WILD (AM)
Encyclopedia
WILD 1090 AM is a radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. It broadcasts on 1090 kHz and airs programming from China Radio International
under a lease agreement. Prior to the flip to Chinese programming, the station had a legacy of serving Boston's African-American community as a R&B outlet (and its sub-genres) from 1973 to 2011.
However, the station's history is best known for a long-lasting urban contemporary
format which began in 1973. WILD became the respected voice of Boston's black community for many years. Until 1999, the station was locally owned and operated by Kendall Nash and his Nash Communications. When Nash died, his wife, Bernardine, took the helm of the station's operations.
WILD first saw competition when 94.5 WZOU flipped to a Rhythmic Contemporary Hits format as WJMN ("Jam'n 94.5") in 1993. However, it was not until 1999, when African American-owned Radio One entered the market with WBOT, that WILD saw real competition for Boston's African American population.
In 2000, Radio One took control of WILD through an local marketing agreement
, which became an outright purchase later that year. After purchasing the station, Radio One slowly evolved WILD from a rather mainstream Urban Adult Contemporary
format to a station that focused more on classic soul music
. In addition, the syndicated Tom Joyner
morning show was added to the lineup, with the former morning host ("Coach" Willie Maye
) relocated to giving local updates on the show.
In 2005, Radio One brought about the biggest changes to the station in many years. The 1090 signal was plagued with some problems, as while the signal covered the areas of Boston with large African American populations, the station was forced to sign-off every night as a result of former-clear channel station, WBAL
in Baltimore. In addition, the strong Arbitron
ratings of WILD had warranted a better and more-powerful frequency. However, Radio One had come up with a solution.
On October 20, 2005 Radio One moved the Urban Adult Contemporary
format to the dial position of WBOT. The move replaced the "Hot 97.7" format for most of the day, but it remained from 4:00PM until 10:00PM. WBOT subsequently picked up the call letters of WILD-FM.
The move cleared the 1090 frequency for a new format, so when WILD signed on at sunrise on October 20, it was reborn as a new urban contemporary gospel
formatted station, "Praise 1090", based on the success of WPZE-FM in Atlanta and WPPZ in Philadelphia.
But Praise 1090 was short lived. On January 30, 2006, the 1090 frequency changed formats again. WILD became the Boston affiliate for the company's African American-targeted news/talk network, featuring Michael Eric Dyson and 2 Live Stews
. Other talent that were heard on WILD during this period included "The Truthfighters Show" with Warren Ballentine
, and "Keeping It Real" with The Reverend Al Sharpton
. A local morning program was also added, featuring Jimmy Myers, (currently hosting on 96.9 WTKK
-FM) on Sunday afternoons, taking the longtime Boston radio host out of his retirement. The station retained the Black gospel format for weekend programming. The Tom Joyner Morning Show returned to WILD from 6:00am (Sunrise) to 10:00am eastern during this tenure. While other affiliates of the network adopted the slogan, "The People's Station", WILD was unable to do so, as that was the slogan of WILD-FM. Instead, WILD used "Where Information is Power", the slogan of Radio One's longtime urban news/talk station WOL
in Washington, D.C.
; WILD is also featured on YouTube.com.
On August 21, 2006, AllAccess.com reported that Entercom Communications bought WILD-FM and changed the format (after a "stunt") to rock (a simulcast of WAAF
107.3), a move designed to expand WAAF's signal reach. WILD-FM flipped to the simulcast at 5:30 p.m. August 22. The sale of WILD-FM meant that the Tom Joyner morning show would return to AM 1090, and WILD would revert to contemporary inspirational and gospel music http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=153862, ending the news/talk format. The news/talk format subsequently returned that December,. In summer 2008 the Tom Joyner Morning Show returned and the News/talk format got replaced by a "various / brokered format on the weekdays and Classic Soul and Gospel on weekends. From December 2008 to May 31, 2011, WILD was the Boston affiliate for Radio One's African American-targeted news/talk network, once again featuring hosts Ballentine and Sharpton. The station website is now defunct.
On June 1, 2011, the station began running Chinese-related programming under a lease agreement between Radio One and China Radio International. As a result, all news/talk, Classic Soul and Gospel programming that was heard on WILD were silenced, ending the station's 38 year legacy of serving Boston's African-american community.
WILD-AM also broadcasts a Variety Format when China Radio International is not on air.
trademarked The "Wild" branding (used on Rhythmic formatted Hip Hop stations) sometime in the 1990s or early 2000s. The WILD callsign on 1090 meant "Wild about Boston".
China Radio International
China Radio International , the former Radio Beijing and originally Radio Peking, founded on December 3 of 1941, is one of the three state-owned media in China along with China National Radio and China Central Television in the People's Republic of China .As the PRC's external radio station, CRI...
under a lease agreement. Prior to the flip to Chinese programming, the station had a legacy of serving Boston's African-American community as a R&B outlet (and its sub-genres) from 1973 to 2011.
History
WILD first went on the air in 1946 as WBMS, with a classical-music format. Eventually, the station went to a "popular music" format, briefly adopted the call letters WHEE, then went back to being WBMS. By the end of the fifties, the call letters were changed to WILD under then owner Bartell, who tried a personality DJ and music format.However, the station's history is best known for a long-lasting urban contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
format which began in 1973. WILD became the respected voice of Boston's black community for many years. Until 1999, the station was locally owned and operated by Kendall Nash and his Nash Communications. When Nash died, his wife, Bernardine, took the helm of the station's operations.
