July 18, 2022, Issue 816
Watts Of Memories: WBCT At 30
With 320,000 watts, iHeartMedia WBCT/Grand Rapids is the most powerful FM station in the United States. Despite a monster grandfathered signal (FCC regulations capped FM power at 100,000 watts in 1962) that stretches from Lansing to Lake Michigan (see coverage map, pg. 10), for decades the station – previously known as WJEF and WJFM – went through multiple formats and failed to gain a firm foothold in the ratings. That changed July 24, 1992 when it went Country and WBCT was born. Leslie Pardue (a.k.a. Lee Cory) was WBCT’s first PD, and in just three books, the new “B93” topped then-Country WCUZ. When Pardue left to program WSM-FM/ Doug Nashville in Oct. 1993, he was replaced by Montgomery current Townsquare VP/Country Content & Programming Doug Montgomery. After 16 years, Montgomery was succeeded by his APD/ MD Dave Taft. Collectively, Montgomery and Taft have programmed WBCT for 29 of its 30 years and led the station to 99-and-counting No. 1 books. They share their thoughts on the station’s ups, downs and secrets to success. DM: The original owner [John Fetzer] only wanted the super wattage for the subcarrier so he could have Muzak subscriptions in offices Dave Taft across Michigan. You can talk about the power of the station, but it was never much of anything until it flipped to WBCT. When the station launched, I was in South Bend, IN. I applied for the PD gig, but I didn’t get it. When Lee Cory left a year later, GM Tim Feagan declined to interview me. I spent $650 I didn’t have to buy a plane ticket, and after Feagan initially passed on me, I wound up getting the job. DT: Wow, 30 years, and I’ve been here for 25 of them. I was at another station in the cluster when I offered to volunteer at the B93 Birthday Bash. Doug Montgomery said, “Be there at 4am.” (continued on page 6)
Hart-Topping: Warner/WAR’s Gabby Barrett at the Hartford, CT stop of Jason Aldean‘s Rock N‘ Roll Cowboy Tour. Pictured (l-r) are WWYZ‘s Joey Brooks and Damon Scott, Barrett and WWYZ‘s Cory Myers.
Drivetime Leaders: Q2
Following the release of the June monthlies, Country Aircheck has analyzed Q2 Nielsen PPM numbers to compile the stations with the leading cumes and shares in morning and afternoon drive. Quarterly averages eliminate the wobbles that can be present on a month-to-month basis. All figures are Persons 6+. Mornings: With the addition of KBAY/San Jose in April (CAW 4/11), The Bobby Bones Show is now waking up 17 PPM markets and, not surprisingly, increases its lead as the most-listened-to morning show. Cume grew from 1.15 million in Q1 to 1.24 million this quarter. WUSN/Chicago’s Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff come in second overall with a cume of 285,900. KPLX/ Dallas’ Wake Up WIth The Wolf Show claims third with 239,300 while KKBQ/Houston and WKLB/Boston round out the top five. KRTY/San Jose ended its 32-year run in the format with a bang. New owners closed on the station five days prior to the end of the June book, but Gary Scott Thomas and Julie Stevens
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