WAAF Worcest..errr... Westborough!

[Nostaticatall]

The time frame I was referring to was 1997-1998, but your accessment of 
WHEB in the late 80's was pretty much the case in the late 90's as well. 
 Don't get me wrong--WHEB was a servicable mainstream rock station which 
at that time leaned heavily on the classic rock.  During this period, 
WBCN often pulled in a three or four share, and I remember them placing 
4th overall 12+ in Portsmouth a couple of times--not bad for an out of 
market signal.  Sure, some of the numbers were fueled by Howard, but not 
all of them.  WCYY also used to place as well, although they never did 
as well as WBCN.  If you looked at the 12-24 and 18-34 male numbers, 
those were the demos that sought out a more current intensive rock 
station.  When 96.7 was simulcasting WAAF, the request lines there were 
forwarded to WERZ after business hours (when I was on the air), and I 
took a LOT of calls from younger rock listeners.  They were reacting 
positively to having a "kick ass" rock station to listen to, and didn't 
have to put up with the "dinosaur rock" on WHEB.  

Roy was right though, WHEB was leading the market (or at least was 
second to WOKQ,) but with a local 50,000 watt signal, a heritage morning 
show, and at least fifteen years in the rock format, they should have 
been.  Still, they sounded old, and I don't blame the younger rock 
listeners back then for wanting a current based station to call their own.

Mike Thomas

SteveOrdinetz wrote:

> I don't know the time period Mike Thomas was referring to, but back in 
> the 80s WHEB was fairly wimpy as AORs go, almost more of a rock 40 
> than a true AOR, certainly not a headbanger like WAAF.  As I recall 
> WERZ was beating them rather handily during that period.  I'm not an 
> especially big hard rock fan so I'm not familiar with what they're 
> doing today.