New York's WCBS-FM, one of the most well-known oldies stations in the U.S. and home to disc jockeys such as "Cousin" Bruce Morrow and Mickey Dolenz abruptly changed its on-air format to more modern music last week to the shock of its listeners, reports the Associated Press. The station's new format, called "Jack," a mix of hit music from the '70s through the present, replaces an on-air oldies format in place since 1972. The old format will continue, though only online at
http://www.wcbsfm.com, though, from looking at the website, you'll need to be an AOL member to access the audio stream.
A letter from Chad Brown, vice president and general manager of the station, that discusses the changes can be found here. The owner of the station, Infinity Broadcasting, also made the same format shift Friday at Chicago oldies station WJMK-FM, where classic Top 40 had aired for the past 21 years, said the AP.
Here's a comment on the change from Liz Lackey:
I don't know if it's reached your ears yet, but WCBS FM in New York, New York's oldies station since 1972, had its format changed on Friday to "Jack," which is basically the 1970s to the present. It's designed to sound like an iPod shuffle or a satellite radio station, which no real DJs. It's a travesty in radio, as the DJs that were there at 101.1 included several that were on the air when the Beatles first hit New York, including "Cousin Brucie" Morrow, Harry Harrison, Dan Ingram and Norm N. Nite. Micky Dolenz had recently started doing the morning show and celebrated his 100th show this week, and he's now gone from the station.
I'm 20, and one of my first memories is being in the car with my mother listening to "Come Together" on CBS-FM. It was only fitting that I happened to be listening to the same station in my car on Friday when it switched over to Jack at 5 pm, without a single warning to the listeners. Apparently you can still listen to oldies over at Wcbsfm.com, but I can't put that on in my car, or on my clock radio when I wake up. All the articles on this say that more people wanted the songs that Jack is playing. You know what was playing when I turned to that station last? "Mickey" by Toni Basil. I definitely don't want that. I want my Beatles Breakfast with Harry Harrison back!
http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/news/606wcbs.html