Radio station Sunny 93.9 (WRSN) is the latest of the ClearChannel brand to change its format. The station we all know for Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow, and other soft hits has exclusively been playing Christmas music for several weeks. On December 26, however, the station will begin its new Dance format.
Commercials on the station promise a format that will "make you feel good" and tease listeners with the sounds of Christina Aguilera, Michael Jackson, Lipps Inc., Kool and the Gang, Paula Abdul, C&C Music Factory, and others. Other promotions are for the Whoopi Goldberg morning show, "Wake Up With Whoopi", from 5am to 9am.
More like a format change from “Bad Music” to “Even More Bad Music”. XM here I come! Maybe ClearChannel has a stake in satellite radio. Business Plan = If we make the selection so awful they wil have no choice but to switch to satellite. Brilliant!
Lew,
IIRC clear channel has a significant stake in XM (In the neighborhood of 30%-50%)
-Jason
Clear channel owns many of the popular music station (as far as I understand). If you don’t like what was there before or what will be on it in the future, so be it. I’m sure that and adequate amount of research was done to come up with the idea to switch to a different format (ie gaining a wider audience, incentive to advertisers, more money for clear channel).
The poor state of music radio in the Triangle is exactly why my dial never leaves the AM sports stations.
Even the sports satations stink.
So true MikeB, so true!
I completely understand the reasons why stations switch formats, I was just commenting on the fact that in my opinion (no offense to Simply Red and Paula Abdul) it’s mindless garbage being played on these stations (again no offense to these “artists”). It’s safe and FREE public radio and what really should I expect for free. I have to go download some iTunes …
Actually, for a station like Sunny, this would be the first instance where Clear Channel has made an improvement to a station. I wouldn’t mind hearing some classic dance and disco, and that’s one less spot on the dial featuring the same music the dentist’s office does.
Of course, that’s assuming that the new format is executed correctly. Knowing what I know about one of the new forces in charge there at Sunny, I’m willing to say it might do well. “The River” and “The Rooster” however, are pretty good examples about how to take something from bad to worse.
And good god, I wish someone in the area would pick up Bob & Tom.
Hopefully they play some Stevie B & TKA
Ok…let’s get some accuracy here. I consider myself one of the biggest Dance Music aficionados I know, and from this description, this is NOT a “Dance Music Radio channel” in the sense of what the industry truly calls “Dance Music” today.
Instead, I’d call this a poppish/bubblegum fluff mixed with a little oldie disco.
Accurately, “Dance Music” as it’s defined today would be XM channels 80, 81, & 82. Or Sirius channels 33 & 36. Or Music Choice (cable) 916.
Stuff like House, Techno, Trance, Eurodance, Freestyle, HiNRG, etc.
Paula Abdul, C&C as dance? Yeah, maybe 15 years ago.
Where’s the Paul van Dyk? The Deep Dish? Where’s Inaya Day or Kate Ryan or Kristine W? Or even Basement Jaxx?? Geesh.
Leave it to Clear Channel to ruin something that could have potential.
Do you think the average listener has even heard of Pal van Dyk? If CC is looking to make a “kinder, gentler” dance station, they are better off playing songs that people recognize and can relate to. I don’t think a 35 year-old female would have the same great memories when she hears Castles in the Sky by Ian van Dahl as she would hearing Baby Got Back. I’m not saying Baby Got Back is necessarily a BETTER song, but it’s serving the purpose of the radio station much better than the unfamiliar techno, trance or house songs.
^Victoria, that was sort of my point, actually. Corporate radio like CC is too scared to play anything that the vast majority of people aren’t already familiar with. (Probably why the Triangle has a dozen stations that play the same type of music.) Except for college stations, you can’t find FM radio that plays ANY thing unique or off the beaten path….regardless of the genre.
If they want a station to play dancy-pop-fluff stuff that’s fine I suppose, but “Dance Radio” is a bit misleading of a label, considering what industry norm is today.
