hits, but rest of the top 100 songs were all songs from the 1970s through the 1990s. By July 2008, the current hits had mostly disappeared from the station's playlist and the station increased its focus on music from the 1970s and 1980s and returned to the playlist several songs from the 1960s, similar to the "Buffalo's Greatest Hits" time period, although it maintains the "Mix" branding.
The station alternated back and forth; by October 2008, the current hits had regained some prominence. By early 2009, the playlist had evolved back into a programming format nearly identical to the first days as 'Mix.' Later in to 2009, the station shifted back toward mostly 1980s music, with current hits getting roughly two songs per hour.
format, changing its slogan to the late 1980s-era "Classic Hits 104.1 WHTT" and adopting its early-2000s format of 1960s, 1970s and early-mid 1980s music. The move created a marked improvement in the station's ratings.
Midday jock Val Townsend was removed (but later brought back for a weekend shift), but the rest of the staff was retained in the change. The current weekday staff consists of morning host Bill Lacy, midday jock Tammy Oakland (voicetracked
from KKPK
in Colorado Springs), and music director/afternoon host Joe Siragusa. The station's syndicated lineup of John Tesh
, Steve Goddard, Tom Kent
and Beatle Brunch remains intact.
, Gallery
, and Blood, Sweat and Tears.
and was meant to complement WHTTs regular lineup, which had largely continued its normal playlist throughout the holiday season. Said channel was revived in 2006.
In March 2006, Citadel launched an initiative that provided for the streaming of many of Citadel's stations. WHTT was one of them, and was among the first commercial stations in Buffalo to resume streaming. WHTT previously provided a popular internet stream from the mid-1990s through 2001. That stream was halted after continuing uncertainty over rights issues related to the streaming of radio broadcast programming over the Internet, including issues regarding demands for additional fees for the streaming of recorded music and radio commercials. After working out technicalities with various industry trade union
s many stations, including WHTT, resumed their internet stream but without airing the commercials listeners hear on the FM broadcast.
by the United States government agency FCC
, previous to 104.1FM in Buffalo, New York.
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
, is a commercial radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
based in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The station has a classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
and is known by the name "104.1 WHTT".
WHTT is owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
. Its transmitter is located in Buffalo.
Station History
104.1FM located in the far corner of western New York StateNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
originally signed on in 1954 as WWOL, from Lackawanna, New York
Lackawanna, New York
Lackawanna is a city in Erie County, New York, U.S., located just south of the city of Buffalo in the western part of New York state. The population was 18,141 at the 2010 census. The name derives from the Lackawanna Steel Company...
. Its transmitter is located on Dorrance Avenue near Abbott Road on the border between West Seneca and Lackawanna. The station also held the calls WWOR and WACJ. It would change call signs to WNYS in 1982. During the WNYS years, the station employed future progressive talker Stephanie Miller
Stephanie Miller
Stephanie Catherine Miller is an American comedienne and host of The Stephanie Miller Show, a progressive talk radio program produced in Los Angeles and syndicated nationally by Dial Global. Talkers magazine ranked her as the 24th most important radio talk show host in America for 2010.-Early...
.
The station changed formats and call letters in the autumn of 1986 switching to classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
with the moniker "Classic Hits 104.1 WHTT". The station was one of the first to take the "classic hits" moniker in the United States, and did so due to the lack of a classic rock station in Buffalo after WRLT
WGRF
WGRF is a radio station in Buffalo, New York, USA. The station's on air branding is "97 Rock". The station mostly plays Classic rock from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...
switched to adult contemporary music. In May 1989, after WRLT went back to classic rock as WGRF, WHTT became an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
music outlet playing hits from the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s with the on air branding "Oldies 104".
In the late 1980s, the call letters and format were also heard on sister AM station 1120AM WHTT (now brokered Spanish language WBBF
WBBF
WBBF is a radio station located in Buffalo, New York and broadcasting at a frequency of 1120 kHz on the AM band with a daytime power of 1000 watts....
).