WILD first saw competition when 94.5 WZOU flipped to a Rhythmic Contemporary Hits format as WJMN ("Jam'n 94.5") in 1993. However, it was not until 1999, when African American-owned Radio One entered the market with WBOT, that WILD saw real competition for Boston's African American population.
In 2000, Radio One took control of WILD through an local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
, which became an outright purchase later that year. After purchasing the station, Radio One slowly evolved WILD from a rather mainstream Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
format to a station that focused more on classic soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
. In addition, the syndicated Tom Joyner
Tom Joyner
Thomas "Tom" Joyner is an American radio host, host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and also founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation, and BlackAmericaWeb.com.-Early life:...
morning show was added to the lineup, with the former morning host ("Coach" Willie Maye
Willie Maye
"Coach" Willie Maye is a former sportscaster currently serving as the in-arena host for the Boston Celtics....
) relocated to giving local updates on the show.
In 2005, Radio One brought about the biggest changes to the station in many years. The 1090 signal was plagued with some problems, as while the signal covered the areas of Boston with large African American populations, the station was forced to sign-off every night as a result of former-clear channel station, WBAL
WBAL (AM)
WBAL is a news-talk radio station located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. WBAL broadcasts on a clear channel frequency with 50 kilowatts of power. Owned by the Hearst Corporation, WBAL's tri-mast transmitters are located in Randallstown, Maryland...
in Baltimore. In addition, the strong Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron 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...
ratings of WILD had warranted a better and more-powerful frequency. However, Radio One had come up with a solution.
On October 20, 2005 Radio One moved the Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
format to the dial position of WBOT. The move replaced the "Hot 97.7" format for most of the day, but it remained from 4:00PM until 10:00PM. WBOT subsequently picked up the call letters of WILD-FM.
The move cleared the 1090 frequency for a new format, so when WILD signed on at sunrise on October 20, it was reborn as a new urban contemporary gospel
Urban contemporary gospel
Traditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
formatted station, "Praise 1090", based on the success of WPZE-FM in Atlanta and WPPZ in Philadelphia.
But Praise 1090 was short lived. On January 30, 2006, the 1090 frequency changed formats again. WILD became the Boston affiliate for the company's African American-targeted news/talk network, featuring Michael Eric Dyson and 2 Live Stews
2 Live Stews
The 2 Live Stews is an American syndicated sports talk radio show originating from WQXI, AM 790 the Zone, in Atlanta, Georgia hosted by brothers Doug and Ryan Stewart.-The hosts and cast:...
. Other talent that were heard on WILD during this period included "The Truthfighters Show" with Warren Ballentine
Warren Ballentine
Warren Ballentine is an African American motivational speaker, attorney, political activist, and radio talk show host.-Early years:...
, and "Keeping It Real" with The Reverend Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton
Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton, Jr. is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election...
. A local morning program was also added, featuring Jimmy Myers, (currently hosting on 96.9 WTKK
WTKK
WTKK is a New England commercial talk radio station, first broadcast out of Boston on 96.9 FM beginning in 1999. It can be heard in eastern Massachusetts, the northernmost area of Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, and southern Maine...
-FM) on Sunday afternoons, taking the longtime Boston radio host out of his retirement. The station retained the Black gospel format for weekend programming. The Tom Joyner Morning Show returned to WILD from 6:00am (Sunrise) to 10:00am eastern during this tenure. While other affiliates of the network adopted the slogan, "The People's Station", WILD was unable to do so, as that was the slogan of WILD-FM. Instead, WILD used "Where Information is Power", the slogan of Radio One's longtime urban news/talk station WOL
WOL (AM)
WOL is an Urban Talk radio station in Washington, DC. Broadcasting on 1450 AM, this is the flagship radio station of Radio One.The station was Washington's top rated rhythm and blues music station through the 1960s and 1970s...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
; WILD is also featured on YouTube.com.
On August 21, 2006, AllAccess.com reported that Entercom Communications bought WILD-FM and changed the format (after a "stunt") to rock (a simulcast of WAAF
WAAF (FM)
WAAF is a Boston, Massachusetts, area commercial Album Oriented Rock/Active rock radio station that mixes music that is popular in the modern rock, heavy metal and classic rock genres....
107.3), a move designed to expand WAAF's signal reach. WILD-FM flipped to the simulcast at 5:30 p.m. August 22. The sale of WILD-FM meant that the Tom Joyner morning show would return to AM 1090, and WILD would revert to contemporary inspirational and gospel music http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=153862, ending the news/talk format. The news/talk format subsequently returned that December,. In summer 2008 the Tom Joyner Morning Show returned and the News/talk format got replaced by a "various / brokered format on the weekdays and Classic Soul and Gospel on weekends. From December 2008 to May 31, 2011, WILD was the Boston affiliate for Radio One's African American-targeted news/talk network, once again featuring hosts Ballentine and Sharpton. The station website is now defunct.
On June 1, 2011, the station began running Chinese-related programming under a lease agreement between Radio One and China Radio International. As a result, all news/talk, Classic Soul and Gospel programming that was heard on WILD were silenced, ending the station's 38 year legacy of serving Boston's African-american community.
WILD-AM also broadcasts a Variety Format when China Radio International is not on air.
The "Wild" branding
The WILD callsign has been grandfathered years before Clear ChannelClear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
trademarked The "Wild" branding (used on Rhythmic formatted Hip Hop stations) sometime in the 1990s or early 2000s. The WILD callsign on 1090 meant "Wild about Boston".