It’s not going to be “current” dance by any stretch of the imagination. Think more “classic” dance, like early 90′s, 80′s disco. The proper term would be “Rhythmic AC”. So no, it won’t be anything remotely close to what you hear on Satellite – I have Sirius, and the closest channel it might resemble on there might be “The Strobe”, but it’s going to sound even more mainstream than that does. RaleighRob, I know EXACTLY what you are referring – all of those artists and more are in my library. That’s why I have satellite… lol
Stevie B and TKA… hmmm… remote possibility, but I don’t know how they’ll “tune” the playlist of the station. I’d like to hope that the station will be slanted more in that direction, and less toward Whitney Houston, Pebbles, and Paula Abdul. Think along the lines of something resembling KTU or Mix 102.7 in NYC if you know either of those stations, at all.
Here we go again. When I used to listen to FM radio/local sports talk, it always annoyed me when someone responded to my bitching about content/commercials by telling me to get Sirius or XM, but now I’m on the other side.
If you know someone who has Sirius, you can get a basic unit for your car and 6-months of prepaid subscription for $42 until December 31. XM has the same offer, but there’s the whole Clear Channel thing.
XM and Sirius stink as well. How many of those stations are retro rehashed garbage or pop metal for kids with geometric hair-dos? Throw is a splash of brain dead Hollywood country and “indy” schlock (most of which is on major record labels)and magically you have satellite radio. I would prefer to listen to any of the Triangle stations to the left of 91.5FM.
The day this “new” station plays Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Tommie Sunshine, ect… is the day that it would be a “Dance Music” station. Until then, I will continue to use XM as I have for the past nearly 4 years.
There’s no point in them trying to attract the people that don’t listen to mainstream radio — and you don’t really want them to anyway. As soon as they did you’d have to abandon all your music because it was suddenly too “mainstream”.
I still have no reason to tune to 93.9… another yawn for triangle radio.
I used to listen to 93.9 all day/night at work and home, but found another station when they started playing Christmas music around-the-clock (surely, that is what Hell is like). Now, with the format change, I have no reason to tune back in.
I miss The River…I miss it bad. I know it might not have been the best station out there, but I didn’t know how much I listented to it until it was gone. Radio is crappy in this town PERIOD. This dance format seems to be grasping at straws. If CC couldn’t make it work with The River I can’t imagine it would work with this.
When CC changed the format on “The River” to “classic rock”, it lost me forever! It sucks – and the same songs are played over and over! Now with the new ‘feel good’ format on 93.9, I’m hoping to hear more of the former River music! Thank god for my ipod!
I am a true dance music lover myself. I have an extensive dance music library of over 600 cd’s. Having said that..I don’t ever expect to hear anything on any Triangle radio station that I would consider true dance music outside Afterhours on 88.1. Victoria mentioned songs like “Castles in the Sky”. I find songs like that to be dance fluff. Just dancey enough to be categorized in the dance section at the local record store, but bubblegummy enough for the 13 year old teeny bopper whose favorite cd is the High School Musical soundtrack. I would prefer a station that played the likes of Dara, Dieselboy, Deep Dish, Tiesto, and so on, but outside 88.1 Mon-Thurs nights there isn’t gonna be much of it on the radio waves around here. Having said all that, I will admit that I actually like the new format. Maybe its the gay gene in me that makes me keep the radio on a station that will play “I’m Every Woman” followed by “Finally” by Cece Peniston. At any rate I think it is much better than the sappy, make me wanna shoot myself in the head over and over bs that used to be played on 93.9. How many times can you hear Delilah play “Love Will Keep Us Alive” without gagging? Good riddance Sunny 93.9..hello whatever the hell they are calling themselves now! This gay guy/dance music connoisseur will be a loyal listener when afterhours on 88.1 isn’t on.
Just another reason my dial never leaves 88.1 WKNC or AM Sports talk, even if 1050/1490 were bought out and remain dead.
I like to listen to the dance/pop crap every once in a while, but that’s why I turn to 93.3. When commercials would be on every where else, I could tune into 93.9 because I could hear good music. Now it’s not any better than 93.3, and I’ve never heard of most of the songs they’re playing now. I wish they’d never changed their format…
I don’t like the new format at all. I use to wake up to this station. Guess what? I won’t anymore. Have you flipped? I can’t stand Whoppi Goldberg or this music. Why the change? Bye Bye 93.9!!!