Transition: From "Oldies" to adult contemporary, back and forth
From 1989 to 2003, the station was known as "Oldies 104," the area's primary oldies outlet.By September 2003 the station, like many other oldies stations in the United States, had evolved into a classic hits format playing a mix of classic rock, soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
, R&B and pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
hits from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. At this point the station changed its slogan to "104.1 WHTT The Greatest Hits Of All Time". In the autumn of 2004 the slogan was modified to "104.1 WHTT Buffalo's Greatest Hits," and in November 2006, since its music library now progressed well into the 1980s, changed yet again to "104.1 WHTT Buffalo's Best Mix." The move was carefully timed as the station imaged itself as more of an adult contemporary station as the two AC outlets in Buffalo, WJYE
WJYE
WJYE is located in the Buffalo, New York area and broadcasts at 96.1 FM. Its transmitter is located in Buffalo.WJYE signed on in 1966 . It currently is owned by Townsquare Media. The station runs a soft rock/adult contemporary format and has had this format since 1988, having previously been a...
and WTSS
WTSS
-History:The station now known as WTSS actually began as early as 1934 as W8XH, an ultra-shortwave radio station operating as a sister outlet to The Buffalo Evening News and AM station WBEN and broadcasting at a wavelength of 5 meters , predating the country's first FM station by three years. The...
, both changed to full-time Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
in November and WHTT historically has not (instead opting for one Christmas song per hour from the day after Thanksgiving up through a few days before Christmas, then increasing to all-Christmas music for the last week before the holiday; a similar "mixed" Christmas format is being used in 2007). In addition, WHTT added many artists who are staples of the Adult Contemporary format, such as Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Other charted songs:-Awards and nominations:...
, Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
, and Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
to its playlist while keeping a large amount of 1965–1985 music in rotation; thus, some could consider it a Gold-Based AC.
In late February 2007, WHTT switched to variety/AC and changed its on-air branding to "Mix 104.1", adding to its playlist current and recent hits from artists such as Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
, Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
, The Goo Goo Dolls, Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
and Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
, while continuing to phase out its older '70s music. The station also introduced a brand-new logo. Some of the oldies music was displaced to WGRF
WGRF
WGRF is a radio station in Buffalo, New York, USA. The station's on air branding is "97 Rock". The station mostly plays Classic rock from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...
. Most of the staff was retained, with Val Townsend coming from WEDG
WEDG
WEDG is a radio station in Buffalo, New York, USA. The station's on air branding is "103.3 The Edge" and broadcasts on 103.3 MHz FM. WEDG has an active rock format and is best known for its afternoon-drive hosts, "Shredd and Ragan," and being the co-flagship of the Buffalo Bills Radio Network...
as the afternoon jock to eventually replace longtime jock Harv Moore being the only notable change in the transition.
However, by October 2007, since ratings for the new "Mix" format had fallen somewhat dramatically since its debut, 70s and even some 60s music has slowly returned to WHTT's playlist while the new songs have been reduced back to the pre-"Mix" one song per hour. As of April 2008, the top 8 songs in WHTT's top 100 playlist were all current hits, but rest of the top 100 songs were all songs from the 1970s through the 1990s. By July 2008, the current hits had mostly disappeared from the station's playlist and the station increased its focus on music from the 1970s and 1980s and returned to the playlist several songs from the 1960s, similar to the "Buffalo's Greatest Hits" time period, although it maintains the "Mix" branding.
The station alternated back and forth; by October 2008, the current hits had regained some prominence. By early 2009, the playlist had evolved back into a programming format nearly identical to the first days as 'Mix.' Later in to 2009, the station shifted back toward mostly 1980s music, with current hits getting roughly two songs per hour.
Return to classic hits
On August 10, 2009, after much insistence from listeners, WHTT officially switched back to its classic hitsClassic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format, changing its slogan to the late 1980s-era "Classic Hits 104.1 WHTT" and adopting its early-2000s format of 1960s, 1970s and early-mid 1980s music. The move created a marked improvement in the station's ratings.
Midday jock Val Townsend was removed (but later brought back for a weekend shift), but the rest of the staff was retained in the change. The current weekday staff consists of morning host Bill Lacy, midday jock Tammy Oakland (voicetracked
Voice-tracking
Voice-tracking, also called cyber jocking and referred to sometimes colloquially as a robojock, is a technique employed by some radio stations in radio broadcasting to produce the illusion of a live disc jockey or announcer sitting in the radio studios of the station when one is not actually...
from KKPK
KKPK
KKPK is a Adult Contemporary format radio station licensed to Colorado Springs, Colorado. The station serves the Colorado Springs and Pueblo metropolitan areas, as well as surrounding areas. Its playlist consists of hits songs from the 1970s, '80s, '90s and up the present day...
in Colorado Springs), and music director/afternoon host Joe Siragusa. The station's syndicated lineup of John Tesh
John Tesh
John Frank Tesh is an American pianist and composer of pop music, as well as a radio host and television presenter. His 10-year-old 'Intelligence for Your Life Radio Show' reaches 14.2 Million listeners/week, and is syndicated by Teshmedia on 400 stations in US, Canada, and the UK...
, Steve Goddard, Tom Kent
Tom Kent
Tom Kent ,is an American radio personality. As the head of the Tom Kent Radio Network, he hosts 105 hours of classic hits programming each week, which, as of February 2, 2009, is distributed through Cumulus Media Networks.-Biography:Prior to becoming syndicated, Kent worked on the air and in...
and Beatle Brunch remains intact.
Oldiesfest
Starting in the 1990s, the station would hold an annual concert event known as "Oldiesfest" each summer featuring many musical acts from the 50s and 60s. The last "Oldiesfest" was held in 2004 and featured performers from the groups BadfingerBadfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
, Gallery
Gallery (band)
Gallery was an American soft rock band of the 1970s. It was formed in Detroit, Michigan by Jim Gold. While Gallery did record a number of songs, they are most famous for their 1972 hit single, "Nice to Be with You", written by Gold...
, and Blood, Sweat and Tears.
Internet Streaming
In November 2005 WHTT launched a "Holiday Music Channel" internet stream. The "Holiday Music Channel" played Christmas musicChristmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
and was meant to complement WHTTs regular lineup, which had largely continued its normal playlist throughout the holiday season. Said channel was revived in 2006.
In March 2006, Citadel launched an initiative that provided for the streaming of many of Citadel's stations. WHTT was one of them, and was among the first commercial stations in Buffalo to resume streaming. WHTT previously provided a popular internet stream from the mid-1990s through 2001. That stream was halted after continuing uncertainty over rights issues related to the streaming of radio broadcast programming over the Internet, including issues regarding demands for additional fees for the streaming of recorded music and radio commercials. After working out technicalities with various industry trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s many stations, including WHTT, resumed their internet stream but without airing the commercials listeners hear on the FM broadcast.
WHTT: Previous Stations Assigned WHTT Call Letters
Several noted radio stations were issued the WHTT call signCall sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
by the United States government agency FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
, previous to 104.1FM in Buffalo, New York.
- From March 9, 1983 till July 7, 1986 the call letters were assigned to a CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
owned and operated Top 40/Hot HitsHot HitsHot Hits was a radio format created by consultant Mike Joseph in the 1970s. That concept, which helped spur the birth of what is now known as CHR, also revitalized the Top 40 format and would play a role in bringing the format to the FM band throughout the 1980s.The concept was to play only the...
formatted station known as "Hitradio WHTT"WODS- External links :****...
in the Boston, Massachusetts radio market. "Hitradio WHTT" finished number one in the ArbitronArbitronArbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
radio ratings in the Boston market for several seasonal based ratings books in 1983 and 1984.
- Starting on August 4, 1980 till 1982 the WHTT calls were used for Miami, FloridaMiami, FloridaMiami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
AM radio station "Radio Hit 1260". "Radio Hit 1260" was one of several stations influential in establishing Spanish languageSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
hit music as a viable format in the United States. The station mixed Latin Pop Music singles and some English languageEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Top 40 music along with news and information aimed at the Miami areas growing Latin AmericaLatin AmericaLatin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n and CaribbeanCaribbeanThe Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
Spanish speaking population. WHTT in Miami was the AM sister to popular FM Top 40 station WHYI "Y-100" and by late 1980 was becoming successful in the Arbitron ratings. In April 1981, the transmitter site for the station was firebombedFirebombingFirebombing is a bombing technique designed to damage a target, generally an urban area, through the use of fire, caused by incendiary devices, rather than from the blast effect of large bombs....
. Local police suspected the individuals responsible were upset about both the switch from the previous format (AM 1260 from 1969 till 1980 was the once popular country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station WWOK) and the increasing Hispanic population and presence in Miami. The station was on less than 100 watts power for many months greatly weakening the signal and thereby decreasing both the ratings and revenue for "Radio Hit 1260". According to general manager Dave Gleason, the stations owners "Metroplex Communications" lost interest in the format after the firebomb incident.
- WHTT was a country music station located in Davenport, IowaDavenport, IowaDavenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
from 1975 till 1978. The station then become longtime AORAlbum-oriented rockAlbum-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
rock station WXLPWXLPWXLP is a Quad Cities area commercial Classic Hits radio station, licensed to Moline, Illinois. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, with studios located in Davenport, Iowa ....
.