Well, goodbye 93.9 — you really have gone to hell now with your new “feel good” format. If you own so many damn stations, why can’t you just use one to broadcast some REAL music, decent music?
I won’t be setting my dial to 93.9 again!
It would take experiencing a pretty high fever to ever find Whoopi funny, and in that case I wouldn’t be riding around listening to her on the radio anyway.
i am really upset about the change in the music on 93.9—i used to have it playing on a regular basis and now—-the radio is off—-
I must say I am pretty disappointed in the new change. I actually live in maryland. When I traveled to NC last summer, we found 93.9 on our way down and it was the best station we had ever heard. It was the only station I had ever heard that had a true mix in styles of music. You heard everything from country to jazz. We enjoyed it so much, when we got home we found it online and listened to it over the internet on the regular basis. I am very disappointed that my favorite station has changed formats. Looks like I’ll be finding a new favorite station.
I have been listening to 93.9 for the past couple of years. I was disappointed when Madison left. I really liked listening to her voice and Dave’s. I was an avid listener for the almost two months of Christmas music. I was really looking forward to getting back to normal on Dec. 26 and boy was I ever surprised and disgusted. I thought you all had lost your mind. Who in their right mind wants to listen to your mess in the morning at 6am. I am so disappointed that you no longer will be playing soft rock. I guess your Christmas music will go next. It won’t fit in with the rest of your junky music. I won’t be listening to your station anymore and I will definitely tell my friends to not waste their time on your station either. I guess I will just KISS you GOODBYE!!!
I personally like the change, and am glad DELILIAH is gone – blegh. Today I heard En Vogue, old school Mariah, C&C Music Factory – just to name a few. I grew up listening to this stuff, and its fun to hear it all again.
I usually just listento my iPodin the car,but my FM transmitter wasn’t behaving yesterday, so I cut on the new station. It’s not bad, but not great either. More of the same from that giant, corporate conglomorate known as Clear Channel.
Count me as another “dance music aficionado” who is willing to give this channel a chance, but doesn’t really expect to be particularly pleased with the result. If I start hearing classic ’80s dance offerings like Human League or Dead Or Alive, I’ll believe they might have the right idea, but if it’s the same handful of Rhino records “Disco Classics, vol. 377!!” collections that recycle “I Will Survive” and “YMCA” every 2 hours, it’s dead in the water.
I liked the old format.. Where did Dave go? I liked knowing I didn’t have to worry about what was said with my kids in the car, you know that won’t be the case anymore. I liked Delilah, I even liked the Christmas music, although they seem to start earlier each year. I know many people who tune in just for the Christmas music. Well I guess I will be listening to more CDs and less radio.
WRSN: We Really Suck Now. Before, I could stand the music (I prefer a mix along the lines of The River before they went classic rock) for Dave Kent in the morning–smart, funny & kid friendly. I missed Madison when they dumped her. Now it’ll be Bill & Sherry. Whoopi? Thanks, but no thanks.
BTW, I believe the official name for the new format is “Rhythmic Adult Contemporary,” or some other similar god-awful corporate category.
And if anybody knows where Dave Kent went, let us know.
I am so disappointed with the change. In the last few years, I would look forward to my drive to work because Dave & Madison would be there like they were my friends. Sometimes that is what got me out the door was the thought that I could at least listen to them while driving. Also, I could trust what was being said in the car with my children. I will now have to find another station or perhaps rely on a CD.
i like the change. its a total guilty pleasure station now. c’mon, you know that ice ice baby makes you smile. sure i miss madison, and i doubt whoopie will be good, but i sure as heck don’t miss delilah.
anybody know where madison is now? between here and g105, i’ve been listening to her since i moved here.
Total shot in the dark here, but I think she has pretty much retired from radio. I believe both she and the woman that took her place at G105, Amy, married guys that made enough where they didn’t have to put up with Clear Channel politics.
We enjoyed the old rhythm and blues songs the most and really miss that good music. What happened to Big John now that he’s not on Sundays — can his show be found on another station?
I have to speak up here and say I LOVE the new format. I like non-mainstream music too, but I also like pop-culture, and this new format is pure pop culture glorified. So I think its great! Sunny started out good, but went south putting me to sleep whenever I would listen to it, and this new format may do the same. But as for now, it is da bomb! And as many others have said thank goodness Delilah is gone!!!! I understand the theraputic value it may have provided folks, but it drove me crazy! So I love the new format while it lasts until they strip it down like they always do to a few select songs they play over and over and over … In the meantime, it’ll suffice as something to get me by while in the process of dropping XM and picking up Sirius.
Oh, the only bad thing about the station now, and I think its a general agreement, is that the Whoopi morning show is absolutely horrible!
This new station really disappointed me!! I agree with other comments made- I LOVED Madison and Dave- I NEVER had to worry about what was said or being done on the radio (Bob and Tom, Bob and the Showgram) that my 5 year old might hear.
I am also disappointed at night, on my drive home. Out of all of the “dance” music out here, I keep hearing the same songs over and over!! What is with that?? Yuk!
At least Sunny had such a variety, my son and I knew most of the songs, and if we heard one we didn’t know, we liked it anyway!
I hope this new “dance” station goes away soon!!! Bring back my Sunny!!! Please!!
Sunny?…Are you Funny? The new format is so refreshing and upbeat. It is really cool to hear some of the songs that the other stations have
“forgotten” about. The music does have a “make you feel good” theme. It is nice to hear some upbeat, “dance in your car” music after a day from hell, which I have most days. Now, for the mornings, I would rather listen to my toilet flush over and over. What in the world? There has to be another set up for that. I will only be listening when the morning “vomit” is over.
I do not like the new change!! and I have switched radio stations. 93.9 was at one time my main radio station, but no more. I really enjoyed the music you played during the day and listening to Madison and Dave. I could not understand why after Madison left she was not replaced, but now I see. I just hope that Dave has not left, he was great. Unless you change your music back to “soft rock” you can count me out, I will not be listening. This new format is a disaster!!
Dave Kent is the PM drive host on the new KISS FM and he is doing a great job and from what Ive heard there will be no reason to ever worry about what is said on air with the new format it seems to still be targeted at a lot of the same people and the playlist doesnt seem to be a corporate mess. It sure is better then tired MIX101.5. As far as variety I have hearde everything from Madonna to George Clinton to 80′s disco so Im not sure why people seem to think its the same stuff over and over. I think people in this town assume corporate means they have short plaaylists. The Rooster actually has the broadest playlists when it comes to country (curtis plays same few sonngs over and over and Capitol broadcasting CMC can only be picked up in parts of Raleigh.
I have to say that some of the changes are good- too much too fast it not such a good thing. If Clearchannel wants to make the best change of all, they need to drop Bob and the Showgram. Bob is still doing the same boring stuff(not even close to being funny) he was doing 18 years ago. Come on, who wants to hear contestants playing games with stupid radio personalities? It is like being invitated to a party, but asked not to talk to anyone.
I really miss Sunny 93.9 and Madison. I didn’t like the straight Christmas music but loved the station otherwise. The current one is just horrible and I can’t find a good replacement for Sunny. Typical change for these days…it’s not always for the best!
I’ve switched out of the 93.9KissFM. I too miss the old Sunny 93.9 where I loved the music and didn’t have to worry about what was being played or said. I’m glad they kept Dave Kent on and hope he’s enjoying the later time slot now that he and his wife have a baby.
What a smart marketing strategy calling the attention of listeners to tune into 93.9 so that they could feel the contrast between old but successful music and disco/dance commercial rythms. Now, this is enough. Bring us back quality and depth of radio experience, please. Ok?
I love 93.9 sooooo very much I used to live in raleigh and listen to 93.9 everyday..now I’m living in Thai and always think of this station especially Dalilah when I was cooking in the kitchen and waiting for Dalilah come….since back to Thai I didnt have time to listen (online) till now just know that the station had changed just like a bad news for me.